The first season he takes to tempt in is, when newly converted. No sooner is this child of grace, the new creature borne, but this Dragon pours a flood of temptation after it. He learnt the Egyptians but some of his own craft, when he taught them that bloody and cruel baptism, which they exercised upon the Israelitish babes, in throwing them into the river as soon as they were borne. The first cry of the new creature, gives all the legions of hell an alarm; they are as much troubled at it, as Herod and Jerusalem were, when Christ was borne; and now they sit in Council to take away the life of this new born King. The Apostles met with more opposition and persecution in their latter days, when endued with larger portions of the Spirit, but with temptations from Satan in their former when young Converts; as you may observe in the several passages recorded of them. Satan knew grace within was but weak, and their supplies promised at the Spirits coming, not landed; and when is an enemy more like to carry the town then in such a low condition? and therefore he tries them all. Indeed the advantages are so many, that we may wonder how the young Convert escapes with his life; knowledge weak, and so soon led into an error, especially in divided times, when many ways are held forth, one saying, Here is Christ; another, There is Christ, and the Christian ready to think every one means honestly, that comes with good words, as a little child who hath lost his way to his fathers house, is prone to follow any that offer him their conduct. Experience of what he knows little; and if Adam whose knowledge so perfect, yet was soon cheated, (being assaulted before he was well warm in his new possessions,) how much more advantage hath Satan of the new Convert? in whom he finds every grace in so great an indisposition to make resistance, ⟨p. 95⟩both from its own weakness, and the strength of the contrary corruption, (which commonly in such is much unmortified) which makes it act with more difficulty and mixture, as in a fire newly kindled where the smoke is more then the flame, or like beer newly tunned which runs thick; so that though there appear more strength of affection in such, that it works over into a greater abundance of duty then in others, yet with more dregs of carnal passions, which Satan knows, and therefore chooseth to stir what he sees troubled already.
The first season he takes to tempt in is, when newly converted. No sooner is this childe of grace, the new creature borne, but this Dragon poures a flood of temptation after it. He learnt the Egyptians but some of his own craft, when he taught them that bloody and cruel baptisme, which they exercised upon the Israelitish babes, in throwing them into the river assoon as they were borne. The first cry of the new creature, gives all the legions of hell an alarm; they are as much troubled at it, as Herod and Jerusalem were, when Christ was borne; and now they sit in Councel to take away the life of this new born King. The Apostles met with more opposition and persecution in their latter dayes, when endued with larger portions of the Spirit, but with temptations from Satan in their former when young Converts; as you may observe in the several passages recorded of them. Satan knew grace within was but weak, and their supplies promised at the Spirits coming, not landed; and when is an enemy more like to carry the town then in such a low condition? and therefore he tries them all. Indeed the advantages are so many, that we may wonder how the young Convert escapes with his life; knowledge weak, and so soon led into an errour, especially in divided times, when many wayes are held forth, one saying, Here is Christ; another, There is Christ, and the Christian ready to think every one means honestly, that comes with good words, as a little childe who hath lost his way to his fathers house, is prone to follow any that offer him their conduct. Experience of what he knows little; and if Adam whose knowledge so perfect, yet was soon cheated, (being assaulted before he was well warme in his new possessions,) how much more advantage hath Satan of the new Convert? in whom he findes every grace in so great an indisposition to make resistance, ⟨p. 95⟩both from its own weaknesse, and the strength of the contrary corruption, (which commonly in such is much unmortified) which makes it act with more difficulty and mixture, as in a fire newly kindled where the smoke is more then the flame, or like beer newly tunn'd which runs thick; so that though there appear more strength of affection in such, that it works over into a greater abundance of duty then in others, yet with more dregs of carnal passions, which Satan knows, and therefore chooseth to stir what he sees troubled already.
