continued volleys of such motions, to listen to a parley with them, if not a yield- ing to them. Thus many times he even wearies out the soul with importunity. Section II. — Use 1. First, let this, O man, make the plumes of thy pride fall, whoever thou art that gloriest in thy power ; hadst thou more than thou or any of the sons of Adam ever had, yet what is all that to the power of these ano-els? Is it the strength of thy body thou gloriest in? Alas, what is the strength of frail flesh, to the force of their spiritual nature? Thou art no more to these than a cliild to a giant, a worm to a man ; who could tear up the mountains, and hurl the world into a confusion, if God would but suffer them. Is it the strength of thy parts above others? Dost thou not see what fools he makes of the wisest among men ? winding them about as a sophister would do an idiot, making them believe light is dark, bitter is sweet, and sweet bitter ; were not the strength of his parts admirable, could he make a rational creature, as a man is, so absurdly throw away his scarlet, and embrace dung ? I mean, part with God and the glorious happiness he hath in him, in hope to mend himself by embracing sin. Yet this he did when man had his best wits about him in innocency. Is it the power of place and dignity got by warlike achieve- ment ? Grant thou wert able to subdue nations, and give laws to the whole world, yet even then without grace from above thou wouldst be his slave. And he himself, for all this his power, is a cursed spirit, the most miserable of all God's creatures, and the more, because he hath so much power to do mischief; had the devil lost all his angelical abilities, when he fell, he had gained by his loss. Therefore tremble, O man, at any power thou hast, except thou usest it for God. Art thou strong in body ? Who hath thy strength? God, or thy lusts ? Some are strong to drink, strong to sin ; ' thy hand shall there- fore be stronger,' Isa. xxviii. 22. Hast thou power by thy place to do God and his church service, but no heart to lay it out for them, but rather against them ? Thou and the devil shall be tried at the same bar ; it seems thou meanest to go to hell for something, thou wilt carry thy full lading thither. No greater plague can befall a man than power without grace. Such great ones in the world, while here, make a brave show, like chief commanders and field-officers at the head of their regiments ; the common soldiers are poor creatures to them : but when the army is beaten, and all taken prisoners, then they fling off their scarf and feather, and would be glad to pass for the meanest in the army. Happy would devils be, princes and great ones in the world be, if then they could appear in the habit of some poor sneaks to i-eceive their sentence as such ; but then their titles, and dignity, and riches shall be read, not for their honour, but for their shame and damnation.
Use 2. Secondly, It shews the folly of those that think it such an easy matter to get heaven. If the devil be so mighty, and heaven's way so full of them, then sure it will cost hot water before we display our banners upon the walls of the New Jerusalem. Yet it is plain many think otherwise, by the provision they make for their march. If you should see a man walking forth without a cloak, or with a very thin one, you will say. Surely he fears no foul weather ; or one riding a long journey alone, and without ai-ms, you will con- clude he expects no thieves on the road. All, if you ask them, will tell you they are on their way to heaven ; but how few care for the company of the saints, as if they needed not their fellowship on their journey ! Most go naked, without so much as anything like armour, have not enough to gain the name of professors at large ; others, it may be, will shew you some vain flighty hopes on the mercy of God, without any Scripture-bottom for the same, and with these content themselves, which will, like a rusty unsound pistol, fly in their own face when they come to use it : and is it any wrong to say these make nothing of getting heaven ? Surely these men, many of whom thrive so well in the world, never got their estates with so little care as they think to get heaven. Ask them why they follow their trade so close, they will tell you, estates are not got by sleeping, families are not provided for with the hands in the pocket, they meet with many rooks and cheaters in their dealing, who, should they not look to themselves, would soon undo them : and are there none that thou needest fear will put a cheat on thy soul, and bereave thee of thy crown of glory if they can ? Thou art blinder "than the prophet's servant.
AGAUNST POWERS. . ]01