the smart of their own heart-sorrows : none so skilful in applying the comforts of the word to wounded consciences, as those who have lain bleeding themselves ; such know the symptoms of soul-trouble, and feel others' pains in their own bosoms, which some that know the Scriptures (for lack of experience) do not, and therefore are like a novice physician, who perhaps can tell j'ou every plant in the herbal, yet, wanting the practical part, when a patient comes, knows not well how to make use of his skill. The saints' experiences help them to a sovereign ointment made of the scorpion's own flesh, (wliich they through Christ have slain,) and that hath a virtue above all other to expel the venom of Satan's temptations from the heart.
Section III. — Thirdly, Satan, in tempting the saint to sin, labours to make a breach between God and the soul. He hates both, and therefore labours to divide these dear friends. If I can (thinks he) get such a one to sin, God will be angry, and when angry, he will whip his child soundly, this will be some sport; and when God is correcting the saint, he will be questioning the love of God to him, and cool in his love to God ; so, though I should not keep him from heaven at last, yet he shall have little joy in the way thither. In his case, God and the soul will be like a man and wife fallen out, who neither of them look kindly one upon another. Now see how God befools Satan in both these.
First, God useth his saints' temptations as his method by which he advanceth - the communications of his love unto them. The devil thovight he had got the goal, when he got Adam to eat the forbidden fi'uit ; he thought now he had men in the same predicament with himself, as unlikely ever to see the face of God as those apostate spirits: but, alas! this was by God intended to usher in that great gospel plot of saving man by Christ, who (as soon as this prologue of man's fall is done) is brought upon the stage in that grand promise of the gospel made to Adam, and at God's command vindertakes the charge of recovering lost man out of Satan's clutches, and reinstating him in his primitive glory, with an accession of more than ever man had at first, so that the meanest lily in Christ's field exceeds Adam in all his native royalty. And as Satan sped in his first temptation, so he is still on the losing hand : what got he by all his pains upon Job, but to let that holy man know at last, how dearly God loved him ! When he foiled Peter so shamefully, do we not find Christ owning Peter with as much love as ever? Peter must be the only disciple to whom by name the joyful news of the resurrection is sent : ' Go tell my disciples and Peter ;' as if Christ had said. Be sure let his sad heart be comforted with this news, that he may know I am friends with him for all his late cowardice.
Quest. But doth not this seem to countenance sin, and make Chi'istians heedless whether they fall into temptation or no? If God does thus show his love to his saints after their falls and foils, why should we be so shy of sin, which ends so well at last ?
Answ. Two things will prevent the danger of such an inference. First, we must distinguish between a soul's being foiled through his own infirmity, and his enemies' subtilty and power over-matching him, and another, who through a false heart doth voluntarily prostrate himself to the lust of Satan ; though a general will shew little pity to a soldier that should traitorously throw down his arms and run to the enemy, yet if another in fighting receives a wound and be worsted, it will be no dishonour for him to express his pity and love, no, though he should send him out of the field in his own coach, lay him in his own bed, and appoint him his own surgeon. God doth not encourage wickedness in a saint, but pities weakness. Even when the saints fall into a sin in its nature presumptuous, they do not commit it so presumptuously as others ; there is a part true to God in their bosoms, though overvoted. Moses spake unadvisedly, but the devil had his instruments to provoke him, quite against the good man's temper. David numbers the people, but see how the devil dogged and hunted him, till at last he got the better, 1 Chron. xxi. 1 : ' Satan stood up and provoked David to nimiber Israel.' How bravely did Job repel Satan's darts! No wonder if in such a shower some one should get between the joints of his armour. And for Peter, we know with what a loyal heart, yea, zealous, he went into the field, though, when the enemy appeared, his heart failed him.
ac;ai-Nst the wiles ov the devil. 73