How the Soul Being Tempted May Answer Satan's Accusations

Sinner.: It is true (says the soul) yet it is as true that he that confesses and forsakes his sin, shall have mercy.

Satan.: But (says the devil) do you not see that you are full of pride and weakness, and secretly unwilling to come to duties?

Sinner.: It is true (says the soul) I am so, yet I hate and desire to forsake this, therefore shall find mercy, the word says so.

Satan.: But (says the devil) are you of God's counsel, secret things belong to God?

Sinner.: Indeed (says the soul) I know not what God's secret will is, yet this I know, that the word says, He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but invites such daily to come to him.

Satan.: But (says the devil) many cozen themselves, mercy is a great thing, and few obtain it, and why may not you be cozened as well as others? Sinner.: But (says the soul) the Lord will not cozen me, and the Lord knows my heart, and the word knows what the Lord knows.

Satan.: But (says the devil) may not you be deceived in the word; the word is true indeed, but how know you that you rightly apply it, and that the word and your heart does suit together?

Sinner.: Why (says the soul:) I desire as earnestly to have my sin purged, as I do to have it pardoned. I know my heart by the word, and to the word I repair, and the Lord knows that I hate all sin inwardly, and reform it outwardly, and therefore I know I shall find mercy: show me a place of Scripture that says I do not rightly apply the word, and I will believe it; but I will not believe you, for you are a deluder and a liar.

Thus hold to the word, and the devil will be tired, and go away: keep you here, for if he catch you wandering after sense and feeling, you are gone. You through your Commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, says David (Psalm 119:98), for they are ever with me. Satan is wise; and the flesh, and carnal reason, and the world are wise, but blessed be our God that makes every poor ignorant servant of his wiser than all these: but how? The word must be ever with them; you must keep the word with you daily, and that will make you not know only what is amiss, but get ground [illegible] against whatever hinders your peace.

Satan deals in this with the soul, as the enemy deals in war: when Joshua defeated the men of Ai, he got them out of the city, and then they that lay in ambush went and took it in, and burned it with fire (Joshua 8:19): so the devil does: our castle or city is the promises, and the word, and ordinances of God: now if the devil can but get you out of this castle, he has you where he would; if you will look after every bird that flies, and listen after every carnal reason and temptation, you are gone; if he once gets you from the [illegible]