7. His Eyes are full of Adultery , and he cannot cease from Sin , 2 Pet. 2.14 .

8. His Throat an open Sepulchre , the poison of Asps upon his Tongue and Lips , &c. Rom. 3.13,14 .

9. In a word , all mans Members and Faculties are marr'd and maim'd by the fall of Adam ( as might more largely be demonstrated from Scripture ) the first man defiled Nature , and ever since Nature hath defiled every man ; his whole Frame is out of frame ; whole evil is in man , and whole man is in evil : As in Noah's Flood , not any one part of the Earth could be seen dry . So nor any one part of man can be found that is not infected with this Original Pollution ; and the chief cause of all our Actual Sins , is charged , not upon Satan , but upon this Evil Concupiscence that is inbred in us , Jam. 1.15 . The Tempter might strike Fire long enough in vain , if we did not find him dry Tinder for his Sparks to fall upon : We cannot say as our sinless Lord said [ the Prince of this World cometh and finds nothing in me , ] that is , to favour his Temptation , Joh. 14.30 . But alas , when he comes to tempt us , he finds a Treacherous Party within , this Birth-sin of ours , which betrays us oftentimes into his hands , as hath hapned unto some Cities besieged , whose Gates have been opened by some Traiterous Citizens within for a free entrance of the Enemy that were besieging it round about . Hence is it , that all men are said in Holy Scripture to be dead in sin , Ephes. 2.1 . and Bondslaves to Satan , Heb. 2.15 . and subject to all Calamities of this Life under the Curse of God , Gal. 3.10 . Yea and good men , even the best of men are but men at the best ; for Original Sin in them is stronger than their Grace ; for if God should leave us with our stock of Grace that he hath graciously given us , and let us be alone but a while in the hands of our own Counsels , this sin of our Nature would easily swallow up our stock of Grace ; wo to us when God departs from us , Hos. 9.12 . The Reason is , because Grace given to us is like the putting of Hot Water into that which is Cold : Tho' this will warm it for the present , yet the Water will reduce it self into its own natural temper of Coldness , unless Fire be kept continually under it . Take another Example , as a River would run ( caeter●…s paribus ) the nighest way to the Sea● , ( which is the Receptacle of all Rivers ) were it let alone to its own tendency by nature ; but we see the various situation of the Earth , ( in some places higher than others ) and by the Art and Industry of Man the most Rapid River is madd to run in crooked Streams ( in and out ) to break its forcible passage ; even so this Original Sin would drive all persons the nighest way to Hell , were it not that it meets with not only the several Tempers and Dispositions of Nature in the Sons and Daughters of Mankind , which makes it work variously according to their various Constitutions , as David saith [ I have kept my self from my iniquity ] Psal. 18.23 . that is , from my Constitution sin , &c. but also , and that more especially , through the over-ruling Power of God , and that by two ways ; 1. Either by giving Restraining Grace , even to Pagans , as he did to that Pagan King Abimelech , Gen. 20.6 . whereby God kept him at a modest distance from medling with Sarah , Abraham's wife , which otherwise he would have undoubtedly defiled , seeing so many Kings ( tho' called Christian ) make it their too common practice ; or , 2. By giving Renewing Grace , even to his own chosen and called ones , whereby he changeth their Natures so , that one of the Antient Fathers tells this Story of a Young Man , who had been for some time intangled with an Harlot , and meeting with some Remorse of Conscience , he withdrew from her upom some occasions he had in another Country , and after a ●ittle time returning home , this impudent Whore meets him , takes hold of him , and said to him [ Ego sum Ego ] I am the same Woman I was when you left me ; at which he smartly replied to her , [ sed ego non sum ego ] but I am not the same Man I was , through the Grace of God , whereby he said with David [ The Snare is broken , and my Soul is delivered ] Psa. 124.7 . therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new Creature , old things are past away , behold all things are become new , 2 Cor. 5.17 . Where Christ comes , he saith , [ Behold I make all things new ] Rev. 21.5 . both all the Members of the Body , and all the Faculties of the Soul : These all were formerly [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] weapons of wickedness unto sin , but now become weapons of Righteousness unto Holiness , Rom. 6.13,17,18,19 . so that Christ makes new understandings , new wills , new memories , new consciences , &c. in the inner man ; yea and new tongues , hands and feet , &c. to talk , walk and work for God in the outward man .

☞ Let this likewise be well weighed , how this Original pollution of the faln Nature is like the first Confused Chaos at the Creation of the World , which had the seeds of all several kinds of Creatures in it , and that prolifick Vertue continues unto this day ; even so in Original Sin , lays the Spawn of all several kinds of sins which lasteth all our lives , until death destroy this body of Death at the last , as the other will last while the World lasteth : So This fretting Leprosie of sin is typically described in the Law of that Plague , Levit. 14.41.43,44,45 . The house which hath that Contagion , all the scraping of the Walls within it will not cleanse it until the house it self , with the Stones and Timber of it be broken down , yea and it begins betimes as well as it lasts long . This sour Leaven doth leaven the whole lump with its sowrness , and spreads it self over all the Ages of Man , as Infancy , Childhood , Youth , and old Age. 1. Infancy . Austin's story [ Vidi Zelantem parvulum : ] I my self saw a little one rise up in Rage against his fellow-suckling for beguiling him of his Mothers Milk ; from whence that Antient Father proves and confesses , that sin began betimes both in himself and in others . 2. Childhood ; there is much folly bound up in the heart of a Child , Prov. 22. v. 15. as fardles or packs are bound upon the Carriers Horses back , and these bonds of Iniquity keeps him fast in the gall of bitterness , Acts 8.23 . so makes not only Childhood , but also , 3. Youth to be not only Vanity , but likewise often abounds with Villany , Eccles. 11.9,10 . with 12.1 . where the Preacher presseth upon Youth to indulge themselves in their youthful lusts , if they dare do so , adding a stinging [ But ] which marrs the Yonkers mirth , God will judge thee for all thy Tricks of youth ; account them not Trifles , which both Job and David so bitterly bewailed , Job 13.26 . and Psal. 25.7 . Therefore he exhorts such to remember their Creators at that time , as Psal. 119.9 . before 4 ly . Old Age come , which is an Evil Age both for sin and misery .

But more plainly , this Truth of Man's Malady and Danger is held forth in that Text [ The strong Man armed , &c. ] which declares Man's Malady and Danger , Luke 11.21 . where Satan is described , 1. By his Kind or Sex , neither a weak Worm , or a weak Woman , but a Man , one of the stronger Sex , and not of the weaker . 2. By his Quality , a strong Man , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , one that can do all things , Phil. 4.13 . where the word is used Ben Chaiil , Heb. a Man of Valour , so strong , that he is able to Trudge over all the World in his Travels , notwithstanding his long continuance in this round walk , he walk'd it in Job's days , Job 1.7 . & 2.2 . as he says of himself , when God summons him in to appear before him , as in his High Court of Justice , and he held on the same , walking round about without weariness , even in Peter's days , 1 Pet. 5.8 . the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a Peripatetick , as before ; yea and he holds up still in the same walk and work , even in our days ; for who among us cannot experience that a busie Devil , and a base Heart , do not daily meet together to work us Woe in our Way to Heaven . This he still is able to do on Earth , tho' he was hurl'd out of Heaven ( as Jude verse 6. ) now almost six thousand years ago ; yea and he will carry on the same Cursed Course , even to the end of the Old World , until our Lord come to lay hold upon this Old Dragon , and bind him for a thousand years , and so shut him up , and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more , till the 1000 years be fulfilled , and after that he must be loosed a little season , Rev. 20.3 . We read indeed of a sort of Philosophers that are call'd Peripateticks ( which signifies Round Walkers ) but none like this strong Trudgover , who hath not only out-lasted and out-lived , but also ( as it may be fear'd ) hath finally deceived all those Pagan Peripateticks , &c. 3. He is described by his Qualifications ; he is not only thus qualified as a strong Traveller , but also as a strong Warriour , therefore he is said to be [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] i. e. Armed , and not barely so , for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in composition signifies Valdè or Validè , compleatly Armed , such are his Accoutrements and Habiliments of War , that he is Armed Cap-a-pee ( as the phrase is ) a Capite ad Calcem , from Head to Foot ; so that he is ( as Achilles was said to be ) in all parts impenetrable , and not only so , but as he is a Spirit he is impassive also , as to man ; for 't is neither man's Words , nor man's Blows that can wound this Spiritual Adversary , who is hereupon found to be the more mortal an Enemy to man's Soul and Salvation . Of this point I have spoke in the beginning of this Chapter . If it be farther enquired how this strong Adversary is armed ? To this I answer in general , He is verily a Goliah , an Achitophel and a Doeg , all in one together ; more particularly ,

1. He is Armed with an Arm of Strength as Goliah was , so it may be said to the best of men , what Saul said to David , 1 Sam. 17.33 . thou art not able to fight with this Philistin , for thou art but a Stripling , and he a Man of War from his Youth ; as Amnon was too strong for Tamar , and so Ravished her , &c. 2 Sam. 13.12,13 . And as the Betrothed Damsel could not stand before a man that rose up against her in the Field , Deut. 22.26,27,28 . Even so is this matter , no man , not the best of men , ( who are but men at the best , as before ) can be able to match this matchless Goliah , no more than the silly Dove without Heart or Grace , ( as Ephraim is called , Hos. 7.11 . ) can match the strong Eagle , or the simple Lamb the fierce Lion , &c. no more can any man ( who is but a poor worm , Psal. 22.6 . ) make any effectual Resistance against this Prince , Fowl of the Air , Ephes. 2.2 . or against this Roaring Lion , who hath still his concreated Strength of an Angel , Zech. 12.8 . for tho' he lost by his fall in his Morals , yet not in his Naturals , he is so strong still ( saith Luther ) that he is able to destroy the whole World in the space of one hour , if the Lord would but permit him to lay forth his Angelical ( or rather Diabolical ) Strength to the utmost for such an end . This strong man hath conquered all Persons , ( yea even Adam , Samson and Solomon , as before ) and all People , all Nations and Languages ; he hath with Saul slain his thousands , and with David his ten thousands , yea and with the Harlot , Prov. 7.26 . hath cast down and wounded both the many and the mighty : He is the Master of Harlots , as Rome is called the Mother of Harlots , Rev. 17.5 . Nor do we find in any Age of the World , that any meer Mortal Man was ever able to match him at all times by any strength of his own , none but that God-Man Jesus Christ was ever able to stand before him : yet is it worth our observation ; Oh! what a prevailing Power had this strong man , ( by Divine Permssion ) even over the pure sinless Body of our Saviour himself ; first in driving it into the Wilderness , Mark 1.12,13 . then in hugging it up to the top of the Pinacle of the Temple , Matt. 4.5 . and then in carrying it up likewise unto the top of an exceeding high Mountain , Matt. 4.8 . wherein this strong man did far out-do Goliah , who could not do so to David's Body . Nevertheless Christ became the stronger man , ( as he is called ) Luk. 11.22 . and did conquer him compleatly in all his three Temptations .

2. As Satan is a Goliah for Strength and Power , so he is an Achitophel for Craft and Policy ; he can over-wit us as well as over-power us : 'T is said [ now the Serpent was more subtle than all the Beasts of the Field ] Gen. 3.1 . So that old Serpent the Devil , ( as he is called , Rev. 12.9 . and 20.2 . ) is more crafty than all Mortals in the World ; this must needs be because the Wit of the Angelical Nature doth vastly transcend the Wit of the best Humane Nature . Insomuch as his Wit is not so clogged and clouded with fleshly impediments , which oft make the Mind of man to become a dim , dark and confused Chaos , by imprisoning the Truth and detaining it in unrighteousness , Rom. 1.18 . that is , the knowledge of Truth sometimes is ( as it were ) so locked up under restraint , that our Consciences ( which are as a Prophet to the soul of man ) may not trouble us in our secure sinning against the Lord ; whereas the Wit and Understanding of Satan may be called Spiritual as he is a Spirit , and not fettered with Flesh , ( as we are ) therefore acts more freely and without disturbance , so is more quick and piercing , whereby he can more easily feel the Pulses of mankind , and fit them all a suitable Temptation unto every Person 's Natural Temper ; he well knew what an Apple would do to Eve , what a Grape would do to Noah , what a Wedge of Gold would do to Achan , what a Talent of Silver would do to Gehazi ; and many more such instances might be added , all to shew how Satan is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ingeniose nequam , wittily wicked in preparing penniworths for all Persons according to their several Conditions and Dispositions ; and what he cannot carry and conquer by strength , he will do it by subtilty ; having not only the wit of an Angel , but also the wisdom of a God , as he is called the God of this World , 2 Cor. 4.4 . NB. Observe how the Holy Scripture describes his Furniture .

1. He hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies Sophistical Counsels , pretending one thing , and intending another , [ lest Satan should beguile and get an advantage against us , for we are not ignorant of his devices , ] 2 Cor. 2.11 . where the Apostle useth [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] for getting advantage , which signifies to over-reach in Bargains , for getting more gain than belongs to him , this Satan doth ; when that Serpent would hurt and destroy those herbs of grace that grow in God's Holy Mountain , and will not be confined to feed upon Dust , ( the World that lies in wickedness ) which is his limited Diet , Isa. 65.25 . Satan had got an advantage against the Church of Corinth in their over-rigorous Discipline against the Incestuous Person , 2 Cor. 2.7 . And now he cautions them , that this grand Cheater may not cheat them also in the exercise of their Gifts and Graces one toward another , ver. 10 , 11.

2. Satan hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies a cunning crafty dealing among mankind ; thus the same Apostle useth this phrase to the same Church , saying [ I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie , &c. for I fear , lest by any means , as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty ( or cunning Craft ) , so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ ] 2 Cor. 11.2,3 . Intimating that Satan is an old Sophister and Blood-Sucker ( who devoureth not Widows Houses with the Pharisees , but the pretious souls of most Parsons ) hath had the long experience of some thousands of years , and knew then well enough how to over-wit , and over-reach them in that time ; therefore doth he thus caution them to be upon their watch against his wily Craft . How much more is this Old Doctor in our Day ( now almost 6000 years old ) strong in his so long experiences to feel the pulses of all Persons after the most critical manner , and the better to suit every ones Humour and Disposition , he understands what hath been successful , and what not . Hence it is , that he so seldom miscarrieth in any of his Diabolical Attempts , unless it be when our dear Redeemer ( the stronger Man ) doth engage himself against him for us .