A Hunter is one that pursues, or eagerly follows after his Prey, what sort of Beasts soever he hunts, he seems unwearied in his Pursuit, his Heart is affected with his Game, and hence takes great delight in it: So the Devil pursues Sinners, nay and the Godly too, for they are part of his Game, and how eagerly doth he pursue them, 'tis the only thing he seems to delight in, he is never weary of this work, nor in the work.
II. A Hunter in pursuing after the poor sensitive Beast, designs to kill and destroy them, 'tis to take their Lives away, &c. So the Devil in hunting after the Souls of Men, his grand design is to destroy them, He seek••th whom he may devour; 'tis the Soul, the Life of the Soul, he strives to destroy. As David speaks of his Enemy, Thou huntest after my Soul to take it,* 1.1 so may every Man and Woman say of Satan.
III. A Hunter has many Devices and cunning Stratagems to ensnare the Game he pursues: So the Devil hath many Snares and cunning Wiles to catch and destroy the Souls of Men, Hence he is compared to a Serpent: We are not ignorant saith Paul, of his Devices,* 1.2 and in a∣nother place, he exhorts the Saints to put on the whole Armour of God, that they may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil. The Greek Word signifies such Snares as are set to catch a Man, He will deliver thee, saith the Psalmist, from the Snare of the Hunter,* 1.3 meaning (saith Ainsworth) the Devil; Satan hath many Devices and Snares to draw Men into Sin. 1. By persuading the Soul it is no great matter, 'tis, saith he, but a little one. 2. By presenting the Pleasure and Profit of sinful Practices, and hiding the Shame thereof, and the Wrath and Misery they will certainly bring on the Soul at last. 3. He lays before a Man the Sins of good Men, O saith he do you not find that such and such Godly Men have done as bad as this, was not David overcome with Adultery, Ezekiah with Pride, and Noah with Drunkenness, &c. but all the while he strives to hide from them their Vertue and unfeigned Repentance, and utter abhorrence of these Sins afterwards. 4. He presents God to the Soul, as one made up all of Mercy, and that Repentance will make all whole again; but afterwards, it may be, when the Soul is defiled by yielding to his Temptation, persuades Souls the Sin is so great, and God so just, that he will not pardon Sin, 'tis little before committed, but great when 'tis committed, and this way he seeks to ensnare the Sinner. 5. Another way he hath to catch his Prey with, is by leading the Soul into the way of Sin, it may be, to the Harlots, Door, he allures into the Company of Sinners, and entices the Soul to contemplate upon Sin to toy a little with Dalilah (as it were) and a Multitude of other Snares he hath.
IV. A Hunter, that he may the better catch his Prey, hath not only his Snares, but also his Dogs, and them of every sort fit for his Sport and Enterprize, he hath his setting-Dogs, his scenting Dogs, his race-Dogs, some to start his Game, and others to pursue his Game, &c. So the Devil, the great Hunter of Souls, hath, besides his subtile Wiles and Snares, fit Instru∣ments to effect and accomplish his Design; he has his Dogs (for so as we have shewed you else where) wicked Men are called, and them also of every sort, some great ones, and some small ones, some that are like setting-Dogs, who watch how they may trapan, and prey up∣on the Godly to draw them into Sin, or into Sufferings; and others, who are like cruel Blood-Hounds, who, as being void of Mercy, endeavour to tear the Saints in pieces.
V. Some Hunters mind little else, save Hunting; 'tis said of Nimrod,* 1.4 he was a mighty Hunter▪ &c. So the Devil he is a mighty Hunter, he minds nothing more than the hunting of the Souls of Men, O the Millions, that he hath catched and destroyed, he is a most cruel Hunter.
VI. Some Hunters are very swift and diligent in the pursuit of their Prey, they will ride over many Fields in a day, they will search and beat about with abundance of dilig••nce, to find out their Game, they are it may be here now, and a few hours hence many Miles off, and hardly allow themselves time to eat their Meat, &c. So the Devil is a swift Hunter, he is like Lightning (as it were) swift in Motion, he is a Spirit, and so has the advantage to leap