holiness and sin. This, one gives as the reason why amongst all the ways that Satan plagued Job, he did not choose to make a forcible entry into his body, and possess him corporally; for certainly he might, that being short of taking away his life, (the only thing reserved by God out of his commission,) and being in his power, sure it was not to spare Job that trouble. No pity dwells in a devil's heart ; but the very reason seems to be what an ancient hath noted; the devil waited for higher preferment, he hoped to possess his soul, which he longed for a thousand times more. He had rather hear Job himself blaspheme God, while he was compos wenfis, his own man, than himself, in Job, to belch out blasphemies against God, which woidd have been the devil's ovn\ sin, and not Job's. Thus you see, it is holiness and i-ighteousness his spite is at; no gain comes to the devil's purse, no victory he counts gained, except he can make the Christian lose his holiness. He can allow a man to have anything, or be anything, rather than be ti'uly, powerfully holy. It is not your riches and worldly enjoyments he grudges so much as your holiness. Job, for aught we know, might have enjoyed his flocks and herds, his children and servants, with- out any disturbance from hell, if the devil had not seen him to be a godly man, ' one fearing God, and eschewing evil.' This angered the wicked spii'it ; now he tries a fall with Job, that, if possible, he may unsaint him, and despoil him of his breastplate of righteousness. His plundering of his estate, butchering his children, covering his body with sores and boils, which were as so many deep gashes in his flesh, was but like some thieves' cruel usage of men whom they would rob, on a design to make them confess and deliver up their trea- sure. Would but Job have thrown the devil his pm-se, his integrity, I mean, and let Satan carry away his good conscience, Satan would soon have mibound him, and not have cared if he had his estate and children again. The wolf tears the fleece, that he may come to raven on the flesh, and suck the blood of the sheep ; the life-blood of holiness is that which this hellish murderer longs to suck out of the Christian's heart. It is not a form of godliness, or goodly shews of righteousness, the devil maligns, but the power; not the name, but the new nature itself, brings this fell lion out of his den. Satan can live very peaceably, as a quiet neighbour, by the door of such as will content them- selves with an empty name of profession ; this alters not his property, nor touches his copyhold. Judas's profession, he knew, did not put him a step out of his way to hell ; the devil can shew a man a way to damnation through duties and ordinances of God's worship. That covetous, traitorous heart which Judas carried with him to hear Christ's sermon, and preach his own, held him fast enough to the devil ; and therefore he gives him line enough, liberty enough to keep his credit a while with his fellow-apostles ; he cares not though others think him a disciple of Christ, so he knows him to be his own slave.
In a word, It is not a superstitious holiness which offends him; how can it, when he is the institutor of it himself, and that on a subtle design to undermine the true genuine holiness in the hearts of men ? and by this time the church of Christ hath found how deep a contrivance it is. This in all ages hath been to the power of holiness what the ivy is to the oak ; the wanton embraces of this mock holiness about religion hath killed the heart of scriptural holiness wher- ever it hath prevailed ; it is to the true holiness as the concubine is to the true wife, who is sure to draw the husband's love from her. This brat the devil hath long put out to niu'se to the Romish church, which hath taken a great deal of pains to bring it up for him ; and no wonder, when she is so well paid for its maintenance, it having brought her in so much worldly treasure and riches. No, it is holiness in its naked simplicity, as it is founded upon Scripture bottom, and guided by Scripture rule, that he is a sworn enemy against. Indeed, this is the flag which the soul hangs out, and by which it gives defiance to the devil; no wonder if he strives to shoot it down. Now, and not till now, the creature really declares himself a friend to God, and an enemy to the kingdom of dark- ness : and here is the ground of that quarrel, which will never cease so long as he continues an unclean spirit, and they to be the holy ones of God. 'AH that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suiFer persecution,' 2 Tim. iii. 12. Mark first, what it is that makes the devil and his instrvmients take arms, and breathe slaughter against Christians, ' it is their godliness.' Many specious pretences persecutors have to disguise their malice; but the Spirit of God, that looks
THE UKEASITLATE OF lUGIlTEOrSNESS. 3QI