Chapter 1. Of Satan's Subtlety to Choose the Most Advantageous Seasons for Tempting

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FIrst, he shows his subtilty in choosing the most proper and advantagious seasons for tempting. To every thing there is a season, Solomon says, Ecclesiastes 3:1. that is, a nick of time, which taken gives facility and speedy dispatch to a businesse; And therefore the same Wise man gives this reason why man miscarries so frequently, and is disappointed in his enterprizes, because he knowes not his time, Ecclesiastes 9:11. He comes when the bird is flowen. A hundred souldiers at one time may turn a battel, save an army, when thousands will not do at another: Satan knowes when to make his approaches, when (if at any time) he is most likely to be entertained. As Christ has the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season of counsel and comfort, to a doubting drooping soul, so Satan shows his black Art, and hellish skill, in speaking words of seduction and temptation in season, and a word in season is a word on its wheels. I shall give you a view of his subtilty in special seasons, which he chooss to tempt in.

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 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 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 errour, 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 has 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 has Satan of the new Convert? in whom he findes every grace in so great an indisposition to make resistance, 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 than 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 chooss to stir what he sees troubled already.

Secondly, when the Saint is beset with some great affliction, This is as some blinde lane or solitary place, fit for this thief to call for his purse in. An expert Captain first labors to make a breach in the wall, and then falls on instorming the City. Satan first got power from God to weaken Job in his estate, children, health and other comforts he had, and now tempts him to impatience, and what not? he lets Christ fast fourty days before he comes, and then he falls to his work; as an army stayes till a Castle be pinch't for provision within, and then sends a parley, never more likely to be embraced then in such a strait. A temptation comes strong when the way to relief seems to lie through the sin that Satan is wooing to; when one is poor and Satan comes, What will starve rather than step over the hedge and steal for your supply? this is enough to put flesh and blood to the stand.

Thirdly, when the Christian is about some notable enterprize for Gods glory, then Satan will lie like a Serpent in the way, an Adder in the path, that biteth his horse-heels, so that his Rider shall fall backward. Thus he stood at Joshua's right hand to resist him. The right hand is the working hand, and his standing there implies his desire to hinder him in his enterprize. Indeed the devil was never friend to Temple-work, and therefore that work is so long a doing. What a handsom excuse does he help the Jews unto, The time is not come: Gods time was come, but not the devils, and therefore he helps them to this poor shift, perverting the sense of Providence as if it were not time, because they were so poor, whereas they thrive no better because they went no sooner about the work, as God tells them plainly. Paul and Barnabas had a holy design in their thoughts, to go visit the brethren in every City, and strengthen their faith; the devil knew what a blow this might give to his Kingdom, their visiting might hinder him in his Circuit, and he stirs up an unhappy difference between these two holy men, who grow so hot that they part in this storme, Acts 15:30. There were two remarkable periods of Christs life, his Intrat and Exit, his entrance into his publick Ministery at his Baptisme, and his finishing it at his passion, and at both we have the devil fiercely encountring him. The more publick your place, Christian, and the more eminent your service for God, the more you must look that the devil will have some more dangerous design or other against you, and therefore if every private souldier needs armour against Satans bullets of temptation, then the Commanders and Officers, who stand in the front of the battel, much more.

Fourthly, when he has the presence of some object to enforce his temptation. Thus he takes Eve when she is near the tree, and had it in her eye while he should make the motion, that assaulting two Ports at once, it might be the harder for her to hinder the landing of his temptation; and if Eves eye did so soon affect her heart with an inordinate desire, then much more now is it easie for him by the presence of the object, to excite and actuate that lust which lies dormant in the heart. As Naomi sent her daughter to lie at Boaz his feet, knowing well, if he endured her there, there were hope he might take her into his bed at last; If the Christian can let the object come so near, Satan will promise himself his suit may in time be granted. Therefore it should be our care if we would not yield to the sin, not to walk by, or sit at the door of the occasion; Look not on that beauty with a wandring eye, by which you wouldest not be taken Prisoner; parley not with that in your thoughts, which you meanest not to let into your heart; conversation begets affection: some by this have been brought to marry those, whom at first they thought they could not have liked.

Fifthly, after great manifestations of Gods love, then the Tempter comes. Such is the weak constitution of grace, that it can neither well bear smiles or frowns from God without a snare: As one said of our English Nation, Totam nec pati potest libertatem nec servitutem; It cannot well bear liberty nor bondage in the height: So neither can the soul, if God smile and opens himself a little familiarly to us, then we are prone to grow high and wanton, if he frown, then we sink as much in our faith; thus the one like faire weather and warme gleams, bring up the weeds of corruption; and the other, lke sharp frosts, nip and even kill the flowers of grace; the Christian is in danger on both hands, therefore Satan takes this advantage, when the Christian is flush of comfort, even as a cheater, who strikes in with some young heire, when he has newly received his rents, and never leaves till he has eased him of his money: thus Satan lies upon the catch, then to inveigle a Saint into one sin or other, which he knows will soon leak out his joy. Had ever any a larger testimony from Heaven then Peter? Matth. 16.17. where Christ pronouncs him blessed, and puts a singular honor upon him, making him the Representative for all his Saints. No doubt this favor to Peter, stirred up the envious spirit the sooner to fall upon him. If Josephs party-coloured coat made the Patriarchs to plot against him their brother, no wonder malice should prompt Satan to show his spite, where Christ had set such a mark of love and honor; and therefore we finde him soon at Peters elbowe, making him his instrument to tempt his Master, who soon espied his cloven foot, and rebukes Peter with a Get you behinde me Satan. He that seem'd a Rock even now, through Satans policy, is laid as a stone of offense for Christ to stumble at. So David, when he had received such wonderful mercies, setled in his throne with the ruine of his enemies, yea, pardoned for his bloody sin, now ready to lay down his head with peace in the dust: Satan chops in to cloud his clear evening, and tempts him to number the people; so ambitious is Satan, then chiefly to throw the Saint into the mire of sin, when his coat is cleanest.

Sixthly, at the hour of death, when the Saint is down and prostrate in his bodily strength, now this coward falls upon him: 'tis the last cast indeed he has for the game, now or never, overcome him now and ever; as they say of the natural serpent, Nunquam nisi moriens producitur in longum: he never is seen at his length till dying: so this mystical serpent never strains his wits and wiles more, then when his time is thus short. The Saint is even stepping into eternity, and now he treads upon his heele, which if he cannot trip up so as to hinder his arrival in heaven, yet at least to bruise it, that he may go with more pain there.

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