I Haue spoken of the question alredie , now of the answere , Compassing heere doth signifie tempting , & the Earth doth signifie all the people of the earth : as if he should saie , I come from tempting all men . It is some vantage vnto vs to heare that the Spaniards are comming before they come , and what number they haue , and how they are appoynted , that wee may leuie our forces accordingly . But beloued , there is a greater aduersarie then the Spaniarde , which brings in the Spaniards , your aduersarie the deuill . It is good for vs to heare when he comes , that wee may bee in a readines against him , as we prepare against them . Therefore this Scripture , and this time accord well . In Reuelation 12.10 . the deuill is called an accuser , and now I am an accuser of the accuser : he accuseth vs to God , & God accuseth him to vs , that when hee comes like an angell , yet wee may say to him like Christ , Auoide Satan . First geue me leaue to say vnto you as Christ said vnto his disciples , Take heed how you heare , for that which I am to speake vnto you of the deuill , the deuill would not haue you heare : and therefore as hee is here called a Compasser , so hee will compasse your eyes with shewes , and your eares with soundes , and your sences with sleepe , and your thoughtes with fansies , and all to hinder you from hearing while the articles are against him , and after I haue spoken , hee will compasse you againe with businesse , and cares , and pleasures , and quarrels , to make you forget that which you haue heard , as hee hath made you forgette that which ye haue heard before , or els to contemne it , as though you might doe well without it : as hee hath compassed them which doe walke in the streetes while the voice of God soundeth in the Churches as they passe by : therefore before euerie Sermon yee had neede to remember Christes lesson , Take heed how you heare .

Now to the matter . Satan from whence commest thou ? I come from compassing the earth . Here the deuill is called in like a Iayler , which keepes some in perpetuall prison , and some are bailed , and some returne to prison againe , and some are executed . They which sinne fearefullie , stay as it were about the Prison , but are not bounde : they which sinne wittinglie are vnder lock , they which sinne greedely , are vnder locke and boltes , they which die in their sin , are like them which are condemned , this is the bondage which we haue brought our selues vnto for a fair apple . When the tempter ouercame vs , we were remoued out of paradise , where we were seated : when wee haue ouercome the tempter , wee shall bee translated into heauen , where hee was seated , heauen dore was wide , and the waie was broade before the rebellion , but when weeknockt at the cannell doore , then the good doore was shutte , heauen is large , but the waie to heauen muste bee narrowe , therefore God hath set our enemies in the gate to fight with vs before wee enter , that this saying might be verified , The kingdome of heauen is caught by violence : so soone as we rise in the morning wee goe forth to fight with two mightie giants , the world and the deuill , and whom doe wee take with v● but a traitor ? this brittle flesh which i● readie to yeeld vs vp to the enimie at euerie assault , onely he which sufferet● Satan to compasse vs , doeth staie him from destroying vs . When God asked Caine , where is thy brother ? Caine lyed and said , I cannot tell . When God asked Sarah why she laughed ? Sarah lied and said , I laughed not : but when God asked the deuil from whence he came , hee aunswered truely , I come from compassing the earth , and yet hee which speaketh truth himselfe , taught them to lie , as hee is called the father of liers , because hee teacheth all others to lie . Howe then ? Was Caine worse then the deuill , because he lied and the other tolde truth . By this you may see that carnall men doe not know so much of God as the verie deuill knoweth , for he knew that GOD could tell where he had bin , but Caine doubted whether God could tel what he had done , and therefore he made a lie . Thus , thus the deuill teacheth his schollers to doe worse sometimes then hee will do himselfe , euen as he would bring them ( if it were possible ) into a worse plight then he is himselfe . The deuils faith cannot saue vs , no more then it can saue him , the deuils knowledge cannot conuert vs , no more then it doth conuert him , and yet he would not haue men beleeue , that which he beleeueth himselfe , nor haue vs vnderstand so much as he vnderstandeth him self : for if Cain had vnderstood so much as he , that God knew whether hee lied or no , hee would haue answered God trulie , as Satan did , but the deuill knew that there was no dissembling with God , who knowes what he asks before he asks , therfore he told troth to God , though hee lie to man : for to lie vnto him which knoweth , is as if one should lie to himselfe , but Caine was not so wel learned , he thought peraduenture yet God might vnderstand his murther , as a theese suspecteth in his heart that the iudge may know his theft : but he douted whether God did know it , & therefore he denied it like one which is guiltie , but thinkes that if hee confesse , hee shal be hanged , and therfore though euidence and witnesse accuse them , yet you see many which will not accuse themselues .

From compassing the earth . He which was called Satan before , which signifieth an aduersary , is here said to compas the earth : which is to saie , beeing put together , an aduersarie compasseth the earth , and therfore let the earth beware like a Citie which is besieged with the aduersarie .

The deuill hath mo names then anie Prince hath titles , some GOD hath giuen to him , and some hee hath giuen to himselfe : but this is to be noted in the deuils names , that hee neuer called himself a lier , nor a tempter , nor an accuser , nor a slanderer , nor a deceiuer , nor a deuourer , nor a murderer , nor a master , nor an aduersarie , nor a viper , nor a lion , nor a dragon , nor a wolfe , nor a cockatrice , nor a serpent . But when Christ asked him his name , hee calleth himselfe Legion , which importes a multitude , as if hee shoulde bragge of his number , and here he cals himselfe in effect the compasser of the earth , as if he should brag of his power . And in the fourth Chapter of Luke & sixt verse , hee calleth himselfe the possesser of the earth , as if hee should brag of his possessions , and in the same hee calleth himselfe the quier of the earth , as if should brag of his liberalitie . Thus he which is euill it selfe , doth shun the name , because he would not be hated , and therefore no maruell if men call euill good , and would bee counted honest , though they be neuer so lewd , for so will the deuill : but as God neuer called the deuill but by those names which the deuil hated , so he neuer calleth sinners by those names which they call themselues , for if you obserue the Scripture , there is no name of the deuil , but in some place of Scripture or other the wicked are caled by the same name , he is called a liar , & they are called liars : he is called a tempter , & they are called tempters : he is called a murderer , & they are called murderers : he is called a slanderer , and they are called slanderers : he is called a viper , & they are called vipers : he is called a lion , & they are called lions : he is called a wolf and they are called wolues : he is called a serpent , and they are called serpents . Thus God wold they that shal be damned shoulde haue the name of him which is damned , to put them in minde . Now none of the deuils names are in the booke of life ; and therefore liars , & tempters , and slanderers , and murderers , and defamers are not , therefore these are the deuils names . This I note to shew you how deadly God doth hate sinne , that neither the deuill nor his followers coulde euer get a good name of him , for all his compassing , he could neuer compas this , to shuffle any praise of himself into this booke of life , for he doth not compasse heauen , but earth , though he would compas both , the deuil himselfe doth tel vs here , that he compasseth , & he telleth vs not why hee compasseth , but his name Satan that went before , which hee spake not of , doth tell vs why he compasseth . Because it signifies an aduersarie , it giueth vs to vnderstande that hee compasseth the earth like an aduersarie . God doth compas the earth like a wall to defend it : the deuill compasseth the earth like an enemie to besiege it . For enemie is his name , he is enuie euen to the name .

Three things I note : wherfore the deuill may bee saide to compasse the earth . First , because hee tempteth all men . Secondly , because hee tempteth to all sinnes . Thirdly , because he tempteth by all meanes : So that whosoeuer sinneth , wherein soeuer he offendeth , whereby so euer hee is allured , the sin , and the sinner , and the baite , are compassed , and contriued by this Archpolitique , which calles himselfe a Compasser . Many haue their names for naught , because they doe nothing for them , like Labans images , which were called Gods , though they were but blocks : but the deuill deserues his names , he is not called a tempter , and a lyer , and a slaunderer , and an accuser , and a deceiuer , and a murtherer , and a compasser in vaine , like Saint George . which is alwaies on horse-backe , and neuer rides : but hee would doe more then by his office hee is bound to . Other are called officers because they haue an office : but hee is called enemie because he sheweth his enuie . Other are called Iusticers , because they should doe iustice : but hee is called a tempter because he practiseth temptations . Other are called pastors because they should feede : but he is called a deuourer because he doth deuour : and we call him a Compasser , because that he doth compasse . Euer since hee fell from heauen hee hath liued like Cain , which cannot rest in a place , but is a runnagate ouer the earth , from dore to dore , from man to man , begging for sinnes as the starued soule begges for bread . He wold haue dwelt in heauen , and not been compassing the earth , he should haue sung with the Angels , & not bin quareling with men , but he hath changed his calling , & is become a compasser , that is , to laie fetters vpon men , as God hath fettered him , left they should ascend to the place from whence he is fallen . Therefore in this the Lier spake trueth , when he said , I come from compassing the earth : as if he shoulde say to God , I come from the slaughter of thy seruants , not to aske forgeuenes for all the soules which he hath slaine alredie , but to get a commission that God would make him knight Marshal ouer the world , to slay and kil as many as he hated : like the bramble , which sette it selfe on fire first , and then fiered all the wood .

Peter describing the deuils walke , saith that he goeth about : The deuil saith that he goeth a compassing . Peter puts in , seeking whom he may deuour : the deuil leaues out deuour , and sayth no more , but that he compasseth . This circular walke is particular to the deuill , and therefore may be called the deuils circuite . All other creatures goe forward , but the diuil goeth about , which may well be applied to the craftie deuil , because to goe about , is commonly taken to vndermine : when he meaneth he wil destroy you , then we say he will compasse you : so when the deuil compasseth , then beware least he deuoure . For the deuill goeth about men , as the Fowler goeth about the larke , to snare her ; as the thief goeth about the house , to robbe it ; as the iuie goeth about the oake , to kil it . The deuils walk is a siege , which goeth about but to find an issue to goe in : for he goeth about but vntill he can gette in to be a possessor . He is content to be a compasser . The first name the deuill hath in Scripture , is a Serpent , he is a Serpent , and so are his waies like a serpent , which windeth himselfe like a circle .

As God is said to make an hedge about men , so here the deuill is saide to make an hedge about men : but this is an hedge of temptations , and that is an hedge against temptations . As Dauid saith the Angels compasse vs , so might he say the deuils compasse vs . Satan compasseth , and man is compassed . Satan is like the circumference , and man is , as it were , the Centre : that is , temptations goe round about him , and hee dwelleth in the middest of them . Thus much of Compassing : now what hee doeth compasse .

I come from Compassing the Earth . This is the diuils pilgrimage , from one end of the earth to the other , and then to the other againe , and then backe againe , like a wandering Marchant , which seeketh his trafficke where hee can speede cheapest . I haue hearde of some trauellers which haue gon about the earth , but I neuer heard of any that had seene all partes of the earth but this olde Pilgrime Satan , which hath beene in heauen , and in Paradise , and in the earth , and in the sea , and in hell , and yet hath not done his walke , but like the Sunne which courseth , about the earth euerie day : so there is no day but Satan seeth euerie man vpon earth : as a compasse hath no end , so he makes no ende of compassing . Because hee is such a compasser of the world , therefore Paul calleth him The God of this worlde , not a peece of the worlde , as Englande , or Irelande , or Fraunce , or Germanie , or Spaine , but of the world , that is , of al the countries , and cities , and townes , and villages , & houses : The Pope talkes of his kingdome , how many prouinces are vnder his dominion , but the deuils circuit is greater then the Popes : one woulde think that he could neuer tende halfe his flock , because he is vicar of so great a monarchie , and yet he is neuer non resident . You may see his steps euerie where so brim and fresh , as thogh they were printed in ashes , if God make you see your countrie naked , your temples desolate , your cities ruined , your houses spoiled , you will say the Spaniards haue been here : so when you see your mindes corrupted , your hearts hardened , your willes peruerted , your charitie cooled , your iudges bribers , your rulers persecutors , your lawiers brablers , your marchantes vsurers , your landlords extortioners , your patrones symonistes , your pastors loyterers , you may say the deuill hath beene here . Seeing then these weedes grow in euerie ground , you may beare the deuill witnes that hee doth compasse all the earth . If a man loue his frend , he will say , I will goe an hundred miles to doe him good : but if the deuill hate a man , he will goe a thousand miles to do him hurt . The deuil doth not goe his progresse like a king , onlie for delight , but all the way as he goeth , Peter saith , He seeketh whom he may deuour . The deuill goeth a visiting , hee will teach the sicke how they shall recouer their health , he will whisper the poore how they shall come by riches , he will tel the captiues how they shal redeeme their libertie : but to deuour is the end of his visitation . Therfore Peter called him a Lion , and said that he went about , and tolde vs that he sought as he went : at last he saith , to deuour , & there he ends , shewing that deuouring is his end : now you shall heare whom he compasseth , & to what he compasseth , & how he compasseth When it is said that the deuil compasseth the earth , it is meant that he compasseth the men of the earth : out of which I gather , first of all creatures he compasseth men : secondly , that he compasseth all men , and by consequence that he compasseth good men . The deuil is like an Archer , and man is his marke , and temptations are his arows . As Peter is called a fisher of men , so the deuil may be called a hunter of men : for of al creatures his enuie is onelie to men , because man was made to serue God , and inherite the ioyes which he hath lost , therfore he is called no slear , but a manslear . When there are no men vpon earth , then the deuill will compasse the earth no more .

Secondly , he assaulteth al men , like Ismael , which was against all . It is saide of Saul and Dauid , Saul hath slain his thousand , and Dauid his tenne thousand : but if you put in Satan , you may set vp the number , and say , Satan hath slayne his hundred thousand . As there is a legion of men , so there is a legion of deuils : that as they said Peters angell , so they may say Peters deuil : for Christ would not haue called Peter Satan , if Satan had not backed him : as death killeth al , so the deuil tempteth al : when he hath Eue , he hunteth for Adam : when he hath Adam , he hunteth for Cain : as the father was tempted , so must the sonnes , as the mother was tempted , so must her daughters . Euery man but Christ may say , I haue bin ouercome , but Christ himselfe cannot say , I haue not bin tempted . In the Spanish inquisition the protestants are examined , but the papists slip by : but in the deuils inquisition papist , and protestant , and Atheist , and Puritan , & all are examined . He is not a captain of forties , nor of fifties , nor of sixties , nor of hundreds , but he is general ouer al which fight not vnder Christs baner , he possessed the two Gergesites , which were men , he possessed Mary , which was a woman , he possessed the mans son , which was a child . Nimrod is called a mightie Hunter which killed beastes , but this is a mightie hunter which killed Nimrod himselfe , God keep vs out of his chase . Thirdly , he warreth against the righteous , euen because they are righteous , as God makes the barren fruitful , and the fruitful to bear more fruit : so the deuill would haue them serue him , which serue him not , & they which serue him to serue him more : and therfore as the Giant encountred with Dauid , so the deuil encountred with Dauid , and with Dauids Lord : he which gaue him leaue here to tempt Iob , was after tempted himselfe , although the net brake , & the bird escaped : yet as he tempted Christ thrise together , and as he desired to sift Peter more then other , so they that follow Christ , and are like Peter , are sifted more then other . For this viper is like the viper which ceased vpon Paul . Among many which stóode by the fire , the viper chose out Paul , & lighted vpon him before al the rest : so if one be holier then another , this viper will battayle with him , & there is great reason why the godly are tempted more then the wicked : because the wicked are his fernants , and do tempt others .

As he tempteth al men , so he tempteth to al sinnes : for hel and the deuil , are alike , therfore as hel is neuer filled with sinners , so the deuil is neuer filled with sinnes , and therefore when thee had made Peter denie his master once , he made him deny him twise , & when he had made him denie him twise , hee made him denie him thrise . For this cause our sinnes are counted amongst those things which are infinit , because the deuil and our flesh meete together euerie day to ingender new sinnes . All the deuils riches is in baites , he hath a packful of othes for euery one which wil sweare , a pack ful of lies for euerie one which wil deceiue , a packe full of excuses for euerie one which wil dissemble . As he dooth goe through the streetes , into euerie shoppe he castes a short measure , or a false balance : as he passeth by the tauernes he sets dissention betwixt frends : as hee passeth by euery Inne he casts a paire of cards , and a paire of dice , and a paire of tables : as he passeth by the courtes , and findes the Lawiers at the bar , he casts among them false euidences , forged writings , and counterset seales .

Thus in euerie place where hee comes ( like a foggie mist ) he leaues an euil sauour behind him . The murmuring of Moses , the dissimulation of Abraham , the idolatrie of Aaron , the incest of Lot , the dronkennes of Noah , the adulterie of Dauid , the flight of Ionah , the deniall of Peter , name Satan , and thou hast named the verie spawne of al sinnes , which with his taile plucked downe the Starres from heauen . How many hate their enemies , and frends too , and yet imbrace his enemies , because he kisseth when hee betrayeth , as thogh he would not betray . Auarice saith , I wil make thee amiable : tyrannie saith , I wil make thee dreadfull : sloth saith , I wil make thee beautiful : vanitie saith , I wil make thee merrie : prodigalitie saith , I wil make thee beloued : So the poore sinner standes distract how he may follow all sinnes at once , seeking grapes of thistles , and roses of thornes .

WHen you haue examined your selues by the touchstone which I gaue you , Acts 26.28 2. Cor. 13.9 whether you bee in the faith or no , if you finde that you stand in the faith , let him which thinketh he standeth , take heed least he fall . Three sentences wee borrowed of Paul : in the first he exhorted vs to be Christians : in the second hee taught vs to know whether we be christians or no : in the last , he warneth vs , if we be , to perseuer and take heed least we fall . Paul doth not teach vs these phrases to doubt of our saluation , or of the mercie of God , as the Papists saie , but of our constancy in his seruice , not least we fall from our election , but least we fall from our righteousnes , this is a godly feare , and blessed is he ( saith Salomon ) not which standeth in feare of Gods mercy , but he which standeth in feare of his owne frailtie . Pro. 28.14 . As Iob did , which feared all his works , Iob. 9.28 . Wee must haue confidence towards God , but diffidence towards our selues , for God will be true to vs , if we bee true to him : this feare is not contrarie to faith , but cannot stande without it , therefore take heed least ye fall , is , take heed least ye sinne , as the Israelites sinned . An admonition gathered from the fall of the Iewes , to them which stand , or to them which thinke they stand , to take heed least they fall : as a Cronicler in a storie giues a watch worde by the waie , to admonish the reader of some speciall thing to bee marked : so the Apostle teaching vs to make vse of all that we heare or reade , after he had shewed how the Israelites stood sometime , and how they fell after againe , which were the elect people of God , the becon of the world , & glorie of nations , vntill they crucified him , who wold haue saued them , ends with a sigh , as if he shuld saie , it greeues me to record their follie , and to discouer the nakednes of my countri-men , what should I rehearse anie more ? if they fel thus ? take them for a warning , and Let him that thinketh hee standeth , take heed least he fall . Here we are set to sinners schoole , to see what we canne learne of the wicked , as the Bee doeth gather honie of weeds , for all which is written , is written for our instruction , Rom. 15 : 4. These things ( saith Paul ) are written to admonish vs , vppon whom the end of the world is come , as if he should saie , we haue need to take more heed then they vnder the lawe , because wee liue in the last and worst daies , when the Dragon is let loose , & hath great wrath , because his time is short , Reue. 12.12 . Now if you would know how the Israelites fell , reade but from the sixt verse , and you shall see how they fleeted from sinne to sinne , like a flie which shifteth from sore to sore . They tempted the Lord ( sayth Paul ) they murmured , they lusted , they committed Idolatrie , they serued the flesh , they sate downe to eate , and rose vp to plaie : Take heed ( saith Paul ) ô ye Corinthians , least yee liue so too , you shall not doo euill because others doo so , but these things are written for your learning , therefore first you shall learne , that as they fell awaie , so you may , and then by their fall you may learne to stand . Thus the Apostle warneth vs , that we are all in a house ready to fall , and all in a ship readie to sinke , all in a bodie readie to sinne , who can saie what he will do when he is tried ? Therefore Paul saith not , let him that standeth take heed least he fall , but Let him that thinketh hee standeth , take heed least he fall : warning vs before that wee take heed of falling , and to examine how wee stand , whether wee stand or no , for when hee ma●es his speech of them which thinke they stand , not of them which stand , he intends that few stand in comparison of them which thinke they stand : many thinke themselues wise that are fooles like other , many thinke themselues pure , which are prophane , like other , as Salomon noteth , Pro. 30.12 . There is a generation which are pure in their owne conceit , and yet are not washed from their filthines : as though there were a generation or sect of such men . And againe Pro. 20.6 . Many men will boast of their goodnes , but who can finde a faithfull man : so many seeme to stand which stand not , many thinke they beleue , which know not what faith meaneth , many loke to be saued , which cannot tell who should saue them , no more then Nichodemus knew what it was to bee borne againe , the reason is , manie are afraid to sound too deepe , and examine their conscience , least it should vpbraid them with the noisomnes of their sinnes . Therefore like a fauourable Iudge , which would saue the malefactor , he wil aske him so cunningly , that he will answere for him to , & then he will saie , I find no fault in this man , let him paie his fees and be gone : so I finde no fault in this faith , mee thinkes it is a sound saith , me thinks it is a good which when hee is downe riseth no loue , me thinkes it is religious inough , when I come to the Church , and loue my neighbour , and obey my Prince , and giue euerie man his owne , & paie my tithes , and fast twice a weeke , as the Pharesie did , me thinks this is wel , what would you haue more ? haue I not kept all the commandements . Lu. 18.18 . No ( saith Christ ) there is one behinde , examine thy selfe , & stil thou shalt finde something behinde , like a cobweb in the top of an house when the floore is swept . Therefore well doth Paul saie , he which thinketh that he stands , not he which stands , for hee which stands in Christ falleth not , but he which thinketh he standes falleth sodenly , an may finally , vnlesse hee stand vpon his watch , take heed is a good staffe to stay vpon , and so often a man sinnes as he casts it from him , all goe astraie .