Divine meditations and holy contemplations. By that reverend divine R. Sibbes D.D. Master of…Divine meditations and holy contemplations. By that reverende divine R. Sibbes D.D. Master of…

Its hard to discern the working of Satan from §319our own corruptions, because for the most part he goes secretly along with them; he is like a Pirate at sea, he sets upon us with our own▪ Colours, he comes as a friend; and therefore it is hard to discern, but its partly seen by the eagerness of our lusts, when they are sudden, strong and strange, ⟨p. 250⟩so strange sometimes, that even nature it self abhors them: the Spirit of God leads sweetly, but the devil hurries a man like a Tempest, that he will hear no reason, as we see in Ammon for his sister Tamar. Again when we shake off motions of Gods Spirit, and mislike his Government, and give way to passion, then the devil enters; Let a man be unadvisedly angry, and the devil will make him envious and seek revenge; when passions are let loose, they are Chariots in which the devil rides; some by nature are prone to distrust, and some to be too confident, now the devil he joins ⟨p. 251⟩with them, and so draws them on further, he broods upon our corruptions; he lies (as it were) upon the souls of men, and there broods and hatches all sin whatsoever: All the devils in hell cannot force us to sin, he works by suggestions, stirring up humours and fancies, but he cannot work upon the will: we betray our selves by yielding before he can do us any harm, yet he ripens sin

Its hard to discerne the working of Sathan from §319our owne corruptions, because for the most part hee goes secretly along with them; he is like a Pirat at sea, hee sets upon us with our owne▪ Colours, hee comes as a friend; and therefore it is hard to discerne, but its partly seene by the eagernesse of our lusts, when they are suddaine, strong and strange, ⟨p. 250⟩so strange sometimes, that even nature it selfe abhorres them: the Spirit of God leads sweetly, but the devill hurries a man like a Tempest, that hee will heare no reason, as we see in Ammon for his sister Tamar. Againe when we shake off motions of Gods Spirit, and mislike his Government, and give way to passion, then the devill enters; Let a man be unadvisedly angry, and the devill will make him envious and seeke revenge; when passions are let loose, they are Chariots in which the devill rides; some by nature are prone to distrust, and some to be too confident, now the devill hee joynes