Satan was a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth : * He hates it with deadly hatred, and all the children and friends of truth. Aud this hatred he manifesteth sometimes by raising furious storms of persecution against the sincere professors of it. Rev. iii. 10. and sometimes by clouds of heresies and errors with design to darken it. In the former he acts as a roaring lion ; in the latter as a subtle serpent, 2 Cor. xi. 5. " I fear, lest as the " serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty ; so your minds should " be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
He is exceedingly skilful and dexterous in citing and wrestling the scriptures to serve his vile designs and purposes ; and as impu- dently daring as he is crafty and cunning ; as appears in the history of Christ's temptation in the desart, Matth. iv. 6. where he cites one part of that promise, Psal. xci. 11. and suppresseth the rest; shews the encouragement, viz. He shall give his angels charge over thee ; but clips off the limitation of it, viz. to keep thee in all thy ways : In viis, non in prcecipitils, In our lawful ways, not in rash and dangerous precipices ; as Bernard well glosseth.
And it is worth observation, that he introduceth multitudes of errors into the world under the unsuspected notions of admii'able prophylactics, and approved preservatives from all mischiefs and dangers from himself. Under this notion he hath neatly and co- vertly slided into the world, holy-water crossings, reliques of saints, and almost innumerable other superstitious rites.
Erroneous teachers are the ministers of Satan, however they transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, 2 Cor. xi. 15. and the subtle, dangerous errors they brpach, are fitly stiled by the Spirit of God, ra Ca^-zj ro-j 2a7avi?, the depths of Satan, Rev. ii. 24. The corrupt teachers, the Gnostics, &c. called them depths, i. e. great mysteries, high and marvellous attainments in knowledge; but die Spirit of God fits a very proper epithet to them. They are satanical depths and mysteries of iniquity. Now the level and de- sign of Satan herein is double.
First, He aims at the ruin and damnation of those that vent and
ful, who being con(]uered and overthrown by Christ, hath nevertheless attempted to sully, rent, and almost overturn his word and the whole frame of religion by horrible opinions and blasphemies. But we should have iu view these monstrous inventions of this malignant spirit, and, as it were, these first springs of many heresies which after- wards increased in a wonderful manner, like rivers receiving others in them, &c. Hist. Magdeb. cent. 1. lib. 2. cap. 5. p. 568.
* When Swinktleld sent his books to Luther, he told the messenger the devil was the author of them : and the Lord rebuke thee, Satan, was the answer he returned to them.
THE CAUSES AXD CUll!: OF MENTAL EIlllORS. 471
propagate them ; upon which account tlic apostle calls them aioi6sig acw?.£/as, 2 Pet. ii. 1. destructive, or (as we render it) damnable heresies. And because God will preserve the souls of liis own from this moral contagion, therefore,
Secondly, He endeavours, by lessor errors, to busy the minds, and check the growth of grace in the souls of the saints, by em- ploying them about things so foreign to true godliness, and the power thereof, Heb. xiii. 9.
The rules for prevention and recovery are these that fol- low :
Rule 1. Pray earnestly, for a thorough change of the state and temper of thy soul, by sound conversion and regeneration.
Conversion turns us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, Acts xxvi. 18. They are his own slaves and vas- sals that are taken captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. ii. 16. A sanctified heart is a sovereign defensative against erroneous doctrines ; it furnishes the soul with spiritual eyes, judicious ears, and a dis- tinguishing taste, by which it may discern both good and evil, truth and error, Heb, v. 14. yea it puts the soul at once under the conduct of the Spirit, and protection of the promise, John xvi. 13. and though this doth not secure a man from all lesser mistakes, yet it effectually secures him from greater ones, which are inconsis- tent with Christ and salvation.
Rule 2. Acquaint yourselves with the wiles and methods of Sa- tan, and be not ignorant of his devices, 2 Cor. ii. 11.
When once you understand the wash and paint with which he sets off the ugly face of error, you will not easily be enamoured with it. Pretences of devotion upon one side, and of purity, zeal, and reformation upon the other ; though they be pleasant sounds to both ears, yet the wary soul will examine, before it receive, and admit doctrinal points under these gilded titles. Those that have made their observations upon the stratagems of Satan will heedfully observe both the tendency of doctrines, and the lives of their teach- ers ; and if they find looseness, pride, wantonness in them, it is not a glorious title, or magnificent name that shall charm them. They know Satan can transform himself into an angel of light ; and no wonder if his ministers also be transformed into ministers of righ- teousness, 2 Cor. xi. 14, 15.
Rule 3. Resign your minds and judgments in fervent prayer to the government of Christ, and conduct of the Spirit ; and in all your addresses to God pray that he would keep them chaste and pure, and not suffer Satan to commit a rape upon them : Plead witH
472 A BLOV/ AT THE FvOOT ; OK,
God that part of Christ's prayer, John xvii. IT. " Sanctify them " through tliy truth ; thy word is truth ;"
Ridt' 4. Live in the toiiscientious and constant practice of all those truths and duties God hath ah'eady manifested to you.
This will bring you under that blessed promise of Christ, John vii. 17. " If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc- '* trine, whether it be of God."" Satan's gi*eatest successes are among idle, notional, and vain professors ; not humble, serious, and practical Christians.
Cause 11. Having considered and dispatched the several inter- nal causes of error, found in the evil dispositions of the seduced, as also the impulsive cause, viz Satan, who fits suitable baits to all these sinful humours and evil tempers of the heart ; we come next to consider the instrumental cause, employed by Satan in this work, viz. the false teacher, whom Satan makes use of as his seeds-man, to disseminate and scatter erroneous doctrines and prin- ciples into the minds of men, ploughed up and prepared by those evil tempers before-mentioned, as a fit soil to receive them.