442 `The Sins of Men not chargeable upon God ; they firft gave it him; they content to his outward temptations, before he can get within them. Hence it is that in Scripture great Sinners are defcribed, as being more immediately under the government and influence of the Devil. Fphef, 2, I, z. where the Apoftle Cpeaking of thofe, who from Heathenifmwere converted to Chriltianity, Tox (lays he) bath he quickned, who were oncedead in treflafes and fins wherein in times pall ye walked, according to the courfe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of diif obedience, or unbelief; .rg ituftqa.ccra.rg vt7v éviyÉSTgt., the Spirit that fullacis and in- fpires the Children of unbelief; that is, thofe who continue in their infidelity, and would not believe and obey the Gofpel. When Men are notorioufly wicked and difobedient to the Counfels of God, the Devil is laid to aCt and infpire them, which certainly lignifies force more immediate power and influence which he bath over fuCh Perlons. For as it is very probable, that the Devil is fometimes permitted to comeneargood Men Co as to tempt them; fo by notorious wickedness and impiety, Men do give admiffion to him, and he is permitted by the juft judgment of God, to exercife greater Dominion over them. By refitting his temptations, we drive him from us. So St. James tells us, Chap. 4. v. 7. Refifi the Devil., and he will flee from you: but as we yield to his temptations, he continually makes nearer approaches to us, and gains a greater power over us. Thirdly, But for all this, the Devil can force no Man toSin ; his iv-, r: tions may move and excite Men to Sin, but that they are prevalent and P'T .. s,, pro- ceeds from our own will and coulent ; 'tis our own Lulls clofing wish : s Tempta- tions, that produce Sin. The Devil hath more or lets power over Men, accord- ing as they give way to him; but never fo much as to force their Wills, and to compel them to confent to, and comply with his temptations, the grace of God doth hardly offer this violence toMen for their good, in order to their Salvation; and therefore much left will he permit the Devil tohave this power over Men, to their ruin and deftru&ion. God's commanding us to refill the Devil, fuppofeth that his temptations are not irrefiftable. Fourthly, Fromwhat hath been laid, it appears, that tho' the Devil be frequent- ly acceffary to the Sins of Men, yet we our felves are the Authors of them; he tempts us many times to Sin, but it is we that commit it. His temptations may fometimes be fo violent as to extenuate our fault, but never fo forcible as wholly to excufeus for we are fo far guilty of Sin, as we give our content to it; and how powerful foever the temptation be to any kindofevil, there is alwaysenough of our own will in it to render us guilty. I am far from thinking that the Devil tempts Men to all the evil that they do. I rather think that the greateft part of the wickedneffes that is committed in the World, fprings from the evil motions of Mens own Minds. Mens own Lulls aregenerally to them the wont Devil of the two, and do more ftrongly incline them to Sin, than any Devil without them can tempt them to it. It is not to be doubted, that the Devil does all the mifchief he can to the Souls of Men, fo far as God permits him; and tho' the numberof Evil Angels be probably very great, yet it is but finite, and every one of them hath a limitted power; and tho' they be very altive, yet they can be but one where at once; fo that his malice at the utmoft does only all the evil that it can, not all that it would ; he plyes where he has the belt Cuflom, where he has the faireft Opportunity, and the greateft hopes; he leaves Men many times for a feafon (as it is laid) he did our Saviour, becaufe he defpairs of fuccels at that time; and it may be fometimes when he is gone, thefe Perfons grow fecure, and through their own fecurity and folly fall into thofe Sins, which the Devil with all his baits and wiles, whilft they were up- on their guard, could not tempt them to commit. Others after he has made them fare, and put them into the way of it, will go on of themfelves, and are as mad of Sinning, and as forward to deftroy them- felves, as the Devil hitnfelf could with ; fo that he can hardly tempt Men toany wickednefs, which he does not find them inclin'd to of themfelves. Theft he can croft with themfelves, and leave them to their own inclinations and don-
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