fatterers, represent them by this may delude the soul; but by looking upon them under such names and notions by which the scripture sets them forth, may preserve the soul from frequenting their company, and delighting in their socity.* Do not tell me what this man calls them, or how such persons count of them; but tell me what the scripture calls them, how doth the scripture count of them? As Nabal's name was, so was his nature; and as wicked men's names are, so are their natures; you may know well enough what is within them, by the suitable names the Holy Ghost hath given them. Rem. 4. Solemnly consider, that the society and company of wicked men, have been a great grief and burden to those precious souls who were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven, Ps. cxx. 5, 6. • Wo is me that I dwell in Mesech, that I sojourn in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.' So Jeremiah, Oa that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them; for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men, Jer. ix. 2. So they vexed Lot's righteous soul by their filthy conversation,' 2. Pet. ii. 7, 8. They made his life a * Lactantius says of Lucian, "He spared neither God nor man;" such monsters are wicked men, who render their company, to all who have tasted of the sweetness of Divine love, a burden, and not a delight. burden, they made death more desirable to him than life; yea, they made his life a lingering death. Guilt or grief is all the good gracious souls get by conversing with wicked men.* * O Lord, let me not go to hell, where the wicked are, for, Lord, thou knowest, I never loved their company here, said a gracious gentlewoman when she was to die, being in much trouble of conscience. Vide BZZAM. PART II. CHAPTER I. The second thing to be shewed, is, the several devices that Satan (as to draw souls to sin, so) to keep souls from holy duties, to hinder them in holy services, and to keep them from religious performances. "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." Zech. iii. 1. The truth of this I shall shew you in the following particulars : The first Device that Satan hath to draw souls from holy duties, and to keep them from religious services, is, BY presenting the world in such a dress, and in such a garb, as to insnare the soul, and steal upon its affections; he represents the world to them in its beauty and bravery, which proves a bewitching sight to a world of men :* (It is true, this took not Christ, because Satan could find no matter in him for his temptation to work • The beauty of the world foils a Christian more than the strength; the flattering sun-shine more than the blustering storm. In storms we keep our garments close about trs. upon) so that he no sooner casts out his golden bait, but we are ready to play with it; he no sooner throws out his golder ball, but men are apt to run after it, though they lose God and their souls in the pursuit. Ah! how many professors in these days have for a time followed hard after God, Christ, and ordinances, till the devil hath set before them the world in all its beauty and bravery, which hath bewitched them first to have low thoughts of holy things, and then to be cold in their affections to them, and then to slight them; and at last, with the young man in the gospel, to turn their backs upon them.* Where one thousand is destroyed by the world's frowns, ten thousand are destroyed by its smiles. The world, siren-like, it sings us, and sinks us; it kisses us, and betrays us, like Judas; it kisses us, and smites us under the fifth rib, like Joab. The honour, splendour, and all the glory of this world, are but sweet poisons, that will much endanger us, if they do not eternally destroy us.-Now the remedies against this device of Satan, are these: Remedy 1. Against this device of Satan, dwell upon the impotency and weakness of all things here below; they are not able to secure you * The inhabitants of Nilus are deaf by the noise of the water; so the world makes such a noise in men's ears, that they cannot hear the things of heaven. from the least evil:* they are not able to procure you the least desirable good. The crown of gold cannot cure the head-ache, nor the velvet slipper ease the gout; nor can the jewel about the neck take away the pain of the teeth. The frogs of Egypt entered into rich men's houses as well as the poor; our daily experience evidences this, that all the honours, riches, &c. that men enjoy, cannot free them from the cholic, nor the fever. Nay, what is more strange, a great deal of wealth cannot keep men from falling into extreme poverty, Judges i. 6. you shall find seventy kings with their fingers and toes cut off, glad like whelps to lick up crumbs under another king's table, and shortly after, the same king that brought them to this penury, is reduced to the same poverty and misery. Why then should that be a bar to keep thee out of heaven, that cannot give thee the least ease on earth? Rem. 2. Dwell upon the vanity and impotency of all worldly good. This is the sum of Solomon's sermon, Vanity of vanity, and all is vanity.' This our first parents found, and therefore * The Prior of Melancthon, rolled his hand up and down in a bason full of angels, thinking thereby to have charmed his gout; but it would not do. Nugas the Scythian, despising the rich presents and ornaments that were sent unto him by the emperor of Constantinople, asked whether those things could drive away calamities, diseases, or death. Gilimex, king of the Vandals, led in triumph by Belisarius, cried out, "Vanity of vanity, all is vanity." |