The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…

§. Sect. 3 Secondly while we live in our sins we continue in Satan's thraldom and he hath full possession of us;¹ which possession the longer he holdeth the more hardly will he be cast out; for as those who have a long time quietly enjoyed their houses and lands though their title be but weak yet are more hardly dispossessed then if at their first entrance their right had been called into question, both because long custom hath in it the nature of a law, and the parties themselves will be more earnest in using all means to retain their possessions which they have long held, time having worn out all doubting of their right: so satan is more hardly thrust out of his ⟨p. 386⟩possession when he hath long kept it, because his long holding of us in his thraldom maketh him imagine that he hath right to hold us still, and he is most earnest in using all his strength and policy; to hold that which he hath already gotten and long kept in his possession. We know that when a soldier in fight hath taken another captive, at first he useth all means to break from him as having better opportunity when they are still in the field, then he can hope for after when he is carried away and clapped up in prison: and as he hath less means, so also he hath less desire to escape; after that by continuance of time his captivity is made more familiar unto him; and we commonly see that a bird as soon as she is taken, fluttereth and striveth to get away, but after she hath been a while in the cage she is content to stay there still though the door be open; and so it is in our spiritual thraldom, at the first we have best means to escape and most desire also, for after we are inured to Satan's captivity we are content to remain his bondslaves still. And if we desire to escape he would more disdain that we should strive and oppose our selves against him, after he hath long time had us at command, and ruled us at his beck, then when at the first we fell into this cruel slavery.

§. Sect. 3 Secondly while wee liue in our sinnes wee continue in Sathans thraldome and he hath full possession of vs;¹ which possession the longer he holdeth the more hardly will he be cast out; for as those who haue a long time quietly inioyed their houses and lands though their title be but weake yet are more hardly dispossessed then if at their first entrance their right had bene called into questiō, both because long custome hath in it the nature of a law, and the parties themselues will bee more earnest in vsing all meanes to retaine their possessions which they haue long held, time hauing worne out al doubting of their right: so sathan is more hardly thrust out of his