Pneumatou diakonia, or, Gospel-churches a standing ordinance of Jesus Christ to continue to his…

First, The subtlety, policy of Satan. Over the gates of the City, was wont to be the Council-house. Let all the Devils in Hell sin in Council against the Lords Church, they shall not be able, by all their cunning, subtlety, to prevail against it. The subtle attempts of Satan to undermine, destroy this Church, have been (are) various. To enumerate particulars, is not our present design: 'Tis enough, that our Lord assures us, whatever they are, they shall prove ineffectual. Yet perhaps it may not be altogether impertinent to mention some few of his subtleties, with respect to this matter. He hath then attempted to destroy it in subtlety,

1. With respect to Doctrine; labouring to undermine, destroy the fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel, thereby subverting the Faith of some. His attempts against the Person of Christ; sometimes endeavouring to create a mis-belief, with respect to his Eternal Deity (to which John opposes himself in his Gospel, by impregnable, undeniable Arguments); at other times, to the verity of his Humanity (against which the same Apostle advanceth himself in his Epistle, 1 Joh. 1.) his designs against the Offices of Christ were also early in the Apostle's days, particularly against his Priestly Office, labouring to introduce a justification by the Works of the Law, or, as it were by the works of the Law, Rom. 9.32. viz. partly by Christ, and partly by Works, or internal Sanctification. A design subtly managed, and carried on by the bloody Jesuits and others, at this day (as is known); to which the Apostles in their Epistles, and other Worthies since, have opposed themselves. But though he hath hereby drawn off (at seasons) not a few, from the simplicity of the Gospel; yet there hath all along been a Testimony born in the Churches against him, which he hath not been able to withstand, or repel.

1. With respect to Doctrin; labouring to undermine, destroy the fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel, thereby subverting the Faith of some. His attempts against the Person of Christ; sometimes endeavouring to create a mis-belief, with respect to his Eternal Deity (to which John opposes himself in his Gospel, by impregnable, undeniable Arguments); at other times, to the verity of his Humanity (against which the same Apostle advanceth himself in his Epistle,