A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons: at Margarets Westminster, upon the 26. day of August 1645. being the day of their solemne monethly fast. / By John Lightfoot, a member of the Assembly of Divines. Lightfoot, John, 1602-1675. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A88148 of text R200237 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E298_14). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 78 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A88148 Wing L2068 Thomason E298_14 ESTC R200237 99861043 99861043 113170 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A88148) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 113170) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 49:E298[14]) A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons: at Margarets Westminster, upon the 26. day of August 1645. being the day of their solemne monethly fast. / By John Lightfoot, a member of the Assembly of Divines. Lightfoot, John, 1602-1675. [4], 31, [1] p. Printed by R.C. for Andrew Crook, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Churchyard, London : 1645. McAlpin Catalogue, Union Theological Seminary, reports two copies, one as above, and one with hyphen in "Margarets Westminster". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Bible. -- N.T. -- Revelation XX, 1-2 -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. Fast-day sermons -- 17th century. A88148 R200237 (Thomason E298_14). civilwar no A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons:: at Margarets Westminster, upon the 26. day of August 1645. being the day of their Lightfoot, John 1645 14435 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 B The rate of 3 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-09 Elspeth Healey Sampled and proofread 2007-09 Elspeth Healey Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE HONORABLE House of COMMONS : At Margarets Westminster , upon the 26. day of August 1645. being the day of their solemne Monethly Fast . By JOHN LIGHTFOOT , A Member of the Assembly of Divines . London Printed by R. C. for Andrew Crook , and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Greene Dragon in Pauls Churchyard , 1645. A Catalogue of such Bookes as have beene published by Mr. Lightfoot . OBservations on Genesis . — On Exodus . Harmony of the foure Evangelists . Elias Redivivus . A Sermon on Luke 1. 17. at a Fast before the Commons House of Parliament , March 19. 1643. A Commentary on the Acts , with an Ecclesiastick History . TO THE HONORABLE House of COMMONS Assembled IN PARLIAMENT . IF ever Sermon met with disadvantages whereby it might be made unacceptable to an Auditory , this was it . For besides mine uttter disabilities to prepare any thing fit for so learned and discerning eares and Judgements ; the two things that might spoile delivery when the child , such as it was , was come to the birth , were come upon mee , and those were straitnesse of time , and perplexity of spirit ; for the fear of stopping your other occasions did so still lie before me , and the feare of mine owne poore Family in the inundation of the Enemy in the Association at that very instant , did so follow me , that in this strait between these two , I stood your Orator at that time . Yet I see it is not in vaine , but a comfort and happinesse to labour to serve and obey you , seeing your acceptance cherisheth and encourageth such poore endeavours . The subject I fixed upon , I purposely chose , that the Millenary Opinion , which I cannot but judge erroneous , might not goe on altogether uncontrolled , and one man take it at another for a truth without gainsaying ; but that it might receive some check by the way , and it might bee shewed , that Posse vinci Hannibalem , that there is a faire possibility that that Opinion is but a falshood . Errors sometimes , and uncertainties often , doe get the repute of undoubted truths by going too long uncontradicted . As I cannot but challenge that opinion which is so current and common , and hath so long run from hand to hand for an unquestioned certainty , that now it is become unquestionable , and that is , that the supper mentioned in the 13 of Johns Gospel was the Passeover supper , and that Judas his going out after the sop , was his departure away before the Sacrament : wher as if it be not certaine , which to me it is , and I conceive may bee very well proved to others , that that supper was not the Passeover , but a common supper ; and that it was not at Jerusalem , but at Bethany fifteen furlongs off , and that it was not on the Passeover night , but two nights before : If this I say , be not absolutely certaine at the first sight , as to convince of its certainty , yet is it very well worth the weighing , and the contrary opinion not to bee suffered to goe unexamined , which among the most men it doth . Your Honourable House weighteth all things , the Lord hold out and reveale his will to you more and more , and crown all your Vndertakings and Consultations with all prosperity and successe . Septemb. 12. 1645. Your servant in the Lord , Iohn Lightfoot . A SERMON PREACHED To the Honourable House of Commons , at their Monethly Fast , August 27. 1645. Rev. Chap. 20. Vers . 1 , 2. And I saw an Angel come downe from heaven having the key of the bottomlesse pit , and a great chaine in his hand . And bee laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent , which is the Devill and Satan , and bound him for a thousand years . NOw I would this Angell would bow the heavens and come downe , and bring his chaine with him and bind the Devill now , for never was there more need , never was it more time : for if ever hee were loose hee is loose in these times , and if ever hee raged hee rageth in this nation : Alas for the inhabitants of England , for the Devill is come downe among them , having great wrath , and yet wee know not how long his time is ; how lamentable and dolefull is it , that that prophecy should ever bee so true of us ( which is uttered against Babel ) as it is proved to bee at this day , that Zijim and Ijim and Obim , satyres and fiends and devils should daunce and domineere , and rage and ravin as they doe in this nation , and when and how they shall bee restrained , wee cannot tell ? Onely there is some comfort in the text , and this indeed is all the comfort wee have , that the Angell in the Text can master the devill if hee will but doe it , and hee hath a chaine in his hand that will bind him , if hee will but tie him in it . The Text is held to bee the hardest peece in all the Bible by many degrees : For as Prophetick writings are the difficultest peeces of all the Scripture , and the Revelation of all Prophetick writings , so is this Chapter of all the Revelation , and these Verses of all this Chapter ; and so doth a learned countrey man of our owne censure upon this place , that it is Res omnium totius Scripturae Propheticae abstrusissima maximeque admiranda : A matter the most abstruse of any part of the Prophets writings , and the most to be admired . I might spend the time that is allotted mee to produce the opinions and the arguments to prove those opinions that are given upon this place . But I shall but tell you that some Popish writers apply this prophecy and victory of the Angel in the Text to the Pope , some to Pope Calixtus the second , who bound the Dragon , say they , when by an Anathema hee caused Henry the fourth to renounce the custome of installing Bishops and Abbots . Others to Pope Innocent the third , who bound the devill by approving the orders of the Dominicans and the Franciscans . I need say no more , such expositions as these , it is more then enough to have but named them . I shall but tell you neither that some expositors of a better schoole , apply this victory of the Angel over the Dragon to Constantines conquering of Maxentius Herculeus and Lieinius those persecuting Emperours , and that hee bound the devill when hee ended tyranny and persecution , which had continued against the Church so long : and so they will have the thousand yeares to begin from him . But I must doe more then barely tell you , that the glosse and exposition upon this prophecy which hath got the deepest root and the highest seate in the hearts and estimations of very many in these times , and carrieth the greatest cry with it , is the opinion of the Chiliasts of old , refined by the Millenaries alate , which take this matter about the thousand years , strictly and exactly according to the very letter . An opinion so strange to mee that I must confesse I could not but make it a sad omen and presage a good while agoe what opinions we should fall into in time , when such an opinion as this could bee so swallowed downe and entertained as I saw it was . I say such an opinion as this . That when Antichrist is destroyed the Jewes shall bee called , their calling shall bee home to the land of Canaan , ( for let mee take up all the shreds of this opinion that I find scattered in the writings of the abetters of it ) that Christ shall have a glorious reigne here upon earth , that himselfe shall personally and visibly dwell here among his Saints : that this glorious time shall last a thousand yeares , that Satan all this while shall bee bound , so that there shall not bee the least disturbance or trouble in the Church , but all prosperity and Sunshine . That these thousand yeares are that that is called the day of judgement : that this day of judgement of a thousand yeares long shall begin with a bodily resurrection of the martyrs onely , and shall conclude with the resurrection of all the dead : and the beginning of these thousand yeares is conceived by some to bee but about one and twenty yeares off : Thus the exposition of this place according to that opinion . I shall not trouble nor tire your patience with the examination of the truth of these particulars ; I shall onely lay before you six groundlesse and mistaken principles as I conceive , from whence I apprehend this exposition and opinion to have risen , and referre them to your owne censure and judgement ; three from this Chapter that is before us , and three from other places in the Scripture . First , the maintainers of this opinion , seeme not to have taken proper and serious notice of one phrase in this Chapter which the holy Ghost hath twice mentioned , that it might bee be sure to bee taken notice of , and that is , that Satan is bound for a thousand yeares that hee should not deceive the nations : for so it is expressed in plaine tearmes in the third verse upon his binding , & so is it hinted and intimated in the eighth verse upon his loosing ▪ now this opinion of the Millenaries speakes much of Satans binding , so that there shall be no persecution nor offensivenesse in the glorious Church they dreame of , but all peace and happinesse , and tranquillitie and glory , whereas this prophesie speakes of no such matter . It speakes not a word of Satans binding , that hee should not persecute the Church , but it speakes of Satans binding , that hee should not deceive the nations . And how vast a difference there is betwixt persecuting and deceiving , and betwixt the Church and the nations , may bee referred to any one to judge : And the missing to observe pressely , this phrase and this difference , is to misse of the very key that letteth in to the understanding of this prophecy . Secondly , as this doubled phrase is little observed , so another doubled one is much observed , but as much misinterpreted , and that is of the first resurrection of which there is mention in the fifth and the sixth verses . For though they will not deny the Apocalyptick to speake in borrowed phrases , and figurative speeches all along his booke hither , yet here they will have him to speake nakedly and literally without any such borrowing , and to meane the very bodily rising of the martyrs from the dead : whereas in all this Chapter there is not one word of their bodies arising , but of their soules living , nor one word of their living on earth , but of their raigning with Christ . Thirdly , they conceive that the very method and place of this Chapter in which it lies , doth inferre their glosse and interpretation ; for that mention being made of the ruine of Antichrist in the next Chapters before , and of Christs Kingdome for these 1000. yeares , so immediatly after , in this they thinke it must not bee denyed , that these 1000. yeares must not bee begun till Antichrist bee ruined : whereas the method of the Evangelist if it bee pressely followed will appeare of a cleane differing scope . For as Moses in the booke of Exodus , hath three times described the fabrick and fashion of the Jewish Tabernacle , in the patterne , in the making , and in the setting up : and hath made a fourth summary of all the materialls that went to the making of it , though they were named in the other : Even so hath the Evangelish done by the description of the Christian Church in this booke : From the beginning of the fourth Chapter to the end of the eleventh hee hath described its state and persecution , but the persecutor not named : From the beginning of the twelfth Chapter to the end of the nineteenth , hee hath described its state and persecution , and pointed the persecutor out ; in this Chapter hee summes up in briefe what hee had spoken in the two other parts at large , and in the two Chapters following hee sets his Tabernacle up in her perfection , and describes the Church in her holinesse , and communion , and participation of Christ . It is not proper for this time and place , to insist upon the proofe and confirmation of this to bee the Evangeliffs meaning and method , which might clearly bee done , I referre it to your owne thoughts and consideration . And as the parties that wee are dealing withall , doe thus mistake and misconstrue upon this Chapter , so doe they also upon other places of the Scripture . For fourthly , they hold that Rome is the fourth beast , or monarchy or kingdome in Daniel : and because that Daniel hath told in his second and seventh Chapters , that after the destruction of the fourth beast or kingdome , Christs glorious kingdome shall bee set up , they therefore imagine that this kingdome of Christ is yet to come , and yet shall not come , till Antichrist shall bee destroyed , which they hold to bee a part of the fourth monarchy : whereas , to let passe divers other reasons , which might sufficiently prove the contrary , Daniel himselfe in his seventh Chapter at the eleventh and twelfth Verses , does show most plainely , that it is impossible that the fourth beast should meane the Romans : for hee there telleth expressely , that even when the fourth beast was slaine and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame , the rest of the beasts had indeed their dominion taken away , but yet their lives were prolonged : Now what signe of life shall bee to bee found of the other three Monarchies , when Antichrist shall bee destroyed , it is utterly unimaginable to apprehend . Fiftly , and which is much agreeable to the former , they conceive that Daniel prophecieth of Antichrist : of whom hee speaketh not one word , nor treateth of any particular times or stories of the Gospel , but onely holdeth out that gerall prophecy which all the Prophets did , with one consent of the calling of the Gentiles , and of Christs glorious kingdome among them in the Gospell . For it is a groundworke necessary to bee laid by him that will make any thing of the booke of Daniel and of the Revelation ; That where Daniel endeth John beginneth and goeth no further back , and where John beginneth Daniel endeth and goeth no further forward . For Daniel sheweth the state and the persecutors of the Church of the Jewes , from the building of Jerusalem by Cyrus to the destruction of it by Titus , and hee goes no further . And there where the beloved Prophet concludeth the beloved Disciple beginneth and taketh at him in this booke , and sheweth the state and the persecutors of the Christian Church , from the destruction of Jerusalem to the end of the world , and revealeth a new Jerusalem comming downe from heaven when the old one on earth is destroyed , and one persecuting monarchy and state of Rome equalling in mischiefe and cruelty against the Church all the foure that had gone before it . Sixtly and lastly , they hold that Antichrist shall bee destroyed , before the Jewes shall bee called : which is not onely not to be proved by any Scripture throughout all the Bible , but easily to bee disproved both by Scripture and reason , and it were no hard taske to shew , if it were seasonable , that the eleventh Chapter of this book , by the killing of the two witnesses intendeth persecution against the two Churches Jewes and Gentiles , when they shall bee knit together at the Jews calling . Upon these six foundations is that opinion built which in it selfe is so exceeding strange , and yet ( which is as strange ) is so exceedingly entertained ; I leave the ballances in your hands to weigh the weight or the lightnesse of them : and now crave a little leave , to present you with six other particulars on the other hand for the clearing and explaining of the Text before us . First therefore , by Satans deceiving of the nations ( from which hee is bound up in the Text that hee shall doe so no more ) is to be understood that blindnes and ignorance in which he kept the heathen for so many hundreds of yeares , before the appearing of the Gospel , deceiving them with strong delusions to beleeve lies , especially with his two great cheats and cousenages that misled all the world , Idols and Oracles : And that this is the meaning of that phrase deceiving the nations may bee concluded upon , not onely by the terme nations , nor onely by the truth of the thing it selfe , for that was the great deceiving of the world , nor onely by the phrases of the Scripture that expresse the errors and delusion of the heathen , but even by the very tenor and scope of this Chapter it selfe , for it setteth downe the two great cousenings and deceivings of the world by the Devill , the one under heathenisme before Christ bound him , and the other by Antichristianisme when hee was let loose againe . Secondly , by the Angels binding the Devill in the Text , is to bee understood Christs overthrowing the power of the Devill among the Heathen , ( for I suppose it needlesse to prove that the Angell is Christ ) his casting down those strong holds of Satan , Ignorance , Idolatry and lying Oracles , by the light and power of the Gospel preached among the Gentiles , his bringing them home to the knowledge of the truth , and his curbing of Satan , that he should no more cousen the world with those delusions and heathenisme as hee had done . Thirdly , this change of the Heathens condition , from the darknes of Ignorance to the knowledg of the truth , from worshipping of Idols to the worshipping of the living God , from seeking after lying Oracles to the studying of the holy Scriptures , from the power of Satan to the glorious kingdome of the Lords deare Sonne , this change I say out of that condition so sad , and that condition in which they had laine above 2000. yeares , was as their changing from death to life , and as it were a resurrection from the dead . And so is it called in the six and twentieth of Esay and the nineteenth Verse , and most expressely by our Saviour in Iohn 5. 24 , 25. And this is that first resurrection that is spoken of in this prophecie in the fifth and sixth Verses : and when the Jewes shall bee called , which now lie in a condition much like to the old Heathens , that shall bee as another resurrection , for so it is also called , Rom. 11. 15. Fourthly , if I should make a chronologie of these 1000. yeares , I should date the resurrection of the Gentiles and their calling in and Christs setting up his kingdome among them from the destruction of Ierusalem , from which time Iohn also dateth his revelation . For although the Gospel were preached to the Heathen abundantly before Jerusalem were destroyed , and almost all the world was brought in , to the knowledge of the Gospel , and obedience of the faith before that time , yet is the date of these things more especially from that , because that then Judaisme was wholly ceased , and Christianity onely set up , the old people of the Lord cut off , and the Gentiles chosen and taken into their stead . And hence it is that so great things are spoken of the day of Ierusalems destruction in the Scripture : as that it is called the great , and terrible , and notable day of the Lord , Ioel 2. 31. Acts 2. 20. as if it were the day of judgment and the dissolution of the old world : and our Saviour discourseth it and the end of the world so mixtly together that you cannot know them asunder they are so like , Matth. 24. And to this purpose is the Masoretick note upon the first of Genesis and the second of good use , which telleth us that the phrase Haarets tohu Vabohu , The earth was without forme and voyd , is never used againe in Scripture but once , and that is in Ier. 4. 23. where the Prophet is speaking of Ierusalems destruction , as if then the world were ended and returned to its Chaos againe . For here it was that the old world of Mosaick rites , the old heavens and the old earth of the Jewish Church and State ended and came to ruine , and hence it was that the new heavens and the new earth , the new world , the new Ierusalem , the new state of the world , and the new Church of the Gospel began , and then it is no wonder if this bee called the first resurrection : Here properly began that which in Scripture is so renowned and called the kingdom of heaven : that is , Christs kingdome in the Gospel set up among the Gentiles when the earthly kingdome of Rites and Ceremonies among the Jewes , the kingdome of hell in ignorance and Idolatry among the Gentiles was now finished , and the kingdome everlasting of righteousnesse and holinesse set up . And at this time it is that the thrones are said to bee set up in Dan. 7. and in the fourth Verse of this Chapter , and as our Saviour expresseth it , the Apostles sitting on twelve thrones judging the 12. Tribes of Israel , that is , the Apostolique doctrine judging and condemning that unbeleeving nation , and shewing their rejection to bee most just because of their unbeleefe : This period of time thus observed and taken notice of would helpe to facilitate and cleare many things in Scripture , which for want of observing this , do fall under misprison and misinterpretation , as instance in that in Act. 2. 17. It shall come to posse in the last dayes , &c. Conceits are taken up by divers in our times upon this place , as if visions and prophetick gifts , and I know not what should bee powred upon men toward the end of the world , misconstruing the phrase of the last dayes to meane the later end of the world , whereas it meaneth the last dayes of the Jewes world or state , and misconceiving the terme , the great and terrible day of the Lord , to meane the day of judgement , whereas it meaneth nothing else but the day of Jerusalems destruction . Were I then to Chronicle these 1000. yeares in the Text , I should begin them from this date : but I shall not bee punctuall to determine that at this time : Begin them whether you will , either there , when the Gentiles onely began to bee the Church , or begin them when first the Gospel came among the Gentiles , either by Peter to Cornelius or by Paul to the westerne parts of the world , ( for the publishing of the Gospel to the heathen was the binding the devill that hee should no more deceive the nations ) begin at whether date you will , it is easie to cast where the 1000. yeares end , according to your choice of their beginning . Fiftly , from either beginning , the end of them will fall in the very pitch of the Kingdome of Antichrist as I may so call it , when now the world began to be in deepest darkenes again , & to become heathenish anew , and then is Satan in justice loosed againe , and deceiveth the nations a fresh by Antichrist , and for a season the world becomes no better then the old heathens for Ignorance and Idolatry . Sixtly , in this thousand yeares space , persecution haunted the Church in a most miserable extremity : partly by the Heathen Emperours , partly by Antichrist when hee appeared , and many thousands were put to death for the witnesse of Jesus and for the word of God , and which neither worshipped the beast of the Empire nor his Image Antichrist when hee was risen up , and these though they were miserably tortured and slaughtered in regard of the body , yet their soules reigned with Christ and were in happinesse . And the Evangelist in the fourth Verse , speaketh but in the tenor that Daniel doth in his twelfth Chapter and second Verse : where treating of the miserable afflictions to bee caused by Antiochus , hee comforteth those that should fall under them with assurance of the resurrection and eternall felicitie : So the Apocalyptique here , being to discourse of the persecution that should befall by Rome , first heathenish , and then Papall , hee solaceth and incourageth all chose that should suffer it , with this assurance , that though their bodies should be destroyed , yet their soules should reigne with Christ : and as for the others that worshipped the Beast and his Image , they never obtained the first resurrection of recovering out of their heathenish and blind estate into the imbracing of the light , but they continued dead in ignorance and error till even after these thousand yeares , and then the world slipped into the darknesse and delusions of Antichrist as into heathenisme again . And so I have given you the sense of this place , and as I conceive the very sense of the holy Ghost : If I have been a little overlong in it , it is but according as the difficulty of the thing it selfe requires , and I hope you will pardon mee . Before I come to take up the words , I cannot but observe this to you , from what hath been spoken last , namely that Errour and deceivednesse in the things of God is a verier devill and more dangerous then open persecution . For the Text accounts the Devill bound , when hee is tied up from deceiving , though hee bee at liberty for persecuting , I do but name this here , I shall have occasion to make use of it hereafter . And now in the Text you may observe two things ; first , a description of Christ and a description of the Devill ; and secondly , a mastery of Christ over the Devill . The description of Christ in the first Verse , a description of the Devill in the second , and the mastery of Christ over the Devill in the conjunction of both . I might observe many things out of the words in either verse , but I shall onely take up that which both the Verses conjoyned doe mainely and clearely hold out unto us , and that is : That , bee the Devill never so devillish , Christ hath power to over-power him . It is worth your observation , that the Text seemeth to bee at strife with it selfe , whether to set out the Devill in his devilishnesse , or Christs power over him , in the higher expressions ; for as on the one hand it hath set out the Devill in five of his attributes , if I may so call them , as that hee is a Dragon , a Serpent , an old Serpent , the Devill , Satan ; so in as many termes on the other hand hath it set out Christs power and victory over him , namely that he layes hold on him , binds him , casts him into the bottomlesse pit , shuts him up , seales him up for a thousand yeares , as if it purposely intended to proclaime this to us , which I cannot but repeate againe , That bee the Devill never so devilish , Christ hath power to overpower him . The truth of this doctrine was the very first thing that was held out in the world , after sinne came into it : and as soone as the Devill had shewed his devilishnesse in the overthrow of Adam , the Lord proclaimes the power of Christ to conquer the devill , and that before ever any censure or sentence bee passed upon Adam , Gen. 3. 15. And this truth shall bee one of the last things that shall bee held out in the world , when the devill shall receive the reward of all his devilishnesse ; when hee , his Angels , and his instruments shall receive this sentence from him , Goe yet cursed , &c. And as for the space betwixt these two periods , or from the beginning of the world to the end of it , the Scripture is so full of testimonies , and the world so full of experiences of Christs power and mastery over the Devill , that it is needlesse to prove it , the Devill himselfe dare not deny it , Matth. 8. 29. I shall confine my discourse upon this subject unto these particulars . Namely , to shew you how the power of Christ meets with the Devill to master him ; first , in the utmost evilnesse of his nature , as hee is a Serpent : Secondly , in the utmost vigour of his power , as hee is a Dragon , the greatest of Serpents ; thirdly , in the utmost practise of his subtiltie , for hee is an old Serpent ; and fourthly , in the utmost exercise of his malice , for he is a Devill ; and lastly , in the utmost violence of his cruelty , for hee is Satan ; the utmost of any of these , the utmost of all these either in himselfe , or in his instruments or members , all the Devills in hell , all the wicked on earth , Christ is too big for them , hee can , hee doth master , quell and conquer them at his pleasure . The first thing to bee considered in the Devill to our purpose in hand is the evilnesse of his nature , and that the Text intimates unto us , when it calls him a Serpent , a beast that carries poyson within him , death comes from him , and a curse is upon him : Wee may say of his nature as hee is a Devill , as the Scripture speaketh of the frame of mans heart , as it was unframed by the Devill , hee is wholly evill , onely evill and evill continually . There is a question among Divines whether there be a summum malune as there is a summum bonum , a chiefest evill , in that sense that there is a chiefest good : They hold it negatively , and there is good reason for it , but certainly if any thing come neare to the pitch of such a thing as a summum malum , it is that evill one wee have in hand . For first , looke upon him in his being evill , hee is absolutely so , hee is intentionally so , hee is irrecoverably so , hee is maliciously so . Secondly , looke upon him in causing evill , and hee was the father of sinne , the first cause of Gods dishonour , the voluntary cause of his own ruine , the malicious cause of the ruine of mankind . And thirdly , looke upon him in his acting of evill , and hee did it at first without a tempter , hee doth it since as a tempter , hee committed it then at the height of sinne , hee doth it now as a depth of sinne and punishment . I might inlarge my selfe in all these particulars , but I shall onely recommend to you the consideration of these two things , the perversnesse of his will incorrigible ; and the desperatenesse of his condition , irrecoverable : And thus is hee most truely and primarily that which Jude speaketh of some of his children and members , twice dead , to bee pluckt up by the rootes . Mankind , though it fell into the hands this theefe , and were stript , and beaten , and wounded and undone by him , yet left hee him but halfe dead : not in the sense that some would make of it , as if some power and moving to grace were in his nature when hee was falne , but in a sense contrary to the desperate estate of the devill , that mans will was curable , and his fall recoverable . So was not the devils , either the one or the other . The devill is in this in a direct diameter or contrarietie to the good Angels that stood , that as they cannot sinne , so can hee doe nothing else : and as they can will nothing but good , so can hee will nothing but evill ; and as they shall never fall , so hee shall never recover . First , the incorrigible perversnesse of his will is intimated in these expressions of Scripture : There is no truth in him , and when bee speakes a lie hee speakes of his owne , John 8. 44. And the devill sinneth from the beginning , 1 John 3. 8. And your adversary the devill walketh about seeking whom hee may devoure , 1 Pet. 5. 8. And others of the like tenor concluding to us that the devill is in a continuall motion and practise of sinning , and can doe nothing else because there is no truth or goodnesse in him , but hee is spirituall wickednesse itselfe , as hee is called , Ephes. 6 12. Now this obduration of the devils will in evill , proceedeth not onely from the justice of God , reserving him in such chaines of darknesse to the judgement of the great day , but from two cursed principles within himselfe . First , whereas the evils that men fix their affections upon , are chosen by them as appearing to them to have good in them , as pleasures , profits and the like , and so poore men are deluded by shadows : the devill in his fall chose evill even under the notion of evill , hee being of a knowledge that could not bee deluded , and being in a state that could not be bettered . And secondly , because hee doth adhere unto the choyce of that evill that hee first made , and that not onely in regard of the fixednesse of an Angels choyce , which as the Schooles tell us , cannot change his choyce which hee hath once made , quia apprehendit immobiliter per intellectum , but also in regard of that malitiousnesse that poysoned his first choyce , and hath venomed his whole will , and cannot bee wrought out of . And thus is the Devil incorrigible in regard of his cursed will , and then it is no wonder if hee bee irrecoverable in regard of his cursed estate : for if any wicked one deserves that sad doome of Hee that will be filthy let him bee filthy , this wicked one deserves it , and it is laid upon him . It was once indeed the conceit of some that the Devils should in time repent and bee saved , but the Devils themselves are of another opinion , as it may bee seene , Matth. 8. 29. for God and their owne conscience hath told them so , James 2. 19. and the Scripture telleth us so , Jude Vers . 6. Now two reasons may be given of this besides these two mentioned before , Gods justice , and their owne obduration , and these are , first , in regard of the heinousnesse of their sinne , for it was against the Holy Ghost ; and secondly , in regard of the height of their happinesse , for they were in termino viae , at their journeys end . First , not to trouble you with any large discourse what the sinne against the Holy Ghost is , if ever it were committed , no doubt it was committed in the first sinne of the Devill . Secondly , when Adam sinned hee was but setting forth on his journey towards heaven , and that eternitie that God had appointed him unto : for his happinesse in paradise was not the utmost happinesse that hee must looke after , but an happinesse in heaven whereof that in Paradise was but a type and pledge , and so poore man hee stumbled and fell at the very threshold as hee was setting out on his journey , and God out of pitty set him on his feet againe , or else mankind had never tasted of that infinite good for which God created it . But the devill , as soone as ever hee was created , being created an Angel of light , hee was already in the utmost happinesse hee must ever attaine unto , hee was in heaven , he was in eternitie , already hee was with God , and what would hee , what could hee have more ? And therefore for him in portu impingere , to shipwrack himselfe when hee was got into the Haven , for him to despise God , heaven and eternitie when hee now injoyed it , it hath made him utterly desperate in regard of his condition , and never to be repaired or recovered . And thus have you seene something of the Devils nature and constitution : And I have beene the briefer in the treaty of it , because I would not keepe your patience too long upon such a discourse , and yet have I taken up such a discourse because I know it would bee exceeding profitable if it could but bring us to see the devill in his owne colors indeed . For if to behold God in his essence doth fill the will so full of divine contentment , as that ( as the Schooles speak ) it can never turne again from God to delight in sinne ; then certainly on the contrary , to behold the devil in his colours and complexion , would so fill the will with the abhorring and detestation of him , that it would not readily turne againe to the devill to forsake God : And therefore if I were to make a threefold wish as Austen once did , I cannot tell what to wish for to more profit and advantage then to know God as hee is , the devill as hee is , and our selves what wee are . But to pursue what wee are about . As you have seene the evilnesse of the Devils nature especially in these two particulars , in the incorrigible frowardnesse of his will and the irrecoverable cursednesse of his condition : So now looke how the power of Christ meets with him and over powers him for all this his crooked and cursed disposition . And this is considerable also in two particulars . First , in that though the will of the devill bee thus desperately and precipitately bent upon evill , yet Christ doth so overpower him as that hee produceth good out of the devils actions to his owne people . Can any good thing come out of Nazareth , much more can any good thing from the devill ? can any bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane ? not one , but one ; Hee that brought light out of darknesse at the beginning , fire out of water at the sacrifice of Elias , sight out of blind eyes stopt up with clay , the same can bring good out of evill , good to his people even out of the wickednesse of the devill , by that mighty working whereby hee is able to subdue all things , even the devill to himselfe . I might bee copious in shewing what good the Lord produceth out of the devils temptations practised by himselfe , what good out of the devils persecutions practised by his instruments : even honey for Samson out of the very carcasse of the devouring Lion , and meat for Elias out of the mouth of the carion Raven . I might shew you , how Adam had a better condition , Job a better estate , Joshua the high Priest better cloaths gotten , out even of the assaults of the devill ; I might shew you what carefulnesse is wrought in the people of God , what clearing of themselves , yea what indignation , yea what feare , yea what vehement desire , yea what zeale , yea what holy revenge , as the Apostle speakes in another case , and all this even from the very devils temptations . I might shew you how the Church hath beene increased , the Gospel propagated , God glorified , Atheists converted , and the enemies confounded , even by the devils persecution : But I need not to goe farre for examples and experiences in this kind : looke at home , in these times and distractions where the devill is so busie , and as we may sadly see him raging , and let loose in these dolefull warres , so may wee as visibly see Christ doing good to this poore kingdome out of this his evill . For , First , how many rotten hearts , and how many rotten members hath the devill , or God rather out of the devils activitie discovered in this nation in these troubles , which like a moth and corruption were devouring a poore kingdome , and shee knew not who hurt her : What Junctoes of hell have beene found out , what plots discovered , what Cabinets of letters detected , what actions described , what hearts anatomized ? Popery , Prerogative , Protestations , Plotters , Prelates , all come to light and found desperate and devilish , and all this done by the great businesse of the devill , God overpowering him , and making him to prove a tel-tale of his own counsels , and as it were a false brother to his owne hell and fraternity . Secondly , how have these troubles beaten men and the kingdome out of their fooleries and superstitions , their trumperies and ceremonies , customes and traditions ? which how hard it would have been to have got off from them , if they had not beene thus brayed in this morter , the great tenaciousnesse of them with divers even in this morter is evidence sufficient : This drosse would never have beene got away if it had not passed such a furnace : and our Israel would never have shaken hands with Egyptian Idolatry , if it had not beene beaten out of it by Egyptian affliction . So that let me take up the manner of speech of our Saviour with some inversion ; Oh England , England , Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheate , and hee hath winnowed away a world of his owne chaffe . Thirdly , how many prophane and ungodly wretches hath this warre cut off , Papists , Atheists , Epicures , Devills incarnate , that would not onely have layen in the way , as so much rubbish to hinder the worke of the Temple , but that would have proved Sanballats , Tobiahs , Geshems , and such Samaritans , utterly to oppose it with all their might ? It is a sad thing to see so many of Israel perish in the matter of Baal Peor ; yet there is this comfort in it , that the entring into the land of promise will bee the speedier when these untowardly and ungratious ones are taken a way . Fourthly , how many prayers and petitions at the throne of grace hath hee pressed out in these extremities ? the foole making a whip for his owne back , for so prayer is stiled , flagellum Diabolo , and helping forward his owne destruction . And thus all things , even the very evilnesse of the Devill himselfe , worke for the good of Gods people , and hee that would have run Phereus thorough ; cures his impostume and kils him not , and all through the overpowering power of Christ , who is able to subdue all things unto himselfe , and doth dispose all things for the good of his . Secondly , Christs mighty power meets with this evilnesse of the Devils nature and overpowers it , when hee delivers men out of the very same evilnesse of nature , and works it out of them , by the work of grace and renewing , and brings them to become new creatures : Wee have heard a sad story of the dolefull nature and constitution of the Devill , wee may say each one to himselfe as Nathan once to David , by thy naturall condition thou art the same : As one Blackmore may see his complexion in another Blackmores face , so may wee our owne nature in the devils ; he is our father by nature , & we as like him as we may looke ; and the two Sosiaes in the Comedie were not liker one to another , then we to him in our originall temper : God at the first made us like himself , but our degeneration hath made us so like to Satan , that all the evilnesse , perversnesse , cursednesse that wee heare or read of of the Devill , is all our own , and who shall deliver us from this body of death ? I thanke God through Jesus Christ our Lord : Hee hath a power that can pull and redeeme us out of this estate ; and surely this power is not small . And therefore the Apostle speaking of this worke wrought upon a poore soule , hee cals it the exceeding greatnesse of his power to them that beleeve , Ephes. 1. 19. 1. This is the next worke of wonder and power to the worke of the Incarnation , for as in that God became man , so in this man becomes like God . 2. It is a worke beyond that of the creation , for in that there was no resistance in the subject wrought upon , in this there is . 3. It is a change beyond all changes , for a Devill to become a Saint , a child of Satan to become the child of God , and a man from the very nature of the Devill , to become partaker of the Divine nature : And 4. it is a greater worke then casting out seven Devils or a Legion of Devils , for it casteth out even all the Devils of hell out of a man , for the nature of them all is in him : And then how great is this power of Christ that can thus change our devillish nature to become like his glorious nature through his mighty working ? A second thing considerable in the Devil , and to which Christs power is more diametrically opposite in overpowering him , is his power , even that great and wondrous power of the Devil , for so I may call it , that no bodily creature is able of it selfe to resist , and no man almost able to expresse or apprehend : Hee carrieth power in his name , he carryeth power in his nature , hee carrieth power in his number , and hee sheweth power in works . 1. Hee carrieth power in his name , for hee is called a Dragon here ; A strong man armed , Matth. 12. 29. The Prince of the power of the aire , Ephes. 2. 2. The God of this world , 2 Cor. 4. 4. Principalities and powers , Ephes. 6. 12. 2. He carrieth power in his nature , as being an Angel , and so hee is called even in his devillish estate , 1 Cor. 6. 3. Know yee not that wee shall judge the Angels , that is , the Devils ? and so should I understand that in 1 Cor. 11. 10. A woman ought to have power on her head because of the Angels , that is , a woman ought to have a covering on her head in the publique meetings , lest the devils should tempt men with the exposall of her beauty : Now Angels excell in strength , Psal. 103. 20. as being spirits , which are of an activitie incomparably beyond bodily creatures . Nor hath the devill lost his power by his fall , since that was not so much any part of his holinesse and happinesse as it was an essentiall facultie of his nature . 3. Hee carrieth power in his number ; there being a numberlesse multitude of devils that fell together . Some Divines of old have held that they are equall in number to all the people of God that shall be saved from the beginning of the world to the end of it , and that God in eternitie did decree : to make up the number of fallen Angels , by an equall number of elect men . Whether this bee so or no , and whether the aire be full of devils , as others have conceived , wee will not examine ; certainely it is that wee read of a Legion in Marke 5. 9. and doubtlesse it is , that the number of them is exceeding many . 4. And lastly , as he carries power in these respects , so hee sheweth power in his works and actings , in so much that his power hath beene mistaken for the mighty power of God , Act. 8. 10. I shall not need to insist upon it to shew you how hee can , 1. Hurry bodies up and downe in the aire , Matth ▪ 4. 5. Luk. 8. 29. 33. 2. Raise tempests , Job 1. 16. 19. 3. Bring diseases both of body and mind , Luke 13. 16. and Luke 9. 37. compared with Matth. 17. 15. 4. Overthrow houses and buildings , Job 1. 19. 5. Break chaines and barres , Marke 5. 4 , &c. It is our comfort Christ hath a chaine in the Text will hold him : And bee his power never so great and wonderfull in it selfe and in the eyes of men , yet Christ hath power beyond him and over him , and this hee exerciseth partly immediately by himselfe , partly mediately by his instruments . 1. Christ overpowereth the devill immediatly by himselfe : for , 1. Hee suffereth him not to doe his owne will : This day is this truth fulfilled in our eyes , and in our persons , it is written even on these wals , as holinesse on the bells of the horses , Zach. 14. 20. for if the devill might doe his owne will , where had wee beene by this time that are here now alive and safe before the Lord ? If his power were as large as his malice , no flesh should bee saved , but for poore mans sake that chaine is shortned . 2. Hee maketh him to doe his will : as the Commander in the Gospel , he saith to one goe and hee goeth , and to another come and hee commeth , and to a third , do this and hee doth it , and they cannot , they dare not but obey him . 3. Hee can doe nothing without his will : As 1. not walke further then hee gives him chaine ; for as in the Text Christ hath a chaine in his hand , so in Iude vers. 6. hee hath the Devill in a chaine , and hee cannot goe an inch further then hee gives him liberty . 2. Hee can tempt no man without his permission , as in the case of Job , Job 1. and 2. of Ahab 1 King. 22. 21 , 22. no not enter into the heard of Swine without licence , Matth. 8. 31. 3. Hee cannot recover himselfe out of his desperate condition into which he is fallen . 4. Hee can as little recover his servants and agents from any misery into which they fall . 5. Hee cannot take off any plague that the Lord layeth on . 6. Hee cannot force any mans will to evill ; for if the devill could carry the will whither himselfe would , hee would carry all flesh to hell . These particulars I might inlarge , to shew the weaknesse of the devill for all his great power , and Christs power over him infinitely greater ; but that may best bee seene , by that power of Christ over the Devill , which hee sheweth in , and by his servants , over him . As , 1. Christs power in a poore beleever : a spectacle for men and Angels to looke upon and to wonder at : That a poore lumpe of clay , a worme , a moth , a nothing , yet drawing power by faith out of the everlasting fountaine , should conquer him that can remove mountains : tread under foot the great Dragon , and through Christ bee more then a Conqueror over him ; and this wee see by constant experience . 2. Christs power which hee hath committed to Ministers and Magistrates ; the two hands of Christ whereby hee visibly conquers the devill in the fight of men : the Jonathan and and his armour-bearer : the Priests with trumpets , and the gathering hoste , that one after another destroy these Philistims , and that both together helpe to lay the wals of the Citie of hell flat . Upon this object do I specially looke in the exercise of these two offices ; that they have not to fight against flesh and blood , but against Principalities and powers : and this consideration is some satisfaction to mee , and helpeth to settle mee about that matter which is now so much controverted , namely about Church power ; for to mee it seemeth , the acting of these two offices to bee thus , the ministery to cast the devill out where it may bee done , and the Magistrate to bind the devill where hee cannot be cast out : and ubi desinit Philosophus ibi incipit Medicus : where the power of the one ceaseth the other taketh at it and finisheth the worke : The Ministery by the preaching of the word , and by prayer , striveth to cast the devill out : and if it doe it , well , but if it cannot doe it , it can goe no further ; and then the Magistracy commeth in and bindeth him that hee trouble not others , though the Ministery cannot cast him out from vexing the party himselfe . It is needlesse to shew how Christ overpowereth the devil by both these : the matter is so apparent and conspicuous I shall not need to goe about to shew it : It is enough to say that the ministery of the Gospel overthrew the Idolatry of the Heathen , and that the Magistracy can hang a Witch . And so have wee done with a second particular , the Text hinteth unto us , the Devils power , and Christs overpowering it . I should now take up the other considerations concerning the Devill that the text holdeth out : and first I might shew his subtiltie , from that title that it giveth him , an old Serpent : A Serpent , the craftiest of all beasts , Gen. 3. 1. and an old Serpent of 5573. yeares continuance and experience within one moneth or there-abouts . I might have shewed how in all this time , 1. Hee hath observed the course of nature : 2. The course of Gods providence , and 3. the temper of men , and hath reaped policy and experience from all these . How , 1. Hee playeth Gods Ape , in having his miracles and oracles as God hath his , and how hee imitates his workes . 2. Can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light : as hee did to Eve who tooke him for a good Angel . 3. Baiteth his hookes with the good things of God , as with shew of Religion , with Gods mercy and patience , to intice to presumption , &c. 4. Changeth his temptations as occasions change , as hee did by Christ : one while tempting him to a great worke of power , to turne stones into bread : and another while to a worke of the greatest weaknesse , to worship the devill . 5. Deceiveth men with Kids flesh in stead of Venison , and fixeth them on the creature in stead of the Creator . 6. Kils men with love of themselves as the Ape doth her young ones with imbraces . I might also have shewed the subtiltie and policie that hee exerciseth by men , as well as hee doth to men : and here might I take up the master peeces of hellish policies practised by our enemies in these times . And I might shew how Christ overpowereth the Devill in regard of this his subtiltie , in 1. Giving strength to his people to overcome his temptations . 2. In discovering his plots . 3. In defeating of them . 4. In bringing them on his and his instruments own heads . Secondly , I might likewise have shewed some glimpse of the malice of the Devill , as hee is named in the Text , Satan or an enemie . As , 1. That hee fell through malice to man : and this the most proper cause of his fall , though pride were mingled . 2. That hee continueth in the same malice by which hee fell , and cannot doe otherwise . 3. That it hath no bounds either in regard of himselfe , or of the object , but he is ever malicious , and malicious to all extremitie ; and that both against God , and against all men , and against all men alike , though in regard of externall persecution he sheweth some difference . I might shew withall how Christ overpowereth him in regard of this maliciousnesse . 1. By bounding the execution of his malice , though his malice it selfe be not bounded . 2. By loading him with the greatest condemnation , even hatched and generated by his owne malice . And lastly , wee might have considered the crueltie of the devill , as hee is a devill : as 1. That hee is cruell even to himselfe that hee may mischief others : and brings the more condemnation upon his owne head , by bringing men into condemnation . 2. That his crueltie is his onely comfort , and that he hath no solace at all for his owne destruction , but meerly this cursed one , to bring men into the same case with him . But Christ overpowereth his cruelty : 1. By the Saints patience . 2. By his owne providence . All these things would require a large discourse to illustrate and comment upon them , but in regard of the time they must bee passed over : I shall now onely crave leave to have a word or two of application of what hath been spoken and so have done . Vse 1 This shewes us where to get strength against the devils temptations , or his instruments . Vse 2 And answerably it may comfort every poore soule that lieth under the violence of the one or the other . Vse 3 And thirdly , it may set us aworke to labour for a great faith , since there is so great a power to fix it upon . I am God al-sufficient , saith God to Abraham , walke before mee and bee thou perfect , Gen. 17. 1. Bee perfect , that is , in this doctrin of my al-sufficiency , or al-powerfulnesse ( for so the word meanes , and not that perfection that some dreame of , as if Abraham kept the whole law ) and then faith will gather strength and extent , because the power upon which it anchoreth is Omnipotent . But these things I doe but touch . Vse 4 Blesse God for the experience of this truth in our owne particular preservation , and in the generall preservation of the Kingdome ; And truly this is gloriously and graciously verified before our eyes at all times , in regard of the former , and in these times , in regard of the latter . For first , if wee consider the power of the Devill , and the weaknesse of our selves , and yet our preservation in both these circumstances , wee have great cause to admire and adore that power that doth preserve us . The safety of the three Princes of Judah in the furnace , and of Daniel in the Lyons denne , and Jonah in the Whales belly , is hardly a greater wonder , then is our constant and continued preservation : so many Devils to bee hovering about us , as is their number , so much power to bee in them , as there is in them , both in regard of their number and their nature , so much malice to bee in their Spirit , and so much cruelty in their acting as there is , and yet wee preserved in the midst of all this , I want words to expresse the mercy ; let us never want hearts to observe that power that doth preserve us . The Devill can remove mountaines , overthrow towers , rents rocks , teare up trees , doe almost any thing , and yet our poore lumpe of dust is preserved : acknowledge the power , bee thankfull for the mercy . And secondly , in regard of the Kingdome : Let us but turne aside and see this great wonder , how it comes to passe that this bush that hath burnt so long is not yet consumed that this poore carkasse of a Nation , like that of the Prophet , though it bee even killed by this Lyon , yet is it not quite torn to pieces : that the fury , and policy , and mischievousnesse of Satan hath hurryed it to the very precipice of confusion , as Christ to the pinacle of the Temple , and yet it is not throwne downe into it . Certainly it is no strength nor power of our owne that doth preserve it , for who is able to resist the violence of this enemy ? but it is the great power of our deare Saviour , which I leave to your owne thoughts , for I doe but touch here neither . Vse 5 But lastly , and where I desire to stay a little : If Christ bee thus able to over-power the devill , and to master him at pleasure , then how is all this befallen us that is befallen us , through the fury of the devil , & how doth it thus continue on us ? As it is worthy our considerations that we are so happily preserved by the power of Christ that wee are gone no further in our misery , so is it seriously to be thought upon , how it comes to passe that his power hath suffered us to go so farre as we have done , and to continue so long in it as wee doe . Surely his hand is not shortned that it cannot save , nor his eare heavy that it cannot heare , but it is some thing that hath separated betwixt us and our Saviour , and that makes him to stand as a stranger that looketh on , and workes not for us whilst the power & fury of the devill doth thus tread upon us . It is easie to answer that our sinnes have done it , and mee thinks God hath dealt with England much like as hee did with Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the book of Exodus , when admonition upon admonition was given to them , and exhortation upon exhortation was prest upon them to hearken to God and to let Israel go and they would not do it , then God lets the devill loose among them in visible shapes , as they sate in the three dayes darknesse to terrifie and perplex them , as it is apparent by Exod. 10. & Ps. 78. 49. compared together : In the very like manner is it now with us : the Lord hath long bin treating with this nation for her conversion , by precept upon precept , line upon line ; precept upon precept , line upon line , by exhortation , admonition , mercies , judgements , all things ; what could have been done more then hath been done to England ? but when still we are as unreformed & unconverted as ever , and when nothing that the Lord hath done to us will amend us , the Lord hath now at last turned Satan loose among us with all his power and all his fury : our sinnes have as it were broken the chains , and now hee rageth without restraint , as never did he more in any nation . But this is not all I have to say . It is most undoubted indeed , that our former sinnes have brought us and our p●esent sinnes continue us under this rage and insultations of Satan that wee now feele in all these miseries that lie upon us , but if I may freely speake mine owne thoughts , I do verily beleeve that a maine reason why the devill is no more bound among us , is , because hee is not bound ; my meaning is this : that God hath put into our owne hands exceeding much towards the binding of the Devils that do undoe us , and we do not do it . It is in our owne power to curbe and quell the Devill that forrageth and ruineth us , and wee curbe him not , and then it is no wonder , nay it is but justice if hee worry us , if he destroy us . I will not speake of that Devill that spoyles all before him , the fury of our enemies , nor will I examine whether it may be restrayned any more then it is , your wisedomes best know what you have to doe in that particular . But it is not the Enemy onely that hath done us this displeasure that wee feele , for then wee could better have borne it , or hid our selves from him , but it is some of our owne party , some of our friends , of our familiars , with whom wee have taken counsell together , and have gone with them to the House of God as friends , which doe prove Devils to us , or at least raise up Devils among us , that ruine and undoe us , that help on our sorrows , augment our miseries , bind on those plagues that the desert of our sinnes hath brought upon us . Our owne Quarters are become as the Land of the Gadarens , where two possessed Parties , as I may so say ; or rather two possessing Devils , are so exceeding fierce that none may passe by them , none can bee quiet neere them . And these two are , Injustice in oppressiom , and erroneousnesse in Opinion . These are they that lose you friends , procure you enemies , and keep off Neuters , that undoe at home , and exasperate abroad , that lose you more hearts , then all your Armies can subdue Persons ; and doe more mischiefe to your Holy and Honourable Cause , then all the other Devils of hell can doe , then all your enemies on earth have done . Our sad case at this time is like the case of the foure Lepers under the walls of Samaria in the Booke of Kings , if they went into the City , they went upon famine , if they went from the City , they went upon the enemy : If wee goe to the Enemies Quarters , there the Devill of their crueltie devoures us ; if wee abide among our owne , one or other of these Devils is ready to destroy us ; so that as it was with them of old , it is with us at this day , Abroad the sword devoureth , and at home is death . First , wee looked for Justice , but behold a cry , ( for give mee leave to use the words of the Prophet , and to speake of bitter things in the bitternesse of my spirit ) the people of your owne party expected Judgement , Equity , and Comfort from your Sitting , and from your Counsells , and they concluded with themselves , much like as Micah did in another case , Now will it bee well with us , now wee have such a Parliament to take-care for us , to defend us , and to advice in our behalfe ; but behold , instead of their expectation , injuries , oppressions , wrongs , injustice , violence , and such complaynings and cryings out in all Quarters and Parts even of your owne party , that let it not be told in Gath , nor published in the streets of A●kalon , lest the circumcised triumph and exalt over us in it . Mistake mee not , it is farre from me to charge your honorable Court with any such thing , for I may say in this as hee and shee did in another case , my Lord David knowes it not , but it is too many that act under you , that cause this complaining and that doe this mischiefe , yet I cannot but say withall that the injustice will become yours if it be not remedied . Now oh that Englands griefe in this particular were thorougly weighed , and her calamity and complaints were laid in the ballances together : Oh that the cries of all the oppressed in this kind might meet here this day together in your eares , as wee desire our cries and prayers might meet this day in the eares of the Lord : what sad complaynings , lamentings , grievings and cryings out , would come almost from all parts and places in your owne quarters ? I will not take upon mee to particularize in any , onely , might I have but the quarter of that time and patience at your barre that I have here , and but some preparation for it as I had for this exercise , to do the message of mine owne Country , as I now do the message of the Lord , I doubt I could tell you so sad a story as would make your eares to tingle . It is well observed by Divines , that though God for mans redemption , could have conquered the devill by power , yet did hee rather choose to doe it by justice : Hee that spake the word and brought light out of darknesse , and the world out of nothing , could by the same powerfull word have commanded mankind out of the jawes of the devill , and it had beene effected : but his wisedome rather chose , that his owne Sonne should take flesh , performe the Law , and suffer death , and so that the devill should bee conquered by very justice ; and not onely his power quelled , but his mouth stopt . This is the way for you to conquer and no way like it : A little execution of justice is of more victoriousnesse , then a great deale of military preparation : the stoning of one Achab doth more good toward the taking of Ai , then three thousand trained men could doe . By this way must you either quell and conquer this devill of injuriousnesse and oppression , or hee will spoyle your cause , hee will overthrow your armies . And you cannot get so much ground abroad as this will lose you ground at home if it bee not prevented . I doe most humbly recommend it to your most serious thoughts , and conclude this matter in the phrase of the Prophet : Do judgment and justice , judge the cause of the poore and needy , of the wronged and oppressed , and then may you eate and drinke and prosper , and it will bee well with you and with your cause , as Jer. 22. 15. But secondly , there is yet a second devill that undoes us , and worse if worse may bee ; a white devill , that changeth himselfe into an angel of light , and so destroyeth the more , by how much hee is suspected the lesse , and that is , erroneousnesse in opinion , too common , too violent among us at this day . I told you erewhile , that error and deceivednesse in the things of God , is a verier devill and more dangerous then open persecution , and here I cannot but take it up againe : And I may give you some arguments to prove it : as , 1. I may use the stile of our Saviour , Feare not that devill that can kill the body , but when hee hath done that , can doe no more , but feare that devill that can cast both soule and body into hell : persecution can onely destroy the body , but error destroyes both body and soule . 2. I beleeve that persecution never destroyed a Church since the world stood , I am sure errours have done divers : Nay I question whether corruption in manners can nullifie the being of a Church , I am sure corruption in doctrine hath done . The seven Churches of Asia though some of them were exceedingly corrupt in point of conversation , and so corrupt that they had left and lost their first love , yet are they all golden candlesticks , because for the generall they retained the puritie of doctrine . The open persecution of our enemies hath not nor cannot doe that destruction and mischiefe to us that errours doe and have done among us ; and my heart doth never sinke so much in feare of our cause , as when I consider the growth of these in the midst of us , for these threaten ruine to the very being of the Church and of Religion . How sad and dolefull a thing is it to consider , and for Gods sake take it seriously to heart , that so glorious a Church as this was but a while agoe , should now bee so overgrowne with these cursed weeds as it is , and is more and more every day , as is no reformed Church under heaven : That God should be so blasphemed , his truth so polluted , the morall Law so despised , repentance and begging pardon for sinne , so pleaded against , the immortality of the soule written against , dutie cried downe , and I know not what so cryed up , as is in the erroneous opinions that are among us , what a misery is this in the midst of our other miseries ! A Canker , a Gangrene hath seised upon the land , and devours unsensibly , but it devours desperately and devillishly , and Aut tu illum , aut ille te , either bind this devill , or this devill will have all in his power and kingdome of darknesse before wee are aware : How hee gets ground , and growes and devours and destroyes , who is there that sees not ? and for Siont sake who can hold his peace ? Soules lie ableeding by this as well as bodies by the enemy , the Church is undone by this , as the land by them , this spoyles our truth as they doe our peace , and when these are gone , whither shall we goe ? I shall not take upon mee to bee your director or instructor for the manner or meanes of stopping of this mischiefe that it grow no further , and for the suppressing of that growth which it hath already made , it is above my skill , your wisedome will best contrive that ; but I shall humbly crave leave to bee your remembrancer of some thing that may tend unto it . 1. There is great talke of , and pleading for libertie of conscience , for men to doe in matters of Religion , as Israel did in the book of Judges , whatsoever seemeth good in their owne eyes ; and how that proved there , there are sad stories that relate : I shall not goe about to determine the question , whether the conscience may bee bound or not , though for mine owne satisfaction I am resolved it may , and do hold it a truer point in divinitie that errans conscientia liganda , then ligat , but certainly the devill in the conscience may be , nay he must be bound , or else you act not according to that vigour that Christ hath put into your hands : nor according to that exactnesse that Christ requireth at your hands . It is true indeed which is so much talked of , that Christ alone must reigne in the conscience , but it is as true also , that hee doth so by the power that he hath put into the hands of the magistrate , as well as by his word and spirit . 2. I hope you will find some time among your serious imployments to thinke of a review and survey of the translation of the Bible ; certainly that might bee a worke which might very well befit a reformation , and which would very much redound to your honour . It was the course of Nehemiah when hee was reforming , that hee caused not the Law onely to bee read , and the sense given , but also caused the people to understand the reading , Neb. 8. 8. And certainly it would not bee the least advantage that you might doe to the three nations ( if not the greatest ) if they by your care and meanes might come to understand the proper and genuine reading of the Scripture , by an exact , vigorous , and lively translation . I hope ( I say it againe ) you will find some time , to set a foot so needfull a worke : and now you are about the purging of the Temple , you will looke into the Oracle , if there bee any thing a misse there and remove it . 3. I shall not beg of you to cherish learning , for that hath no enemie but ignorant ones , nor shall I beg , that you would cherish a learned ministery , for that may challenge cherishing : but I beseech you take care that none intrude upon the ministry or to preach the word that have not a calling to it , and some competent abilitie for it . This is a maine well-head from whence flow all the errors that are among us , when mechanicks , unlettered and ignorant men will take upon them to bee preachers , and to instruct others when they need teaching themselves ; and this if it bee not stopped , wil overflow all with a puddle of errours and heresie : you have made good orders for the stopping and preventing of this , but execution is all . 4. I beseech you hasten the setling of the Church : These weeds grow , while government groweth not ; I rejoyce to see what you have done in platforming Classes and Presbyteries : and I verily and cordially beleeve it is according to the patterne in the mount . The Lord speed and prosper you in working up the furniture for this fabrick . Especially hee bee your director in the two great things that are now under your agitation , Church-power and suspension from the Sacrament : I am most unable to hold out to you any thing , that may direct you in matters of such weight : And if my judgement were any thing , yet should I bee sparing to shew it , because I must confesse that about these matters I differ in judgement from the generality of Divines , and I hold it not any happines to be singular in opinion , nor doe I hold these to bee times to broach differences , I shall ever follow you with my desires and prayers , and write the successe of the good hand of our God upon you . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A88148e-490 Mr. Mede in loc. Vid. Marlorat . in loc. Brightman . Exod 25. &c. and 36. &c. and 40. Exod. 35. Dan. 10. 11. Iohn 21. 20. Doct. Doct. Aquin. part 1. quaest. 49. Art. 3. Iude vers. 12. Luk , 10. 30. Aquin. part 1. qu. 64. art . 2. 2 Cor. 7. 11. 1 King. 1. 11. 18.