Book IV. S A I N T S coMPARED TO S 0 L D I E R S. 717 Epb. vi. 'That ye may }land c.gainjl the Wiles of the Devil. Mr~oJ"~' n J,«{3o><•, pro– ' perly the Methods of Saran; !'-'~';"~ of p.r~oJ!J7', whrch fignrfies that Art and Order 'one obferves in handlino- a Pomt ; vr·c fay fuch a one IS methodiCal. Now becaufe • it fhews Jno-enuity, and Acurenefs of Wir, fo to campofe a Difcourfe; therefore it is • uansferred~o expref< the Subrilry of Satan, in layi ng of his Plots againfl aChrirtian.' Indeed the expert Soldier hath hrs Order, as well as the Scholar; there IS Me~hod rn formino- an Army, as well as In framrng an Argument. The D evil IS a fubtrle J<.nemy, and Sa~nrs are mofl endangered by his Craft and Policr; he hath always got the greate!l Advantage upon Chrift's Soldiers by this Means. lt was the way he took when he fet upon Man at firfl, and if he ove~came him when he was in his perfeEt Stare, no Marvel if he prevail upon hrm In hrs depraved and marmed State. And therefore Wifdom is needful, and more efpecially to difcover his Stratagems: We are not igno– •·ant, fai th the Apoflle, of his Devices, 2 Cor. ii. I 1. Some of which I !hall note here, for the fpiritual Soldier's Profit and Oblervation, with refptC:t to his drawing M en and \1\fornen to Sin. Firfl; He !hews l!is Subti!ry, in chufin& the mofl proper and advantageous Seafon for Tt."mpring. An hundred S~ldiers at one Tim!.! may turn a Battle. and fave an A rmy, when Thoufands will not do it at another. Satan knows when to make his Approaches, and the Time when he his mol\ likdy to prevail. The Time he rakes tO tempt 10, IS: 1. When newly converted. No fooner is the Child of Grace, the new Crearme born, but this Dragon pours a Flood of Temptations afrtr ir. z. When a Saint is befer with tome great A ffiiEt ion; this is a blind Lane, or foli– tary Ploce, fit for thi' Thief to call for his Purfe. · 3· When a Chri!\ian is about fome nora~le Enrerprize for God's Glory, then Satan will lie like a Serp,nt in the Way: An Adder in the Patb, !hat bitetb his Horfe's Heel, fa 1hat bis Rider jhall fa!/ backward, Gm. xlix. Thus he flood at Jojhua's Right-hand, t o reflfl him, Zech. 1ii. 1, z, 3· The !Lght-hand is the working H and, and his fland– ing there, implies his Delire to hinder hi:n, and his. Enterp rize. Indeed the Devil was never a Friend to Temple Work , and therefore 1hat Work is fo long a doing. Wh"t a handhne Excufc dorh he hdp the Jews unto? 'l'he "l ime is not come, Hag. i. z. When our Savior wa'i ba?tized, a:H.l W:lS j~llt c:.:mcring upon his l\1iniilry, tht:n s~~an fer upon him, .~.Vlatt. iv. I, 2 . 4· When he hJth the l'refence of fo:ne ObjeEt to enforce his Temptation. Thus he rook Eve, when lhe was near the Tree, anct had ir in her E)'e. 5· After great Manifel\ation of God's Love, then the T empter comes. Such is the Weaknefs of Grace fomerimes in a Believer, that he can neither well b~ar Smiles nor Frowns from God. " 'hen Paul was exalted with the Abundance of Revelation<, then wa'i the Time that .Saran let upon him with his Hron:" T emptations, zCor.xii. 1, z, 3, &c. 6. At the H our of D eath; Satan knows, thJt if he cannot prevail rh:n, he never can. It is the Iaft Onfet, and therefore he refolves to try his Skill. If he cannot break his Head, fo as to keep him our of Heaven; yet he will, if pollible, bruife his Heel, and fend him limping thither: 1 m, an, fill a Saint full of Fears and Doubts about his eternal State. Secand!y; He hath many other Stratagems to deceive by Temptations. t . H e hangs out falfe Colours, and comes to a Saint in the Di r'ouife Qf a Friend; he. ·transforms himfelf into an Angel of Light: Majler, pity t~vfelf. 0 2. He flrives to get Intelligence of a Saint's Aff,irs. This, faith my Author, is one great Wheel in this Politician's Clock, to have Spies in all Places, by whom thr'y are acquainted with the Counfels of their Enemies. He labors to find out what Sin it is that mort eafily belets a Perfon, or that he is mort prone to, Heb. xii. t. 3· In hrs gradual Approaches to the Soul. When he firft comes to tempt, he is modefl.' and alks bur little, knowing he may get that at many Times, which he lhould be d~nred, If he lhould afk it all at once. A few Men are let into a City, when an Arm~, coming in a Body, would be lhut out. Remember, he draws to Sin by little and httle : hrl\ It may be the Thought of this or that Evil is darted into the Mind, ~ndafter; while lodged quietly there, and then a little after further Advances are made m Sm, f;)c. 4· Satan, like a cunning Warrior. hath his Referves; like a wife Captain, he hath fome frelh Troops at hand, if need be: So that if one Temptation will not prevail, S U he
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