Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed

LECT. 4th. Octob. 31. 1649.

Ephes. 6. 13.

WE have done with the first Doctrine that Christians are liable to an evill day of Temptation. The second Doctrine followeth, which is also implyed, viz.

That it is the duty of every Christian, man∣fully

to withstand and oppose Satan in the e∣vill day of Temptation. We must 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 As often as the Devill shall rise up against us, so often must we rise up against him, and make resistance; whether he assault us imme∣diately by throwing his suggestions and in∣jections into the soul with his own hand, or whether he make use of any other Instrument to tempt us in his stead; whether the Instru∣ment be a friend, or an enemy; whatsoever kind of Temptation it be, or whatsoever way of assault be used, it is the Duty and part of a Christian, to make open and resolute re∣sistance.

I shall 1. Frove the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. That it is so. 2. Prove the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Why it is so.

1. For the Quodsit. Let these three things be considered, which do sufficiently make it out.

(1) What ever is positively and peremptori∣ly commanded unto Christians, that ought to be performed: The Command of God layes an obligation upon the soul, which is indis∣pensible. But God chargeth this upon all, by way of Precept. I shall bring two Texts, James 4. 7. Resist the Devill, &c. And again, * 1.1 1 Pet. 8. 9. Your adversary the Devill, as a roaring Lyon walketh about, seeking whom he may devoure, whom resist steadfast in the faith. In which place these 2. things are to be obser∣ved. * 1.2 First, the Devills unwearied diligence in assaulting, he goeth about, casting his darts,

and spreading his snares, that he may surprize and catch us. And secondly the Christians Du∣ty in reference to these assaults: He must resist steadfast in the faith. Eph. 4. 27.

(2.) The commendable examples which we have in Scripture, are to be imitated; Now we have very Rare examples of this Duty. We have the example of Christ, and of holy men, led by the spirit of Christ. He resisted both the immediate, and the mediate Assaults of that Wicked-one. In Matth. 4. we have Satan ap∣pearing to Christ in a visible shape, tempting him, and fighting with him. He makes a threefold assault, If thou be the Son of God, com∣mand that these stones be made bread, v. 3. If thou be the Son of God, cast thy selfe down, v. 6. All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. v. 9. And we finde a threefold opposition. It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the word of God. v. 4. It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, v. 7. And again, it is written, Thou shalt wor∣ship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt thou serve. v. 10. Though our Saviour was patient∣ly contented to be buffetted by men, yet he would not endure the buffettings of Satan. When the Jews smote him with the palms of their hands, and with reeds upon the head, he made no resistance: but when Satan smites him with temptations, then he opposed. And when he assaulted him by an Instrument, we finde he made the same Opposition. In

Mat. 16. 22, 23. Our Saviour had there dis∣coursed with his Disciples about his passion, verse 21. The Son of man must go up to Jerusa∣lem, and suffer many things of the Elders and chief Priests, and Scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised again. The Devill knowing well, that the Death of Christ would be the ruine of his kingdom; for he remembred what was threatned in Paradise, Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head: Therefore he instills this motion into Peter; if it were possible, to divert him from the work of Redemption. Our Saviour seeing from whence this suggestion came, makes a violent resistance, Get thee behinde me Satan, thou art an offence unto me. The very same words he uttered to Satan, immediately tempting him, Matth. 4. 10. he now useth to Peter, the Deputy of Satan in this action, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And as our Saviour, so those who were acted by his spirit: Job when his Wise was made the Devills hand, to convey poyson into his soul, in the evill day of his af∣fliction, he doth resolutely oppose the Temp∣tation: Curse God, saith she, and die, Job 2. 9. Rid thy self of this intolerable burthen, which is heavier then death it selfe. Thou speakest, saith he, as one of the foolish women speake, What, shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evill also? vers. 10. He would not drink of Satans Cup, though his own Wife was made the Cup-bearer, but

puts it away from him with indignation, and just rebuke.

(3.) We are commanded to pray, that God would not suffer us to be led into temptation, so as that we should consent and yield to it, Matth. 6. 13. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evill. In which Petition we pray, that, if God do suffer Satan to break loose upon us, and to shoot his Arrows at us, yet that he would not give us up into his power, but enable us by his grace, that we may never yield with willing consent, to com∣ply with any of his Temptations. Now its a sure Rule, That what good we beg by prayer, from the hand of God, we use all lawfull means to accomplish; And whatsoever evill we pray against, that we diligently use our own endeavour, by all good means, to avoid and eschew the same; otherwise our prayers will be but idle, unbelieving Prayers, & meer taking of the name of God in vain: we must Work out our salvation, as well as Pray that we may be saved: yea our very praying for salvation, layes this obligation upon us, to work out our salvation: Our very praying for our daily bread, bindes us to use holy labour and diligence, that we may have bread to eat; and our very praying for remission of sins, en∣gageth us to joyn Repentance and Faith in Christ, that our sins may be forgiven: so doth our praying, that we may not be overcome by temptation, engage us to make resistance

against assayling temptation. When the Chil∣dren of Israel were endangered by the Egyp∣tians behind, and the red Sea before; Moses cryed unto God by prayer: And when he had done, stood still; saith God to him, Exod. 14. 14. Wherefore cryest thou unto me? Speak unto the Children of Israel, that they go forward; but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the Sea, and divide it. As if God should have said: if you pray to be delivered, you must work to be delivered: you must watch as well as pray. If you would have me to save you, you must use all lawfull means for your own preservati∣on. And we have the like reasoning with Jo∣shuah: When there was such a defeat received before the City of Ai in the Land of Canaan, Joshuah and the Elders of Israel fell down be∣fore the Lord, and cast dust upon their heads, and make a very patheticall and fervent pray∣er, Cap. 7. 6. 7, 8. Alas, O Lord God, where∣fore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hands of the A∣monites, to destroy us, &c? The Canaanites and all the Inhabitants of the Land, shall hear of it, and shall environ us round about, and cut off our name from the earth, &c. Saith God, v. 10, 11, 12, 13. wherefore lyest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned and trans∣gressed my Covenant, &c. Up, sanctifie the people, &c. As if God should have said, If you do expect to have this breach repayred, you must removere prohibens, take away that which

hath brought upon your selves, and which will continue this ill success, if it be not re∣moved. Thus for the Quod sit, That it is so.

2. For the Cur sit, Why it is so. There is very great reason for this Opposition.

(1.) From the worth and preciousness of that which lieth at stake in this controversie. Sa∣tans name is in Hebrew Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon; and in English, A Destroyer, Rev. 9. 11. And the end of his design in all his Assaults, is answerable to his Name, he comes to rob, kill, and destroy; and that not the body and outward man onely, but that which is of more value then all the world be∣sides, the Immortall Soul.

Satan saith, as the King of Sodom to Abra∣ham, Gen. 14. 21. Give me the Souls, and take the goods to thy selfe. He matters not who car∣ry away all other spoyl, so that he may have the soul for his Dividend. He fights against them by his Temptations, that he may de∣prive them of that eternall and exceeding weight of glory. Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy Crown. Rev. 3. 11. Satan doth not contend for Counters, but for Crowns; and those not temporall and corrup∣tible, but eternall and incorruptible, 1 Cor. 9. 25. Non controvertitur de limitibus, sed de ipsâ haereditate. You read of an Inheritance in∣corruptible, immortall, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you. 1 Pet. 1. 4. The end of all Satans Assaults, is

to wipe you of this Inheritance. He assaults you, that he may bring you into bondage to his Common-wealth and Tyranny, the worst of all Tyrannies. Contentions and oppositi∣ons for triviall and trifling matters, are not worth taking up; and if they be taken up, e∣very prudent man will soon lay them asleep; but when great things are at stake, Cowards will be valiant. Such is the matter of a Chri∣stians opposition. Ergo.

(2.) From the justness and lawfulness of the Warre. There are two things which make a Warre lawfull and just. 1. The Call of a just Authority. 2. A just cause. If either of these be wanting, there can be no comfort in un∣dertaking any Warre. To go forth in any publique Warre against any, without the Call of lawfull Authority, is to commit murther. I say in publique Warre, because in case of ab∣solute necessity, when a man is assaulted by Theeves and Robbers (pro termino in divisibili for that very instant) he is his own Magistrate. Andrews upon the Commandments. p. 741. Exod. 22. 2. Necessitas dicit legem Legi. Its observed, that when Joshuah was dead, the Children of Israel could not go out to warre though with the Canaanites, whom God had devoted to destruction, till they had received Authority from God, they would first have a lawfull Guide, Judge 1. 1. After the death of Joshua, it came to passe, that the Children of Israel, asked of the Lord, saying, Who shall

goe up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? And David would not fight with Goliah, untill he had a commission from Saul, 1 Sam, 17. 37.

And to undertake a war when the cause is not just, is no lesse then a breach of the same commandement, Thou shalt not kill. Espe∣cially in the magistrate who makes such a war: for whether the private person who is a sub∣ject, is to dispute the law fullnesse of the Prin∣ces war; or whether he be not engaged to assist upon his command, if he know not the war to be absolutely unrighteous, is a great dispute; but it is without controversy that the Authority making an unlawfull war, is guilty of Murther. But now in this matter, there is a concurrence of both these, (1) you have a law∣full Authority calling you out to fight. God who is the Supreme Authority, to whomall creatures owe obedience and subjection, he calls you to make opposition against Satan.

And then. (2) The cause is very just. For Sa∣tan in assaulting any of the Children of God is a meer usurper: he hath no right over you, you are not his but the Lords, by creation, by redemption, by speciall dedication, &c. Sa∣tan is Tyrannus sine titulo: you do but defend your own souls, and the Territory and Domi∣nion of God and Jesus Christ in you and over you, whose Dominion you are bound to preserve.

3 From the Necessity of opposing: There's

no other meanes which can do us any good, if this be neglected. There are but these four things which can be imagined to help an assaulted Christian. Flying, Yielding, Com∣pounding, & Opposing; now none of these be∣sides the last, will be available in this case.

1. Flying is to no purpose: Whither can he Fly? (1) There's no castle or place of refuge on earth which can keepe out Satan. The Devils are Spirits, Spirituall wickednesses, Eph. 6. 12. and we know no earthly place can keep out a Spirit. Spirits have not flesh and bones, they can easily penetrate into any place: you cannot keep out the ayre out of any close Dungeon; and how then can you keep out Satan who is more spirituall then the ayre or the light? (2) The Devill is swift of foot, he can easily o∣vertake you, if you should fly. And ti's obser∣vable that in all the spirituall Armour there is nothing appointed to cover the backparts. If you once turne your back, you give the Devill a faire marke where his Arrows will presently fasten.

2. Yielding will not helpe you; the De∣vill is a very mercilesse creature: he that sub∣mits himselfe to his fury, puts the Knife into his own bowels. The Devill gives no quarter to any sinner that ever yeelds some. Say of the Lyon, that he will spare the prey that lyeth un∣der his feet; but this roaring Lyon the Devill is most cruell to them that stoope. And then besides; he that yeelds, puts himselfe out of the

compasse of Christs prayer. I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not, Luc. 22. 32. Christ doth not make intercession for yeelding sin∣ners, but for opposing sinners; he prayes that the faith of contending sinners do not faile, but he doth not intercede that such as will not fight, should be defended.

3 Compounding is unavayleable: Satan will never make any composition but for his own advantage: and the Devills advantage will be the sinners detriment if not his destruction. And besides; if he should seale to any good termes, yet would he keepe none. He is a perfidious creature, as wel as a mercilesse crea∣ture: when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; forhe is a lyar, and the Father there∣of, Joh. 8. 44. I will be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets, saith Satan to God, when he had power given him over Ahab. 1. Reg. 22. 22. He is a dissembler, therefore when he maketh his voyce gracious, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart, Pro. 27. 25. The Devill somtimes transforms himselfe into an Angell of light, 2 Cor: 11. 14, but he is never more an Angell of darknesse than when he is transformed in∣to an Angell of light. He is never a greater enemy then when he appeares in the shape of a friend. When he set upon our first parents, he came to them as a friend, pretending his griefe that they were debarred from the tree of knowledge, & makes himself a greater friend

than God was. Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the Garden? Gen. 3. 1. as if he should say, My soul is troubled for you, that the desire of your soul should be with-held from you: take but my counsel, your condition shall be bet∣terd: But what was at the bottome of that friendship, we find by sad experience. When he set upon the second Adam, he pretends the like friendship to him; If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread, Mat. 4. 3. He seemes to be much affected, that a person of such worth as Christ was, should want bread, after forty dayes fasting; but his intention was to have choked Christ, and all his Elect, with his bread. If ever Satan reach out his hand to kiss you, be sure there is a dag∣ger under his garment to stab you; like Judas, he hath the greatest prank of Treason to act, When he comes with an Hail Master.

(4) From the benefit of resisting: As there is hazard of ruine in submitting; so there is cer∣tainty of Victory in opposing. When Christ had made avaliant resistance, the text saith, the Devil gave way, & left him, Mat. 4. 11. And so wil he, at least, be inforced to leave, if you continue in your opposition. We have not onely a Pro∣mise for this, Jam. 4. 7. but we have many Ex∣periences: Job, by his constancy in opposing, over-came the Tempter at last: God appeares in the end of the battel, and gives him the garland Cap. 42. 7, 8. Peter was sifted much, but he overcame at last. Paul was long and sorely

buffeting; yet triumphed before his death in that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or song of Victory, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. and is now in despight of the Devil a trium∣phant Saint. And all that glorious Company in Heaven, who are described with Palms in their hands, and Robes upon their backs, and Crowns upon their heads, Rev. 7. 9. are at this present, singing the song of Victory unto God, and unto the Lamb.

Reproof to two sorts of persons: * 1.3

(1.) Such as, instead of withstanding Satan the evil Spirit, withstand and oppose the Spi∣rit of Christ, quenching, and grieving, and re∣sisting his blessed Motions. Steven sayes this to the charge of those obstinate Jews, Act. 7. 51. Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and eares, ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost; as your Fathers did, so do ye. There are many in this way of opposition, resisting the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word, and in the immediate motions and suggestions put into their hearts. When the Spirit moves them to pray, they oppose him: When the Spirit bids them hear, they stop their eares; and when the Spirit bids them, Seek ye my face; they an∣swer, Thy face will we not seek. I would have such men to consider a few things seriously: These two things.

1. There's no man knows whether the Spirit will move once more in his heart, or no: That which Solomon saith in another case, we may as truly say in this case, Eccles. 8. 8. There is no

man hath power over the Spirit, to retain the Spirit. The Spirit of God is a free Agent; He workes when, and where, and as long as he pleaseth; he bloweth where he listeth, &c. Many a man would now be glad to feel those movings upon his soul, which he hath stifled formerly by his own sinful opposings, but can∣not redeem them.

2. How unable you will be to act in any good, when the Holy Spirit of God is silenced. 'Tis the Spirit of God which workes in you, both to will and to do, Phil. 2. 23. And if this Wheel do not turn, there will never be any good mo∣tion in the Soul. The Soul without the Holy Spirit, is but as a dead Corps with a living soul, not able to act at all: If there be neither Wind nor Tide, the Ship cannot sayl. The Spi∣rit of God is both the Wind and Tide of all Motions in the soul; and if this stir not, there is no action. It is with man, in regard of spi∣ritual operations, as it was with the Wheeles in Ezekiels Vision, and the living Creatures, Ezek. 1. 19, 20. 21. When the living Creatures went, the Wheeles went by them; and when the living Creatures stood, the Wheeles stood; and when the living Creatures were lifted up, the Wheeles were lifted up &c. The Soul of Man is a Wheel which is fit for motion; but it cannot move when the Spirit of God doth not move: If the Spirit stand still, the Wheeles stand still; and if the Spirit be lifted up, the Wheeles are lifted up: otherwise no motion.

(2.) Such as instead of withstanding the As∣saults of Satan, do indeed carry on the assaults of Satan; use all meanes they can, that they may both fashion, and animate, and give breath to all Satans Conceptions, in their own, and others hearts. They hatch the Cocka∣trice eggs, and weave the Spiders web, Isa. 59. 5. They are ready to put Tooles and Instruments into the hand of the Devil, and to do his work for him. The Apostle speakes of some that make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof, Rom. 13. ult. So, many make provision for the Devil, that they may accomplish his temptations: They use all means to edge his temptations, that they may pierce to the bot∣tome: they put feathers upon his arrows, that they may fly swiftly. Jonadab was guilty of this sinne towards Ammon; He sets on the temp∣tation of the Devil, and promotes sinne, and be∣comes a Pander to his lust, 2 Sam. 13. 4, 5. Jezabel she promotes Satans temptation against her husband; I wil, saith she give thee the vineyard of Naboth, 1 Reg. 21. 7. She became a very Devil to her Husband, so do many persons to them∣selves go up and down, seeking occasions and opportunities, to further Satans temptation. If Satan tempt them to drunkenness, they go presently abroad to seek Companions; and if he perswade them to uncleanness, they use all helpes and incentives to that sinne, &c. It is a very cursed thing, and a sacrilegious sin, to help the Devil against Christ, either in your

selves, or others. The Serpent was cursed for being an Instrument to the Adversary, in his assaulting of our first Parents, Gen. 3. 14. And Jezabel bears this infamous brand; She made Ahab to sin. Jezabel his wife stirred up, &c. Such as blow up Satans sparks of temptation in their own hearts are Felones de se, Self-Murtherers, which of all Murtherers are the most bloody, and confiscate all they have.

Exhortation: to perswade all Christians to * 1.4 this resolution. Play the men, and stand out against the Devil and all his Instruments. Keep your footing, and yield not in any case; though he come upon you, as Goliah did upon David, with open mouth; yet keep your ground, and flinch not at any hand. And for your encouragement, consider:

(1.) That Satan is but a Creature, though he be strong and cruel; yet his strength is but a created strength: he is potent, but not omni∣potent. Omnipotency is incompatible to a Creature. He is the strong man armed; but Jesus Christ is stronger then he: and though you cannot, yet he can disarm him, and take away that wherein he trusteth, Luke 11. 22.

(2.) That he is a Creature under a Curse: This may take off much from that dreadfulness which many look upon him with, vid. Gen. 3. 14. Cursed shalt thou be above all the Beasts of the field▪ &c. There is nothing which may more encourage a Child of God in his spiritual En∣counters,

then this, That all he dispures against are under a Divine Execration: Gods Curse is a weakning thing.

(3) He is a wounded and conquered Crea∣ture, Gen. 3. 15. He shall break thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Our Saviour, I remember, encourageth his Disciples against troubles from the World, by this very Argument, I have overcome the World, Joh. 16. 33. He hath overcome the Devil, as well as the World, for he triumphed over Principalities and Powers on the Cross, Col. 2. 15. Christ put Satan to flight in his assaults, Matth. 4. 11. and that as our Head. Satan overcame all Mankind in the first Adam; but in the second Adam he is o∣vercome by all the Elect in Christs Victories, Ephes. 2. 6. So in this.

(4) He is a chained Creature also, Rev. 20. 1, 2. God keeps him fast in Irons; he was put into Fet∣ters ever since his (2 Pet. 2. 4.) first Rebellion, and he cannot shake them off, Jude 6. And this chain doth so confine him, that he cannot stir, until God slack his Chain. Let me touch his flesh and bone, and he will curse thee to thy face; Job 2. 5. And ye know he was not able to en∣ter into the Herd of Swine, till Christ had slackened his chain, Luk. 8. 32. how much more is a Saint better then a Swine? I shall to these Encouragements add one more: Re∣member your Sacramental Oath in Baptisme made to God: then it was, you took Prest∣money to serve in Gods wars; And that you

should oppose the Devil, was a part of your engagements: Perjury is a hainous sinne; the very light of Nature abhors it, and God hath, and will severely avenge it, vid. Zech. 5. 4.

Now if you would Oppose to any bene∣fit, you should be carefull of these three things:

1. Study his stratagems, 2 Cor. 2. 11. This will help you much in Opposing. The Apostle, in Ephes. 6. 11. mentions his wiles.

2. Oppose him at a distance: It's best fight∣ing an enemy in his own Territories; prudent Warriours endeavour to do so.

3. Use the right Armour: Of which, we shall speak in the next Doctrine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Ʋse 1.
• * 1.4

  Ʋse 2.