Sathans practises.
1 SAthan is readie euer to make vs most vnwilling to that, wherein the Lord will most* 1.1 vse vs to the greatest good of his Church.
2 We must pray that the Lord giue not that measure of leaue to the diuell that we giue out to sinne: but that he would rather make Sathan a surgeon to shew vs our sinnes, than a sergeant to arrest vs to perpetuall imprisonment for our sinnes.
3 Sathan hath two waies to buffet vs: first, he moueth to despaire, shewing vs how such* 1.2 men did abide trouble, but they were rare men, of rare faith, of rare feeling, of rare pati∣ence; God hath not called vs to that measure of grace; we are vnworthie by reason of our sinnes, to hope for the like faith or fruites of faith. His other temptation sauours of pride,* 1.3 when he will make vs equall in dignitie with the highest of Gods Saints, but vnequall in* 1.4 dutie with them: then he will perswade that God is as good, and as strong to vs, as he hath been to others: but he keeps vs from vsing those waies and meanes, whereby others haue, and we ought to haue this goodnesse and power of God conueyed into vs. Wherefore as we must not distr••st God that we shall obtaine the like mercie with others, if we vse the like meanes: so we must not be so bold, as to dreame that euer we shall haue the like fa∣uour with them, vnlesse we labour for the like faith with them, the like faith I say, though not in quantitie, ••••••••. qualitie, and that by vse of the meanes.
4 Vnto one that said he was possest of a Diuell: he answered, as hoping that he was the* 1.5 childe of God, and rather deluded than so afflicted. True it is, that as much as lieth in you, you haue giue•• ouer your selfe vnto the Diuell: but it is not in your power to giue ouer your selfe vnto him, neither is it in his iurisdiction to possesse you.