all the while studying how he may commence a suit against thee for thy duty ; like those that come to sermons to cai-p and catch at what the preacher saith, that they may make him an offender for some word or other misplaced ; or like a cunning oppanent in the schools, while his adversary is busy in reading his position, he is studying to confute it ; and truly Satan hath such an art at this, that he is able to takQ our duties in pieces, and so disfigure them that they shall appear fomial, though never so zealous ; hypocritical, though en»-iched with much sincerity. When thou hast done thy duty. Christian, tlien stands up this sophister to ravel out thy work ; there, will he say, thou playedst the hypocrite; zealous, but serving thyself; here wandering, there nodding; a little farther puffed up with pride ; and what wages canst thou hope for at Gods hands, now thou hast spoiled his work, and cut it all out into chips? Tlius he makes many poor souls lead a weary life ; nothing they do but he hath a fling at, that they know not whether laest pray or not, hear or not ; and when the}' have prayed and heard, whether it be to any purpose or not : thus their souls hang in doubt, and their days pass in sorrow, while their enemy stands in a corner and laughs at the cheat he hath put upon them ; as one who, by put- ting a counterfeit spider into the dish, makes those who sit at table either out of conceit with the meat, that they dare not eat, or afraid of themselves, if they have eaten, lest they should be poisoned with their meat.
Quest. But you will say, What will you have us to do in this case, to with- stand the cavils of Satan, in reference to our duties ?
Ansiv. Fii'st, Let this make thee more accurate in all thou doest ; it is tlie very end God aims at in suffering Satan thus to watch you, that you his children might be the more circumspect, because you have one overlooks you, that will be sure to tell tales of you to God, and accuse thee to thy own self. Doth it not behove thee to write thy copy fair, when such a critic reads and scans it over ? Doth it not concern thee to know thy heart well, to turn over the Scriptures diligently, that thou mayest know the state of thy soul-contro- versy in all the cases of conscience thereof, when thou hast such a subtle opponent to reply upon thee ?
Secondly, Let it make thee more hvunble. If Satan can charge thee with so much in thy best duties, O what then can thy God do ? God suffers sometimes the infirmities of his people to be known by the wicked (who are ready to check and mock them for them) for this end, to humble his people ; how much more low should these accusations of Satan, which are in a great measure too true, lay us before God !
Thirdly, Observe tjie fallacy of Satan's argument, which, discovered, will help thee to answer his cavil : the fallacy is double.
First, He will persuade thee that thy duty and thyself are hypocritical, jiroud, formal, &c., because something of these sins are to be found in thy duty. Now, Christian, learn to distinguish between pride in a duty, and a proud duty; hy- pocrisy in a person, and a hypocrite ; wine in a man, and a man in wine. The best of saints have the stirrings of such corruptions in them, and in their services ; these birds will light on an Abraham's sacrifice ; but comfort thyself with this, that if thou findest a party within thy bosom pleading for God, and entering its protest against these, thou and thy services are evangelically per- fect. God beholds these as the weaknesses of thy sickly state here below, and pities thee, as thou wouldest do thy lame child. How odious is he to us that mocks one for natural defects, a blear eye or a stammering tongue? Such are these in thy new nature. Observable is that in Christ's prayer against Satan, Zech. iii. 3, ' The Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee ; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire ? ' As if Clirist had said, Lord, wilt thou suffer this envious spirit to tw-it thy poor child with, and charge him for, those infir- mities that cleave to his imperfect state? he is but new plucked out of the fire, no wonder there are some sparks unquenched, some corruptions unmoi'- tified, some disorders unrefonned in his place and calling. And what Christ did for Joshua, he doth incessantly for all his saints, apologising for their infirmities with his Father.
Secondly, His other fallacy is in arguing from tlie sin that is in our duties to the non-acceptance of them. Will God, saitli he, thinkest thou, take such
go THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND