Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

CHAP. III. Containing Ten several Chains, or several Links in the same Chain, with which the Captives and Bond-slaves of Satan are bound.

OF the first. 1. The captives and bond-slaves of Satan are bound with the Chain of Ignorance; As the Syrians were smitten with Blindness, thought they were going after their Leader to Dothan, but he brought them into the midst of Samaria, and then their eyes were opened, they saw they were in Samaria in midst of their enemies, 2 King. 6.18.19.20. You may lead a blind ⟨p. 35⟩man which way you will; these Captives are blind, and except God open their Eyes they will not see their misery till they be in the midst of Hell, they think they are going to Heaven while they live, but after death when the eyes of their bodies are shut, the eyes of their souls shall be opened, and behold they see themselves in the midst of Hell, among Devils and damned Spirits. When the King of Babylon took Zedekiah captive he put out his Eyes, Jer. 52.11. and when the Philistines did take Sampson captive they put out his eyes, Judg. 16.21. and when Satan set upon our first Parents, and overcame them, their eyes were put out, I mean, of their understanding, they lost their knowledge of God, and of the way to eternal Happiness; and all his Children to this day are born Spiritually blind, and have their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, though the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of the heart, Eph. 4.18. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine into them, 2 Cor. 4.4. and this is one of the first Chains which God knocketh off, when he comes