He hath little reason to give himself to sleep who is every moment surrounded with mortal enemies, which are neither few nor weak. Naturalists tell us that the bird Onocratulus, and the Pelican take their rest with their Beaks upright, expecting the Hawk; and that the Whale and Dolphin sleep with their heads erected above water, for fear of hurt. Though there were but that one text of Scripture 1 Pet. 5.8. relating to this duty, twere enough to alarm any wise man, and to call him to his arms; Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. If that voice among the ancient Romans, Hannibal ad portas, Hannibal is at the gates, were sufficient to make them leave whatsoever they were about, and run to their weapons, and stand upon their guard; what watchfulness should this voice of the holy Ghost, The Devil is at the door, call thee too? Reader, Take that verse a little in pieces, and see what a foe thou hast to fight with, and then tell me whether it doth not concern thee to watch. Consider,
1. His Power; Your adversary the Devil: It is not a weak man, but a mighty Devil. Thou art not ⟨p. 737⟩called to wrestle with flesh and blood, but Principalities and powers, Is man a match for a Devil? or a stripling nodding, fit to enter the Lists with Goliath? What is a Pygmy to a Giant, or a a dying creature to the Prince of the powers of the air? Had David been asleep when the Lion out of the wood came against him, the Lion had sooner tore him by the throat, then he had taken the Lion by the beard. The cobweb may as soon withstand the broom in the maids hand, and the dust oppose the force of a violent wind, as a nodding secure Christian the temptations of Satan.
2. His Policy; Seeking whom he may devour; Had our enemy strength without craft, there were not so much danger, nor cause of vigilancy; but when he hath seven heads as well as ten horns, and exceeds us in subtlety as much as in power, it concerneth us to be watchful. He that playeth with a cunning Fencer, will heed his wards the more. Reader, the Devil hath a shrewd guess what Delilah is most likely to entice thee, and deprive thee of thy spiritual strength; and if amongst all the uncircumcised there be any that will fit thee, thou shalt not want her. He hath not walked too and fro in the earth so long for nothing;
He hath little reason to give himself to sleep who is every moment surrounded with mortal enemies, which are neither few nor weak. Naturalists tell us that the bird Onocratulus, and the Pellican take their rest with their Beaks upright, expecting the Hawk; and that the Whale and Dolphin sleep with their heads erected above water, for fear of hurt. Though there were but that one text of Scripture 1 Pet. 5.8. relating to this duty, twere enough to alarm any wise man, and to call him to his arms; Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. If that voyce among the antient Romans, Hannibal ad portas, Hannibal is at the gates, were sufficient to make them leave whatsoever they were about, and run to their weapons, and stand upon their guard; what watchfulness should this voyce of the holy Ghost, The Devil is at the door, call thee too? Reader, Take that verse a little in pieces, and see what a foe thou hast to fight with, and then tell me whether it doth not concern thee to watch. Consider,
1. His Power; Your adversary the Devil: It is not a weak man, but a mighty Devil. Thou art not ⟨p. 737⟩called to wrestle with flesh and blood, but Principalities and powers, Is man a match for a Devil? or a stripling nodding, fit to enter the Lists with Goliah? What is a Pigmie to a Giant, or a a dying creature to the Prince of the powers of the air? Had David been asleep when the Lion out of the wood came against him, the Lion had sooner tore him by the throat, then he had taken the Lion by the beard. The cobweb may as soon withstand the broom in the maids hand, and the dust oppose the force of a violent wind, as a nodding secure Christian the temptations of Satan.
2. His Policy; Seeking whom he may devour; Had our enemy strength without craft, there were not so much danger, nor cause of vigilancy; but when he hath seven heads as well as ten horns, and exceeds us in subtilty as much as in power, it concerneth us to be watchful. He that playeth with a cunning Fencer, will heed his wards the more. Reader, the Devil hath a shrewd guess what Dalilah is most likely to entice thee, and deprive thee of thy spiritual strength; and if amongst all the uncircumcised there be any that will fit thee, thou shalt not want her. He hath not walked too and fro in the earth so long for nothing;
