[2.] Because all unregenerate men are governed by him, so that there is subjection as well as imitation ; they are acted and guided by his suggestions; he hath a great hand and power over them; and
4G SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XII.
therefore carnal men are said to walk after the prince of the power of the air, who worketh in the children of disobedience. He governeth and influenceth tliem, not every one in the same way, yet somewhat in a like manner. As the Holy Spirit governeth the faithful, their hearts are his shop and workhouse, so the hearts of the wicked are the devil's workhouse, where he frameth instruments of rehelHou against God. The devil, who hath lost his seat, hath built himself a throne in the hearts of wicked men, and lords it over them as his slaves. He blindeth them, and they suffer themselves to be blinded : 2 Cor. iv. 4, 'Whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded.' He enticeth them, and they consent, and therefore they are said to be taken captive by him at his will and pleasure, 2 Tim. ii. 26. Surely then Satan hath great power over the unconverted, for, making use of the corruption which is in tliem by nature, he leadeth them np and down by his motions and suggestions, and they obey him without resistance ; and if the Lord be not merciful to them, they live, and lie, and die in their sins, and are cast forth with the devil and his angels into everlasting torments, Mat. xxv. 41, that they may abide with him for ever.
Use 1. E.xhortation to those that yet wallow in their sins. Oh, come out of this woful estate, if you would be accounted children of God, and not of the devil ! But this exhortation is like to be lost, because none will own their misery, and acknowledge that they do as yet remain in Satan's snares. Therefore let us convince men a little, and persuade them at the same time. I shall convince them by these questions, intermingled with the exhortation.
Quest 1. Do not you please yourselves too much in an unholy course of life, and a sinful state ? The sinful state is the state opposite to Christ ; the devil's work is to cherish sin, and Christ's work is to destroy sin. Now judge under whose influence and government do you live ? Under Satan's or Christ's ? Are you cherishing or destroying sin ? If you live under Christ's blessed government, you will use all his healing methods for the cure of your distempered souls, till you find a manifest abatement of corruption, or inclination to present things ; for Satan is the god of this v;orld, and you are never satisfied till the heavenly mind prevail in you. But if you be under Satan's govern- ment, you are wholly bent to the world and the things of the world, and are entangled in one of tho.se usual snares of sensuality, worldli- ness, or pride : 1 John ii. 16, ' For all that is in the world is the lust of tiie flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.'
1. Sensuality. The carnal mind and life is flat enmity to God, and showeth that we are influenced by the evil spirit, as the heavenly mind and life is the property of those that are guided by the Spirit of God ; therefore all those that live in 'gluttony, and excess of wine, revellings, banquetings,' 1 Peter iv. 3, and spendtheir time in vanity, wantonness, and filthiness, and needless sports, are guided by the unclean spirit, not the Holy S{)irit ; they are ' sensual, not having the Spirit.' By these vanities the mind is debased and polluted, and made unfit for God and the work of holiness : 2 Tim. ii. 22, ' Flee youthful lusts ; follow after righteousness.' The devil is busy with young men, pressing them to inordinate sense-pleasing; then he knowelh that
V'jiR. 8.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 47
holiness will be of little account with them : a gross carnal spirit j^ratifieth the devil's turn, Tertullian telleth us a story, how that the devil had possessed a christian, and being asked why, he pleads that he found him at a play, took him upon his own ground, and so pos- sessed him.
2. Worldliness, or love of riches : 1 Tim. vi. 9, ' They that will be rich fall into temptation and the snare of the devil.' The devil would draw us downward, as God upward. God propoundeth the rich hopes of the other world to deaden us to the riches and glory of this world ; but Satan is the god of this world ; here is his empire, and here are his baits and allurements. Now a drossy, unsanctified, miserable soul, that loveth the world, savoureth the world, wholly inclineth itself to the world, is held fast by Satan in the snate.
3. Pride. This is Satan's proper image : 1 Tim. vi. 3, ' Lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.' This pride lifts up the mind against God and above men ; when men delight and place their happiness in greatness and v/orldly glory, have an envy to those above them, disdain those below them, contend with equals out of a lofty conceit of themselves, afifect honour and reputa- tion, ratlier than carry themselves humbly.