A child of light walking in darknessA childe of light vvalking in darknesse

In like manner he can, and doth put fire into those darts he wounds the conscience with, and thereby augments our fears and griefs, and so causeth such disquietments and pangs, as that hell fire as it were begins to flame in a mans conscience. As Christ is that Brazen Serpent, so Satan is that fiery Serpent, that can sting us by the guilt of sin.

In like maner he can, and doth put fire into those darts he wounds the conscience with, and thereby augments our feares and griefes, and so causeth such disquietments and pangs, as that hell fire as it were begins to flame in a mans conscience. As Christ is that Brazen Serpent, so Satan is that fiery Serpent, that can sting us by the guilt of sinne.

And here I must bring in the like caution as I used in the former Chapter;¹ namely, that he works not these terrors by immediate impressions upon the conscience, which in that respect is subject to Gods stroke alone, as to his knowledge alone. Which as I intimated, I take to be that other principal part of the drift of those words; Heb. 4. 11, 12. The word of God is quick and powerful, &c. For there he sets forth Christ to us (as was showed) as a judge completely enabled for vengeance against us, not only in respect of an omniscience to find us out in all our shiftings, but also (because a judge would not be much feared, if he had only skill and knowledge though never so much, to search, and find out the guile and guilt of malefactors, if he were not armed with power to avenge, and torture ⟨p. 100⟩them) therefore withal, the Apostles scope is to strike terror into their hearts, in respect of that vengeance he can execute, and therefore his aim is to exhort them, not to dally with God, or with his word, in which he had […] of those that believed not, they should not enter into his rest, in the former verses. So as the purport of the words must necessarily also be supposed to be, to show the dreadful power of God, and of his word, in avenging it self upon the contemners of him and it, and not merely to describe his omniscience, and knowing of the heart, but as joined also with power to pierce as deep in wounding of the soul, as in knowing of it. Yea, and that so large an illustration of his knowledge is brought in but as a clearer demonstration of His power to punish, Who can diverso deep into our hearts. As, from whence we might argue, and fear the stroke of that […] in this hand, whose eyes are so piercing. And accordingly to set forth the dreadfulness of this his power, all those his expressions do as fully tend, as to express the other; and he useth such a comparison, as both in the nature of the things, and according, to the more usual phrase of Scripture, doth more properly and abundantly intimate this slaying and wounding of mens souls that should be disobedient, by […], then that other of searching the soul and spirit. This word, says he, is quick and lively, not in respect, of duration only, as abiding ever; but in respect to working and ecution Things