Certain select discourses on those most important subjects, requisite to be well understood by a catechist in laying the foundation of Christian knowledge in the minds of novitiates viz., First discourses on I. The doctrine of the two covenants both legal and evangelical, II. On faith and justification / by William Allen. Secondly, Discourses on I. The covenant of grace, or baptismal covenant, being chatechetical lectures on the preliminary questions and answers of the Church-Catechism : II. Three catechetical lectures on faith and justification / by Thomas Bray, D.D.

THE Eleventh Lecture. First, That I should Renounce the Devil, and all his Works; the Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World, and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh. (Book 11)

THAT Great Work of the Devil, his Tempting of us to Sin, being the Subject of our present Consideration; and in order to the full Discovery of what so much concerns you, having already shew'd you, First, By what Tempta∣tions and Means he overthrew the whole Race of Mankind, and drew it off from Obedience to God, to do Service to him: In pursuance of the same important Subject, concerning the Temptations of the Devil, what they are, and in what Ways and Methods he attempts our Ruine; I am

Secondly, To discover to you,* 1.1 such as he Levels against the Church of Christ, the True Servants of God, either utterly to destroy them from off the face of the Earth; or at least-wise so to corrupt the Notions of God and Religion, that by their very Christianity they may dishonour him.

Soon after that Satan had seduc'd the whole Race of Mankind into a most unnatural and ungrateful Rebellion against their Maker;* 1.2 did God of his infinite Compassion to the woful State of Man, in slavery to so base a Tyrant, as the Devil, appoint his own Son to be the Great Captain of our Salvation, and gave him Power and Com∣mission to List a Church Militant out of the rest of the World; who being directed by his Word, and assisted by his Holy Spirit, should continually fight under his Banner and Conduct, against this wicked Spirit, the Devil; and discharging their Parts well in this Warfare, should in another World be eternally Rewarded with Honour by him. But the Devil Enrag'd, as a Bear bereav'd of her Whelps, to have his Prey thus snatch'd away out of his Teeth,* 1.3 by One mightier than he, sets himself with the greatest Vigour to ruine this Body of Men, who are Arm'd by God, on purpose to destroy his Kingdom; and does therefore, both with the Fury of a Roaring Lion, and with the Cunning of a Subtle Serpent, continually at∣tack it; endeavouring all he can, either utterly to Destroy the Church of Christ from off the Face of the Earth: Or at least-wise, so to corrupt its Notions of God and Religion, that by Religion it self it might dishonour him.

And his first and chief Endeavours were,* 1.4 utterly to destroy the Church of Christ from off the Face of the Earth; Towards the understanding of which, we must know, that God the Father gave Commission

to his Son to raise this Church Militant, immediately after the Fall of Man; and the War between Satan and the Church was Pro∣claim'd in these Words,* 1.5 I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between her Seed and thy Seed; it shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel, Gen. 3.15. And no sooner was this War Pro∣claim'd, but this cruel Murderer, the Devil (for a Murderer he is said to have been from the Beginning) thought to have cut it off at one Blow in the Person of Abel,* 1.6 to slay whom he Instigated his own Brother Cain, that Cursed Servant of Hell. And tho' God, in the Person and Family of Seth, did recruit the Church of Christ; yet the Posterity of Cain, being a Barbarous and Bloody sort of Men, did so far prevail and bear down all before 'em, that the True Servants of God were reduc'd to the Number of Eight Persons, and were drove into a very narrow Corner, even into the Compass of the Ark. Thus he prevail'd over the Church of God, so as almost to Extinguish it before the Flood.

Nor did his Fury burn less fiercely against it after: For when God giving a Bill of Divorce to all the Nations of the Earth,* 1.7 who had so Vilely play'd the Harlot in serving of Idols, that is, Devils, did choose Abraham and his Posterity to be a Special People unto him∣self, above all the People that were upon the face of the Earth, Deut. 7.6. Tho' One would have thought, that Satan might have been contented with such large spoils, as all the Kingdoms of the World besides; and that, as he had little reason to Envy the Maker of all Things, the faithful Allegiance of such a handful of Men, as were the People of the Jews, in comparison of the rest of the World: So he would let God alone with 'em. Yet so it was, that from the first Infancy of the Jewish Church (when by Pharaoh he endeavour'd utterly to have extinguisht that People, causing all their Male-Children to be slain by the Order of that Bloody Tyrant) till the time of our Saviour's coming into the Flesh; we find it to have been his continual Exercise, to stir up the Potentates of the Earth against it:* 1.8 And there is hardly a Period of Time to be found, but either he stir'd up the Neighbouring Nations, especially the Four Mo∣narchies of the World, mention'd Dan. 2. to Molest, Harrass, and to Captivate 'em; or Instigated their own Kings, to Persecute and destroy those, that would remain the Worshipers of the One True God.

But above all did Satan then Exert his Malice, soon after that our Saviour came amongst us, and that Christianity began to take Footing in the World; when, as God's Goodness to Mankind did most wonderfully appear in this their Deliverance; so did Sa∣tan's Envy and Fury burn so much the fiercer against both God, and Man. To his infinite sorrow he found himself dispossest of a great Part of Mankind,* 1.9 over which he had born before so absolute a sway. He saw his Altars thrown down, his Superstitious Mysteries derided, his Magical Arts discover'd, and the Kingdom of Light shining thro' his Kingdom of Darkness, and Exposing it to the publick View and Scorn of the World; and this was a Hell to him, as bad, as that to which he is to be for ever Chain'd, and he call'd it a Torment∣ing of him before his time, Matth. 8.29. No sooner therefore did God out of Pity to the whole Race of Man, whom he beheld holden in miserable Bondage to Satan, send his own Son To preach Deliver∣ance

to the Captives, and recovering of sight to the Blind, to set at liber∣ty them that are Bruised, to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord, as it is, Luk. 4.18, 19. No sooner was Satan aware of this, but he en∣deavours to stifle the naked Infant of Christianity in the Cradle, as it were:* 1.10 And for the first Three Hundred Years we hear of nothing but of bloody Slaughters of poor innocent Christians, who were hal'd to the Devil's Altars, and were Tempted, either to Blaspheme God and Christ, and to burn Incense to the Cursed Idol, or were most miserably Tortur'd, were tore Limb from Limb, thrown into Flames of Fire, expos'd to the Fury of wild Beasts, and forc'd to undergo the most study'd Torments, that the Devil, and cruel Men could invent.

True it is, The Bloody-minded Emperors of Rome,* 1.11 and the Gover∣nors of Provinces, were the immediate Instruments of inflicting those Sufferings upon the poor Christians, but the Devil it was that did In∣stigate, and set them on work; and accordingly throughout the Revelations we find the Warfare describ'd, as betwixt the Saints and the Dragon, (which, in the Language of that Author, signifies the Devil,) so that he is to be lookt upon, as Chief in the Temptation.

And elsewhere to this Day, no sooner shall any Pious Persons,* 1.12 who are Zealous to propagate Christianity, enter into any Country, in order to Convert it, by Preaching the Gospel unto them, but he immediately raises up his Militia against 'em; and by Instigating the Princes and People of those Countries to Persecute and Destroy 'em, he endeavours to beat 'em off from his Quarters: Insomuch, that scarcely any Church has been yet Planted, in any Part of the World, but the Blood of Martyrs has been its Seed. Such has been ever, and is to this Day, the Violence of Satan, in Opposing and Hindring the Gospel from once Entring his Ʋsurpt Dominions.

Nor is he on the other side less Industrious, in driving Christianity out of those Countries, which it had once Possest; and that he has done with such great Success, that many Kingdoms, which were once Christian, are since Revolted, either to Paganism,* 1.13 or Idolatry again, or to another Religion of Satan's Invention, I mean Ma∣hometism; insomuch, that if you divide the Earth into Thirty equal Parts, Paganism does at this Day possess Nineteen, Mahometism Six, Whilst the Christian's Share is but Five Parts: as those, who are best skill'd in Geography and History do inform us.

And moreover, as a Politick Prince will above all Endeavour to Bribe to his Interests, a Party of Men within his Enemies Domini∣ons, the more effectually to Promote his own Kingdom,* 1.14 and to Ex∣tend his Monarchy: In like manner has Satan, in all Ages of the Church, had his Anti-Christ in the very Bowels of Christendom; that is, a Succession of Hereticks, who Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof, 2 Tim. 3.5. under the Name and Pro∣fession of Christians, do sadly weaken Christ's, and most effectually Promote the Interests of Satan's Kingdom: And who have spilt more Blood, perhaps, in Establishing their Heresies, their Idolatries and Superstitions, than was ever done by Heathen Rome, and all the other Pagan Persecutions put together. So much you see it is the Endeavour of Satan, utterly to destroy the Church of Christ from off the Face of the Earth.

* 1.15And now the Question is, What it is, and how far we are to Re∣nounce the Devil, with respect to these his persecuting Temptations, and fiery Tryals. And if it should be the good Pleasure of God, for Ends best known to himself, to let loose the Fury of the Dragon upon us, (as there is hardly any Age, from the very Foundations of Chri∣stianity, down to our present Times, in which he has not, and does not in some Part or other of the Church, exercise the Faith, and Patience of the Saints;) Why then our Part must be, after the Example of those, who have gone before us in the Fiery Tryal, to submit to the sorest Sufferings, which Satan and his wicked Instru∣ments can Inflict upon us, rather than deny Christ, or his Truths. Millions, I say, of Martyrs and Confessors, have gone before us in this way of Renouncing the Devil, and his Persecuting Methods of Tempting: And the time would fail me to tell, what Tryals they had of cruel Mockings and Scourgings, yea, moreover of Bonds and Imprison∣ments; how they were Stoned, were Sawn asunder, were Tempted, were Slain with the Sword; how they wander'd about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skins, being Destitute, Afflicted, Tormented, Heb. 11.36, 37. And all this they suffer'd, rather than they would Deny the Faith, or in the least Comply with Idolatry, or Heresy, or with any Sin and Wickedness, to which Satan and his Instruments would have forc'd 'em. And so must we likewise, we must all of us in the same man∣ner utterly Renounce the Devil, and Resist unto Blood his Tempting us to Heresy, or Sin, if call'd thereunto; our Blessed Saviour having made it the indispensible Condition of all his Followers so to do, Matth. 16.24. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me.

And indeed those are the Happy men, who are Persecuted for their Adherence to Christ and true Religion, against Satan and his wicked Inventions. Blessed are they which are Persecuted for Righteous∣ness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5.10. Their Persecution tends in the End, both to their own greater Reward, Great is their Reward in Heaven, ver 12. And to the farther Increase and Propagation of Truth; when the Devil has done his worst, the True Church of Christ, like the Palm-Tree, being found to spread the wider for being Opprest. And therefore

* 1.16Secondly, When those bloody Methods fail him, and instead of ex∣tinguishing Christianity, the Blood of the Martyrs proves the Seed of the Church; then with all the Art and close Contrivance possible, does he en∣deavour to corrupt Men's Notions of God and Religion, so that by their very Christianity they may Dishonour him.

The Dishonour of God, and the Debasing his Authority amongst Men, together with the Subjection of Man to himself, and the Ruine of our Souls, is the thing he aims at; and provided he com∣passes this End, he cares not by what means it is, whether by Force, or by Fraud: And accordingly he has his Titles given him in the Scripture from both, where he is call'd a Lion from his Fury, a Serpent from his Subtilty. And indeed, if by the former he Has Slain his Thousands, by these He has Destroy'd his Ten Thousands: So that of all his methods to Ruine us, it does infinitely concern us, That we be not Ignorant of these his Devices.

Now these Politick Methods of his,* 1.17 whereby he Endeavours To Corrupt Men's Notions of God and Religion, so that by their very Re¦ligion they may dishonour him, are discover'd to us in the Gospel, under the Parable of some malicious Enemy, who coming private∣ly in the Night, sows Tares where the Husbandmen had before sown good Seed. The Parable runs thus, Matth. 13.24. The King∣dom of Heaven is liken'd unto a Man, which Sowed good Seed in his Field; but while Men slept, his Enemy came and sowed Tares among the Wheat, and went his way: But when the Blade was sprung up, and brought forth Fruit, then appeared the Tares also. And in the 37, 38, 39, ver. Our Saviour himself gives us this Explication of it. He that soweth the good Seed is the Son of Man; the Field is the World; the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom, that is, the Ministers of Religion, and their good Doctrine: The Tares are the Children of the wicked One, that is, Hereticks and their Evil Principles; The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil: From which Parable and Explication of our Sa∣viour's we may observe,* 1.18 That the most skilful Husbandman is not more curious about the Nature of his Seed, the Temper and Pre∣paredness of the Soil, and the Fitness of the Season, and the Skil∣fulness of the Seeds-man, than Satan is choice and considerate about the Nature of his Erroneous Doctrines, the Preparation of Men's Minds to Receive 'em, about the most proper and seasonable Times of dispersing 'em, and the Capacity and Qualities of those his Agents, whom he Imploys to sow them in the Souls of Men.

And* 1.19 First, I do take it to be infinitely worth your while to con∣sider, That those Heretical Principles and Opinions, which Satan does choose to Blend with Christianity, Do generally bear some Re∣semblance of Divine Truths in order to conceal their Discovery: So that as the Tares, which the Enemy sowed, were not Distinguish∣able till the Wheat grew up, and bore Fruit: So the Heretical and Impious Doctrines of Satan's infusing, can scarcely be Known, but by their Fruits, to which way of Trying 'em our Saviour does therefore direct us.

And thus he does usually Gild over his Errors,* 1.20 with the Resem∣blance of Divine Truth, especially in those Churches and Coun∣tries, where the Light of the Gospel does most clearly shine. And I think I cannot do you better Service, than to Instance in some of those pernicious Errors, both in Faith and Practice, of this Kind, which do at present Infest this Church and Nation; that so you may be Caution'd against the Entertainment of them.

And First, It is usual with Satan here amongst us,* 1.21 Ʋnder the plausible Appearance and Colour of Advancing God's Honour, in some of his Attributes, to render him Odious and Despised in other. Thus for Instance, By infusing into Men's Hearts a Belief, that God has Created the far greatest Part of the World, on purpose to manifest his Dominion, and Power, and Justice, in Damning them after∣wards for their Sins; he Robs him of the Honour of being a Gra∣cious, Merciful and Good God, to the utter abolishing of all Vene∣ration

towards him, and Love of him: Insomuch, that the very Atheist, who denies there is a God, does not so much Affront him, (as even a sober Heathen thought) as those, who think so Dis∣honourably of him.

* 1.22Secondly, Ʋnder the Colour of Setting up, as the most precious Gospel Truths, some Opinions, that seem to have a great Resemblance of Truth, he brings in such Heresies into the Church, as do utterly undermine Religion, and the necessity of a good Life. Thus by his Teaching, that Christ has so Paid the whole Debt for our Sins, that the vilest Wretch that Lives, need no more but be perswaded, that he is an Elected Person; and that the Promises belong to him, on the Assurance of his par∣ticular Election; and that such a Faith as this will save him: But by Vertue of such an Opinion (of Satan's infusing, no doubt) you shall too often find, an Envious Malicious Viper, a Covetous World∣ling, a Rebel, and an Adulterer, even before his Sins are Repented of, talk of Recumbing, and Leaning upon Christ, and Roling upon the Promises (as they are pleas'd to express it) with more Assu∣rance than the best and holiest Livers, and the faithfullest Servants of Christ.

* 1.23Thirdly, A most fatal and mischievous Delusion of Satan, rise a∣mongst us in this Nation, at this Day, is his Teaching Men to prefer some Eminent Christian Duty, or One Part of a Duty, or One way and manner of performing a Duty, to the Disparagement of another. Thus you shall often see some careless, whether they come to Prayers or not, so they can be but at the Sermon; and others on the contrary, say, they care not whether they shall hear a Sermon in their Lives, so they can have but Prayers. But the most notorious Cheat he puts upon Men, is his infusing into their Hearts to Prefer One Part of a Duty, to the utter Contempt of the other. Thus because in the Worship of God, in Prayers and Praises, to perform this with an Hearty inward Devotion, is principally required; and we are com∣manded, that since God is a Spirit, Christians must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth.* 1.24 Hence vast Numbers of Men do conclude, that Outward Reverence, by Kneeling, lifting up the Eyes, and the like, is a meer Outward Ceremony, not at all necessary under the Gospel; insomuch, that God is now most highly Dishonour'd, even in our Publick Assemblies, where we come to do him Honour, by the shameful want of Reverence, appearing in most People, by sitting at their very Prayers. So true it is what One said,

That such a rude and slovenly Kind of Religion,* 1.25 hath made its way into the World, by this Policy of Satan, and such a shameful Carelessness in Divine Worship; that should a Stranger to our Re∣ligion come into our Assemblies, he could not by the Carriage of the Generality of People, imagine what they were doing; and that they were Worshiping of the glorious Majesty of Heaven, would perhaps be one of the last Things he could Conjecture.

* 1.26But the most fatal Error of this Kind, the most mischievous to the Church and Nation, and to Men's Souls therein, Is the Prefer∣ring a way of performing a Duty, that is Ʋnpracticable by the Generality of Christians, to the utter Disparagement of another more easy, and no less acceptable way of discharging it. This is eminently seen in Ad∣vancing Extemporary Prayer, as the only Spiritual way of Worship∣ing,

and in raising Prejudices in the Minds of Christians against Forms of Prayer, as not Spiritual enough, if at all Lawful. It is very certain, that the far greatest Part of Christians are utterly un∣able to Conceive for themselves, much less before others, such Prayers, or Praises, as are proper for their Occasions, and fit to be Offer'd in Decency and Honour to so Great and Wise a Majesty, as God is. And this consider'd, if Prayers of other Godly Men's; nay, of a whole Church's composing, must not be Us'd; does it not necessa∣rily follow, that this Principal of all Christian, of all Natural Du∣ties, must suffer, if not a total Neglect, at least-wise, that it must be very indecently and rudely Perform'd, and in too familiar a man∣ner with God, as is too usual? Why, woful Experience does plainly shew us, that for this very Reason it does. And therefore,* 1.27 tho' no Church, through the Care of its Pious Bishops, and Pastors, did ever Abound with more excellent Forms and Helps, and those bet∣ter fitted for Publick, Family, and Private Devotion, than our Church does at this Day; yet upon the account of Men's Prejudices, which they have been taught to Entertain against Forms of Prayer, as not Lawful, or not Expedient, or not Spiritual enough; never did Persons so sadly Profane the Worship and Service of God, so heart∣lesly join in the Common-Prayer, so scandalously throw aside Family Religion, and so universally, I fear, neglect Private Devotion, as now they do. I fear, that those who so zealously decry Forms of Prayer, and that on purpose to Advance in its stead a more Spiritual way of Worship, as they think, will take it ill, that their darling Opinion should be Entituled to the Policy of so ill an Author; but, if considering the Mischief, together with the Cunning there does appear upon Examination, to be in Satan's Contrivances to Ruine Religion, and to draw us off from God; we may safely Conjecture any Doctrine, that is Pernicious in its Effects, when Plausible in its Appearance, to be of his Invention: surely that, which under the Colour of Advancing a more Spiritual Worship, does so fatally destroy all Religious Worship, has another Spirit for its Author, than is commonly Pretended.

And thus you may perceive, by these few Instances, whereby you may be enabled to make a happy Conjecture concerning the rest, how Cunningly Satan does Gild over, and Disguise his Errors with something of a Resemblance to Divine Truth, in order to prevent their Discovery: And this he does, especially in those Countries and Churches, where Men do Thirst after Divine Knowledge, and to that End do Search the Scriptures. The Devil's main and princi∣pal Care indeed, is to keep out the Word of God from shining upon any People; and at first he bends all his Forces to keep off the Preachers of it, that so the World being detain'd in Ignorance, they may not know how to Repent and Return to God: But when the Light of his Holy Gospel does once begin to shine upon any People, then all his Endeavours are to Corrupt and Deprave it with false and forc'd Explications, and to multiply Controversies and Conten∣tions in Religious Matters, to teach Men to Scruple every Thing, and out of a scrupulous Humour, to divide and sub-divide into in∣numerable Sects and Parties, stirring up each to Persecute and De∣stroy the other; that whilst the different Parties contend so furiously

with one another, he may securely Triumph over all, and bring the Holy Scriptures at last into Contempt with Prophane and Atheisti∣cal Men: As if they were the Occasion of all those Wars and Con∣fusions, that are occasion'd in the World by Religious Disputes; when alas! He alone, by managing the Lusts and corrupt Humours of sinful Men, is the cause thereof. So St. Jude, ver. 19. These be they who separate themselves, Sensual, having not the Spirit. They have not the Holy Spirit of God, tho' no none make more confident Boasts thereof, than Schismaticks and Separatists usually do: But the Spirit, which they have, is the Spirit of Satan, and of Sensuality, whatever Godliness and Purity above other Men they pretend to.

* 1.28But, Secondly, Is the Soil better prepared to his Mind? I mean, Is there no Prophecy, no Teaching? Are the Scriptures Lockt up in an unknown Tongue, and is a Cloud of Ignorance drawn over a whole Church? Why then he throws off the Veil, and walks as at Noon∣day: And there is no Error and Heresy so gross, there is no Do∣ctrine so contrary to Truth, that he will not Impose as an Article of their Belief. There is not that Ceremony so Absurd, Trifling, and Ridiculous, which he will not Introduce into such People's Worship: And there is no Immorality so bad in Practice, which he will not teach such People securely, and without Fear of Damnation to commit.

And I do call such Souls, who know not the Scriptures, and are utterly Ignorant of Divine Things, a Soil better prepared to his Mind; because he can, with the greatest Ease, reduce such back to his An∣cient Paganism and Idolatry,* 1.29 or something like it, which above all things he desires; because by Superstition and Idolatry he is more directly and immediately serv'd. As a Politick Prince, he'll make great Advantages of the Divisions of another's Subjects: But the Idolater is his immediate Slave, and therefore an ignorant Soul, as being most proper to sow that Weed in, is the Soil he does most of all like. But he has a wonderful skill in suiting his Seed to any Soil, so that whatever People's Interests, or Lusts do incline 'em to Be∣lieve, he will never fail to suggest such plausible Arguments, as will most probably take with 'em.

* 1.30Nor, Thirdly, Is Satan less Subtle in Distinguishing, which are the most fit and advantagious Seasons of sowing his Tares of corrupt Doctrines in the Field, or Church of Christ. Indeed, his great Dexterity and Policy is eminently seen in suiting his Counsels, his Actions, and his manner of Acting, to such Seasons, as are most proper to his Pur∣pose of seducing Mankind. And tho' it be his constant and per∣petual Endeavours, to Exercise his utmost Enmity against the Seed of the Woman, and to Establish his Kingdom amongst Men: Yet to fit his Counsels to proper Seasons, to suit 'em to the several Ages of the Church, to the Studies, and Dispositions, and Occupations of Men, that so he may commit no Blunder in his Politicks, is his great and mighty Care and Cunning. Of which, amongst other Instances that might be given, I will choose but One.

In the dark and ignorant Ages of the Church, which were from about the Ninth Century, till towards the time of the Reforma∣tion, when Men's Studies and Dispositions savour'd wholly of Su∣perstition; we hear of nothing so much in the Stories of those Times,

as of the Apparitions and Visions,* 1.31 that the Founders of their seve∣ral Orders, and superstitious Doctrines did receive: Insomuch, that no New Order of Monks and Fryars, nor any New Doctrine of Purgatory, Image-worship, Prayers to Saints, or any Pilgrimage to the Shrine of some Saint departed, was to be Invented; but either the Virgin Mary, or some other Saint, is said to have Appear'd, and to have Appointed it. And as Legendary and Fabulous, as were the Histories of those Times, I am apt to Believe there were such Apparitions, as I am throughly perswaded, that Samuel did Appear to Saul: But then, as it was not really Samuel himself, for his Body was in the Grave, and his Soul in Paradise (and it was not in the Power of the Witch of Endor, to Raise up the One from the Dust, much less to Recal the Other out of Heaven;) but the Devil, who did assume Samuel's Shape: So it is more than probable, he might appear in the Resemblance of the Blessed Virgin, and Others, to seduce the superstitious People of those Times into Idolatrous Practices, who throwing aside the Scriptures, Gave heed to Fables and Doctrines of Devils. It was infinitely then the Interest of his Kingdom so to do.

But pray Observe his different Policies at this Day.* 1.32 Now we live in a Learned and Inquisitive Age, wherein Men are naturally very suspicious, and not easy to believe what they do not see. And therefore partly through such an incredulous Temper of Mind, and partly through a Spirit of Atheism and Sadducism now Reigning, many, like the Sadducees of Old, will Believe no Spirits. And there∣fore now we do very seldom hear of any Apparition, and the Atheist cannot not obtain One, tho' he desires it, and would go many Miles to see One. The Reason is plain. Should the Devil appear to him, it would convince him there are those Invisible Powers, which now he denies; and therefore Satan, who is so Politick, will be as back∣ward to appear now, as he was forward then: Because it is as much his Interest to detain Men in Atheism and Sadducism in this, as in Superstition in former Ages.

Fourthly,* 1.33 And that there may be nothing wanting to compleat his Delusions, Satan is wonderfully cunning in making choice of fit and proper Instruments, and in furnishing those out, both with all the plausible Arts of Deceiving, and also with suitable Qualities, whom he employs to sow the Tares of corrupt Doctrines in the Souls of Men. This the Holy Spirit is particularly careful to Inform us of, and to Forewarn us against 'em; especially 2 Cor. 11.14. where the Apostle tells us, That As Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light (which he is, when under the plausible Appearance and Colour of Ad∣vancing God's Honour in some of his Attributes, and of setting up Gospel-Truths, as he would have 'em taken to be, he does Intro∣duce Heresies, and Vile Practices into the Church, that do most effectually undermine God's Authority amongst Men, and wholly Overthrow all Reverence to him:) So that those Teachers, his A∣gents, who do Infuse any of his false Doctrines into Men's Hearts, Are deceitful Workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ, ver. 13.

They are deceitful Workers, Teaching the Doctrines of Christia∣nity by Halves, sometimes Advancing Morality, and a Virtuous

Life, with the Neglect, if not with the Contempt of, and in op∣position to an Orthodox and sound Faith; sometimes on the other side, placing all Religion in Believing aright concerning God and Christ, and decrying the Interest of Good Works in our Justifica∣tion before God. And to the End they may be the better fitted to Deceive, he is not wanting to Furnish out his Instruments with all the most plausible Arts of Deceiving. And their deceitful Working is usually in the very same manner as the Devil's was. That wicked Spirit would have Tempted our Saviour desperately to throw himself down from the Pinacle of the Temple, and to presume upon God's working of a Miracle to preserve him in so doing. And to Encourage him therein, he quotes a Text of Scripture, which is in Psal. 91.11, 12. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee, and they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy Foot against a Stone. In the Quotation of which Place of Scripture, you may observe, he leaves out what makes against him, which are these Words, To keep thee in all his ways. The Words entire are, He shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all his ways; meaning, That so long as a Man keeps himself in the Ways of God, and in the Use of those due Means, which he has prescrib'd; he will not fail to Preserve him. And in the very same manner do most Heretical Deceivers delude the World. They will pretend the highest Veneration and Respect for Scripture, and none are so apt to quote it for every Thing they say, as they: But then if you observe them, they either leave out such Expressions, as make a∣gainst them, or consider not the Scope and Meaning thereof, with reference to the Context and Meaning of the fore-going and fol∣lowing words, or they put some forc'd and violent Interpretation upon 'em, not at all agreeable to the meaning thereof in that Place Thus they are Deceitful Workers.

And, They will Transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ, putting on the Garb and outward Appearance of Apostolick Ver∣tues and Graces, when they go forth into the World to disperse these their Errors. Indeed Satan is careful to furnish those, whom he sends out, with suitable and agreeable Qualities, according to the Nature of those Errors they are to sow in the World. If their Business is to undermine the Faith of Christians, to disparage the more mysterious Doctrines of Christianity, of a Trinity of Persons in one Divine Nature,* 1.34 and of the Divinity and Satisfaction of Christ, and to place the whole of the Christian Religion in Morality, and a Good Life; why then he will adorn his Agents with the fair and plausible Vertues of Humanity, and Courtesy, and Civility of Man∣ners, which are most taking amongst Persons of better Quality, the likeliest Soil to sow Heterodox Opinions of that Nature in.

But on the other side, Is it his Design to starve that Part of Christianity, which consists in the Practice of moral Vertues, and to Represent it all as Mystery?* 1.35 Why then his Agents shall have the Gift of Uttering themselves in Canting Phrases, and obscure and dark Forms of Expressions, that seem to have something of My∣steriousness in them. And all they teach, it shall look as if it were inspir'd, being pour'd forth with mighty Noise and Vehemence, ac∣company'd sometimes with Tremblings and Shakings, as if under some strong Impulse from a Spirit within.

And yet to see the Crooked Windings of this Subtle Serpent,* 1.36 you shall observe (which is a wonderful Artifice of Satan) even those very Persons, whose Doctrines do directly tend to render an Honest and Upright Conversation very insignificant in Religion, to be not∣withstanding themselves very Demure, and in outward Appear∣ance Sanctify'd Persons; no Swearers, nor Riotous Livers, and free from those gross and scandalous Immoralities, which some of the Professors of a much better Religion are perhaps notoriously Guilty of; insomuch that the undiscerning Part of Men do often Embrace those very Heresies, which naturally and directly tend to Encourage Sin, and Dishonesty, and Unmercifulness: And in a word, To render Men secure in the Practice of any Wickedness, meerly for the sake of the appearing Holiness of those Men's Lives, who teach those Principles tending to Immorality. And this is an extraordinary Reach in Satan. That impure Spirit is sometimes content, that some of his principal Agents should not be immorally Wicked; for by few such Men's seeming Godliness, he Propagates those dangerous and destructive Principles, which will make Mul∣titudes become securely, and without Remorse of Conscience, Vil∣lainously Wicked.

And now there is not a greater Difficulty perhaps in the whole Christian Warfare,* 1.37 than to preserve One-self untainted with Here∣sies, and the most poisonous Errors, colour'd over with a meer Re∣semblance of Gospel-Truth.

But however, as difficult as it is, no honest Mind, that will be careful to weigh those Poisonous Doctrines, and the Persons who Propagate them in the Ballance of the Sanctuary; that is, by those Rules, which the Scripture has given us: But may be able to dis∣cover the Lightness and Vanity of both, and so to Renounce both one and the other. And that which every one is to do, that he may Renounce them, is not to be too easy in Entertaining 'em, because Plausible at first appearance; but impartially to Try and Examine, by a true and infallible Touch-stone, both their Doctrines, and those who Propagate them, whether they Be of God. Thus we are directed, 1 Joh. 4.5. Beloved, Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of God, because many false Prophets are gone out into the World.

And how shall you do this? Why the Scripture does give you Two most infallible and plain Rules whereby to do it. The one Matth. 7.16. The other the Verse immediately following the now cited Place of St. John. That in Matthew is this,* 1.38 You shall know them by their Fruits. If their Doctrines are apt to infuse into your Minds any unworthy and undue Thoughts of God, or any Seeds of Impiety, Injustice, Uncleanness, Uncharitableness, Sedition, Re∣bellion, in a word, if they do Countenance any Immorality, &c.* 1.39 Let their Pretences and Carriage be never so fair and free from Scandal, to be sure they are False Prophets, and the Devil's Agents. The Rule given us, 1 Joh. 4.2, 3. whereby to discover the Doctrines of Satan's infusing, is this; Hereby know ye the Spirit of God; every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come into the Flesh, is not of God. By Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh, is meant, that Jesus Christ took our Nature upon him, that he might be a Me∣diatour

betwixt God and Us, to Reconcile the Father to us, by his Satisfaction and Intercession for us. And whosoever shall teach contrary to this, so as to take off our Dependance upon Christ, let him seem never so Zealous for a Good Life, his Doctrine is of Sa∣tan's devising.

The whole Design of Christianity is, no doubt, as appears from these Two former Rules, to make us Holy in this World; and yet withal to create in us such a Dependance and Reliance on Christ for Salvation, as to expect it, not on the account of our own Holy Per∣formances, which are so imperfect, but in the Vertue of Christ's Mediation with the Father for us. And whosoever will but care∣fully Examine the several false Doctrines, so much Preacht up at this Day by our Enemies on either side, by these Two Rules, shew∣ing the Design of Christianity, I am verily perswaded, will find most of them to thwart one Part, or other of this Design; and that either they discourage Holiness, or if they seem to stand upon the Necessity thereof, they decry the Necessity of our Dependance upon Christ's Mediation for God's Acceptance of it to our Justification; and so by one, or other of these Rules, we may discover them to be Doctrines of Satan's infusing. Most of the Doctrines of the Church of Rome do plainly tend to make Men secure in a Course of Sin; and those Antinomian Tenets, wherewith some of our Dissenting Brethren are too much in Love, do also tend to the same, causing us to depend so entirely on Christ's satisfaction, as to make us neglect the Working out our own Salvation: On the contrary, the Socinian, at the same time he pretends much for Morality, and a Good Life, denies the Sacrifice and Satisfaction of Christ, and that God the Father gave him to be an Attonement for the Sins of Mankind, and in the Vertue of his precious Blood, to intercede in Heaven for our Reconciliation; so that he wholly takes off our Faith, or Depen∣dance on Christ for Justification. Thus may the most dangerous Errors, now in the Church of Christ, with a little Watchfulness and Care to examine the Tendency of them, be discover'd by you, from whose Suggestions they proceed, and that they are Tares of the Enemies, that is, the Devil's sowing, whilst the Husbandman was asleep.

But do you, I beseech you, carefully beware of such false Do∣ctrines, and deceitful Teachers; both which are Satan's Tempta∣tions to draw you unwittingly to sin against, and dishonour God: And tho' his Agents seem never so Demure, and appear never so Sanctify'd, who do teach Men such Doctrines; Beware of those Wolves, who come to you in Sheeps cloathing, you shall know them by their Fruits. If they shall endeavour to instil into your Minds, any undue Ap∣prehensions of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, contrary to what you are taught out of the Scripture, in the Doctrine of our Church; or any pernicious Opinions, that in their Nature and Ten∣dency shall render an Holy, Good Life unnecessary to our Justifi∣cation; assure your selves they are no Ministers of Christ, but of Satan: And are set on work by him to destroy God's Authority, amongst Men, and to set up his own Laws in their Hearts, the Thing he aims at. And so much for this Time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What Temp∣tations Satan levels against the Church of Christ.
• * 1.2

  God recovers out of the Fallen Race of Mankind a Body of Men, the Church, to his service, List∣ing 'em under Jesus Christ to Fight a∣gainst Satan.
• * 1.3

  The Devil Enrag'd to have his Prey snatcht out of his Teeth, con∣tinually At∣tacks it.
• * 1.4

  His first and chief en∣deavours are utterly to de∣stroy it from off the Face of the Earth.
• * 1.5

  This he en∣deavour'd to do in the Per∣son of Abel.
• * 1.6

  And when afterwards Recruited in the Family of Seth, yet he Reduc'd it again by the bloody Poste∣rity of Cain, to Eight Per∣sons in the days of Noah
• * 1.7

  When after the Flood, God chose A∣braham and his Posterity to be a special People unto himself, Sa∣tan endea∣vour'd utter∣ly to have ex∣tinguisht that People by his Servant Pha∣raoh.
• * 1.8

  And in all Periods till our Saviour's coming, he stir'd up the Idolatrous Nations their Neighbours, especially the Four Monar∣chies to har∣rass them.
• * 1.9

  But soon af∣ter that Christ appeared in the World, did he most Vigorously exert his Ma∣lice against it.
• * 1.10

  So that for the first 300 Years we hear of nothing but of bloody Persecutions.
• * 1.11

  The Empe∣rors of Rome the Instru∣ments, but Satan the In∣stigator.
• * 1.12

  And whereso∣ever any At∣tempt is made to Convert a Country from Paganism, he does Instigate the Princes and People thereof to Persecute & Destroy the Preachers of the Gospel.
• * 1.13

  And he is no less Industri∣ous to drive Christianity out of those Countries, whereof it had once pos∣session.
• * 1.14

  And he has an Anti Chri∣stian Party within the Bowels of Christendom, most sadly weakening Christ's, and most effectu∣ally promote∣ing the Inte∣rests of his own King∣dom.
• * 1.15

  And now all Christians are so far to Renounce Sa∣tan, with re∣spect to those his persecute∣ing Tempta∣tions, as to submit to the sorest Suffer∣ings, which Satan and his wicked In∣struments can Inflict, ra∣ther than de∣ny Christ, or his Truths.
• * 1.16

  II. When those bloody Me∣thods fail, Satan then does endea∣vour so to cor∣rupt Men's Notions of God and Re∣ligion, that by their very Christianity they may dis∣honour him.
• * 1.17

  These Poli∣tick Methods of his, disco∣ver'd to us under the Pa∣rable of a malicious E∣nemy coming privately in the Night, & sowing Tares where the Husbandman had before sown good Seed.
• * 1.18

  Like a skil∣ful Husband∣man he is choice about the Nature of the Seed, the Temper and Preparedness of the Soil, the Fitness of the Season, and the skil∣fulness of the Seeds-man.
• * 1.19

  First, As to the Nature of the Seed, he takes care his Heretical Opinions and Practices should bear some Resemblance of Divine Truth, in order to conceal their Discovery.
• * 1.20

  Thus especi∣ally he Gilds his Errors, where the Light of the Gospel does most clearly shine, as here
• * 1.21

  I. When under the plausible Appearance of Advance∣ing God's Honour, in some of his Attributes, he renders him Odious and Despis'd in Others
• * 1.22

  II. When under the Colour of Advancing Gospel truths, he propagates Heresies, w^ch do undermine Religion and the Necessity of a holy Life.
• * 1.23

  III. When he teaches to pre∣fer some emi∣nent Christi∣an Duty, or some Part of a Duty, or one Way of performing a Duty, to the disparage∣ment of ano∣ther.
• * 1.24

  As to prefer Prayer to the neglect of Preaching, or Sermons to the Contempt of Prayer.
• * 1.25

  As also pray∣ing in Spirit, to the regard of Bodily Worship.
• * 1.26

  And Extem∣porary Pray∣er to the ut∣ter Contempt of Forms of Prayer.
• * 1.27

  By this lat∣ter Means, Satan has ut∣terly Defeat∣ed those ex∣cellent Helps we have in our Church, and brought in a great Neglect of Publick, Fa∣mily, and pri∣vate Devo∣tion.
• * 1.28

  II. As to the Temper and Preparation of the Soil, in Churches where the-scriptures are lockt up, and ignorance pre∣vails, he im∣poses the gros∣sest Heresies, as Articles of Faith.
• * 1.29

  Especially he introduces I∣dolatry and Superstition, whereby he is most immedi∣ately and di∣rectly serv'd.
• * 1.30

  III. As to the fitness of the Season, he is dexterous in Accomodate∣ing his Coun∣sels, his Acti∣ons, and his manner of acting to such Seasons, as are most proper to his Purpose of seducing Mankind.
• * 1.31

  Hence in dark and ignorant Ages, nothing so common as the Appariti∣ons of Saints, as was pre∣tended to in∣troduce the belief of Pur∣gatory, I∣mage-Wor∣ship, and the like Supersti∣tions.
• * 1.32

  And in lear∣ned and Phi∣losophical A∣ges he is as shy in appear∣ing, lest he should destroy the prevailing Sadducism.
• * 1.33

  IV. As to the skilfulness of the Seedsman, Satan is won∣derfully cun∣ning in make∣ing choice of fit and proper Instruments, and in fur∣nishing those with the pro∣per Arts of Deceiving, and with sui∣table Quali∣ties, whom he employs to sow the Seed of corrupt Doct∣rine in the Souls of men.
• * 1.34

  Such as place all Religion in Morality, shall be ador∣ned with Hu∣manity.
• * 1.35

  Such as turn it all into My∣stery, shall be Gifted with Canting.
• * 1.36

  And yet sometimes the Crooked Ser∣pent by Men seeming God∣ly, will pro∣pagate Prin∣ciples ex∣treamly Im∣moral.
• * 1.37

  The most difficult Part of a Christi∣an's Warfare is to preserve One self un∣tainted with Heretical Pravity, co∣lour'd over with the Var∣nish of Gos∣pel-Truth.

  But yet by Trying it by proper Rules it may be done, viz.
• * 1.38

  I. By its Ten∣dency to an Ill Life.
• * 1.39

  II. By its Ta∣king off from our Depend∣ance upon the Mediation of Christ, for the Acceptance of a good One.