70 THE SEVENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 9, 10.
Satan, but with him who, with the loss of Christianity, exalteth him- Peh", and allecteth an ambitious tyranny and domineering over the Christian world, both princes, pastors, and people ; and to uphold the tyranny, careth not what havoc he maketh of the church ; and the whole frame of their religion is calculated for secular honour, worldly pomp, and greatness ?
Secondly, By the visible appearances of the devil, and where he is most conversant, as in his own kingdom. Before Christ's kingdom was set up, the devil did often visibly appear ; but since, he playeth least in sight ; when God openly manifested his presence by appear- ing to the fathers in sundry ways and manners, as he did before he spake to us by his Son, Heb. i. 1, 2, so did Satan ; visions, apparitions, and oracles, were more frequent ; and where Christ's spiritual king- dom prevaileth, the world heareth less of these things ; but where it is obstructed, more. Now, two instances in Popery : — (1.) In their chiefs: how many conjurers and necromancers (who expressly con- sulted and contracted with the devil), from the year 600 to the year 1.500, the chair of pestilence yielded, the histories tell us. (2.) In other duties, the devil had formerly, in the times of Popery, and still where it is allowed, incomparably more power among men to appear to them, and haunt their houses, and vex them, than now he hath ; all that I say is, haunting of houses and apparitions were much more common.
Uses. 1. A detestation of Popery; whatever is of the devil should be hated by us, for we are Christ's soldiers, listed in his warfare in baptism: Ptom. vi. 13, ' Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteous- ness unto God ; but yield not your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin;' Kom. xiii. 12. ' Let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light.' Now, after our military oath, should we revolt to them that join with the devil and his angels, to make war against Michael and his angels ?
2. To be more careful to be completely armed, ' For we fight not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers, and spiritual Avickednes.ses in heavenly places,' Eph. vi. 11, 12; that is, not only with the one, but the other. The abettors of Popery are Satan's auxiliary forces, whom he stirreth up and employeth. Now, the devils are of great cunning and strength, and by God's permission exercise great authority in the world, and the matter about which we contend with them is the honour of God and Christ, and our eternal salvation. Therefore, since the subtlety, power, and strength of the enemy are so great, we had need to be the better prepared, and put on the whole armour of God. That bodily and human power that befriendeth the kingdom of Satan is formidable, and that can only reach the outward man ; but devils and damned spirits are a more terrible and dangerous party, who secretly blind our minds and weaken our courage, and strangely and imperceptibly, by our own carnal affections, promote our eternal ruin.
3. It showelh us the folly of reconciling Babel and Sion — Rome, as it is, and the Reformed Churches : ' For what concord hath Christ with Belial ?' 2 Cor. vi. 15, IG ; ' What agreement hath the temple of God
2 ThES. II. 9, lO.J THE SEVENTH SERMON. 71
with idols?' You can never reconcile God and Satan, the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. I speak not of holy endea- vours to adjust the controversies, and reclaim papists from their errors ; that must be pursued, how fruitless soever the attempt be; but to hope for an agreement, as things now stand, is impossible.
4. Caution, that the devil prevail not against us ; he once surprised Peter : Mat. xvi. 23, ' G-et thee behind me, Satan ;' he hath prevailed over them that usurp the highest chair in the Christian church. Let him not blind your eyes in whole or in part ; though you be not drawn to antichristianism, do not live in a carnal, worldly course : ' For this pur})ose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil,' 1 John iii. 8. Every wicked act is Satan's inven- tion ; he stirreth it up, is served by it, delights in it, his kingdom goeth forward by it: he gaineth by every wicked action. Show plainly that you are not of his party, nor ever mean to be. Give way to fleshly and worldly lusts, and you are very prone to entertain the grossest temptations ; and by subtle evasions will wriggle and distort yourselves out of your duty, as the papists do.
I come now to the second means.
Doct That Antichrist doth uphold his kingdom by a false show of signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. To evidence this —
I. We must inquire what is a miracle? Miracles are works extraordinary, exceeding the ability of second causes, and done to confirm the truth. Where we may observe : —