[ III] Sin mortified, the Devill's terrour.
IT is mentioned of a City,* 1.1 strongly besieged by a potent Enemy, which hol∣ding long out, was brought to extream want, no hope of reliefe appeared; Famine and Sword, the two sad concomitants of War, attended; the one without affrighting, the other within dismaying, the poor Inhabitants; insomuch that they were even at their witts end; and thereupon fell upon a serious con∣sultation, * 1.2 what was best to be done for their better safety, the result whereof was this, That there should be a considerable number of dead bodies,* 1.3 (of which they had great store lay starved in the streets) clap'd up in Armour, and set upon the Walls in the still time of the night, that so next morning, the Enemies upon sight thereof, might be somewhat amazed, which fell out accordingly; for it was thereby conceived, that some fresh supplies were brought in to their assistance; and thereupon the Siege was raised,* 1.4 and the City relieved. This distressed City, so strongly besieged,* 1.5 is the Soul of Man; the potent Enemy that lyeth before it is the Devill, that great Commander in chief, over all such Regiments, as the World and the Flesh can possibly raise for his service. And what course must the poore Soul take in such a case? Surely no other, but, consultation first had with God by Prayer, to set out it's dead and mortified lusts and affections; and then no doubt, the Devill, upon the sight thereof, will quit the place, and never for the time to come, adventure his whole strength to so little purpose.