Meditations on the fall and rising of St. Peter

MED. XV.

WE may here see the method of Satan. His first Temptation is by one only Maid, his second by many Servants that stood by. The more weak and naked he finds us, with the greater force he makes upon us; using his first assault to try, but his second to wound us: As in the battery or breaking open of a City, one man may serve for a spy to watch the Gates, to take notice of the ⟨p. 53⟩Defences, and to make relation of the weaknesses or force of either; but when they are by his report found unable for resistance, there then follows the irruption of a whole army, bringing nothing but the threats of blood and slaughter: So is it with Satan towards our Souls; after he hath sent one smaller Temptation as a spy to observe our Fortifications, and upon the success and report of it, finds how weak we are to withstand his forces, he then rushes in upon us with a multitude of his armed ⟨p. 54⟩and more able servants; who certainly would take possession of us, and hold us in peace as their own, did not a stronger than he come upon him, and overcome him, and divide the spoils.

WE may here see the method of Satan. His first Temptation is by one only Maid, his second by many Servants that stood by. The more weak and naked he finds us, with the greater force he makes upon us; using his first assault to try, but his second to wound us: As in the battery or breaking open of a City, one man may serve for a spie to watch the Gates, to take notice of the ⟨p. 53⟩Defences, and to make relation of the weaknesses or force of either; but when they are by his report found unable for resistance, there then follows the irruption of a whole army, bringing nothing but the threats of blood and slaughter: So is it with Satan towards our Souls; after he hath sent one smaller Temptation as a spie to observe our Fortifications, and upon the success and report of it, finds how weak we are to withstand his forces, he then rushes in upon us with a multitude of his armed