The third means whereby we may be enabled to resist the devil, is by seeking to Christ for help, of him only we have spiritual strength; hence the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians, besides, Putting on the armour of God, to be strong in the LORD, Ephes. 6. •0. The Conies which the Wise man speaks of, Prov. ⟨p. 199⟩30. 26. if they come out of their rocks, lye open to be devoured by the lions & other wild beasts: so also if we be out of our rock, we are exposed to the greedy desire of the roaring lion, the devil and his tentations; it is not said that we are stronger then he is, but he which is in us, Christ, is stronger then he which rules ⟨p. 200⟩in the world Let us learn wisdom of the conies, which though they be very weak, yet because they make their houses in the rocks, and continually keep in them, no wild beast can devour them, though we be never so weak, yet if we will flee to our rock Christ, and always rely on him, we need not fear the devil, and all his tentations, ⟨p. 201⟩if there were any strength in our selves, this might not seem needful, but seeing Adam before he fell, having such strength could not resist the devil in Paradise, much less can we now; our only strength is by faith in Christ. As Gideon was to send away a great part of his host by Gods command before he ⟨p. 202⟩could overcome the Midianites, so must we cast away all confidence in our selves, before we shall be able to overcome the devil by relying on Christ. We must therefore cast our selves wholly upon God, and rely on him, and say with Jehoshaphat, We know not what to do, O Lord, but our eyes are upon thee, 2 Chron. 20. 12. We must take ⟨p. 203⟩heed of assuming any strength to our selves, when God raiseth a man up, he thinks that he rose, partly by his own strength, this is to take away the glory which belongs to God alone, and greatly to dishonour him: we see that those who trust in their own strength, are often suffered very grievously and desperately to fall. So Peter ⟨p. 204⟩when in confidence of his own strength, as may appear Math. 26. 33. He followed Christ into the high Priests hall, then the devil tempted him and gave him so fearful a foil. This and the like examples should teach us to be very thankful to God, that he hath preserved from such like falls hitherto, & to cleave the nearer to him, ⟨p. 205⟩that we may not in the like manner be foiled hereafter.
The third meanes whereby we may be enabled to resist the divell, is by seeking to Christ for helpe, of him onely wee have spirituall strength; hence the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians, besides, Putting on the armour of God, to bee strong in the LORD, Ephes. 6. •0. The Conies which the Wise man speakes of, Prov. ⟨p. 199⟩30. 26. if they come out of their rocks, lye open to bee devoured by the lyons & other wilde beasts: so also if wee be out of our rock, we are exposed to the greedy desire of the roaring lyon, the divell and his tentations; it is not sayd that wee are stronger then hee is, but he which is in us, Christ, is stronger then he which rules ⟨p. 200⟩in the world Let us learn wisdome of the conies, which though they bee very weake, yet because they make their houses in the rocks, and continually keepe in them, no wilde beast can devour them, though we be never so weak, yet if we will flee to our rock Christ, and alwayes rely on him, we need not feare the divell, and all his tentations, ⟨p. 201⟩if there were any strength in our selves, this might not seeme needfull, but seeing Adam before hee fell, having such strength could not resist the divell in Paradise, much lesse can wee now; our onely strength is by faith in Christ. As Gideon was to send away a great part of his hoast by Gods command before hee ⟨p. 202⟩could overcome the Midianites, so must we cast away all confidence in our selves, before wee shall be able to overcome the divell by relying on Christ. We must therfore cast our selves wholly upon God, and relie on him, and say with Iehosaphat, Wee know not what to doe, O Lord, but our eyes are upon thee, 2 Chron. 20. 12. We must take ⟨p. 203⟩heed of assuming any strength to our selves, when God raiseth a man up, he thinkes that he rose, partly by his owne strength, this is to take away the glory which belongs to God alone, and greatly to dishonour him: we see that those who trust in their owne strength, are often suffered very grievously and desperately to fall. So Peter
