The way to true happiness in a serious treatise /

III. The roaring Lion hath his full power upon thee, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Thou art fast in the paw of that Lion, that is greedy to devour; in the snare of the Devil, led captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2. 26. This is the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2. 2. His drudges they are, and his lusts they do. He is the ruler of the darkness of this world: Eph. 6. 12. that is of ignorant sinners, that live in darkness. You ⟨p. 121⟩pity the poor Indians, that worship the Devil for their God, but little think that 'tis your own case. Why, 'tis the common misery of all the unsanctified, that the Devil is their God. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Not that they do intend to do him homage and worship, they will be ready to defy him, and him that should say so by them; but all this while they serve him, and come and go at his beck, and live under his Government. His servants you are, to whom you yield your selves to obey. Rom. 6. 16. O how many then will be found the real servants of the Devil, that take themselves for no other than the children of God? he can no sooner offer a sinful delight or opportunity for your unlawful advantage, but you embrace it. If he suggest a lie, or prompt you to revenge, you readily obey. If he forbid you to read, or pray, you hearken to him, and therefore his servants you are. Indeed he lies behind the curtain, he acts in the dark and sinners see not who setteth them on work: but all the while he leads them in a string. Doubtless the liar intends not a service to Satan but his own advantage: yet 'tis he that stands in the corner unobserved, and putteth the thing into his heart. Act. 5. 3. John 8. 44. Questionless Judas when he sold his Master for money, and the Chaldeans and Sabeans when they plundered Job, intended not to do the Devil a pleasure, but to satisfy their own covetous thirst: yet 'twas he that acted them in their wickedness.