Sermon I: Of the Spiritual Combat

God Almighty, the Rich and Powerful King, made man, whom he had created, his Son, to whom, as to a delicate Youth, he appointed as Masters, the Law, Prophets, and other Tutors and Governors, until the time prefixed for his consummation. He instructed him, and admonished him, constituting him Lord of Paradise, shewing him, and promising him all the treasures of his Glory, if he would not forsake him. And lest any thing should be wanting to his happiness, he indulged to him also freedom of will, that his Happiness might be voluntary, and not forced. And having now received liberty of good and evil, he began to have an irksome weariness of his good things, out of a concupiscence of knowing good and evil. Out of the Paradise therefore of a good Conscience he goes, seeking new things, which he knew not; for as yet he had known nothing but good, and neglecting his Father's Laws, and Tutors, he eats of the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil against the prohibition of his Father: and, miserable creature, hiding himself, and flying from the face of his Lord, foolish Boy, he began to wander through the Mountains of Pride, through the Valleys of Curiosity, through the Fields of Licentiousness, through the Groves of Lasciviousness, through the Marishes of Carnal Pleasures, and through the Floods of Worldly Cares. The old Robber spying the wanton Youth wandring far from his Father's House without a Keeper, without a Governor, comes to him and with the hand of bad counsel reaching him the Apples of disobedience; after he had got his consent, he sets upon him, he casts him headlong on the ground, that is, precipitates him into earthly desires; and lest he should get up again, he ties his feet, that is, the affections of his mind with the strong bonds of Concupiscence, binds his hands of Operations, blinds the eyes of his Mind, puts him into the Ship of dangerous Security, and the wind of Adulation blowing strong, he transports him into the far Country of Dissimilitude. He being now in a strange Land, he was exposed to Sail to all that pass by the way. He learns to feed Hogs, and to eat the husks of Hogs, he unlearns all he had learnt, he learns what he knew not, to wit, base and servile works. And being bound in the Prison of Desperation, where the wicked walk in a round, in that Mill of impious Circuition, he is forced to grind to the profit of a bad Conscience.

Ah sad misfortune. And where is now his Potent, Bounteous, and Loving Father? Can he forget the Son of his body? Far be it from him, far be it from him. He does not forget him, but compassionates him, he grieves and complains of the absence and perdition of his Son. He commands his Friends, he solicits his Servants, he excites all to seek after him. One of his Servants called Fear, at the command of his Lord, following the foot of the fugitive Son, finds him in the Dungeon of a Prison, covered with the filthy rags of carnal sins, bound with the chains and fetters of a bad custom, miserable and mad, secure and laughing amidst his miseries. Whom he urged both with words and blows to go out, and to return to his Father; and he did so confound and deject the miserable wretch, that he lay like one a dying, his belly cleaving to the ground. Instantly after Fear, another servant, whose name was Hope, went out, and seeing the King's Son not delivered, but oppressed; not helped, but dejected by fear; softly goes to him, and raising up the needy from the ground, and the poor from the dunghil; and lifting up his head, and casting about him the garment of Consolation, wiping his eyes and face; Sir, says he, how many Servants in your Father's House have Bread more than enough, but you here samish for hunger? I pray arise, and go to your Father, and say to him; Father, make me as one of your hired Servants. Then he at length, scarce a little return'd to himself, says; Are not you Hope? And how could Hope ever enter into so dark and horrid a dungeon of desperation? I, I, says he, I am Hope sent to you from your Father, and I will help you, and not leave you, till I bring you into the House of your Father, and into the Bed-chamber of your Mother. And O, says he, O sweet ease of labours, O sweet comfort of the miserable, O one, and not the lowest of the three that wait in the Bed-chamber of the King, you see the vast depth of my Prison, you see my chains, which notwithstanding at your entrance are for the greatest part broken and loosed, you see the vast multitude of my fellow-Captives, their strength, their swiftness, their craft; and what place then for thee here? But, says Hope, do not fear, he who helps us, is Merciful; he who fights for us, is Omnipotent: and there are more with us than with them. Besides, I have brought you the Horse of desire, sent to you from your Father, whom when you shall have mounted, I being your guide, you shall securely escape out of the hands of all these your enemies. Thus he said, and forthwith set the King's Son upon the Horse of desire, putting under him the soft Clothes of pious Devotion, having added the spurs of good Examples; but there wanted a bridle, such haste he made to fly away. Immediately the Horse falls a running without a bridle; Hope draws him on before, Fear behind urges him with blows and threats. Then the Princes of Edom seeing this, were troubled, trembling seized upon the strong of Moab, and all the Inhabitants of Canaan were wounded. Let fear and trembling invade them from thy great Arm, let them be made immovable as a stone, until thy Son, O Lord, pass by, that thy Son whom thou hast once possessed.

But whilst they are thus carried on headlong, they fly away indeed, but not without danger, because without measure, and without counsel. Wherefore Prudence sent from his Father, one of the chief Princes of his Palace, having in his company his friend Temperance, runs to them, and stopping them, says; Not so fast, not so fast, I pray, not so fast; for Solomon says; He that makes haste, is subject to stumble, Prov. 19. If you run too fast, you stumble; if you stumble, you fall; if you fall, you render back into the hands of his enemies, the King's Son, whom you have undertaken to deliver. For if he shall chance to fall, their hand will be upon him immediately. Having said this, he put upon the metled Horse of desire, the bridle of discretion, and committed the government of the reins to Temperance. And when Fear behind complained of the nearness and strength of the enemies, and of the slowness of their flight. Get thee behind me, Satan, says Prudence, thou art an occasion of offence to us. Our strength and our praise is the Lord, and he is made unto us Salvation. And behold Fortitude, a stout Souldier of our Lord, running to them over the Field of holy confidence, and having drawn out the Sword of joy; Do not, says he, be troubled; more are with us than with them. Then, says Prudence, acquainted with the Councels of the Court of Heaven; Have a care, I beseech you, for that inheritance whereunto haste is made in the beginning, shall want a blessing in the end, Prov. 20. Go forwards therefore prudently, but not too fast. For the enemies are not in the way, but they are wont to put the occasion of tripping by the way-side, in the meeting of two or three ways together, in the windings and turnings of the ways. I therefore will go before, but do you keep strait on the way of Justice, and I will quickly bring you into the Camp of Wisdom, which is not now far of. For it is Wisdom of whom it is said; If you desire Wisdom, learn Justice, Eccl. 10. Whilst they thus go on, Fear urging, Hope drawing, Fortitude defending, Temperance moderating, Prudence forecasting and instructing, Justice guiding and conducting, the King's Son approaches the Camp of Wisdom. Wisdom hearing of the coming of a new Guest, prevents him who desires her, goes out to meet him, shews herself to him chearfully upon the way. But the Camp was surrounded with the deep ditch of profound Humility, on which was built the strong and fair walls of Obedience, reaching the very Heavens, which was wonderfully adorned with the stories of good Examples painted all over it. Also it was built with Bulwarks; a thousand Bucklers hung upon it, all the Armour of the valiant. The gate of Profession was open to all; a Porter at the entrance to let in the worthy, and to shut out the unworthy. An Herald crying over the Gate; If any one love Wisdom, let him turn into me, and he shall find it; and when he shall have found it, happy is he if he keep it. Hither the King's Son, brought in by the guidance of Wisdom that met him, yea carried him in her Arms, obsequiously attended by the King's Family, he is brought to the Tower in the middle of the Fortification, where Wisdom has built her self an House, has hewed out seven Pillars, has subdued Nations to her, and by her proper vertue has trampled upon the necks of the proud and lofty. There he is placed in the Bed of Wisdom, which sixty stout ones of the valiant of Israel surround, every one with a Sword upon his thigh. David is present with his Timbrel and Dance, with his stringed Instrument and Organ: and the other Paranymphs of the Celestial Court rejoycing and exulting more over one Sinner doing Pennance, than over ninety nine just, who need no repentance. And behold a boisterous Wind coming from the North, and involving fire, shakes the whole House, troubles the Camp of Wisdom. For Pharaoh went out with his Chariots and Horsemen, pursuing Israel flying away. The Tabernacles of the Idumeans and the Ismaelites, Moab and the Agarens, Jebal, and Amon, and Amalech, the Strangers, with the Inhabitants of Tyrus, disposed a Covenant, and unanimously plotted against them. Assur, that great Exterminator, the Devil, came along with them. In a word, the City is besieged, machins of temptations arise, the enemy presses hard on every side, a Dragon in ambush, a Lion in open view; he gathers companions, casts in Fire-balls, digs through the Walls, stirs up Wars, sends privily Trapans, threatning the utter ruine of the whole City. Within is fear and anxiety, and all are troubled at the sudden and vehement assault of the enemies, and stagger like a drunken man, all their Wisdom is devoured, and they cried to their Lord when they were troubled. They run to the Castle of Wisdom; they tell the ills that have hapned; they ask councel. For Prudence returned to her self, consults Wisdom what had best be done. Wisdom declares that no delay must be made, but counsel must be ask'd of the Supreme King. And who shall go for us, says Prudence? Prayer, says Wisdom. And lest she should make any delay in going, let her ride upon the Horse of Faith. Prayer, after a long seeking, in so great a tumult, scarce at last was found; she gets upon the Horse of Faith, goes on by the way of Heaven, nor does she stop until she enters the Gates of the Lord in Confession, and his Courts in Hymns. And like a familiar servant approaching the Throne of Glory, exposes her necessary business. The King having heard the danger of his Son, converting himself to the Consort of his Kingdom Charity, says: O whom shall I send, and who will go for us? But, says Charity, behold, I am ready to go, send me. Then the King; Prevailing, says he, thou shalt prevail, and shalt deliver him; go thy ways, and do so. Forthwith the Queen of Heaven, Charity, goes out from the face of the Lord, accompanied by the whole Celestial Court: and coming and descending into the Camp, with the vertue and joy of her presence, immediately exhilarated all things, composed the commotions, and appeased the disturbances. Light is restored to the miserable, and confidence to to those that were afraid. Hope returned again, which was just upon flying away, and Fortitude, which had almost been quite lost. The whole Artillery of Wisdom resumes Constancy. But the enemies that were besieging the City, what Exultation, say they, is this in the Camp? wo be unto us. Let us fly Israel, for God fights for them. So the enemies flying, the efforce of the Grace of God rejoyces the City of God, the most High has sanctified his Tabernacle: God is in the middle of it, it shall not be moved: God will help it early in the morning. The Nations are disturbed, and the Kingdoms are bowed down: he gave forth his voice, and the earth was moved. The Lord of Vertues is with us: Our Receiver is the God of Jacob. Then the Queen, Charity, taking into her arms the child of God, her own child carried him to Heaven, and represented him to God his Father. Whom his Father meeting, gracious and pleasant; Quickly, says he, bring forth the first Stole, and put it on him; and give him a Ring on his hand, and Shooes on his feet. Produce the fatted Calf, and kill him. For it behoves us to feast and rejoyce, because that my Son was dead, and is revived; was lost, and is found.

Take notice here of four things in this deliverance, or recalling of our prodigal Youth. First, his Repentance, but a foolish one. Secondly, his Flight, but temerarious and unreasonable. Thirdly, his Fighting, but timerous and fearful. Fourthly, his Victory, strong and wise. All which things you shall find in every one that flies out of the World. First of all, he is poor and foolish; afterwards, he is precipitant and temerarious in prosperities; then, he is timerous and pusillanimous in adversities: and finally, provident, understanding, and perfect in the Kingdom of Charity.

The first thing that seizes upon Sinners, is a neglect of themselves, then a curiosity of exterior things, and of such as belong not to them; afterwards, a concupiscence of those very things. Consent follows concupiscence, custom follows consent, contempt follows custom, and malice, that is affection and delight in sinning, follows contempt. Negligence retards, Curiosity hinders, Concupiscence ties, Consent binds, or hardens, Custom draws, Contempt precipitates, Delight incarcerates in the prison of desperation; wherefore the Sinner, when he shall have come into the bottom, he despairs. But the Holy Ghost coming, and visiting the miserable Soul by his seven-fold Grace, first infuses Fear into it, to Fear he adds Piety, that the sweetness of Piety may comfort the misery of Fear; to Piety Knowledg, to wit, that it may know how to use both Fear and Piety, lest excessive sadness from Fear should wholly absorp it, or lest a vain presumption from Piety should precipitate it into indiscretions: to Knowledg Fortitude, to wit, against temptations, and that it may make progress in good: Counsel also assists not only Knowledg, but also Fortitude, lest it should trust too much either to Knowledg or Fortitude. But that all things may be done with Counsel, he adds Understanding, that now in the interior of his own heart, he may by himself read, not only what men councel, but also what is the good, and well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. To Understanding, Wisdom; that what hitherto he learnt by Councel, or Understanding, may now pass into affection to him: that by it self, through the Grace of God, may relish, and be made savoury and sweet to him, whatsoever hitherto seemed hard and intolerable. And first of all, to Negligence the Holy Ghost opposes Fear; and he that fears, neglects nothing; to Curiosity, Piety; that is, an affection for God; which, as the Apostle says, is profitable to every good work, and wholly contrary to Curiosity. To Concupiscence he joyns Knowledg, that the Soul may know it self, and busying it self in its own interior, it may not go out to the Concupiscence of the World, lest it hear that: (O fairest amongst women, if thou knowest not thy self, go forth and feed thy Kids:) or that it may know how vain and frail all those things are which it desires. To Consent he opposes Fortitude, lest Councel should come to consent to Custom; because when it shall be come to Custom, then truly there is need of Councel: to Contempt the Holy Ghost opposes Understanding, because now the Councel of men being contemned, unless by it self the Soul understand its own danger, its Case becomes in a manner desperate: to Malice, Wisdom, because Wisdom only overcomes Malice. Now the Holy Ghost by its seven-fold Grace, destroying in the Soul of man this seven-fold Misery, he instantly builds in it a seven-fold Beatitude, by the Spirit of Fear, making happy the poor in Spirit; by the Spirit of Piety, making happy the Meek; by the Spirit of Knowledg, making happy those that Mourn; by the Spirit of Fortitude, making happy those that hunger and thirst after Justice; by the Spirit of Councel, making happy the Merciful; by the Spirit of Understanding, making happy the Pure of Heart; by the Spirit of Patience, making happy the Peace-makers; when Wisdom overcomes Malice, and that Peace of God which surpasses all understanding, exults in the Heart: and this is the Perfection of the Servants of God.