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Is it so, That no Christian hath been so Eminent, but at some time * 1.1 or other may be remarkably foyled by Satan? Then from hence I do infer, That Satan is a Christian's ‖ 1.2 E∣nemy.
Who-ever foyls us in very good earnest, is our Enemy. But Satan foyls us in very good earnest:
Ergo, He is our Enemy.
The Major, none will deny; The Minor, by the Experiences of Saints is Confirmed: And the Conclusion naturally flows from the Premises.
And truly, Sirs, if Satan is our E∣nemy
(as indeed he is) we had need stand off and beware. Belie∣vers, this Message I have to bring unto you this Day; Satan is your E∣nemy; and, I hope, none of you will deny it; or else I would call back the word Believers again: Be∣cause, assured I am, that none so much as Believers can speak of Sa∣tan's Enmity, and by Experience seal to this Truth. Satan indeed is our Enemy: And that ye may under∣stand, what a kind of Enemy it is, that you have to Encounter; I shall endeavour to unmask him in Three things, (Two especially) that do re∣side in Satan, as their proper Seat: 1. Subtilty. 2. Malice. 3. Potency.
First, Satan is not only * 1.3 Subtil, but Subtilty it self; Subtilty in the Abstract: Yea, this Corrupt Quali∣ty is in the Devil formally, and ca∣sually. Subtilty is in Satan, as the Subject of it: He is the God of it. Subtilty is in Satan, as the Fountain of it: As he is the God of it, so he is the Giver of it; and therefore,
who-ever learns † 1.4 Subtilty, learns 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Devil. Let none therefo•…•… brag of their Subtilty, and corrup•…•… Wit; for the more they have of tha•…•… the more they are like the Dev•…•… their Father, and his Children the•…•… are, having his Image imprinted o•…•… them. Satan is a Subtil Adversary For his Policy and Craft it is, tha•…•… he is cálled a Serpent; and for hi•…•… long experienced Policy and Craft i•…•… is, that he is called an Old Serpen•…•… * 1.5 Satan was too Crafty for Man, i•…•… the State of Perfection; much more in the State of Depravation: An•…•… what shall I say? A Christian is mor•…•… endangered by Satan's Subtilty, tha•…•… any thing else. It is reported of Iu∣lian, That by his Craft he drew more from the Faith, than all his persecuting Predecessors could do by their Cruelty: So, Satan doth more hurt in his * 1.6 Sheeps-Skin, than by Roaring like a Lyon. And because of this, I shall the longer dwell on this same Head, viz. Satan's Subtilty; and I shall consider it in two main things, that he principally designes
upon Believers. The First is, Temp∣•…•…ing them to a Sinful Licentiousness; and the Second is, Tempting them unto a Sinful Despair. First, I shall speak of Satan's Tempting Believers unto a sinful Licentiousness: And his Subtilty in carrying-on of his De∣signe, doth shew it self in these three things: 1. In the Seasons of Temp∣tations: 2. In the Temptations them∣selves: 3. In the Methods of his Temptations.
Deduct. 1.
That Sa∣tan is our E∣nemy is evi∣dent, if we do but consider, that he wounds us with these several Darts of 1. Diffidence. 2. Concupiscence. 3. Avarice. 4. Pride. 5. Luxury.
Satan is a Subtil Ene∣my.
Subtle Persons like the Devil, who is a sub∣til Enemy. For he hath bin learning his Policies ever since he discarded himself from Heaven.
Rev. 12. 9.
The De∣vil (saith one) is not alwayes a Lyar, but he is always a Deceiver.