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at last. When Paul had weighed this subject in his own case, he sits down and glories in his infirmities and distresses, and in Satan's buffetings, that the power of Christ might rest upon him. 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8, 9.

CHAPTER III.

The Use of the Subject.

IF Satan has such a world of devices and stratagems to ensnare and ruin the souls of men, then, instead of wondering that so few are saved, sit down and wonder that any are saved.

But this is not the main thing that I intend to speak to, my present business is to set before you some special rules and helps against all his devices.

Use 1. If you would not be taken by any of Satan's devices, then walk by rule. Prov. xii. 24. Gal. vi. 16. Prov. xv. 25. He that walks by rule, walks most safely, most honourably, most comfortably. When men cast off the word, then God casts off them, and Satan takes them by the hand, and leads them into his snares at pleasure. Those who keep to the rule, will be kept in the hour of temptation: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will

keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.' Rev. iii. 10.

2. Take heed of vexing and grieving the holy Spirit of God. It is the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is best able to discover to us the snares of Satan. Ah! if you grieve that sweet and blessed Spirit, who alone can secure you from Satan's depths, by whom will you be secured? The Spirit of the Lord is your counsel lor, your comforter, and your strength. It is only the Spirit that makes a man too great for Satan to conquer. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Is. xliii. 10. Ps. Ixxii. 2, 3. 1 Thes. v. 16. Acts ii, 13. 1 John iv. 4.

3. Labour for more heavenly wisdom: you have but little knowledge to what others have, and to what you might have had, had you not been so remiss. There are many knowing, but there are but few wise souls; there is oftentimes a great deal of knowledge, where there is but little wisdom, to improve that knowledge; knowledge without wisdom, is like mettle in a blind horse, which is often an occasion of the rider's fall, and of his bones being broken. It is not the most knowing, but the most wise Christian, that sees, avoids, and escapes Satan's snares. The

way of life is above to the wise, (saith Solomon) that he may depart from hell beneath:' Prov. xv. 24. Heavenly wisdom makes a man delight

to fly high; and the higher any man flies, the more he is out of the reach of Satan's snares: Ah souls! you had need of a great deal of heavenly wisdom, to see where, and how Satan lays his baits and snares; and to find out proper remedies against his devices, and to apply those remedies seasonably, inwardly, and effectually to your own hearts, that so you may avoid the snares which that evil one hath laid for your precious souls.

4. Make present resistance against his first motions; it is safe to resist, it is dangerous to dispute. Eve disputes, and falls in Paradise; Gen. iii. Job resists, and conquers upon the dunghill. He that will play with Satan's bait, will quickly be taken with his hook. The promise of conquest is made to resisting, not to disputing: 'Resist the devil and he shall flee from you.'

5. Labour to be filled with the Spirit; the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of light and power, and what can a soul do without light and power against spiritual wickedness in high places? Eph. vi. 12. It is not enough that you have the Spirit, but you must be filled with the Spirit; i. e. labour for abundance of the Spirit; he that thinks he hath enough of the Holy Spirit, will quickly find himself vanquished by the

*A serpent's eye is a singular ornament in a dove's head.

Therefore labour more to have your enemy. hearts filled with the Spirit, than to have your heads filled with notions, your chests with silver, or your bags with gold, so shall you escape the snares of this fowler, and triumph over all his plots, &c.

6. Keep humble: an humble heart will rather lie in the dust, than rise by wickedness, and sooner part with all, than the peace of a good conscience. Humility keeps the soul from many darts cast by Satan, and snares of his spreading; as the low shrubs are free from many blasts of wind, which shake and rend the taller trees. The devil hath least power to fasten by temptation on him that is most humble.

7. Keep a strong, close, and constant watch; a secure soul is already ensnared; that soul that will not watch against temptation, will certainly fall before the power of it. Satan works most strongly on the fancy, when the soul is drowsy. The time of security is Satan's opportunity to fall upon the soul, and spoil it, as Joshua did the men of Ai. The best way to be safe and secure from all Satan's assaults, is with Nehemiah and the Jews, to watch and pray, and pray and

watch.

Shall Satan keep a crafty watch, and shall not Christians keep a holy spiritual watch.* Our

* Hannibal never rested whether he did conquer, or was conquered. It is so with Satan. "Learn for shame of Dd

whole life is beset with temptations. Satan watches all opportunities to break our peace, to wound our consciences, lessen our comforts, impair our graces, darken our evidences, and to damp our assurances, &c. Oh! what need have we then to be always upon our watch-tower, lest we be surprised by this subtle serpent? Watchfulness is a waking, a rousing up of the soul; it is a continual, careful observation of our hearts and ways, in all the turnings of our lives, that we still keep close to God and his word.

I shall conclude this seventh head with this advice: Remember the dragon is subtle, and bites the elephant's ear, and then sucks his blood, because he knows that to be the only place which the elephant cannot defend with his trunk; so our enemies are so subtle, that they will bite us and strike us where they may do us most mischief, and therefore it very much concerns us to stand always upon our guard.

8. Keep up your communion with God; your strength to stand, and withstand Satan's fiery darts, is from your communion with God; a soul high in communion with God may be tempted, but will not easily be conquered, such a soul will fight it out to the death. Communion is the result of union; communion is a reciprocal exchange between Christ and a gracious soul;

the devil, (said blessed Latimer) to watch, seeing the devil is so watchful."

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