Secondly, As outward tribulation cannot hinder the soul-peace of a godly man, so the policy, plots, and temptations of Satan our arch-enemy cannot, yea his charges and most spiteful accusations shall not. The great design of the devil, is, to destroy and devour souls, his own condition being most miserable, he at once envies all those who are not in the same condition, and attempts to make them so; and when he fails in that attempt, the destruction of souls, yet he will not cease to attempt their molestation, and to trouble those whom he cannot utterly devour. Now, as Satan cannot at all prevail in the former attempt, the destroying of souls, so he cannot wholly prevail in the latter, the troubling of souls. Hence that gallant challenge of the Apostle, (Rom. 8.33, 34.) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it ⟨p. 752⟩is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth, it is Christ that dyed, yea rather, that is risen again, &c. As if he had said, let all the enemies of our spiritual peace rise up and combine together, they shall not be able to condemn, that is, wholly to discourage or disquiet the heart of a believer, he having received (his quietus est) rest and peace from God, in the justification of his person, and the pardon of his sins. Satan can do much, and would do more (if his chain were lengthened, and he not restrained) to the trouble and molestation of our souls, there's not a godly man living should rest an hour in quiet for him, if he might have his wish or his will; but because God gives quietness to some believers, and will not have it so much as stirred, therefore Satan cannot make any trouble at all in their souls, but they live in the constant light of God's countenance, and in the joy of the holy Ghost. And because the quietness which every believer hath is the gift of God through Jesus Christ, who hath made their atonement, and established their peace, through the blood of his Cross, therefore Satan cannot make any such trouble in any of their souls, as shall for ever destroy their peace, or dissolve their quietness, though for many reasons, all serving his glory, and their good, God suffereth satan many times, possibly for a long time to entangle and interrupt it. Temptations to the committing of sin, and accusations or charges about sin committed, may exceedingly hinder and shake the peace of a believer;
Secondly, As outward tribulation cannot hinder the soul-peace of a godly man, so the policy, plots, and temptations of Satan our arch-enemy cannot, yea his charges and most spiteful accusations shall not. The great designe of the devil, is, to destroy and devour souls, his own condition being most miserable, he at once envies all those who are not in the same condition, and attempts to make them so; and when he fails in that attempt, the destruction of souls, yet he will not cease to attempt their molestation, and to trouble those whom he cannot utterly devour. Now, as Satan cannot at all prevail in the former attempt, the destroying of souls, so he cannot wholly prevail in the latter, the troubling of souls. Hence that gallant challenge of the Apostle, (Rom. 8.33, 34.) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it ⟨p. 752⟩is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth, it is Christ that dyed, yea rather, that is risen again, &c. As if he had said, let all the enemies of our spiritual peace rise up and combine together, they shall not be able to condemn, that is, wholly to discourage or disquiet the heart of a believer, he having received (his quietus est) rest and peace from God, in the justification of his person, and the pardon of his sins. Satan can do much, and would do more (if his chain were lengthned, and he not restrained) to the trouble and molestation of our souls, there's not a godly man living should rest an hour in quiet for him, if he might have his wish or his will; but because God gives quietness to some believers, and will not have it so much as stirr'd, therefore Satan cannot make any trouble at all in their souls, but they live in the constant light of God's countenance, and in the joy of the holy Ghost. And because the quietness which every believer hath is the gift of God through Jesus Christ, who hath made their attonement, and established their peace, through the blood of his Cross, therefore Satan cannot make any such trouble in any of their souls, as shall for ever destroy their peace, or dissolve their quietness, though for many reasons, all serving his glory, and their good, God suffereth satan many times, possibly for a long time to entangle and interrupt it. Temptations to the committing of sin, and accusations or charges about sin committed, may exceedingly hinder and shake the peace of a believer;
