The Devil a Fowler

    THE DEVIL A FOWLER

    "Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the Fowler," Pr 6:5.

    As Satan is likened to a hunter, so he is likewise unto a Fowler, they are both metaphors of a like import.

    PARALLELS.

    I. A Fowler hath his nets, gins, and many allurements to catch the poor silly bird: so hath Satan to catch the souls of men, some of which we mentioned before.

    II. A Fowler having taken divers birds, he makes use of them, in a crafty manner, to bring others to his net: so doth Satan, he this very way seeks to allure sinners, he sets before the eyes of the unwary soul, how many birds he hath got in his snares, and yet they sing most sweetly, and leap about as if they had all joy and enlargements in the world; he would persuade God's children none have so sweet and pleasant a life as the ungodly, who flourish in prosperity, and are not plagued like other men, and by this means, this cunning Fowler oft-times ensnares the souls of men.

    III. A Fowler is very cautious how he spreads his net in the sight of any bird: so Satan craftily strives to hide his net and snare, by which he seeks to catch the souls of men, he presents the golden cup, but hides the poison. Thus he deceiver! Eve, he strove to affect her heart with the choicest and excellent nature of the fruit of the tree, "Ye shall be as Gods," &c. This was the bait, but the net or curled hook is hidden, he seems to court her as a cordial friend, as one that wished her the greatest happiness imaginable; but alas! his design was to catch her in the net of rebellion agaktst God's law, to destroy and undo her for ever; "In vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird," Pr 1:17.

    IV. A Fowler strives to counterfeit the real call of birds, thereby to entice them into the snares and nets he hath spread for them: so Satan endeavours to transform himself into an angel of light, and also teaches his ministers to counterfeit the garb, behaviour, and call of Christ's true ministers, thereby to deceive and draw souls into perdition and destruction, 2Co 11:14-15, who more ready to press holiness and self-denial, &c., than some of the grand deceivers of this age, "They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves," Mt 7:15.

    V. A Fowler sometimes in the night dazzles the eyes of the poor birds with a great light, and thereby most easily spreads his net over them: so Satan by false lights preys upon the souls of men, who cries out, Light, life, and power, &c., and this hath so dazzled the eyes of people, that many have been taken, and little think where they are, nor the danger they are in; alas! the cunning Fowler has got his net over them.