CHAP. XII.
That the Devils assaults are Spiritual and not Temporal; and how grossly some under∣stand those parts of the Scripture.
UPon that which hitherto hath been said, you see that the assaults of Satan are spiritual, and not temporal; in which respect St. Paul wish∣eth us not to provide a corselet of Steel to defend us from his claws;* 1.1 but biddeth us, Put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the invasions of the Devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness. And therefore St. Peter adviseth us,* 1.2 To be sober and watch; for the Devil goeth about like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. He meaneth not with carnal teeth; for it followeth thus,* 1.3 Whom resist ye stedfast in the faith. And again St. Peter saith, That which is spiritual,* 1.4 only discerneth spiritual things; for no carnal man can discern the things of the spirit; Why then should we think that a Devil, which is a Spirit, can be known, or made tame and familiar unto a natural man; or contrary to nature, can be by a Witch made corporal, being by God ordained to a spiritual proportion?
The cause of this gross conceipt is, that we hearken more diligently to old Wives, and rather give credit to their fables, than to the Word of God; ima∣gining by the tales they tell us, that the Devil is such a Bulbegger, as I have before described. For whatsoever is proposed in Scripture to us by Parable, or spoken figuratively or significatively, or framed to our gross capacities, &c. is by them so considered and expounded, as though the bare letter, or rather their gross imaginations thereupon were to be preferred before the true sense and meaning of the Word. For I dare say, that when these blockheads read Jothams Parable in the ninth of Judges to the men of Sichem, to wit, that,* 1.5 The trees went out to anoint a King over them, saying to the Olive-tree, Reign thou over us; who answered and said, Should I leave my fatness? &c. they imagine that the wooden Trees walked, and spake with a mans voyce: or else, that some spirit entred into the Trees, and answered as is imagined they did in the Idols and Oracles of Apollo, and such like; who indeed have eyes, and see not; ears and hear not; mouths, and speak not, &c.