'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — October 27

Satan’s empire is bounded by this little spot of time. This mock king acts the part of a prince, but when Christ comes at the end of the world, Satan shall be degraded, his crown taken off, his sword broken over his head, and he shall be hissed off with scorn and shame as a prisoner into hell. No more will he infest the saints, but lie with the wicked under the immediate execution of God's wrath. He is already cast out, and his doom has been sentenced. He knows it; trembling he asked Christ why he came to torment him before his time? This is bad news for the wicked. Their prince cannot sit long on his throne. Sinners may now have a merry time of it and rejoice while Christ's disciples weep and mourn; they rustle in their silks, while the saints wear rags. It is strange to see Satan carry sinners after him with this golden hook. He baits them with honour, property, or pleasure, and their hearts skip after it like a dog after a crust of bread. O the naughty heart of man that loves the wages of unrighteousness that the devil promises, but fears not the wrath of God! He is like the spaniel that leaps into the river for a bone but only gets a mouthful of water. Sinners swim through the threatenings of the Word to get to their pleasures. They resolve to have them and fall into the devil's snare, and are led into those foolish and hurtful lusts that drown them in destruction and perdition (1 Tim. 6:9). Yea, this bragging prince tells you what he will give you, but goes down himself. 'O', says the sinner, 'the pleasures and honours that sin and Satan offer are present, and the promises of Christ we must wait for!' This deception is that which takes many down. It is a vile wretch who loses a future reward to join the devil for ready pay. O what desperate madness it is to accept the wrath of God for joy that lasts but for an hour!

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian In Complete Armour, 1:148-149
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