To begin with the first, the saint's enemy, the devil, described by his wiles ; properly the methods of Satan, which signifies, that art and order one observes in handling a point ; we say, such a one is methodical. Now, because it shews ingenuity and acuteness of wit so to compose a discourse, therefore it is trans- ferred to express the subtilty of Satan in laying of his plots and stratagems, in his warlike preparations against the Christian. Indeed, the expert soldier hath his order as well as the scholar ; there is method in forming of an army, as well as framing an argument. The note which lies before us is,
. Doct. The devil is a very subtle enemy. The Christian is endangered most by his policy and craft ; he is called the old serpent. The serpent, subtle above other creatures, an old serpent above other serpents : Satan was too crafty for man in his perfection, much more now in his maimed estate, having never recovered that first damage he got in his understanding by the fall of Adam. And as man hath lost, so Satan hath gained more and more experience ; he lost his wisdom indeed as soon as he became a devil, but ever since he hath in- creased his craft; though he hath not wisdom enough to do himself good, yet subtilty enough to do others hurt. God shews us where his strength lies, when he promiseth he will ' bruise the head of the serpent;' his head crushed, and he dies presently. Now in handling this point of Satan's subtilty, we shall con- sider him in his two main designs, and therein shew you his wiles and policies. His first main design is, to draw into sin. The second is to accuse, vex, and trouble the saint for sin. First, Let us consider the devil as a tempter to sin, and there he shews his wily subtilty in three things.
First, In choosing the most advantageous season for tempting.
Secondly, In managing his temptations, laying them in such a method and form, as shews his craft.
Thirdly, In pitching on fit instruments for his turn, to cany on his design.
CHAPTER I.
OF Satan's subtilty to choose out the most advantageous seasons
FOR TEMPTING.
First, he shews his subtilty, in choosing the most proper and advantageous seasons for tempting. 'To everything there is a season,' Solomon saith, Eccles. iii. 1 ; that is, a nick of time, which taken, gives facility and speedy despatch to a business : and therefore the same wise man gives this reason, why man miscarries so frequently, and is disappointed in his enterprises, 'because he knows not his time,' Eccles. ix. 11 ; he comes when the bird is flown. A hundred soldiers at one time may turn a battle, save an army, when thousands will not do at another. Satan knows when to make his approaches, when (if at any time) he is most likely to be entertained. As Christ hath ' the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season ' of counsel and comfort to a doubting, drooping soul, so Satan shews his black art, and hellish skill, in speaking words of seduction and temptation in season ; and a word in season is ' a word on its wheels.' I shall give you a view of his subtilty in special seasons, which he chooseth to tempt in.
The first season he takes to tempt in is, when newly converted. No sooner is this child of grace, the new creature, born, but this dragon pours a flood of temptation after it. He learned the Egyptians but some of his own craft, when he taught them that bloody and cruel baptism, which they exercised upon the Israelitish babes, in throwing them into the river as soon as they were born. The first cry of the new creature gives all the legions of hell an alarm ; they are much troubled at it, as Herod and Jerusalem were when Christ was born : and now they sit in council to take away the life of this new-born king. The apostles met with more opposition and persecution iji their latter days, when endued with large portions of the Spirit; but with temptations from Satan in the former, when young converts, as you may observe in the several passages recorded of them. Satan knew grace within was but weak, and their supplies promised at the Spirit's coining, not landed; and when is an enemy more like
AGAIXST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. ^Y