Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That there are vrwolwntary relapses, and there are volun- tary relapses. Involuntary relapses are, when the resolution and full bent of the heart is against sin, when the soul strives with all its might against sin, by sighs and groans, by prayers and tears, and yet out of weakness is forced to fall back into sin, because there is not spiritual strength enough to overcome. Now, though involuntary relapses must humble us, yet they must never discourage nor defect us ; for God will freely and readily pardon those, in course. Voluntary relapses are, when the soul longs and loves to ' return to the flesh-pots of Egypt,' Exod. xvi. 3 ; when it is a pleasure and a pastime to a man to return
1 Perhaps the prodigal sets out unto us a Christian relapse, for he was a son before, and with his father, mil then went away from him, and spent all; and yet he was not quite undone, but returned again.
- 'I'll.' prodigal saw (he compassion of his father the greater, in receiving him after he had run away from him.
3 Relapses into enormities are peccata mtinerantia et divastantia, wounding and wast- ing sins ; therefore the Lord is graciously pleased to put under his everlasting arms, and stay his chosen ones from frequent falling into them.
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to his old courses, such voluntary relapses speak out the man blinded, hardened, and ripened for ruin, &C.1
Remedy (6). The sixth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That there is no such povjer, or infinite virtue, in the greatest horror or sorrow the soul can be under for sin, nor in the sweetest or choicest discoveries of God's grace and love to the soul, as for ever to fence and secure the soul from relapsing into the same sin. Grace is but a created habit, that may be prevailed against by the secret, subtle, and strong workings of sin in our hearts ; and those discoveries that God makes of his love, beauty, and glory to the soul, do not always abide in their freshness and power upon the heart ; but by degrees they fade and wear off, and then the soul may return again to folly, as we see in Peter, who, after he had a glorious testimony from Christ's own mouth of his blessedness and happiness, labours to prevent Christ from going up to Jerusalem to suffer, out of bare slavish fears that he and his fellows could not be secure, if his Master should be brought to suf- fer, Mat. xvi. 15-19, and ver. 22-24. And again, after thisr Christ had him up into the mount, and there shewed him his beauty and his glory, to strengthen him against the hour of temptation that was coming upon him ; and yet, soon after he had the honour and happiness of seeing the glory of the Lord (which most of his disciples had not), he basely and most shamefully denies the Lord of glory, thinking by that means to provide for his own safety ;2 and yet again, after Christ had broke his heart with a look of love for his most unlovely dealings, and bade them that were first acquainted with his resurrection to ' go and tell Peter that he was risen/ Mark xvi. 7 ; I say, after all this, slavish fears pre- vail upon him, and he basely dissembles, and plays the Jew with the Jews, and the Gentile with the Gentiles, to the seducing of Barnabas, &c, Gal. ii. 11-13.
Yet, by way of caution, know, it is very rare that God doth leave his beloved ones frequently to relapse into one and the same gross sin ; for the law of nature is in arms against gross sins, as well as the law of grace, so that a gracious soul cannot, dares not, will not, frequently return to gross folly. And God hath made even his dearest ones dearly smart for their relapses, as may be seen by his dealings with Samson, Jehoshaphat, and Peter. Ah, Lord ! what a hard heart hath that man, that can see thee stripping and whipping thy dearest ones for their relapses, and yet make nothing of returning to folly, &c.
The eighth device that Satan hath to keep souls in a sad, doubting, and questionable condition, is,
Device (8). By persuading them that their estate is not good, their hearts are not upright, their graces are not sound, because they are so followed, vexed, and tormented with temptations. It is his method, first to weary and vex thy soul with temptations, and then to tempt the soul, that surely it is not beloved, because it is so much tempted. And by this stratagem he keeps many precious souls in a sad, doubting,
1 There is a great difference between a sheep that by weakness falls into the mire, and a swine that delights to wallow in the mire ; between a woman that is forced, though she strives and cries out, and an alluring adulteress.
2 Christ upbraided his disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart, who had seen his glory, ' as the glory of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.'
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and mourning temper many years, as many of the precious sons of Sion have found by woful experience, &C.1
Now the remedies against this device are these :
Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That those tltat have been best and most beloved, have been most tempted by Satan. Though Satan can never rob a Christian of his crown, yet such is his malice, that he will therefore tempt, that he may spoil them of their comforts. Such is his enmity to the Father, that the nearer and dearer any child is to him, the more will Satan trouble him, and vex him with temptations. Christ himself was most near and most dear, most innocent and most excellent, and yet none so much tempted as Christ. David was dearly beloved, and yet by Satan tempted to number the people.2 Job was highly praised by God him- self, and yet much tempted ; witness those sad things that fell from his mouth, when he was wet to the skin. Peter was much prized by Christ ; witness that choice testimony that Christ gave of his faith and happi- ness, and his shewing him his glory in the mount, and that eye of pity that he cast upon him after his fearful fall, &c, and yet tempted by Satan. ' And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail thee not,' &c, Luke xxii. 31, 32.