againft the wiles of the devil. 1iimfe If a little familiarly to us, then we are prone togrow high and wanton, if he frown, then we fink as much in our faith ; thus, the one like faireweather and wai me gleams, bring up the weeds of corruption ; and the other, I ke (harp frofts, nip and evenkill the flowers of grace ; the Chriffian is in danger on both hands, therefore Satan takes this advantage, when the Chriflian is fluth of comfort,even as a cheater, who ftrikes in with fome young heire when he bath newly received his rents, and never leaves till he hash eaftd him of his money : thus Sa- tan lies upon thecatch, then to inveigle a Saint into one fin or other, which he knows will foon leak out his joy. Had ever any a larger teftimony from Heaven then Peter? Matti,, 16, 7. where Chrift pronounceth him bleffed, and puts a singular ho- aiour :pon him, m2king him the Reprefentative for all his Saints. Nodoubt this favour to Teter, ftirred up the envious fpirit the -fowler to fall upon him. If 70.rephs party-coloured coat made the Patriarchs to plot againft him their brother, no wonder malice fhould Kompt Satan to thew his fpite, where Chrift had fet fuch a mark of love and honour ; and therefore we finde him foon at Peters elbowe,making him his inarnment to tempt his Wier, who foon efpied his,cloven foot, and rebukes Peter with a Get thee behinde me Satan. He that feem'd a Rock even now, through Satans policy , is laid as a (lone of offence for Chill} to Nimble at. So 'David, when he had received fuch wonderful mtrcies, felled in his throne with the ruine ofhis enemies, yea, pardoned for his bloody fin, now ready to lay down his head with peace in the duff : Satan chops in to cloud hisclear evening, and tempts him to number the people; fo ambitious is Satan, then chiefly to throw the Saint into the mire of fin, when his coat is cleaneft. Sixthly, at the houreof death, when the Saint is clown and proftrate in his bodily firength, now this coward falls upon him : 'cis the laft call indeed he bath for the game, now or ne- wer, overcome him now and ever ; as they fay of the natural ferpent, his length nifi moriens proeineitter in longum he never is Peen at t till dying : fo this myftical ferpent never ftrains his wits and wiles more, then when his time is thus fhort, The Saint is even (lepping into eternity, and now he treads upon his heele, which if he cannot trip up fo as to hinder his arrival in heaven, 97 I o
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