4. Satan may be cast out in part, and yet still retain a supreme Interest in the Heart. I prove it out of that Parable, Mat. 12. 43, 44, 45. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, he walketh through dry Places, seeking Rest, but findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my House, from ⟨p. 202⟩whence I came out, &c. Out of that Parable we may plainly conclude, there may be a shaking of Satan's Empire, Satan may be cast out of a Man in some sort, yet the Man not plainly renewed. Well, how may he be cast out, and yet his Empire remain unbroken? He may be cast out, partly, by Conviction and Illumination; yet as long as any Lust remaineth there unmortified and unsubdued, he still keeps his Sovereignty in the Heart. Many begin to be troubled, and to be thoughtful about Eternity, that see better, yet they do that which is worse in the Issue. When there's a Conflict between Corruption and Conviction, Corruption carrieth it away. As Iron oft heated, and oft quenched, is so much the harder: So, when they had some Wamblings of Conscience, and the Heart begins to boggle, and after this, Sin breaks out the more. This is the Scope of that place: They were convinced of a better Estate, and had some thoughts of the Messiah, but did not give him entertainment. Again, the Devil may be cast out, in regard of some external Reformation. A Man may a little wash his polluted Life, and abstain from gross Sins, yet Satan have full possession of the inner Man. A Man may abjure his former ill Life, and for a while carry it fair, but afterwards retain his former Filthiness, and keep a secret League with his Lusts, and so he is entangled again, and then his latter End is worse than his Beginning; and as it is in 2 Pet. 2. 22. The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again, and the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the Mire. A Prisoner which hath made some Escape, if ever the Goaler get him into his Clutches, is sure to be loaden with Irons: So one that hath had some ⟨p. 233⟩partial Reformation, O when the Devil gets such a Man into his power again, he is ten times worse than he was before.
4. Satan may be cast out in part, and yet still retain a supreme Interest in the Heart. I prove it out of that Parable, Mat. 12. 43, 44, 45. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, he walketh through dry Places, seeking Rest, but findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my House, from ⟨p. 202⟩whence I came out, &c. Out of that Parable we may plainly conclude, there may be a shaking of Satan's Empire, Satan may be cast out of a Man in some sort, yet the Man not plainly renewed. Well, how may he be cast out, and yet his Empire remain unbroken? He may be cast out, partly, by Conviction and Illumination; yet as long as any Lust remaineth there unmortified and unsubdued, he still keeps his Sovereignty in the Heart. Many begin to be troubled, and to be thoughtful about Eternity, that see better, yet they do that which is worse in the Issue. When there's a Conflict between Corruption and Conviction, Corruption carrieth it away. As Iron oft heated, and oft quenched, is so much the harder: So, when they had some Wamblings of Conscience, and the Heart begins to boggle, and after this, Sin breaks out the more. This is the Scope of that place: They were convinced of a better Estate, and had some thoughts of the Messiah, but did not give him entertainment. Again, the Devil may be cast out, in regard of some external Reformation. A Man may a little wash his polluted Life, and abstain from gross Sins, yet Satan• have full possession of the inner Man. A Man may abjure his former ill Life, and for a while carry it fair, but afterwards retain his former Filthiness, and keep a secret League with his Lusts, and so he is entangled again, and then his latter End is worse than his Beginning; and as it is in 2 Pet. 2. 22. The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again, and the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the Mire. A Prisoner which hath made some Escape, if ever the Goaler get him into his Clutches, is sure to be loaden with Irons: So one that hath had some ⟨p. 233⟩partial Reformation, O when the Devil gets such a Man into his power again, he is ten times worse than he was before.
