The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax

Truth is truth, and error error, and that which is unlawful, is unlawful whether men think so or no. GOD hath put an eternal difference betwixt light and darkness, good and ill, which no creatures conceit can alter, and ⟨p. 220⟩therefore no mans judgement is the measure of things further then it agrees to truth stamped upon things themselves by GOD. Hereupon because a wise mans judgement agrees to the truth of things, a wise man may in some sense be said to be the measure of things; and the judgement of one holy wise man, to be preferred before a thousand others. Such men usually are immovable as the Sun in its course, because they think, and speak, and live by rule. A Joshua and his house will serve God whatsoever others do, ⟨p. 221⟩and will run a course contrary to the world, because their judgements leads them a contrary way. Hence it is that Satan hath a spite at the eye of the soul, the judgement, to put out that by ignorance and false reason, for he cannot rule in any, until either he hath taken away or perverted judgement: he is a Prince of darkness, and ruleth in darkness of the understanding. Therefore he must first be cast out of the understanding by the prevailing of truth, and planting it in the soul. Those therefore […] • ledge, ⟨p. 222⟩help Satan and Antichrist (whose Kingdom like Satan's is a kingdom of darkness) to erect their throne. Hence it is promised by CHRIST that the holy Ghost shall convince the world of judgment, that is, that he is resolved to set up a Throne of government, because the great lord of misrule Satan the Prince of the world is judged by the Gospel, and the Spirit accompanying it, his impostures are discovered, his enterprises laid open; therefore when the Gospel was spread, the Oracles ceased. Satan fell fr•m heaven like lig•g, ⟨p. 223⟩men were translated out of his Kingdom into Christs. Where prevailing is by lies, there discovery is victory: they shall proceed no further, for their •lly shall