The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

CHAP. VI. By what means, and how Satan drives on this plague among people.

1. Satan doth not act in this design immediately, nor doth he act indifferently by any instrument, but he hath his special ministers, as it were, set apart for that end, as the Apostle speaketh 2 Cor. 11. 15. He hath many subjects indeed, but beside these, he hath some special ministers for this design, as our blessed Lord Jesus hath Ministers specially set apart in His Kingdom. Concerning which we may observe, 1. That he employeth some more eminently to traffic, as it were, in this very employment, who, by compassing sea and land, and travelling to and fro, may further his design, such were these who were called false Apostles, 2 Cor. 11. 13. Revel. 2, 3. and in the history of the Acts we will find such coming from one place to another, as from Jerusalem to Antioch, Act, 15. and elsewhere, purposely to spread their errors, as the Apostles did travel for preaching the truth. 2. He hath particular instruments, preaching ⟨p. 183⟩in particular places, that are, as it were, his ministers of such and such bounds, as in the place cited. 3. Beside these, he hath stickling underhand-dealers, who, not appearing openly, yet creep into houses; and ordinarily he hath some women, who are specially employed in this, as he hath Jezebel the Prophetess in the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2. and such he had in the primitive heresies, particularly one of the Montanists, because such are often vehement in what they are engaged in, and have access to pervert and seduce, which others cannot easily have; his assisting of them withal to speak sometimes to the admiration of others, seemeth more wonderful like. 4. Whom ever he maketh use of, they are someway fitted (to say so) for the designs they are employed in, although their manner of carrying on these designs may be diverse, as experience showeth.