the crown and scepter of Judah.  The angel had declared the glad tidings to the shepherds, that a Savior, which was Christ the Lord, was born in the city of David.  All these tidings inflamed the wrath and malice of Satan, for he perfectly understood that the coming of the promised Seed was appointed to his confusion, and to the breaking down of his head and tyranny; and therefore he raged most cruelly, even at the first hearing of Christ’s birth, thinking that altho he could not hinder nor withstand His coming, yet he could shorten his days upon earth, lest by long life and peaceable quietness in it, the number of good men, by Christ’s doctrine and virtuous life, should be multiplied; and so he strove to cut Him away among the other children before He could open His mouth on His Father’s message.  Oh, cruel serpent! in vain dost thou spend thy venom, for the days of God’s elect thou canst not shorten!  And when the wheat is fallen on the ground, then doth it most multiply.

But from these things mark, what hath been the practise of the devil from the beginning—­most cruelly to rage against God’s children when God begins to show them His mercy.  And, therefore, marvel not, dearly beloved, altho the like come unto you.

If Satan fume or roar against you, whether it be against your bodies by persecution, or inwardly in your conscience by a spiritual battle, be not discouraged, as tho you were less acceptable in God’s presence, or as if Satan might at any time prevail against you.  No; your temptations and storms, that arise so suddenly, argue and witness that the seed which is sown is fallen on good ground, begins to take root and shall, by God’s grace, bring forth fruit abundantly in due season and convenient time.  That is it which Satan fears, and therefore thus he rages, and shall rage against you, thinking that if he can repulse you now suddenly in the beginning, that then you shall be at all times an easy prey, never able to resist his assaults.  But as my hope is good, so shall my prayer be, that so you may be strengthened, that the world and Satan himself may perceive or understand that God fights your battle.  For you remember that being present with you and treating of the same place, I admonished you that Satan could not long sleep when his kingdom was threatened.  And therefore I willed you, if you were in mind to continue with Christ, to prepare yourselves for the day of temptation.  The person of the speaker is wretched, miserable, and nothing to be regarded, but the things that were spoken are the infallible and eternal truth of God; without observation of which, life neither can or shall come to mankind.  God grant you continuance to the end.