And 1. We cannot doubt but Satan will do his part,1 to hinder us from such a necessary duty as this: If all the power he hath can do it, or all the means and Instruments which he can raise up, he will be sure above all duties to keep you off from this. He is loath the Godly should have that Joy, and Assurance, and Advantage against Corruption, which the faithful performance of Self-Examination would procure them. And for the Ungodly he knows, if they should once fall close to this Examining task, they would find out his deceits, and their own danger, and so be very likely to escape him: ⟨p. 396⟩If they did but faithfully perform this duty, he were likely to lose most of the Subjects of his Kingdom. How could he get so many millions to Hell willingly, if they knew they went thither? And how could they choose but know if they did throughly try? having such a clear light and sure rule in the Scripture to discover it? If the beast did know that he is going to the slaughter, he would not be driven so easily to it; but would strive for his life before he comes to dye, as well as he doth at the time of his death. If Balaam had seen as much of the danger as his Ass, instead of his driving on so furiously, he would have been as loath to proceed as he. If the Syrians had known whither they were going, as well as Elisha did, they would have stopped before they had found themselves in the hand of their Enemies, 2 King. 6.19, 20. So if sinners did but know whither they are hasting, they would stop before they are engulfed in damnation. If every swearer, drunkard, whoremonger, lover of the world, or unregenerate person whatsoever, did certainly know that the way he is in will never bring him to Heaven, and that if he dye in it, he shall undoubtedly perish, Satan could never get him to proceed so resolvedly: Alas, he would then think every day a year till he were out of the danger; and whether he were eating, drinking, working, or what ever he were doing, the thoughts of his danger would be still in his mind, and this voice would be still in his ears, Except thou Repent and be converted thou shalt surely perish. The Devil knows well enough, that if he cannot keep men from trying their states, and knowing their misery, he shall hardly be able to keep them from Repentance and Salvation: And therefore he deals with them as Jael with Sisera;
And 1. We cannot doubt but Satan will do his part,1 to hinder us from such a necessary duty as this: If all the power he hath can do it, or all the means and Instruments which he can raise up, he will be sure above all duties to keep you off from this. He is loath the Godly should have that Joy, and Assurance, and Advantage against Corruption, which the faithful performance of Self-Examination would procure them. And for the Ungodly he knows, if they should once fall close to this Examining task, they would find out his deceits, and their own danger, and so be very likely to escape him: ⟨p. 396⟩If they did but faithfully perform this duty, he were likely to lose most of the Subjects of his Kingdom. How could he get so many millions to Hell willingly, if they knew they went thither? And how could they chuse but know if they did throughly try? having such a clear light and sure rule in the Scripture to discover it? If the beast did know that he is going to the slaughter, he would not be driven so easily to it; but would strive for his life before he comes to dye, as well as he doth at the time of his death. If Balaam had seen as much of the danger as his Ass, instead of his driving on so furiously, he would have been as loath to proceed as he. If the Syrians had known whither they were going, as well as Elisha did, they would have stopt before they had found themselves in the hand of their Enemies, 2 King. 6.19, 20. So if sinners did but know whither they are hasting, they would stop before they are engulfed in damnation. If every swearer, drunkard, whoremonger, lover of the world, or unregenerate person whatsoever, did certainly know that the way he is in will never bring him to Heaven, and that if he dye in it, he shall undoubtedly perish, Satan could never get him to proceed so resolvedly: Alas, he would then think every day a year till he were out of the danger; and whether he were eating, drinking, working, or what ever he were doing, the thoughts of his danger would be still in his mind, and this voyce would be stil in his ears, Except thou Repent and be converted thou shalt surely perish. The Devil knows well enough, that if he cannot keep men from trying their states, and knowing their misery, he shal hardly be able to keep them from Repentance and Salvation: And therefore he deals with them as Jael with Sisera;
- 11. Satan.
