The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

3. The Devil is so notoriously an enemy to this sanctifying work, that it is a strong discovery that Christ was sent from God to do it. What a stir doth he first make to keep out the Gospel, that it may not be Preached to the Nations of the World? And where that will not serve, what a stir doth he make to debauch Christs Ministers, and corrupt them by ignorance, heresy, error, schism, domineering pride, sensuality, covetousness, slothfulness and negligence, that they may do the work of Christ deceitfully, as if they did it not: Yea, and if it may be, to win them to his service, to destroy the Church by Oppression or Division, under pretence of serving Christ? And what cunning and industry doth this Serpent use, to insinuate into great ones and Rulers of the Earth, a prejudice against Christ and Godliness, and to make them believe, that all that are seriously Godly are their enemies, and are against some interest of theirs, that so he might take the sword which God hath put into their hands, and turn it to his own service against him that gave it? How cunning and diligent is he to seduce men that begin to set themselves to a Religious life, into some false Opinions, or dividing Sects, or scandalous unjustifiable practice, that thereby he may triumph against Christ, and have something to say against Religion, from the faults of men, when he hath nothing to say against it justly from it self? and that he may have something to ⟨p. 288⟩say to those Rulers and People, with whom he would fain make Religion odious? How cunningly doth he engage ungodly men, to be his Servants in seducing others, and making them such as they are themselves, and in standing up for sin and darkness against the light and life of Faith? So that ungodly men are but the Soldiers and Preachers of the Devil, in all parts employed to fight against God, and draw men from holiness and justice, and temperance, to sin, and to damnation: So that it is a very discernible thing, that Satan is the Head of one party in the World, as the Destroying Prince of Darkness and deceit; and that Christ is the Head of the other party, as the Prince of light, and truth, and holiness: And that there is a continued war or opposition, between these two Kingdoms or Armies, in all parts and ages of the World (of which I have fuller treated in another Book^*) If any shall say, How know you that all this is the work of Satan?