How to overcome Temptations by Meditation

When Satan does our fickle hearts assault
With pleasing Objects that do cause revolt
From God, with subtile arts he does surprize,
Before we can discover his disguise.
He has as many advocates within,
As we have appetites to plead for sin.
How shall we then avoid to be his prey,
When thus we do our selves, our selves betray?
'Tis dangerous to treat, unsafe to fight
With foes at home (the Enemy in sight:)
So that our only safety's to retreat,
Send up our Souls unto the Mercy-seat
Of God; there fly for succour, and there dwell
Out of the reach of all the powers of hell;
There Satan cannot come, dares not molest
That Soul, where Christ doth claim an interest.
When thus our God's engaged to defend,
Wise Satan will not offer to contend;
He does our weakness, and his Own Strength know.
When our vain hearts and we do dwell below,
Unsensible of those eternal joys,
Do entertain our selves with earthly toys,
Then is his time to dazle our weak eyes,
And win our hearts with glitt'ring vanities.
But if we love not this Captivity,
We must contemplate our eternity.
Tho' flesh be a dull lump that cannot fly,
Our thoughts have nimble wings to pierce the sky.
Rise upward then, my Soul, till thou obtain
The highest pitch of Faith, which will sustain
Thy love to God, and bring thee by degrees
To taste and relish Heav'n's felicities.
A pious fancy rais'd by faith will reach
Some glimpse of glory, and in time will teach
Thee to converse with Angels, and to know
Their glorious Mansions (while I dwell below;)
Thou may'st of Bliss a prepossession take,
Till both do Heaven our habitation make.
And thus thy unity with Christ discern
The only Comfort, and the high Concern.
When thou art full of these great joys above
And dost return, this ecstasie of love
Will bring our God along; and we shall here
The same Heav'n have, as if we both were there.
For Souls with such Divinity possess'd,
In spight of all temptations must be bless'd.
And thou, my Soul, by this celestial art
Wilt soon spiritualize my fleshy heart:
Such antepasts of Bliss will raise desire,
From smoaking flax unto a flaming fire;
Which will my trust confirm, my hope assure,
And will unto eternity endure.
Then Satan will on his own Envy feed,
And we shall gain a Victory indeed.