THE SMNT's safety IN EVIL TIMES. 301
to do miscliief. (4.) It shews tliey are of the devil's trade, whose only work is to hurt and mischief all he can, those that are broken loose from him. Certainly such people as these are the children of the devil in an higher degree than ordinary. It is said, when Judas began to betray Christ, * the devil entered into him,' Luke xxii. 3. He was the child of the devil in some degree before, but now the devil took stronger possession of him ; his unnatural treason did in some sort change him into the very form of the devil. When Simon Magus sought to turn away the deputy from the faith, St Paul had no fitter terms for him than to style him, ' Thou full of aU subtlety and mischief, and child of the devU,' Actsxiii. 10. And indeed there is no disposition so contrary to the sweet Spirit of God, which is a Spiiit of love and goodness, as this is.
Use 1. Learn hence therefore, as you love God, to abhor this hateful disposi- tion. The serpent indeed was * wiser than aU the beasts of the field, ' Gen. iii. 1 , yet when he became an instrument of mischief, he was cui'sed above all the rest. Gen. iii. 14. Satan labours to serve his turn of the best wits; but what greater curse can befal a man than to serve the basest creature in the basest service, and that with our best abUities ? Men of a devihsh spirit carry God's curse under zeal,* yea, they carry the devil in their brain, in all theu* works of darkness ; for, alas, what should the subtlety of foxes, and fierceness of lions, and malice of devils do, in an heart dedicated to Christ ? Such men work from a double principle, the illness of their own disposition within, and Satan going with the tide of that, whose chief labour is to make a prey of men of the best parts, that by them he may either snare others, or else vex them that have so much wit or grace as not to be catched by his baits. This is a course contrary to humanity as we are men, contrary to ingenuityf as we are civil men, and contrary to religion as we are Christian men, and plainly argueth that such persons are led with another spirit than their own, even by the prince that ruleth in the air.
Our care and duty, therefore, should be to submit our spirits to the sweet guidance and government of God's good Spirit, to be contented that every device and imagination of our hearts should be captivated to higher and better reasons than our own.
"We are not wise enough of ourselves that our own wiUs and wit should be our fii-st movers. Everything is perfected by subjection to a superior ; where there should be a subordination to higher wisdom, there to withdi-aw our understanding and wiUs, is mere rebellion. That which the prophet speaks is too true of many in these days, ' Thy wisdom hath made thee to rebel,' Is. xlvii. 10. Such are too wise to be saved.
Use 2. We need not be ashamed to learn some things of our very enemies. If they be so pragmatical for evil, why should not we be as active for good? I am sure we serve a better Master. True love is full of inventions ; it will be devising of good things. So soon as ever om* nature is changed, the stream of the soul is tm-ued another way, the bent of it is for God. Alas, it is a small commendation to be only passively good, and it is a poor ex- cuse to be only passively ill. A good Christian thinks it not enough to see good done by others, but labours to have a hand in it himself ; and be that sufiers evil to be done, which he might have opposed and hindered, brings the guilt thereof upon his own head. ' Curse you Meroz,' saith God, ' for not helping the Lord against the mighty,' &c., Jud. v. 23. What shall we think then of those that help the mighty against the Lord, that cast oil to kindle where they should cast water to quench, that inflame the rage of * Qu. 'seal?' — Ed. t That is, 'ingenuousness.' — Ed.
802 THE saint's safety in evil times.
great persons, -when they should labour to reduce all to a moderation ? Of this spirit was that apostate which stirred up the emperor to kill man, woman, and child of the Protestants, with all their Idndred and aUiance, fearing lest any living should revenge the other's quarrel. *
We see God hath stooped so low as to commend his cause unto us, as if he stood in need of our help, and usually what good he doth to us ia conveyed by men like ourselves ; therefore, we should labour to appear on his side, and own his cause and children. In the house of God there be vessels of aU kinds. Some are of more honourable use than others. Some make the very times and places good where they live, by an influence of good. Others, as malignant planets, threaten misery and desolation where- ever they come. These are the calamities of the times. Men may know whether they be vessels of mercy or no, by the use they are put to ; the basest of people are fit enough to be executioners ; the worst of men are good enough to be rods of God's wrath. How much better is it to be full of goodness, as the Scripture speaks of Josiah and Hezekiah, &c. ! Indeed, what is a man, but his goodness ? Such men live desired, and die lamented. Yea, their very ' name is as the ointment of the apothecary poured out,' Cant. i. 3. They leave a sweet savour in the chm'ch behind them.