Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happines, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianitie. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.

CHAP. 2. Of Sathans properties and attempts against vs in generall: [ G] and our helpe against them.

TO begin therefore first generally, euen he it is, Sathan I meane, that withstandeth vs in euery good thing, (as I haue said before) and leadeth vs amisse many waies, al∣though we see our selues set free from the infernall woe. And therefore it is, that our hearts cannot so soone be raunging though it be neuer so litle, but he is readie to meete with them and set them forward in some euill; and by his most slie subtiltie, he fasteneth our liking and our affections [ H] there, before we can be aware of it: so that we maruell after, to see such a sud∣daine vnsetlednesse in vs, and such a chaunge from a wel-ordered course wherein we were before. And hereby it is also, (of him I meane) that we can deale about nothing but we may possibly, and be oft times, snared with it: he knowing how to vse all outward objects to our hurt, as wealth, beautie, friends, libertie, peace, and all blessings; and contrarily, losses, sickenesse, dis∣grace, &c. If that we be at home, he workes by domesticall affaires: if abroad, he taketh occasion from thence. So that wheresoeuer, or whatsoeuer we do or be occupied in, the Scripture teacheth vs, that he is about vs how good soeuer we be, if not in vs as in the men of this world: and that which is most [ I] daungerous of all, he doth most craftily deceiue vs when we do least suspect it. More particularly to lay foorth this, I cannot here conueniently.

If therefore men be ignorant or vnexperienced of his working and pro∣perties in themselues, it is not to be maruailed at though they beare their deadly wounds about them through his vncessant malice and subtiltie: for it is not possible, but that euery naturall man one way or other should be deepely bewitched, made senslesse and foolish with pleasures, profites, dreames of earthly happinesse to come, feare, securitie, hard-heartednesse, or some such like. And this is the estate of the world at this day; euen thus are all vnbeleeuers deceiued, and holden (as it were) in bands; and cannot, either [ K] seeke or desire, or know how to get out. But if any be more expert, and haue their hearts exercised in discerning good and euill, & how both are wrought and what hindereth both; if God teach them to know this mysterie and se∣cret, of Sathans casting mistes before their eyes to rocke them fast asleepe in sinne, and haue had proofe of these things in themselues; they shall farre more easily see into it, and know by the helpe that God hath left them, how to

[ A] shunne his deadly wounds, and to see his poysoned baites, and to auoide them.

It is not to be denyed, but that in this manner, Sathan besetteth all peo∣ple, (though litle obserued and seene of vnbeleeuers) and most of all, vs, whome he is openly and resolutely set against. All of vs therefore are to know his enterprises, properties, practises, vigilancie, his malice at all times, and in all actions and companies: and how by his diuerse sleights he dealeth accor∣ding to the occasions offered, and as our weakenesse may most easily be dis∣couraged. But what then? are we therefore to faint? God forbid. I say fur∣ther, (as before) if he doth not onely kindle the concupiscence that is within [ B] vs and our owne lusts, to be more set on fire to do the euill which we are in∣clined to; but also baiteth the outward things with poison, which we deale a∣bout, that he may dazle our eyes, and cast vs from our hold, that is, that we may not keepe still in the Christian course: yet ought we not for all this to be dismayed.

For we know, that euen these, although they cannot but trouble vs for the present time, yet shall turne to our exceeding good, by making vs to set more store by Gods protection then we did before, and to abide vnder his gouernment more continually; seeing we do so soone smart when we shake it off (as it were) neuer so litle. When therefore we shall perceiue our selues to [ C] be hindered and distracted from our peaceable course and continuance in a daily good course, God would haue vs know that we should not faint and be discouraged; but in confidence and full perswasion of recouerie, and ob∣taining fauour, confesse humbly both our wandring and vnsetlednesse of heart, and much more our hearkening to Sathans delusions, (whereby we were so farre estranged from God) and forsake them, that we may find mercy.

The Lord would haue none of his to be raunging from vnder his wings, and much lesse (if any be fallen through infirmitie, or beguiled by Sathans subtiltie) would he haue them thinke, that he will therefore shake them off: who hath made it manifest and well knowne in the Gospell: That he seeketh [ D] vp that which is wandering and lost. This must be throughly perswaded vnto Gods children, that they may neither be discouraged (as they must needes be otherwise) in their fals, from suing to God: and yet, not boldly abusing his lenitie, but well encouraged by his great loue to returne to him againe. For although the diuell be a mightie enemie and cruell, for which cause he is cal∣led A great red dragon; and The accuser of the brethren; and as subtile, vigi∣lant and malicious, as he is strong: yet they for their parts are not naked and altogether vnarmed: neither doth their strength rest in themselues, but they deriue and draw it from one that is mightier then he. They haue libertie, nay commaundement to be strong in the might of Gods power, that is: to be [ E] fully perswaded, that if there be any strength in God himselfe, (who we know holdeth all diuels in subiection) theirs it is, and for them, and they may take it for their owne: euen as if any poore man in a purchase should haue by a rich friend laid out for him and freely bestowed on him, whatsoeuer he should want. Yea, one part of their armour (I meane faith) is able alone to o∣uercome all lets which they shall meete with, and to thrust backe euen the fierie darts of the diuell, which burne and sting most sharpely.

They must also consider, who and what manner persons they are; not e∣nemies [ F] to God as in times past, but beloued, deare and precious vnto him, euen sonnes and daughters; and therefore not like to be vnnaturally forsaken or left to themselues in their neede and necessitie: and if when they were ene∣mies they were reconciled by his death, how much more being reconciled, shall they be saued by his life? and being alreadie deliuered from the greatest feare, that is, of damnation, they may be well perswaded, that the combates which remaine to be betwixt Sathan and them, cannot be deadly and to their ouerthrow, but to exercise their faith; that after they haue trusted God a litle and waited vpon him, to see his helping hand here, they may after their conflicts receiue their reward. [ G]

This I speake not to make any slacke and carelesse, but to encourage them against these lets which follow, which by his subtiltie shall seeme greater then they are: that they may not be faint-hearted and discomforted, seeing there is no cause. For it hath pleased the Lord and so he hath promised, by striuing, resisting Sathan, and suffering a litle, afterwards to take them into glorie: (as our Sauiour himselfe did go that way, Heb. 12.2.) and yet not to be without honor, euen here (if we iudge rightly) where and whiles (to the iudgement of the flesh) they are in the middest of reproch. This caueat I giue vnto the beleeuers before hand, putting them in remembrance that I must oftentimes call them backe to the consideration thereof: that they may be [ H] vpholden in the greatest likelihoods of danger.

And they must be warned to learne wisedome by their experience, that when they shall be able in sundrie trials to escape and bee deliuered from the foile and perill which they feared, and to see that God hath vpholden them therein by faith in his promise and hope in his helpe, and that thereby they haue bene taught to vse such meanes as haue brought a good end of their cō∣flicts; they may afterwards be emboldened to waite for the same grace again, in the like necessities and straights: and so to grow to haue that acquaintance and communion with God, that they may with confidence looke to obtaine greater things at his hands then these, and to encourage and hearten on o∣thers [ I] (who are weake) to do the same.

Now if any should feare, that all this looking to our selues is more then needes: he is to know, that if our hearts were sound, and so kept without li∣king of euill (as sometime the meanest Christian feeleth it,) there were no danger to be feared, no not from the diuel himselfe, much lesse the world, ac∣cording to that of Salomon: Keepe thy heart with all diligence, for thereout com∣meth life: and they who haue any experience, find nothing more true, then that they walke at great libertie, when their hearts are well ordered. But see∣ing few can heare this saying, that our hearts should be holden in subiection to Gods will from time to time, and our desires and thoughts (though fond [ K] and foolish) captiuated; therefore Sathan taketh his aduantage thereby, to make them slaues and bondmen to his suggestions and deceitfull intice∣ments, to bereaue and make them voide of all sound iudgement; and thus, to come to do those things which sometimes they were ashamed of, or at least haue iudged very hardly of others for doing them.

And thus it commeth to passe, that besides the hinderance we haue by our

[ A] euill hearts, when we shall haue considered and well pondered how many wayes the diuell letteth and hindereth vs, we shall see good cause to prouide the strongest helpe and defence that we can against the same. Now then, that it may more clearely be seene, what daunger and feare we are in by him, which may easily breake off our course in godlinesse; some of his bad sleights and practises are more particularly to be laid foorth, which though they be many and diuerse, yet may be fitly drawne to these two heades: Either they do all set against our faith; or else directly ayme at the extinguishing and bu∣rying of godly life in vs: wherein if the diuell can preuaile against vs, he hath gotten what he would, and we haue lost that wherein our glorie stood.

[ B]

Notes

• 1. Pet. 5.8.
• Iob. 1.7.
• The diuell mee∣teth with vs on euery side:
• Both by prospe∣rity to snare vs and by crosses to vexe vs, at home and abroad,
• VVhen we least suspect it.
• Luc. 22.31.
• VVe may not faint though we haue the diuell against vs.
• Reason why.
• Luc 15.6.
• 1. Ioh. 2.1.2.
• Properties of the diuell. Reu. 12.10. Reu 12.3.
• Colos. 1.11.
• Other reasons to strengthen against Sathan. 1. Pet. 2.9. 2. Cor. 6.18. Rom. 5 10. Rom. 8.1.
• Heb. 10.36.
• Incouragemēts may not make vs slacke.
• Iam. 4.7. Heb. 10.37.
• VVe must learne wisdom by experience. Rom. 5.4.
• Our greatest prouision a∣gainst Sathan, cannot be too much.
• Prou. 4.23.
• Rom. 2.1.
• Al Sathans pur∣suings of vs, tend either to ouerthrow our faith, or to hinder a godly life.