4. He adds weight to his lying accusations,1 and false reasonings by an imperious and obstreperous ⟨p. 114⟩affirmation [that so it is,] he suggests not reasons only, that should persuade, but sets them on with words of affirmation, and persuasion therewithal suggested: and so, like as in reasoning, often a weak spirit is borne down by a stronger, not by force of argument so much, as by strength and violence of spirit; for many when the iron is blunt, and their arguments want edge, put to the more strength, as Solomon speaks. Eccles. 10. 10. and so prevail: and so doth Satan; being a spirit of greater strength then ours by creation; and guilt also, further weakening us in arguing with him. Cunning pleaders may so argue the case, with such violence and confidence, that as Socrates said when his accusers had done, that if he had not been very innocent, he should have suspected himself guilty: how much more, when this shall fall upon persons that are so guilty, as we all are; and the thing also impleaded be that which we are already suspicious of? What a man fears already, he easily believes, as what a man hopes, quod metuunt facile credunt. There falls out often in opinions a preconceit which also exceedingly sways the mind, a giving of mind that such a thing is so or so; and in such a case Satan can strike in exceedingly to strengthen such a conceit: this I take to be implied in that phrase. 2. Thes. 2. 1. I Where the Apostle gives warning they should not be troubled neither [by spirit] nor by word, to think the day of Judgement was at hand: By spirit he means a pretence of a revelation, ⟨p. 115⟩joined with a mans own private conceit and imagination; thus 1 John 4. 1. Spirit is also taken. And oftentimes when Satan perceives the mind inclined to think or conceit thus or thus, he adds weight unto the balance, and so a man is given up to the efficacy of delusion: as we see in false Prophets which the Apostle there speaks of, when he says, Believe not every spirit, because many false Prophets are gone out into the world. Thus those false Prophets became confident in their prophecies: they walk in the spirit says the Prophet, Micah 2. 11. But do lye. They took up such conceits, and the devil he joined with them, and confirmed them in them. And as Satan by such false revelations confirms Enthusiasts in their opinions and conceits:
4. He addes weight to his lying accusations,1 and false reasonings by an imperious and obstreperous ⟨p. 114⟩affirmation [that so it is,] hee suggests not reasons onely, that should perswade, but sets them on with words of affirmation, and perswasion therewithall suggested: and so, like as in reasoning, often a weake spirit is borne downe by a stronger, not by force of argument so much, as by strength and violence of spirit; for many when the iron is blunt, and their arguments want edge, put to the more strength, as Solomon speakes. Eccles. 10. 10. and so prevaile: and so doth Satan; being a spirit of greater strength then ours by creation; and guilt also, further weakning us in arguing with him. Cunning pleaders may so argue the case, with such violence and confidence, that as Socrates said when his accusers had done, that if he had not been very innocent, hee should have suspected himselfe guilty: how much more, when this shall fall upon persons that are so guilty, as we all are; and the thing also impleaded be that which wee are already suspitious of? What a man feares already, he easily beleeves, as what a man hopes, quod metuunt facile credunt. There falls out often in opinions a preconceit which also exceedingly swayes the minde, a giving of minde that such a thing is so or so; and in such a case Satan can strike in exceedingly to strengthen such a conceit: this I take to be implyed in that phrase. 2. Thes. 2. 1. I Where the Apostle gives warning they should not be troubled neither [by spirit] nor by word, to thinke the day of Iudgement was at hand: By spirit he meanes a pretence of a revelation, ⟨p. 115⟩joyned with a mans owne private conceit and imagination; thus 1 Iohn 4. 1. Spirit is also taken. And oftentimes when Satan perceives the minde inclined to thinke or conceit thus or thus, he addes weight unto the ballance, and so a man is given up to the efficacy of delusion: as wee see in false Prophets which the Apostle there speakes of, when he sayes, Beleeve not every spirit, because many false Prophets are gone out into the world. Thus those false Prophets became confident in their prophecies: they walke in the spirit sayes the Prophet, Micah 2. 11. But doe lye. They tooke up such conceits, and the devill hee joyned with them, and confirmed them in them. And as Satan by such false revelations confirmes Enthusiasts in their opinions and conceits:
- 14. That he backs all with an imperious affirmation.4. That hee backs all with an imperious affirmation.
