A. 2. Satan tempts after an ordinance, because he thinks he shall now find us more secure. After we have been at the solemn Avorship of God, we are apt to grow remiss, and leave off former strictness, like a soldier, that after the battle leaves off his armour : now Satan watcheth his time. He doth as David did to the Amalekites, after they had taken the spoil, and were se- cure, they did eat and drink, and dance, now David fell upon them, and did smite them, J Sam. xxx. 17.: so when we grow remiss after an ordinance, and perhaps too much indulge ourselves in carnal delights, now Satan falls upon us by a temptation, and oft foils us. As after a full meal, men are apt to grow drowsy, so after we have had a full meal at an ordinance, we are apt to slumber and grow secure, and now Sa- tan shoots his arrow of temptation, and hits us between the joints of our armour.
5th Season. Satan tempts after some dis- coveries of God's love. Satan, like a pirate, sets on a ship that is lichly laden : so when a soul hath been laden with spiritual com- forts, now the devil will be shooting at him to rob him of all. The devil envies to see a soul feasted with spiritual joy. Joseph's party-coloured coat made his brethren env}' him, and plot against him. After David had the good news of the pardon of his sin (which must needs fill him with consola- tion) Satan presently tempted him to a new sin in numbering the people; and so all his comfort leaked out, and was spilt.
6th Season. Satan tempts when he sees us weakest. He breaks over the hedge where it is lowest ; as the sons of Jacob came upon the Shechcmites when they weie sore, and could make no resistance. Gen. xxxiv. 25. At two times Satan comes up- on us in our weakness.
(1.) AVhen we are alone; so he came to Eve when her husband was away, and sho the less able to resist his temptation. Sa-
OF THE SIXTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
5/i9
tan hath this policy, he gives his poison privately, when no body is by ; others might discover his treachery. Satan is like a cuiniing suitor tliat wooes the daughter when the parents are from home ; so, when one is alone, and none near, now the devil comes a-wooing with a temptation, and hopes to liave tlie match struck up.
(2.) When the hour of death approaches. As the poor sheep when it is sick and weak and can hardly help itself, now the crows lie pecking at it, so, when a saint is weak on his death-bed, now the devil lies peck- ing at him with a temptation, — he reserves his most furious assaults till the last. The people of Israel were never so fiercely as- saulted, as when they were going to take possession of the promised land ; then all the kings of Canaan combined their forces against them ; so, when the saints are leav- ing the world, and going to set their foot on the heavenly Canaan, now Satan sets upon them by temptation ; he tells them they are hypocrites ; all their evidences are counterfeit. Thus, like a coward, he strikes the saints when they are down ; when death is striking at the body, he is striking at the soul. This is the second subtilty, Satan chooseth the fittest season when to throw in a temptation.
Sd Subtilty. A third subtle policy of Satan in tempting, is, he baits his hook with religion ; the devil can hang out Christ's colours, and tempt to sin under pretences of piety. Now he is the white devil and transforms himself into an angel of light. Celsus wrote a book full of error, and he entitled it. Liber verUatis, ' the book of truth :' so Satan can write the title of religion upon his worst temptation. lie comes to Christ with scripture in his mouth, " it is written," &c. So he comes to many, and tempts them to sin, under the pretence of religion ; he tempts to evil, that good may come of it; he tempts men to such unwarrantable actions, that they may be put into a capacity of honouring God the more. He tempts them to accept of pre- ferment against conscience, that hereby they may be in a condition of doing more good ; he put Herod upon killing John Baptist, that hereby he might be kept from the violation of his oath. He tempts
many to oppression and extortion, telling them, tliev are bound to provide for their families. He tempts many to make away with themselves, that they may live no longer to sin against God : thus he wraps his poisonous pills in sugar. Who would suspect him when he conies as a divine, and quotes scri|)ture.