Satan's Subtlety as A TEMPTER TO SIN Briefly Applied

            

 Use First.  Affect not sinful policy and subtlety, it makes you but like the devil.  There is the wisdom of the serpent, which is commended, and that is his perfection as a creature, in which both the literal and the mystical excel, the one in an ingenious observing nature above the beast of the field, and the other in knowledge as an angel above men; but as the subtlety of the one and knowledge of the other is degenerate, and makes them more able to do mischief, the one of the bodies, the others to the souls of men, this kind of wisdom and subtlety is to be abhorred by us.  The serpent's eye, as one saith, does well only in the dove's head.

             1. Affect not subtlety in contriving any sin. Some are wise to do evil, Jer. 4:22.  Masters of this craft, who can as they lie on their beds, cast their wicked designs into an artificial method, showing a kind of devilish wit therein, as the Egyptians who dealt wisely, as they thought, with the Israelites, and Jezebel, who had printed her bloody design in so fair a letter, that some might read her saint while she was playing the devil.  This is the black art indeed, and make the soul as black as hell that practiseth it.  It is not hard for any, though a fool, to learn.  Be but wicked, and the devil will help thee to be witty. Come but a while to his school, and thou mayest soon be a cunning man.  No sins speak a higher attainment in wickedness, than those which are of deliberate counsel and deep plottings.  Creatures, as they go longer with their young, so their birth is more strong and perfect, as the elephant above all others.  The longer a sin is a forming and forging within, and the oftener the head and heart meet about it, the completer the sin.  Here are many litters of unformed sins in one, such, I mean, as are conceived and cast forth in the hurry of extemporary passion.  Those sudden acts show weakness, these other deep wickedness.

             

2. Take heed of hiding sin when thou hast com­mitted it.  This is one of the devices that are in man's heart; and as much art and cunning is shown in this, as in any one part of the sinner's trade.  What a trick had the patriarchs to blind their father's eye with a bloody coat?  Joseph's mistress, to prevent a charge from Joseph, accuseth him for what she is guilty, like the robber who escaped by crying ‘stop the thief.’  God taught man to make coats to cover his naked body, but the devil learnt him to weave these coverings to hide the nakedness of his soul.  The more subtle thou seemest in concealing thy sin, the more egregiously thou playest the fool.  None so shamed as the liar when found out, and that thou art sure to be. Thy covering is too short to hide thee from God's eye, and what God sees, if thou dost not put thyself to shame, he will tell all the world hereafter, however thou escapest in this life.            

 3. Take heed of subtlety and sinful policy, in compassing that which is lawful in itself; it is lawful to improve thy estate and husband it well for thy posterity but take not the devil's counsel, who will be putting thee upon some tricks in thy trade and sleights in thy dealing.  Such may go for wise men for a while, but the prophet reads their destiny, ‘At his end he shall be a fool,’ Jer. 17:11.  It is lawful to love our estate, life, liberty; but beware of sinful policy to save them.  It is no wisdom to shuffle with God, by denying his truth, or shifting off our duty to keep correspondence with men.  He is a weak fencer that lays his soul at open guard to be stabbed and woun­ded with guilt, while he is lifting up his hands to save a broken head.  Our fear commonly meets us at that door by which we think to run from it.  He that ‘will save his life shall lose it.’  As you love your peace, Christians, be plain-hearted with God and man, and keep the king's highway.  Go the plain way of command to obtain thy desire, and not leap over hedge and ditch to come a little sooner to the journey's end; such commonly either meet with some stop that makes them come back with shame, or else put to venture their necks in some desperate leap.  He is sure to come faster, if not sooner, home, that is wil­ling to go a little about to keep God company.  The historian's observation is worth the Christian's remembrance: ‘Crafty counsels promise fair at first, but prove more difficult in the managing, and in the end do pay the undertaker home with desperate sorrow.’