Heaven opened, or, A brief and plain discovery of the riches of Gods covenant of grace by R.A.

CHAP. VI. The powers of darkness delivered over in the Cove∣nant.

6. THe powers of darkness are delivered over in the Covenant; Satan and all his Instru∣ments. We are naturally in bondage to Satan, held captive by him at his Will, 2 Tim. 2.26. His Prisoners, his Slaves, his Vassals. By the blood of the Covenant, the Lord hath brought forth his Prisoners, and redeemed his Captives, Zach. 9.11. and also hath spoiled Principalities and Po∣wers, and led Captivity Captive. In this Covenant there is deliverance of the Prisoners, and a delive∣ry over of them, by whom they were held; a Gaol-delivery and a delivery of the Jaylors too, into their hands; and they are delivered over bound, the God of this world in Chains, limited, spoiled, banished, and cast out, Mat. 16.18. The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The Gates of Cities were antiently their special strength, and in them were their great Councels held, for the contriving and managing of all their concernments; by Hell understand the whole Infernal Corporation, all that belong to that dark Region, Satan and all his In∣struments;

the dragon with his armies, the ser∣pent and all his seed. By the gates of hell under∣stand, the power and policy, the combination and councels of Sathan and his whole party. These gates of hell shall not prevail against it; that is against the Church; neither against head, nor any member of it: they shall not prevail, that notes two things.

1. They shall fight against it; they are all com∣bin'd and listed against the Church, making a war upon it; Raze it, Raze it even to the foundati∣on thereof. Down with it root and branch, let it not have a being, let it not have so much as a name under heaven: particular quarrels there may bee betwixt devil and devil; Herod against Pi∣late, and Pilate against Herod, yet the tails of these smoaking fire-brands are united against the Lord and his anointed ones. Against their pro∣fession, against their Religion, against the soul of every Saint. What-ever vails or specious preten∣ces they varnish their quarrel with, this is it that lies at the bottom of all their counsels and ma∣chinations, wherein all their aims are concentred, to root out godliness and the professours of it out of the earth; to deceive and destroy souls for ever.

2. Though they shall fight against them, yet they shall not overcome. They shall not prevail against it, that is, not finally, in the end the victo∣ry shall be the Saints. Zach. 12.3, Jerusalem shall be a burthensom stone to all people. 1. Such a stone that they shall not be able to lift, or move it out of its place; it shall stand as a rock, against which the impetuous waves may dash themselves, but they cannot move it.

2. They shall not be able to bear it. It shall crush them that burthen themselves with it; those that shake the Church, they are pulling an house about their ears; a rock upon their loins; it shall break the backs of all those that contend against it; they shall bee cut in pieces (saith the Text) that burthen themselves with it; though all the earth, yea and hell too, be gathered together against it. It is a vain design that Sathan and his partakers are driving on, Psal. 2.1. Why do the heathens rage, and the people imagine [a vain] thing? it is a vain design, and it is a fatal design to themselves; Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel.

Gen. 3.15. In the first dawning of this glorious day light, it's promised, that the seed of the wo∣man shall break the serpents head, I will put enmi∣ty between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

John 12.31. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Cast out, whence? why cast out of his king∣dome, out of his hold, cast down from his throne and dominion. His prison is broken, and now the prey is taken from the strong, the captives of the mighty are taken away.

But how was this now done, at the death of Christ, to which these words referre? Doth not Sathan still reign? Is hee not still the god of this world, and the prince of the power of the air? Yea, what hold hath hee yet of the Saints that are

in the earth? what a tyrant is hee to them? how doth hee entangle and ensnare them? what ha∣vock doth hee make in their consciences? lord∣ing it over them, leading them captive by lusts and temptations; what a strong party hath he still within them, bearing arms against their Lord, fighting against their souls? what sad spoil doth he make upon their grace, upon their peace? they cannot rest for him day nor night, abroad nor at home, alone nor in company; hee's ever follow∣ing them; whither ever they go, the Devil is at their backs; they cannot pray, nor read, nor spend a thought, nor cast a look, nor dispatch a sigh towards the Lord, but Sathan stands by to re∣sist, and hinder them; what a yoke hath he still upon their necks! what clogs and weights hath he still upon their loins? how do they mourn in their souls, whilest he vexes them from day to day? how do they groan, and travel in pain, sighing in themselves, and waiting for their redemption? How is it then said, now is hee cast out? why now hee hath received his judgment; the prince of this world is judged, Joh. 16. Now is the fatal blow given; now is the serpents head broken, though hee still may bruise, and hang in the Saints heel. The blow he levelled at our Lord, hath rebounded on his own head. Though hee be as Gad, a serpent in the way, yet you may now tread upon this serpent, and it shall not hurt you. The strong man is now bound, if hee be a god still, hee's a God in chains, a prince in fetters; he must ask leave of your father, ere he can touch one hair of your heads. Hee cannot tempt you, nor cast a bank against you, nor shoot an arrow at

you, without a commission from heaven. The devils are subject to you. He is cast out, and in your Lords name, you may cast him out. In my name shall ye cast out devils; out of possessed bodies, out of possessed souls; you may be instruments to bring many a soul to repentance; that they may re∣cover themselves out of the snares of the devil, who are held captive by him at his will. Every sinner that is converted by you, you have cast out a de∣vil out of that soul.

Though he be an adversary still, yet such an adversary as may be resisted; whom resist stedfast in the faith, 1 Pet. 5.9. And if you will resist, hee shall flee from you, James 4.17. Stand, and your enemy runs.

Nay more, hee is not only a conquer'd ene∣my, but made your servant. This viper shall yield you medicine against his own poyson. His smi∣tings shall be an excellent oyl; his messengers he sends to buffet you, his thorns he sticks in your flesh, shall be a prevention of greater evils. The very destruction he intends to bring upon you, shall promote your salvation, 1 Cor. 5.5. Deli∣ver such an one to Sathan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Behold the devil is the Churches servant; and such a servant as in their present state, they cannot well want. The executioner of their censures. A Common-wealth may as well want a Jaylour or an Hang-man, as the Church a Devil. Behold Sathan divided against Sathan; the devil without, against the devil within; the destroyer of souls, become the destroyer of sin. Deliver such an one to Sathan [for the destruction of

the flesh.] Though much against his mind, his hand is against his own party. Hee's made to kill his own friends, which otherwise would kill the soul. Whether he will or no, the very tormentour is made a saviour; that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Christians as much as you feel of the devils malice, you could ill want his service; there's many a soul lost and undone by a sleeping, that might have been recovered and rouzed by a raging devil. His winds shall blow off your chaff, his floods shall wash away your filth, his earth-quakes shall open your prison-doors, his tempests shall drive you to harbour. Some men want a tempest, to save them from a wrack.

Nay once more; he is not low enough yet; he shall be yet brought lower. You have assurance of his total and final overthrow. Rom. 16.20. The god of peace shall tread Sathan under your feet shortly, Rev. 20.10. The devil shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone: 'Tis but a little while, and when he hath done his work, he shall be sent to his place, where he shall be shut up, and a seal set upon him; whence he shall come out no more for ever. He shall tempt no more; vex no more, deceive no more, destroy no more, torment you no more; he shall be thrust out, he shall be chain'd up; the tormentour shall be tor∣mented, day and night for ever and ever.

Stand Christians, stand your ground a little while; follow your work, hold up your holy pro∣fession, hold on your holy course; keep your hearts, keep your garments, keep on your armour, keep under corruption, resist temptation, bear your af∣fliction;

hold out faith and patience, fight against your adversaries, watch with your Lord, this one hour, and behold hee that shall come, will come; he cometh quickly, and hee that is in the world, shall bee consumed with the breath of his mouth, and destroyed with the brightness of his appearing. Hee shall bee cast out, hee shall bee cast down, and rise no more for ever.