Wesley's Sermon's
TOPIC: Devices
SUBTOPIC: Of Satan
TITLE: Satan's Devices
"We are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Cor. 2:11.
1. The devices whereby the subtle god of this world labours to
destroy the children of God -- or at least to torment whom he cannot
destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set
before them -- are numberless as the stars of heaven or the sand upon
the sea-shore. But it is of one of them only that I now propose to
speak, (although exerted in various ways,) whereby he endeavours to
divide the gospel against itself, and by one part of it to overthrow
the other.
2. The inward kingdom of heaven, which is set up in the heart of
all that repent and believe the gospel, is no other than
"righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Every babe in
Christ knows we are made partakers of these, the very hour that we
believe in Jesus. But these are only the first-fruits of his Spirit;
the harvest is not yet. Although these blessings are inconceivably
great, yet we trust to see greater than these. We trust to love the
Lord our God, not only as we do now, with a weak though sincere
affection, but "with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our
soul, and with all our strength." We look for power to "rejoice
evermore, to pray without ceasing, and in everything to give thanks;"
knowing, "this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us."
3. We expect to be "made perfect in love;" in that love which casts
out all painful fear, and all desire but that of glorifying him we
love, and of loving and serving him more and more. We look for such an
increase in the experimental knowledge and love of God our Saviour as
will enable us always "to walk in the light, as he is in the light."
We believe the whole mind will be in us, "which was also in Christ
Jesus;" that we shall love every man so as to be ready to lay down our
life for his sake; so as, by this love, to be freed from anger, and
pride, and from every unkind affection. We expect to be "cleansed from
all our idols," "from all filthiness," whether "of flesh or spirit;"
to be "saved from all our uncleannesses," inward or outward; to be
"purified as He is pure."
4. We trust in his promise who cannot lie, that the time will
surely come, when, in every word and work, we shall do his blessed
will on earth, as it is done in heaven; when all our conversation
shall be seasoned with salt, all meet to minister grace to the
hearers; when, whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, it shall be
done to the glory of God; when all our words and deeds shall be "in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God, even the Father,
through him."
5. Now this is the grand device of Satan, to destroy the first work
of God in the soul, or at least to hinder its increase, by our
expectation of that greater work. It is therefore my present design,
First, to point out the several ways whereby he endeavours: this; And,
secondly, to observe how we may retort these fiery darts of the wicked
one, how we may rise the higher by what he intends for an occasion of
our falling.
I. 1. I am, First, to point out the several ways whereby Satan
endeavours to destroy the first work of God in the soul, or at least
to hinder its increase by our expectation of that greater work. And,
1. He endeavours to damp our joy in the Lord by the consideration of
our own vileness, sinfulness, unworthiness; added to this, that there
must be a far greater change than is yet, or we cannot see the Lord.
If we knew we must remain as we are even to the day of our death, we
might possibly draw a kind of comfort, poor as it was, from that
necessity. But as we know, we need not remain in this state, as we are
assured there is a greater change to come, and that unless sin be all
done away in this life we cannot see God in glory, -- that subtle
adversary often damps the joy we should otherwise feel in what we have
already attained, by a perverse representation of what we have not
attained, and the absolute necessity of attaining it. So that we
cannot rejoice in what we have, because there is more which we have
not. We cannot rightly taste the goodness of God, who hath done so
great things for us, because there are so much greater things which as
yet he hath not done. Likewise, the deeper conviction God works in us
of our present unholiness, and the more vehement desire we feel in our
heart of the entire holiness he hath promised, the more are we tempted
to think lightly of the present gifts of God, and to undervalue what
we have already received because of what we have not received.
2. If he can prevail thus far, if he can damp our joy, he will soon
attack our peace also. He will suggest, "Are you fit to see God? He is
of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. How then can you flatter
yourself, so as to imagine he beholds you with approbation? God is
holy: You are unholy. What communion hath light with darkness? How is
it possible that you, unclean as you are, should be in a state of
acceptance with God? You see indeed the mark, the prize of your high
calling; but do you not see it is afar off? How can you presume then
to think that all your sins are already blotted out? How can this be,
until you are brought nearer to God, until you bear more resemblance
to him?" Thus will he endeavour not only to shake your peace, but even
to overturn the very foundation of it; to bring you back, by
insensible degrees, to the point from whence you set out first, even
to seek for justification by works, or by your own righteousness, --
to make something in you the ground of your acceptance, or at least
necessarily previous to it.
3. Or, if we hold fast, "Other foundation can no man lay than that
which is laid, even Jesus Christ;" and, "I am justified freely by
God's grace, through the redemption which is in Jesus;" yet he will
not cease to urge, "But the tree is known by its fruits: And have you
the fruits of justification? Is that mind in you which was in Christ
Jesus? Are you dead unto sin, and alive unto righteousness? Are you
made conformable to the death of Christ, and do you know the power of
his resurrection?" And then, comparing the small fruits we feel in our
souls with the fullness of the promises, we shall be ready to
conclude: "Surely God hath not said that my sins are forgiven me!
Surely I have not received the remission of my sins; for what lot have
I among them that are sanctified?"
4. More especially in the time of sickness and pain he will press
this with all his might: "Is it not the word of Him that cannot lie,
'Without holiness no man shall see the Lord?' But you are not holy.
You know it well; you know holiness is the full image of God; and how
far is this above, out of your sight? You cannot attain unto it.
Therefore, all your labour has been in vain. All these things you have
suffered in vain. You have spent your strength for nought. You are yet
in your sins, and must therefore perish at the last." And thus, if
your eye be not steadily fixed on Him who hath borne all your sins, he
will bring you again under that "fear of death," whereby you was so
long "subject unto bondage," and, by this means, impair, if not wholly
destroy, your peace as, well as joy in the Lord.
5. But his master-piece of subtlety is still behind. Not content to
strike at your peace and joy, he will carry his attempts farther yet:
He will level his assault against your righteousness also. He will
endeavour to shake, yea, if it be possible, to destroy the holiness
you have already received by your very expectation of receiving more,
of attaining all the image of God.
6. The manner wherein he attempts this, may partly appear from what
has been already observed. For, First, by striking at our joy in the
Lord, he strikes likewise at our holiness: Seeing joy in the Holy
Ghost is a precious means of promoting every holy temper; a choice
instrument of God whereby he carries on much of his work in a
believing soul. And it is a considerable help not only to inward, but
also to outward holiness. It strengthens our hands to go on in the
work of faith, and in the labour of love; manfully to "fight the good
fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life." It is peculiarly
designed of God to be a balance both against inward and outward
sufferings; to "lift up the hands that hang down, and confirm the
feeble knees." Consequently, whatever damps our joy in the Lord
proportionably obstructs our holiness. And therefore, so far as Satan
shakes our joy he hinders our holiness also.
7. The same effect will ensue, if he can, by any means, either
destroy or shake our peace. For the peace of God is another precious
means of advancing the image of God in us. There is scarce a greater
help to holiness than this, a continual tranquility of spirit, the
evenness of a mind stayed upon God, a calm repose in the blood of
Jesus. And without this, it is scarce possible to "grow in grace," and
in the vital "knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." For all fear
(unless the tender, filial fear) freezes and benumbs the soul. It
binds up all the springs of spiritual life, and stops all motion of
the heart toward God. And doubt, as it were, bemires the soul, so that
it sticks fast in the deep clay. Therefore, in the same proportion as
either of these prevail, our growth in holiness is hindered.
8. At the same time that our wise adversary endeavours to make our
conviction of the necessity of perfect love an occasion of shaking our
peace by doubts and fears, he endeavours to weaken, if not destroy,
our faith. Indeed these are inseparably connected, so that they must
stand or fall together. So long as faith subsists we remain in peace;
our heart stands fast, while it believes in the Lord. But if we let go
our faith, our filial confidence in a loving, pardoning God, our peace
is at an end, the very foundation on which it stood being overthrown.
And this is the only foundation of holiness, as well as of peace;
consequently whatever strikes at this, strikes at the very root of all
holiness: For without this faith, without an abiding sense that Christ
loved me, and gave himself for me, without a continuing conviction
that God for Christ's sake is merciful to me a sinner, it is
impossible that I should love God: "We love him, because he first
loved us;" and in proportion to the strength and clearness of our
conviction that he hath loved us, and accepted us in his Son. And
unless we love God, it is not possible that we should love our
neighbour as ourselves; nor, consequently, that we should have any
right affections, either toward God, or toward man. It evidently
follows, that whatever weakens our faith, must, in the same degree
obstruct our holiness: And this is not only the most effectual, but
also the most compendious, way of destroying all holiness; seeing it
does not affect any one Christian temper, any single grace or fruit of
the Spirit, but, so far as it succeeds, tears up the very root of the
whole work of God.
9. No marvel, therefore, that the ruler of the darkness of this
world should here put forth all his strength. And so we find by
experience. For it is far easier to conceive, than it is to express,
the unspeakable violence wherewith this temptation is frequently urged
on them who hunger and thirst after righteousness. When they see, in a
strong and clear light, on the one hand, the desperate wickedness of
their own hearts, -- on the other hand, the unspotted holiness to
which they are called in Christ Jesus; on the one hand, the depth of
their own corruption, of their total alienation from God, -- on the
other, the height of the glory of God, that image of the Holy One,
wherein they are to be renewed; there is, many times, no spirit left
in them; they could almost cry out, "With God this is impossible!"
They are ready to give up both faith and hope; to cast away that very
confidence, whereby they are to overcome all things, and do all
things, through Christ strengthening them; whereby, "after' they have
don e the will of God," they are to "receive the promise."
10. And if they "hold fast the beginning of their confidence
steadfast unto the end," they shall undoubtedly receive the promise of
God, reaching through both time and eternity. But here is another
snare laid for our feet: While we earnestly pant for that part of the
promise which is to be accomplished here, "for the glorious liberty of
the children of God," we may be led unawares from the consideration of
the glory which shall hereafter be revealed. Our eye may be insensibly
turned aside from that crown which the righteous Judge hath promised
to give at that day "to all that love his appearing;" and we may be
drawn away from the view of that incorruptible inheritance which is
reserved in heaven for us. But this also would be a loss to our souls,
and an obstruction to our holiness. For to walk in the continual sight
of our goal, is a needful help in our running the race that is set
before us. This it was, the having "respect unto the recompense of
reward," which of old time, encouraged Moses, rather "to su ffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt." Nay, it is expressly said of a greater than he,
that "for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, and
despised the shame," till he "sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God." Whence we may easily infer, how much more needful for us is
the view of that joy set before us, that we may endure whatever cross
the wisdom of God lays upon us, and press on through holiness to
glory.
11. But while we are reaching to this, as well as to that glorious
liberty which is preparatory to it, we may be in danger of falling
into another snare of the devil, whereby he labours to entangle the
children of God. We may take too much thought for tomorrow, so as to
neglect the improvement of to-day. We may so expect perfect love, as
not to use that which is already shed abroad in our hearts. There have
not been wanting instances of those who have greatly suffered hereby.
They were so taken up with what they were to receive hereafter, as
utterly to neglect what they had already received. In expectation of
having five talents more, they buried their one talent in the earth.
At least, they did not improve it as they might have done, to the
glory of God and the good of their own souls.
12. Thus does the subtle adversary of God and man endeavour to make
void the counsel of God, by dividing the gospel against itself, and
making one part of it overthrow the other; while the first work of God
in the soul is destroyed by the expectation of his perfect work. We
have seen several of the ways wherein he attempts this by cutting off,
as it were, the springs of holiness. But this he likewise does more
directly by making that blessed hope an occasion of unholy tempers.
13. Thus, whenever our heart is eagerly athirst for all the great
and precious promises; when we pant after the fullness of God, as the
hart after the water-brook; when our soul breaketh out in fervent
desire, "Why are his chariot-wheels so long a-coming?" -- he will not
neglect the opportunity of tempting us to murmur against God. He will
use all his wisdom, and all his strength, if haply, in an unguarded
hour, we may be influenced to repine at our Lord for thus delaying his
coming. At least, he will labour to excite some degree of fretfulness
or impatience; and, perhaps, of envy at those whom we believe to have
already attained the prize of our high calling. He well knows, that,
by giving way to any of these tempers, we are pulling down the very
thing we would build up. By thus following after perfect holiness, we
become more unholy than before. Yea, there is great danger that our
last state should be worse than the first; like them of whom the
Apostle speaks in those dreadful words, "It had been better they had
never known the way of righteousness, than, after they had known it,
to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them."
14. And from hence he hopes to reap another advantage, even to
bring up an evil report of the good way. He is sensible, how few are
able to distinguish (and too many are not willing so to do) between
the accidental abuse, and the natural tendency, of a doctrine. These,
therefore, will he continually blend together, with regard to the
doctrine of Christian perfection; in order to prejudice the minds of
unwary men against the glorious promises of God. And how frequently,
how generally, I had almost said how universally, has he prevailed
herein! For who is there that observes any of these accidental ill
effects of this doctrine, and does not immediately conclude, this is
its natural tendency; and does not readily cry out, "See, these are
the fruits (meaning the natural, necessary fruits) of such doctrine?"
Not so: They are fruits which may accidentally spring from the abuse
of a great and precious truth: But the abuse of this, or any other
scriptural doctrine, does by no means destroy its use. Neither can the
unfaithfulness of man perverting his right way, make the promise of
God of none effect No: Let God be true, and every man a liar. The word
of the Lord, it shall stand. "Faithful is he that hath promised: He
also will do it." Let not us then be "removed from the hope of the
gospel." Rather let us observe, which was the second thing proposed:
How we may retort these fiery darts of the wicked one: How we may rise
the higher by what he intends for an occasion of our falling.
II. 1. And, First, does Satan endeavour to damp your joy in the
Lord, by the consideration of your sinfulness; added to this, that
without entire, universal holiness, no man can see the Lord? You may
cast back this dart upon his own head, while through the grace of God,
the more you feel of your own vileness, the more you rejoice in
confident hope, that all this shall be done away. While you hold fast
this hope, every evil temper you feel, though you hate it with a
perfect hatred, may be a means, not of lessening your humble joy, but
rather of increasing it. "This and this," may you say, "shall likewise
perish from the presence of the Lord. Like as the wax melteth at the
fire, so shall this melt away before his face." By this means, the
greater that change is which remains to be wrought in your soul, the
more may you triumph in the Lord, and rejoice in the God of your
salvation, who hath done so great things for you already, and will do
so much greater things than these.
2. Secondly: The more vehemently he assaults your peace with that
suggestion, "God is holy; you are unholy; You are immensely distant
from that holiness, without which you cannot see God: How then can you
be in the favour of God? How can you fancy you are justified?" -- take
the more earnest heed to hold fast that, "Not by works of
righteousness which I have done, I am found in him; I am accepted in
the Beloved; not having my own righteousness, (as the cause, either in
whole or in part, of our justification before God,) but that which is
by faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." O
bind this about your neck: Write it upon the table of thy heart. Wear
it as a bracelet upon thy arm, as frontlets between thine eyes: "I am
'justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in
Jesus Christ." Value and esteem, more and more, that precious truth,
"By grace we are saved through faith." Admire, more and more, the free
grace of God, in so loving the world as to give "his only Son, t hat
whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting
life." So shall the sense of the sinfulness you feel, on the one hand,
and of the holiness you expect, on the other, both contribute to
establish your peace, and to make it flow as a river. So shall that
peace flow on with an even stream, in spite of all those mountains of
ungodliness, which shall become a plain in the day when the Lord
cometh to take full possession of your heart. Neither will sickness,
or pain, or the approach of death, occasion any doubt or fear. You
know a day, an hour, a moment with God, is as a thousand years. He
cannot be straitened for time, wherein to work whatever remains to be
done in your soul. And God's time is always the best time. Therefore
be thou careful for nothing: Only make thy request known unto Him, and
that, not with doubt or fear, but thanksgiving; as being previously
assured, He cannot withhold from thee any manner of thing that is
good.
3. Thirdly: The more you are tempted to give up your shield, to
cast away your faith, your confidence in his love, so much the more
take heed that you hold fast that whereunto you have attained; so much
the more labour to stir up the gift of God which is in you. Never let
that slip, "I have 'an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous;' and, 'The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'" Be this thy glory and
crown of rejoicing. And see that no one take thy crown. Hold that
fast: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth;" and, "I now 'have redemption in his blood, even
the forgiveness of sins.'" Thus, being filled with all peace and joy
in believing, press on, in the peace and joy of faith to the renewal
of thy whole soul in the image of him that created thee! Meanwhile,
cry continually to God that thou mayest see that prize of thy high
calling, not as Satan represents it, in a horrid dreadful shape, but
in its genuine native beauty; not as something that must be, or thou
wilt go to hell, but as what may be, to lead thee to heaven. Look upon
it as the most desirable gift which is in all the stores of the rich
mercies of God. Beholding it in this true point of light, thou wilt
hunger after it more and more; thy whole soul will be athirst for God,
and for this glorious conformity to his likeness; and having received
a good hope of this, and strong consolation through grace, thou wilt
no more be weary or faint in thy mind, but wilt follow on till thou
attainest.
4. In the same power of faith, press on to glory. Indeed this is
the same prospect still. God hath joined from the beginning pardon,
holiness, heaven. And why should man put them asunder? O beware of
this! Let not one link of the golden chain be broken. "God, for
Christ's sake hath forgiven me. He is now renewing me in his own
image. Shortly he will make me meet for himself, and take me to stand
before his face. I, whom he hath justified through the blood of his
Son, being thoroughly sanctified by his Spirit, shall quickly ascend
to the 'New Jerusalem, the city of the living God.' Yet a little
while, and I shall 'come to the general assembly and church of the
first-born, and to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of
the New Covenant.' How soon will these shadows flee away, and the day
of eternity dawn upon me! How soon shall I drink of 'the river of the
water of life, going out of the throne of God and of the Lamb! There
all his servants shall praise him, and shall see his face, and his
name sh all be upon their foreheads. And no night shall be there; and
they have no need of a candle or the light of the sun. For the Lord
God enlighteneth them, and they shall reign for ever and ever.'"
5. And if you thus "taste of the good word, and of the powers of
the world to come," you will not murmur against God, because you are
not yet "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." Instead of
repining at your not being wholly delivered, you will praise God for
thus far delivering you. You will magnify God for what he hath done,
and take it as an earnest of what he will do. You will not fret
against him, because you are not yet renewed, but bless him because
you shall be; and because "now is your salvation" from all sin "nearer
than when you" first "believed." Instead of uselessly tormenting
yourself because the time is not fully come, you will calmly and
quietly wait for it, knowing that it "will come, and will not tarry."
You may, therefore, the more cheerfully endure, as yet, the burden of
sin that still remains in you, because it will not always remain. Yet
a little while, and it shall be clean gone. Only "tarry thou the
Lord's leisure:" Be strong, and "he shall comfort thy heart;" and put
t hou thy trust in the Lord!
6. And if you see any who appear (so far as man can judge, but God
alone searcheth the hearts) to be already partakers of their hope,
already "made perfect in love;" far from envying the grace of God in
them, let it rejoice and comfort your heart. Glorify God for their
sake! "If one member is honoured," shall not "all the members rejoice
with it?" Instead of jealousy or evil surmising concerning them,
praise God for the consolation! Rejoice in having a fresh proof of the
faithfulness of God in fulfilling all his promises; and stir yourself
up the more, to "apprehend that for which you also are apprehended of
Christ Jesus!"
7. In order to this, redeem the time. Improve the present moment.
Buy up every opportunity of growing in grace, or of doing good. Let
not the thought of receiving more grace to-morrow, make you negligent
of to-day. You have one talent now: If you expect five more, so much
the rather improve that you have. And the more you expect to receive
hereafter, the more labour for God now. Sufficient for the day is the
grace thereof. God is now pouring his benefits upon you: Now approve
yourself a faithful steward of the present grace of God. Whatever may
be to-morrow, give all diligence to-day, to "add to your faith
courage, temperance, patience, brotherly-kindness," and the fear of
God, till you attain that pure and perfect love! Let these things be
now "in you and abound!" Be not now slothful or unfruitful: "So shall
an entrance be ministered into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
Jesus Christ!"
8. Lastly: If in time past you have abused this blessed hope of
being holy as he is holy, yet do not therefore cast it away. Let the
abuse cease, the use remain. Use it now to the more abundant glory of
God, and profit of your own soul. In steadfast faith, in calm
tranquility of spirit, in full assurance of hope, rejoicing evermore
for what God hath done, press ye on unto perfection! Daily growing in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and going on from strength to
strength, in resignation, in patience, in humble thankfulness for what
ye have attained, and for what ye shall, run the race set before you,
"looking unto Jesus," till, through perfect love, ye enter into his
glory! |
