First, that the Lord would discover the enemy before he comes; that he would make known unto us the engines, and wiles, and depth of Satan, and the subtlety of our own corrupt hearts, which are ready on every hand to surprise us; for to be surprised before we are aware is great danger; therefore we pray that the Lord would give us the Spirit of Revelation, that we may take notice of the engines of Satan, that he may be discovered to us; the discovery, we know, of an evil is to prevent an evil: and, not foreseeing, we cannot ⟨p. 79⟩prevent. He that sees not an evil before it comes will be overthrown by it when it comes. Many a man perisheth by pride, and knows not what hurts him. Thus corruption blows up the soul. This the Lord promiseth, Isay 30.21. Thou shalt hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way. That GOD may keep a man from sin, he sends the Spirit of CHRIST to say, this is the way, walk in it. The Text saith, 2 Cor. 2. there, speaking of the incestuous man, We are not ignorant of the methods of Satan to us, Mat. 20. When the great skirmish was to come, our Saviour forewarned Peter, and saith, I will smite the Shepherd, &c. and saith, Watch and pray for the hour is come, &c. He gives him this warning-piece. We pray then that God would make known to us the engines of sin and Satan before they come. We know it is a great help in war to know the quarters and orders of enemies, that so a man may order his actions according thereunto. So we must know where the Devil and our corruptions lye quartered, and what be the haunts of our wretched hearts, and so to order the help God hath put into our hands for the resisting of them.
First, that the Lord would discover the enemie before hee comes; that hee would make knowne unto us the engines, and wiles, and depth of Satan, and the subtilty of our owne corrupt hearts, which are ready on every hand to surprize us; for to be surprized before wee are aware is great danger; therefore we pray that the Lord would give us the Spirit of Revelation, that wee may take notice of the engines of Satan, that hee may be discovered to us; the discovery, wee know, of an evill is to prevent an evill: and, not foreseeing, we cannot ⟨p. 79⟩prevent. He that sees not an evill before it comes will bee overthrowne by it when it comes. Many a man perisheth by pride, and knowes not what hurts him. Thus corruption blowes up the soule. This the Lord promiseth, Isay 30.21. Thou shalt heare a word behinde thee, saying, This is the way. That GOD may keep a man from sinne, hee sends the Spirit of CHRIST to say, this is the way, walke in it. The Text saith, 2 Cor. 2. there, speaking of the incestuous man, Wee are not ignorant of the methods of Satan to us, Mat. 20. When the great skirmish was to come, our Saviour forewarned Peter, and saith, I will smite the Shepherd, &c. and saith, Watch and pray for the houre is come, &c. Hee gives him this warning-peece. We pray then that God would make knowne to us the engines of sinne and Satan before they come. Wee know it is a great helpe in warre to know the quarters and orders of enemies, that so a man may order his actions according thereunto. So wee must know where the Devill and our corruptions lye quartered, and what be the haunts of our wretched hearts, and so to order the help God hath put into our hands for the resisting of them.
