There is no Truce nor Terms of Cessation to be made with Satan, while he is a Lyon Couchant, and retires for a Season: Nothing less than a total and firm Ejection of him, and the abounding love of sublunary Vanities out of our Hearts, can establish our Peace or Safety. All attemps to dispossess the Devil, by the help of Moral Rules, unless we seek to Christ, to Bless them by his Divine Efficacy, will but the more awaken the Devils Malice, to baffle any means as separate from Christs power. Therefore, the Father of the Lunatick, brought his Child to Christ himself, when the Disciples could give no Relief.

The Truth is, Satan hardly departs out of the Heart, without many bitter Agonies and Convulsive Fits of Terror in the Conscience. Yet let sinners thorowly made Contrite take Courage from Satans vexatious Assaults, because he turns most furious when ready to be cast out. He rent the Lunatick, insomuch, that the Spectators said he is Dead. But Faith in Christs Almighty word, can put the common-Enemy of Man's Salvation to flight, when he grows most Rampant; but then it must be our great Care, to watch, that he may hot get an Advantage of deeper and firmer re-entrance by our Security and Presumption.

After this Discourse, they seemed very Penitent, and confess?d that Satan had much prevailed upon them by his Temptations to get the possession of their Hearts, yet they hoped they were now convinced of their Evil Courses, and begg'd of God that he would give them Repentance, and an hatred of their sins that they might turn to Him; I replyed that if this Frame were truly wrought in them they should find Mercy at the Hands of God, whither they lived or dyed, and after praying with them, I dismist them.

When I visited them on Thursday, I required of them, what grounds they had, to believe that God was reconciled to them in Christ, that the Terror of Death might be taken away; they replyed, that they Prayed and did what they could, to obtain so great Mercy; but they found it hard to Repent and Believe, because of the greatness of their sins. I told them that Satan did not quit the Possession of sinners Hearts without many Agonics in Conscience; yet Christ is able to Bind him and eject him, therefore they must seek unto him r as an Almighty Redeemer. Then I stated some signs of Satans being Ejected, viz.. That they will be restored to a found mind, as able to prove, and willing to approve, the Good and perfect will of God in Christ; that they will wonder that they could he content to have remained, so long under the Power of the Prince of Darkness. That they will have all Bonds of Restraint taken off, which hindred their Obedience to Gods Laws. That the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Spirit being cast out, they will fit at Christs Feet to Receive Instructions from him, what to believe and practice, that they will labour to free others out of Satans Vassallage, and be shye how they give any opportunity for the unclean Spirit to re-enter, by their security or presumptions; that whereas before, they were not ashamed of the sinful Nakedness of their Souls, they would be cloathed. with the Garments of Righteousness, which they would be very Circumspect to keep undefiled, that they would be very tractable to the motions of Christs Holy Spirit, tho' they had before, broak all Cords of Restraint from sinning, and could not be bound to their good Behaviour, by the Laws of God and Men.

They replyed, that they hoped some of these signs were wrought in them, because they found their Hearts grieving for their fins, and desire (if they might be spared) to serve the Lord for the future: I replyed that this is a good Frame, if it be sincerely in them; but many have under the Terror of Death, profess?d their Resolution to amend their lives if they might obtain the Grant of them, as forfeited by the Laws, who when set at liberty, returned to the Folly of sinning with more greediness. Therefore I Prayed to them, that all good dispositions wrought in them, in order to a thorow Conversion with God might be confirmed in them, and so dismist them.

I visited them every day, and on the Lords Day Preach'd on this Text, viz. The 9 Chap. of St. Mark?s Gospel, the 22, 23, 24. Verses, from whence I drew these Observations, Verse the 22. If thou can do any thing, have Pity on us, and help us.

I We ought to implore the power of Christ, and to depend on Him only, tho? we are not sure of Success.

II. (If thou ) unbelief is of such a degenerate Nature, that it degrades the Power and Good Will of Christ himself, to relieve us in Distress.

III. (Canst do any thing) the least degree of Relief from Christ, is worthily to be prized and esteemed. True Faith also, tho? it be humble and very modest in its desires, yet it is very fervent and importunate.

IV. (have Compassion.) Christ Sympathizes with Men in distress, as being of the same Nature, and therefore sets his power on work, to shew them Pity and Kindness.

V. The Argument for this, is drawn from the Tenderness of Christs own Bowels. If we would have our Request granted, we must not plead merit in our selves, but meer Mercy and Pity in God through Christ.

VI. (On us.) The Well-fare of Parents and Children is mutually twisted. Children are afflicted for the Parents fins: Therefore it is the Parents interest to train them up in the fear of God, and the vertuous course of Life, from the 23d. V. If thou canst Believe.

First, The habit of Faith must be drawn out in actual Exercise, with relation to that particular Mercy which we seek. here, I shewed five Reasons, why little or weak Faith was reputed by Christ as no Faith; and why God suffers Doubtings to conflict with Faith in the Hearts of Weak, Christsans.