Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices

The first Remedy, is, solemnly to¹ dwell upon those Scriptures that do expressly command us to avoid the occasions of sin, and the least appearance of evil. 1 Thess. 5. 22. Abstain from all ²appearance of evil; whatsoever is heterodox, unsound, and unsavoury, shun it, as you would do a Serpent in your way, or poison in your meats. Theodosius tare the Arians Arguments, presented to him in writing, because he found them repugnant to the Scriptures; and Augustine retracted even Ironies only, because they had the appearance of lying. When God had commanded the Jews to abstain from Swines flesh, they would not so much as name it, but in their common talk would call a Sow another thing. To abstain from all appearance of evil, is to do nothing wherein sin appears, or which hath a shadow of sin. Bernard glosseth finely,³ Whatever is of an ill show, or of ill report, that he may neither wound conscience, nor credit; we must shun, and be shy of the very show and shadow of sin, if either we tender our credit abroad, or our comfort at home. It was ⟨p. 67⟩good counsel that Livia gave her Husband⁴ Augustus; it behoveth thee, not only not to do wrong, but not to seem to do so, &c. So Jude 23. v. And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 'Tis a phrase taken from legal uncleanness, which was contracted by touching the houses, the vessels, the garments of unclean persons. Under the Law men might not touch a menstruous cloth, nor God would not accept of a spotted peace-offering. So we must not only hate, and avoid gross sins, but every thing that may carry a savour, or suspicion of sin; we must abhor the very signs and tokens of sin; so in Proverbs 5. ver. 8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house. He that would not be burnt must dread the fire; He that would not hear the bell, must not meddle with the rope. To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, lead us not into