5. Consider Satan's subtilty in tempting. The Greek word to tempt, signifies to de- ceive. Satan in tempting, useth many sub- tle policies to deceive ; we read of the depths of Satan, Rev. ii. 24. ; and his devices and stratagems, 2 Cor. ii. 11.; we read of his snares and his darts ; his snares are worse than his darts; he is called a lion for his cruelty, and an old serpent for his subtilty; he hath several sorts of subtilty in tempting.
\st Subtilty. The devil observes the na- tural temper and constitution. Omnium dis- cntit mores. The devil doth not know the- hearts of men, but he may feel their pulse, know their temper, and so accordingly can apply himself. As the husbandman knows what seed is proper to sow in si^ch a soil, so Satan finding out the temper, knows what temptations is proper to sow in such a heart. That way the tide of a man's con- stitution runs, that way the wind of temp- tation blows ; Satan tempts the ambitious man with a crown, the sanguine man with beauty, the covetous man with a wed<re of gold. He provides savoury meat, such as the siinier loves.
2d Subtilty. Satan clsooseth the fittest season to tempt in. As a cuiming angler casts in his angle when the fish will bite best ; the devil can hit the very joint of time when a temptation is likeliest to j)revail. There are several seasons he tempts in.
\st Season. In our first initiation and entrance into religion, when we have newly given up our names to Christ. Satan will never disturb his vassals ; but when we have broke his prison in conversion, now he pursues us with violent temptations. Solet inter primordia conversionis acrius insurgere. Bern. When Israel were got a little out
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of E^'pt, tlien Pharaoh pursues them. Herod, as soon as Christ was born, sent to destroy him ; so when the child of grace is newly born, the devil labours to strangle it with temptation. When the first buddings and blossoms of grace begin to appear, the devil would nip these tender buds with the sharp blasts of his temptations. Indeed, at first conversion, grace is so weak, and temp- tation so strong, that one would wonder how the young convert escapes with his life ; Satan hath a spite at the new creature.
2d Season. The devil tempts when he finds us idle, unemployed. We do not sow seed in fallow ground ; but Satan sows most of his seed in a person that lies fallow. When the fowler sees a bird sit still and perch upon the tree, now he shoots it ; so when Satan obsei'ves us to sit still, now he shoots his fiery darts of temptation at us, Mat. xiii. 25., " While men slept, the ene- my sowed tares ;" so, while men sleep in sloth, Satan sows his tares. When David was walking on the leads, and unemployed, now the devil set a tempting object before him, and it prevailed, 2 Sam. xi. 3.
2d Season. When a person is reduced to outward wants and straits, now is the devil's tempting time. When Christ had fasted forty days and was hungry, then the devil comes and tempts him with the glory of the world. Mat. iv. 8. When pi'ovisions grow short, now Satan sets in with a temp- tation ; What ! Wilt thou starve rather than steal ? Reach forth tliy hand, pluck the forbidden fruit ! How oft doth this temptation prevail ! How many do we see, who, instead of living by faith, live by their shifts, and will steal the venison, though they lose the blessing !
Ath Season. Satan tempts after an ordi- nance. When we have been at hearing of the word, or prayer, or sacrament ; now Satan casts in the angle of temptation. When Christ had been fasting and praying, then came the tempter, Mat. iv. 3.
Quest. ]Vliy doth Satan choose this time to tempt in, after an ordinance ? One icoidd think this were the most disadvantageous time, for notv the soul is raised up to an heavenly frame ?
Ans. 1. Malice puts Satan upon it. The ordinances, that cause fervour in a saint,
cause fury in Satan. He knows in every duty we have a design against him, — in e- very prayer we put up a suit in heaven a- gainst him, — in the Lord's supper, we take the sacrament upon it, to fight under Christ's banner against the devil, — therefore now Satan is more enraged, lie now lays his snares, and shoots his darts against us.