2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 41
avoid the occasions of sin ! Every one should strive to be like to them in grace, that they desire to be equal with in glory. He that shooteth at the sun, though he be far short, will shoot higher than he that aimeth at a shrub. It is best, and it speaks out much of Christ within, to eye the highest and the worthiest examples.
Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That the avoiding the occasions of sin, is an evidence of grace, and tltat tuhich lifts up a man above most other men in the world.1 That a man is indeed, which he is in temptation ; and when sinful occasions do present themselves before the soul, this speaks out both the truth and the strength of grace ; when with Lot, a man can be chaste in Sodom, and with Timothy can live temperate in Asia, among the luxurious Ephesians ; and with Job can walk up- rightly in the land of Uz, where the people were profane in their lives, and superstitious in their worship ; and with Daniel be holy in Babylon; and with Abraham righteous in Chaldea; and with Ne- hemiah, zealous in Damasco, &c. Many a wicked man is big and full of corruption, but shews it not for want of occasion ; but that man is surely good, who in his course will not be bad, though tempted by occa- sions. A Christless soul is so far from refusing occasions when they come in his way, that he looks and longs after them, and rather than he will go without them he will buy them, not only with love or money, but also with the loss of his soul. Nothing but grace can fence a man against the occasions of sin, when he is strongly tempted thereunto. Therefore, as you would cherish a precious evidence in your own bosoms of the truth and strength of your graces, shun all sinful occasions.
The eighth device that Satan hath to draw the soul to sin, is,
Device (8). By representing to the soul the outivard mercies that vain men enjoy, and the outward miseries that they are freed from, whilst they have walked in the ways of sin. Saith Satan, Dost thou see, O soul, the many mercies that such and such enjoy, that walk in those very ways that thy soul startles to think of, and the many crosses that they are delivered from, even such as makes other men, that say they dare not walk in such ways, to spend their days in sighing, weeping, groaning, and mourning 1 and therefore, saith Satan, if ever thou wouldst be freed from the dark night of adversity, and enjoy the sunshine of prosperity, thou must walk in their ways.2
By this stratagem the devil took those in Jer. xliv. 16-18, ' As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee : but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth of our mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and
1 Plutarch saith of Demosthenes, that he was excellent at praising the worthy acts of his ancestors, but not so at imitating them. Oh that this were not applicable to many professors in our times !
2 It was a weighty saying of Seneca, Nihil est infelicius eo, cui nil unquam contigit adversi, there is nothing more unhappy than he who never felt adversity. Some of the heathens would be wicked as their gods were, counting it a dishonour to their god to be unlike him.— Lactxntius.
42 PRECIOUS REMEDIES [2 COR. II. 11.
in the streets of Jerusalem : for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, Ave have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine/ This is just the language of a world of ignorant, pro- fane, and superstitious souls in London, and England, that would have made them a captain to return to bondage, yea, to that bondage that was Averse than that the Israelites groaned under. Oh, say they, since such and such persons have been put down, and left off, we have had nothing but plundering and taxing, and butchering of men, &c. ; and therefore we Avill do as Ave, and our kings, and nobles, and fathers have formerly done, for then had we plenty at home, and peace abroad, &c, and there was none to make us afraid.1
Now the remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow :
Remedy (]). The first remedy is, solemnly to consider, That no man knoivs how the heart of God stands by his hand. His band of mercy may be toAvards a man, when his heart may be against that man, as you may see in Saul and others ; and the hand of God may be set against a man, Avhen the heart of God is dearly set upon a man, as you may see in Job and Ephraim.2 The hand of God was sorely set against them, and yet the heart and bowels of God were strongly working toAvards them. No man knoweth either love or hatred by out- Avard mercy or misery ; for all things come alike to all, to the right- eous and to the unrighteous, to the good and to the bad, to the clean aud to the unclean, &c. The sun of prosperity shines as well upon brambles of the Avilderness as fruit-trees of the orchard ; the snoAV and hail of adversity lights upon the best garden as well as the stinking dunghill or the wild Avaste. Abab's and Josiah's ends concur in the very circumstances. Saul and Jonathan, though different in their natures, deserts, and deportments, yet in their deaths they were not divided. Health, Avealth, honours, &c, crosses, sicknesses, losses, &c, are cast upon good men and bad men promiscuously. ' The Avhole Turkish empire is nothing else but a crust, cast by heaven's great housekeeper to his dogs/3 Moses dies in the Avilderness as well as those that murmured. Nabal is rich, as well as Abraham ; Ahithophel wise, as well as Solomon ; and Doeg honoured by Saul, as Avell as Joseph Avas by Pharaoh. Usually the worst of men have most of these outward things ; and the best of men have least of earth, though most of heaven.
Jiemcdy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That there is nothing in the world that doth so
1 It is said of one of the emperors, that Rome had no war in his days, hecause it was plague enough to have such an emperor. You are wise, and know how to apply it. [The allusion, no doubt, is to Charles I., and the agitation for the Restoration of Charles II Cromwell died Sept. 3. 1658.— G.]
- Tnll y judged the Jews' religion to be naught, because they were so often overcome, and impoverished, and afflicted ; and the religion of Rome to be right, because the Romana prospered ami became lords of the world; and yet, though the Romans had his hand, yet the Jews had his heart, for they were dearly beloved though sorely afflicted. [Brooks's reference is found in Cicero, in Orat. Pro L. Flacco 28. — G.]
3 Nihil est nisi mica panis. — Luther.
2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 43