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.’
