The Christian in Complete Armour

Thirdly, in his gradual approaches to the soul. When he comes to tempt, he is modest & asks but a little, he knows he may get that at many times, which he should be denied if lie asked all at once. A few are let into a city, when an army coming in a body, would be shut out, and therefore that he may beget no suspicion, he presents may be a few general propositions, which do not discover ⟨p. 101⟩the depth of his plot; these like Scouts go before, while his whole body lies hid as it were in some swamp at hand. Thus he wriggled into Eves bosom, whom he doth not at first dash bid Take and eat, no, he is more mannerly then so, this would have been so hideous, that as the fish with some sudden noise, by a stone cast into the river, is scared from the bait, so would she have been affrighted from holding parley with such a one: no, he propounds a question which shall make way for this, Hath God said? art not mistaken? could this be his meaning whose bounty lets thee eat of the rest to deny thee the best of all? Thus he digs about and loosens the roots of her faith, and then the tree falls the easier the next gust of temptation. This is a dangerous policy indeed. Many have yielded to go a mile with Satan, that never intended to go two; but when once on the way, have been allured further and further, till at last they know not how to leave his company. Thus Satan leads poor creatures down into the depths of sin by winding stairs, that let them not see the bottom whither they are going; First he presents an object that occasions some thoughts, these set fire on the affections, and these fume up into the brain, and cloud the understanding, which being thus disabled, now Satan dares a little more declare himself, and boldly solicit the creature to that it would even now have defied. Many who at this day lie in open profaneness, never thought they should have rolled so far from their Profession but Satan beguiled them, poor souls, with their modest beginnings. O Christians, give not place to Satan, no not an inch in his first motions; he that is a beggar and a modest one without doors, will command the house if let in; yield at first, and thou givest away thy strength to resist him in the rest, when the hem is worn, the whole garment will ravel out, if that be not mended by timely repentance.

Thirdly, in his gradual approaches to the soul. When he comes to tempt, he is modest & asks but a little, he knows he may get that at many times, which he should be denied if lie ask't all at once. A few are let into a city, when an army coming in a body, would be shut out, and therefore that he may beget no suspition, he presents may be a few general propositions, which do not discover