The Devil Wars Against the Church with the Tongues of Men - Isaac Ambrose

Status
Not open for further replies.

Solparvus

Puritan Board Senior
Christ saith to the Church of Smyrna. “Satan shall cast some into prison.” This he did by the aid of his instruments, the world. He rules in the hearts of the wicked, and directs their thoughts, wills and affections, and so moves them to persecute the children of God, and cast some into prison. No sooner is a man brought truly home to Christ, but he becomes the drunkard's song; music to great men at their feasts: a by-word to the children of fools; and is hated of them all because he follows Christ. Now the seed of the serpent begins to hiss. Satan and his children begin in earnest to load him with false accusations, to blacken his character, and distress his soul. Here the wicked are the devil's millers to grind the grapes. What can be expected from such men but to be squeezed, till the blood gush out.

But why should the wicked be so enraged against the godly Have they done them any wrong? Do they wish them any evil? Nay, they would be glad to do them good, as to their eternal welfare. There can be no doubt of this. But ungodly men are compelled by Satan to act as they do. The old serpent hates God, and the holiness that shines in his saints, with deadly hatred. He knows that he himself is cast out of heaven, and he envies and vexes those that would be entering in. So the wicked that are his instruments have sucked in the old serpent's poison, till they swell with it, and are enraged against the righteous. They say of tigers, that they swell with rage, on the scent of fragrant spices. So the ungodly are in a rage at the blessed savour of true holiness, wherever it appears.

A wicked man is odious to the pious, and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the children of Belial. I know not any that fear God, but have in some measure or other felt this assault. Good Mr. Bolton said, ‘If Satan meet with a man, that has, by the grace of God, entered into a state of salvation, he, the great dragon stands in his way, and casts out of his mouth, floods of persecution, vexation and opposition, to overwhelm and crush him, if he can, before he is of any growth and strength in Christ. And to this end, he sets on foot and fire too, many lewd and profane tongues, to scoff, disgrace and discourage him in his narrow, but blessed passage to immortality. But, how do they do it? Why, either by reproaching him, with his former misconduct, or, by charging him with hypocrisy, singularity, and puritanism. They charge him with being a fellow of factious spirit and troublesome conduct. Nor is this on his first entrance into the way of life, but ever after while he keeps the way to heaven. Every faithful christian knows by experience, that so long as he acts in the good cause, and stands up against the evil practices of the place where he lives, that he shall have the spirit of profaneness to fly in his face, with implacable malice and brutish insolence. “All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Isaac Ambrose, "War With Devils", Ch. IV, Temptation in Riper Years
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top