even what they gaped for here. Thus ' God kept Balaam,' as Balak told him, ' from honour,' Numb. xxiv. 11. But, however they speed here, they are sure to lose themselves everlastingly, without repentance. They that are resolved they will have these things, are the men that fall into the devil's snare, and are led into those foolish and hurtful lusts which will drown them in destruction and perdition, 1 Tim. vi. 9. O poor sinners ! were it not wisdom, before you truck with the devil, to inquire what title he can give you to these goodly vanities ? Will he settle them as a free estate upon you ? Can he secure your bargain, and keep you from suits of law ? Or is he able to put two lives into the purchase, that when you die you may not be left destitute in another world? Alas, poor wretches ! you shall ere long see what a cheat he hath put on you, from whom you are like to have nought but caveat emptor. Let the buyer look to that. Yea, this great prince, that is so brag to tell what he will give you, must down himself; and a sad prince must needs make a sad court. O what howling will there then be of Satan and his vassals together ! O, but, saith the sinner, the pleasures and honours sin and Satan offer are present, and that which Christ promiseth we must stay for. This, indeed, is that which takes most. 'Demas,' saith Paul, 'forsook me, having loved this present world,' 2 Tim. iv. 10. It is present indeed, sinners, for you cannot say it will be yours the next moment ; your present felicity is going, and the saints', though future, is coming never to go. And who for a gulp of pottage, and sensual enjoyments at present, would part with a reversion of such a kingdom ? except thou art of his mind, who thought he had nothing but what he had swallowed down his throat,
Ilac habeo qua edi, qnceque exaturata libido Hausit.
Which Cicero could say, was more lit to be writ on an ox's grave than a man's. Vile wretch, that thinkest it is not better to deal with God for time, than the devil for ready pay ! Tertullian wonders at the folly of the Roman ambition, who would endure all manner of hardship in field and fight, for no other thing but to obtain at last the honour to be consul, which he calls unius anni volaticum gaudium, a joy that flies away at the year's end. But O what a desperate madness is it for sinners then, not to endure a little hardship here, but entail on themselves the eternal wrath of God hereafter, for the short feast and running banquet their lusts entertain them here withal, which often is noi gaudium unius horcE, a joy that lasts an hour.
Use 2. Secondly, Let this encourage thee, O Christian, in thy conflict with Satan ; the skirmish may be sharp, but it cannot be long. Let him tempt thee, and his wicked instnnnents trounce thee ; it is but a little while, and thou shalt be rid of both their evil neighbourhoods. The cloud, while it drops, is rolling over thy head, and then comes fair weather, and eternal sunshine of glory. Canst thou not watch with Christ one horn- or two ? keep the field a few days ? If yield, thou art undone for ever ; persevere but imtil the battle be over, and thine enemy shall never rally more : bid faith look through the key- hole of the promise, and tell thee what it sees there laid up for him that overcomes ; bid it listen and tell thee, whetlicr it cannot hear the shouts of those crowned saints, as of those that are dividing the spoil, and receiving the reward of all their services and sufferings here on earth : and dost thou stand on the other side, afraid to wet thy foot with those sufferings and temptations, which, like a little plash of water, run between thee and glory ?
Section II. — Secondly, The devil's empire is confined to place as well as time ; he is the ruler of this lower world, not of the heavenly. The highest the devil can go is the air, called the pinnce thereof, as being the utmost marches of his empire ; he hath nothing to do with the upper world. Heaven fears no devil, and therefore its gates stand always open ; never durst this fiend look into the holy place since he was first expelled, but rangeth to and fro here below, as a vagabond creature, excommunicated the presence of God, doing what mis- chief he can to saints in their way to heaven. But is not this matter of great ioy, that Satan hath no power there where the saints' happiness lies? What hast thou. Christian, which thou needest value, that is not there? Thy Christ is there, and, if thou lovest him, thy lieart also, which lives in the bosom of its
UAUKNliSS OF THIS WORLD. IQj