this a man would not thinke that herein he should intend any hurt to Christ or to his church but in very trueth his drift heerein is to destroie the faith of Christ in that word of his father which spake from heauen and to ouerthrow the foundation of the church by proouing that Iesus Christ the Sonne of Marie was not true God Heere then obserue a tricke of the Diuels cunning when he speaks a truth he doth it not to confirme the same as louing it but indeed his meaning is to ouerthrow the truth therby which must admonish vs that when Satan shall any way assault vs in temptation wee neuer giue credit vnto him no not then when he speaketh the trueth because therein his purpose is to deceiue vs and to destroy the truth hence it was that Christ forbad the vncleane spirits to testifie of him though they acknowledged him to be the holy one of God hence also Paul was grieued at the testimony of the foule spirit that was in the maid though in it selfe a most worthy truth to wit that they were the seruants of the most high God which shewed vnto mē the way of saluation Further in comparing our Euangelist Matthew with S. Luke there may seeme some difference between them in propounding this temptation for in Matthew the words are thus command these stones c. And in Luke thus command this stone But they are reconciled thus Matthew sets downe this temptation as the Diuell first propounded it and S. Luke shewes how the Diuell vrged it for first the diuel comes to Christ and bids him if he be the sonne of God command all the stones which he saw round about him to be made bread this S. Matthew sets downe or if that seemed too much command one stone to be made bread and it should suffice and this S. Luke noteth The vse By this comparing of the Euangelists we may obserue that when the Diuell hath once begun to tempt a man he will not easily leaue off but will set an edge vpon it and enforce and vrge it by all the meanes he can that if it be possible it may preuaile Which should teach vs on the other side to be most earnest and resolute in resisting Satans temptations he will take small aduantage before he leaue we therefore must not giue place nor yeeld one iot vnto him Resist the Diuell and he will flie This must euery member of the Church do the Minister by sound and through applying of euery part of Gods truth to the heart whereby it may be armed against the enemie and the people by faithfull embracing and obeying of the same as also by earnest praier vnto God for the assistance of his grace in all assaults VERSE 4. But he answering said It is written Man shall not liue by bread only but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God THese words conteine Christs gratious answer whereby he repelled the diuels temptation and in it we may obserue three points first that Christ did Answer Secondly whence he borrowed his Answer Thirdly the very words of his Answer For the first that Christ did answer is noted by the holy Ghost in plaine words And Iesus answering said Wherby he would giue vs to vnderstand that Christ Iesus our Sauiour being in the wildernesse was not onely willing and ready to encounter with Satan but also able to withstand him yea and to vanquish Satan without receiuing any foile at his hands Which is a point of singular comfort to Gods Church and children for was Christ Iesus able in this low and base estate of a seruant being disaduantaged also by a desert place and bodily hunger was he then I say able to encounter with Satan and to ouercome him in his most violent and subtile assaults Then how much more is he now able euen in all his members to giue Satan the foile hauing spoiled him in his death seeing he is aduanced to the throne of maiestie and glorie and set at the right hand of his father hauing a name aboue all names giuen vnto him at which euery knee should bow both of things in heauen and in the earth and vnder the earth We therfore may now say with that lowd voice Now is saluation in heauen and strength and power and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of the brethren is cast downe The second point heere noted is whence Christ borroweth his answer namely from the Scriptures It is written It had beene an easie thing for Christ being the sonne of God to haue confoūded the Tempter with the breath of his mouth or to haue commanded innumerable legions of holy Angels to haue driuen him away but he betakes himselfe to the written word for his defence And this he did especially for our instruction namely that we might know that the written word of God rightly welded by the hand of faith is the most sufficient weapon for the repelling of Satan and the vanquishing of him in all his temptations hence Paul calleth it the sword of the spirit because it serues not onely for our defence but also to wound Satan and to put him to flight The vse I. This fact of Christ doth discouer and condemne the damnable practise of the Church of Rome who locke vp the word of God from their people in an vnknowen tongue and commend vnto them for their defence against spirituall enemies other deuices of their owne as holy water crossing crosses c. which they highly commend as meanes of speciall strength and force to vanquish the Diuell when as indeed the word of God is the onely true and trustie weapon whereof while they depriue their people they send them forth naked and vnarmed to encounter with Satan Secondly heere also behold the miserable estate of all those that either through couetousnesse or any other profanenesse are drawen to neglect or contemne the written word of God their case is most fearefull for they cast away those weapons whereby they should defend themselues against the Diuell and quench all his firie darts and so betray their owne soules into his hands And doubtlesse all contemners and neglecters of the word are guilty of their own damnation because God hath giuen vs his word for our defence and for the confounding of Satan so as without guilt of wilfull murther not of our bodies but of our soules we cannot neglect this heauenly weapon Thirdly heerby we may see the cause why sinne so much abounds in all estates euery where namely the want of loue vnto knowledge in the word of God whereupon the most are ignorant of it or else know not how to handle this spirituall weapon whereby Satan is resisted and foiled Hosea 4. 2. The Lord complaineth of lying swearing killing stealing and whoring yea of bloud touching bloud and the cause is laid downe in the first verse There is no knowledge of
THE COMBAT BETWEENE CHRIST AND THE Diuell displayed OR A COMMENTARIE vpon the Temptations of CHRIST Preached in Cambridge by that reuerend and iudicious Diuine M. WILLIAM PERKINS The second edition much enlarged by a more perfect copie at the request of M. Perkins Executors by Tho. Pierson Preacher of Gods word Hereunto is prefixed an Analysis or generall view of this Combat and a twofolde Table added one of places of Scripture the other of speciall points to be obserued ROM 16. 20. The God of Peace shall tread Satan vnder your feet shortly LVK. 22. 28. 29. You are they which haue continued with me in my temptations Therefore I appoint vnto you a kingdome euen as my Father hath appointed vnto me LONDON Printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for E. E. and are to be solde in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Swan Anno 1606. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir William Russell L. Russell Baron of Thornhaugh with the vertuous Lady his wife Grace and Peace VPon that strange battel in heauen betweene Michael the great Prince and Satan that olde Serpent was heard a loud voice sounding foorth ioy and woe ioy to the heauens and to them that dwell therein because the accuser of the brethren is cast out thence but woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea that is to the sonnes of men in this vale of teares for the Diuell is come downe vnto them with great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time In this voice right Honourable are two things affirmed touching Satans first that his casting out of heauen is ioifull to the Saints next that his comming downe on earth is wofull vnto men Is the matter of our woe ioy to the Saints Nothing lesse but that the Diuell might be knowen to be an euill guest where euer he comes the heauens doe reioice for his departure and sea and earth ought to mourne for his approaching so that he is or at leastwise ought to be no where welcome except it be in hell and all such persons may well perceiue themselues not heauenlie but plainly hellish minded as giue more kinde welcome vnto Satan in their cheerefull practise of the works of darkenesse then they do vnto Iesus Christ who knockes at the doore of their hearts promising to come in and suppe with them if they will heare his voice and open vnto him But what do the heauens gaine by Satans casting downe And how doth his descending to the earth work man such wo Ans. For heauens gain they are wel rid of the malitious accuser of the brethrē Who would know more must striue to get to heauen and if more be needfull there his information shal be certaine As for mans woe by Satans company here on earth who so doubts heerof may well suspect himselfe to haue already receiued of him that deadly hurt in blindnesse of minde and hardnesse of heart whereof none saue Iesus Christ the good Physitian of our soules by the eie-salue and anointing of his spirit can worke the cure Is it not wofull to the flockes and to the heards when rauenous beasts do frequent their pastures then wo to man because of Satan for the perill of the lambe from the woolfe of the kid from the leopard of the fat beast from the Lion and of the sucking child from the Aspe is nothing comparable to the danger of man from this olde serpent who in craft and cruelty yea in euery hurtfull property goes beyond them all Other deuouring creatures keepe their circuites and obserue their times they are sometime weary and not alwaies hungry some are vnfit for the darke and others afraid of the light whereby their sillie pray gets some respite but Satan is a prince of the darknesse of this world who yet for his aduantage can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light so as the day and night are to him both alike for the working of our woe he is euer greedy and neuer weary and therefore alwaies seeking and if wee dreame of any restraint to him for time or place we deceiue our selues for he was a murtherer from the beginning and so will continue till time shall be no more and he compasseth the whole earth walking in it to and fro euen like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure With other creatures wo is ended when the pray is once deuoured but to Satans pray it is not so for vnlesse his snare be broken and they deliuered in this life their woe continues easelesse endlesse and remedilesse after naturall death Indeed the naturall man doth not perceiue that working of Satan which doth procure his woe it may be he hath seene the plaiers and the painters Diuels some blacke horned monster with broad eies crooked clawes or clouen feet and till some such thing appeare vnto him he neuer feareth hurt by Satan little doth he thinke that ignorance in the scriptures neglect of Gods worship profaning Gods sabbaths with greedy affecting the wealth pompe and pleasures of this world doe giue aduantage vnto Satan against his soule and therefore while the matters of this life do answer his desire he can sing to himselfe this pleasant requiem soule soule take thy rest But our voice from heauen cries woe to all such inhabitants of the earth because of Satan for they are of this world and he is their prince and their God who hauing blinded their minds worketh in their hearts and so keepes them sure in his possession Indeed like a seeming friend he suffereth all things to be in peace but woefull peace like to Absalons wine which he gaue to Ammon that when his heart was most merrie therewith his least suspected deadlie wound might light vpon him Euerie one by nature is the childe of wrath and so of himselfe ful of all miserie but mercilesse Satan seekes the increase heerof by causing the root of mans corruption to spread foorth the branches of all transgressions indeed he is not the beginner of euery sinne for much impiety flows from mans inbred impurity yet so sure a friend is Satan to corruption in the workes of darkenesse that if nature doe but stretch foorth the hand Satan will thrust at the elbow doth Caine hate Abel then will Satan bring this hatred from the heart to the hand and cause Caine to kill Abel Is Iudas couetous then wil Satan for the satisfying of that desire make him traiterous let him find but a sparkle he will soone kindle it to a flame so that wofull is his comming to all naturall men But doth the child of God escape his hands no verily Satan is a professed deadly foe to all such he is their aduersarie and accuser that which should procure them good he seekes to hinder and what euer may worke them woe he will be sure to further if they fall into sinne he seekes to bring them to despaire and
when they endeuour to do good he moues them to be proud they are no sooner conuerted to the Lord but he hath some Elymas to turne them backe to the world and though they stand against that assault yet he will pursue them still by troubles without and terrours within by raging foes and flattering friends so as in regard of Satan aduantaged by their flesh and his world they shall find this to bee true while their flesh is vpon them they shal be sorrowfull and while their soules be in them they shall mourne Satan is a mightie prince and a wilie serpent and if either force or fraud may worke them woe no child of God shall escape his hands he spared not the greene tree what then will he do to the dry But is there no remedy to man for all this woe that comes by Satan Yes blessed be our God who hath not left vs for a praie vnto his teeth but to shew the exceeding riches of his grace and loue to the world hath giuen his onlie begotten sonne to be our prince and our deliuerer who in no sort tooke the Angels but the seede of Abraham and because they were partakers of flesh and bloud he himself took part with them that hee might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuel For the euidence and application of which deliuerance he hath ordained in his church an holy ministery whereby naturall men are brought from darknesse vnto light and from the power of Satan to himselfe and his owne children doe grow vp into Christ their head and be edified in their most holie faith through which they are kept by the power of God vnto saluation Yet we must so conceiue of this deliuerance that as Israel being brought out of Egypt was not presently setled in the land of Canaan but for the space of forty yeares was exercised with sundry temptations in a barren and drie wildernesse where they met with fierie serpents and were encountred with many and strong enemies who sought to debarre them from the promised land so the children of God though redeemed by Christ are not presently translated from the bondage of corruption to the full inheritance of perfect glory in the heauens but must passe through this vale of teares and in the wildernesse of this world meete with that crooked serpent the Diuell who will seeke to stinge their soules to death and also stirre vp many an Amelec to entrap them in the way that either through disobedience or vnbeliefe they may be depriued of their heauenly Canaan True it is this match is farre vnequall for flesh and bloud to fight against spirituall powers yet heere is comfort that we haue him for our Captaine who in his deepest humility spoiled our strongest aduersary and is now crowned with glorie and honour being highlie exalted far aboue all might and domination at his fathers right hand where he must reigne till he hath put all his enemies vnder his feet yea till he hath troden Satan vnder the feete of all his members only this he requireth that we should bee valiant and quit our selues like men in the power of his might knowing that the battel is the Lords and so the victory sure before we strike a stroke Now for the manner of our fight a matter indeed of great moment because a smooth stone out of Dauids sling wil foile to the ground great Goliah wee haue in this combate between Christ and the Diuell so pregnant direction set before vs that vnlesse wee doe wilfully shut our eies against the light in this behalfe wee cannot be ignorant of our duty whatsoeuer was written aforetime was written for our learning and therefore the recording of this combate is as much from Christ to euery Christian as the speach of Gideon to his souldiers looke on me and doe likewise euen as Idoe soe do ye for Christ left himselfe an example that we should follow his steps though not in his miraculous fast yet in his couragious fight against sinne The view heereof hath formerly beene presented to your Honors by Master Robert Hill bachelor of Diuinity vnder this title Satans Sophistrie answered by our Sauior Christ. And now at the intreaty of M. Perkins executors I have published it againe yet vnder a new title and more large almost by one third part Mine endeuour hath beene that this poore Orphane might imitate his brethren who were the messengers of loue vnto our Church while their happy father liued among vs. What is wanting heerein or may deserue a iust reproofe I willingly take to my self me me adsum qui feci- c What I haue beene able to doe I humbly commend to the church of God vnder your Honourable protection If heerein I seeme presumptuous because I am vnknowen vnto you I humbly craue this fauourable construction that I chose rather by presuming to wrong my selfe then to alienate this booke from your Honours who had right heereto by former dedication When your Honourable imployments in time past required your wisedome and courage for the iust defence of our Soueraignes right I make no question but as well the messengers of victory ouer rebels as the counsellers of peace were alwaies welcome to your Honour why then should I doubt whether this ensuing display being as wel a counseller of peace with God as an Herauld of triumph through Christ ouer Satan the Arch-enemy of our soules will be gratefull vnto you who haue learned long since that whosoeuer will keepe a good conscience towards God or man must endure manie a conflict with Satan Now that God of peace who is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that wee can aske or thinke graunt vnto your Honours according to the riches of his mercy so to fight the good fight of faith on earth that you may receiue the crowne of glorie in heauen Cambridge Emmanuel Colledge 25. of Iune 1606. Your Honours in the Lord to be commanded THO. PIERSON TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir WILLIAM RVSSELL Lord Russell Baron of Thornhaugh yoonger sonne to that most Christian and Honourable Earle FRAVNCIS Earle of Bedford with the vertuous Lady his wife Grace and Peace RIGHT Honorable as Iohn the Baptist was in one desert so our Sauiour Christ he was in an other but as these two differed in their being in the world so did they not accord in their being in the wildernesse Iohn was with some men Christ with none Iohn was with wilde men Christ with wild beasts Iohn was preaching Christ praying Iohn was baptizing Christ fighting Iohn was feeding Christ fasting Iohn was encountring with Diuels incarnate Christ did encounter with the Prince of those Diuels From Iohn preaching in the desert learne wee diligence in our callings from Christ tempted in the desert see we troubles at our calling Many are the troubles of the
Iesus the head of the Church was tempted by Satan in the highest degree so as the Angels came to minister comfort vnto him and yet he still remained the welbeloued sonne of God and so may any of Gods children remaine Gods deere elect euen then when the violence of Satan shall seem most to preuaile against them Secondly this teacheth vs to suppresse all rash iudgment in our selues of all such as shall bee exercised by Satan in extreame temptations for oft it will fall out that the conscience of Gods child shall bee so exceedingly tormented in temptation that hee shall cry out he is forsaken of God and shal be damned when as indeed he stil remains the deare child of God as Christ our Sauiour did Gods welbeloued in the deepest assaults of Satan And therefore the relation published of Francis Spira his desperation doth inconsiderately taxe him for a cast-away considering that nothing befel him in the time of his desperation but that which may befall the child of God yea our owne land can afford many examples which match Francis Spira whether we regard the matter of his temptation or the deepnesse of his desperation who yet through the mercy of God haue receiued comfort And therefore in this case Christian charity must euer bind vs to thinke and speake the best Lastly Satans departing vpon the ending of these three temptations giues vs to vnderstand that howsoeuer the Diuel abound with temptations of all sorts yet these three are the ground of all and the most principall temptations that Satan hath for in this combate he did his worst shewed the violence of his rage and wrath And therefore it wil needfull for vs to take special notice of them as also of Christs repulses giuen vnto them that so wee may be the better armed against them and the like Thus much for the time when Satan departed The second circumstance touching his departure is for how long the Diuel left him noted by Saint Luke not for euer but for a season Some may say we doe not find that Satan tempted Christ euer after this saue only vpon the crosse where he spotled principalities and powers Coloss. 2. 15. Answ. The Diuell tempts men two waies sometime by himselfe as he did our Sauior Christ in this place and vpon the crosse and our first mother Eue in the garden Gen. 3. 1. sometime by men whom hee vseth as his instruments thus he tempted Adam by Eue and Iob by the Chaldeans and Sabeans that robbed him and by his friends who sought to draw him from his integrity Iob. 27. 5. now though Christ were not often after this tempted immediately by the Diuel yet by Satans instruments he was many times sore assaulted to the greefe of his heart as by the Iewes the Scribes and Pharisies Herod and Pontius Pilate who required signes of him mocked and persecuted him Heere we may see a notable patterne of the state of Gods Church children in this world for looke as Christ their head is sore tempted and then let alone and yet but for a season being tempted againe by Satans Instruments so fareth it with them one while they are exercised with outward temptations and another while with inward assaults then through Gods mercy they haue freedome for a season but afterward Satan comes vpon them againe either by himselfe or by his instruments which must teach vs wisdome in regard of the state of our own Church in particular town that we must not dreame of a perpetuall freedome from trials and temptations howsoeuer through Gods mercie wee haue inioyed admirable peace and tranquillity for many yeares together for being a part of Christs mystical body we must looke for the same condition with our head Christ Iesus who being sore tempted of Satan was left but for a season and after tempted againe and therfore wee must resolue our selues vndoubtedly that trials will come what way God only knoweth but the winter of affliction will follow our haruest of ioy and peace and the yearely visitations by plagues famine are symptomes that is signes foretunners of more heauy iudgments vnlesse we prepare to meete our God in the practise of speedy and vnfained repentance And as this is the state of our Church in generall so is it the particular condition of euery Christian whose life is a continuall intercourse of trouble and peace and therefore euery child of God must be watchfull against security and with the end of one assault ioyne his preparation for a new This was the state of Christ and the seruant must not look to be aboue his master And thus much for the Diuels departure The second part of the Issue of this conflict is the ministery of the angels vnto Christ And behold the Angels come and ministred vnto him In saying Behold the Euangelist commends to our consideration the view of a great wonder to wit that that person whom the Diuel would haue had to haue worshipped him is here worshipped and serued of the holy Angels of God Let no man therefore iudge of himselfe by that which Satan would perswade him to in temptation Christs estate doth now appeare farre different from that which Satan would haue brought him to so shall all Gods children find it to bee with them after temptation if therein they fight manfully after the example of Christ. Touching the ministerie of these Angels here obserue three points First the bond that causeth the good Angels to minister vnto Christ. Secondly their number And thirdly the time of their ministery I. Point The bond of their Ministery is Christs soueraignety ouer the Angels not onely as hee is God their Creator but as hee is mediator God and man euen the man Christ I say not the manhood of Christ but Christ as I may say the man-God is Lord of all Angels and they doe him homage and seruice And though the man-hood of Christ be not Lord of Angels yet being receiued into the vnity of his God-head it is thereby exalted aboue all Angels by many degrees Wherin we may behold the endlesse goodnesse of God in aduancing our nature which by sinne was made more vile then al earthly creatures far aboue the Angels in degree by reason of this coniunction which it hath with the nature of God in the person of Christ. Now as by this bond the Angels are made ministers vnto Christ so by vertue of the same they become ministers to all his true members Iacobs ladder is thus expounded by our Sauiour Christ verily verily I say vnto you heereafter shall ye see heauen open and the Angels of God ascending and descending vpon the son of man This sonne of man is Christ who being God and man reacheth from heauen to earth and from earth to heauen to him the Angels minister and by him they descend to minister to all the saints of God heere on earth The vse 1. This teacheth vs to admire the endlesse goodnesse of God
righteous but the Lord deliuereth them out of all If it please you to giue these after-lines the reading you shall see set downe that monomachie or single combat which was hand to hand betwixt Christ and the Diuell And as for Christ Iesus you shall see him fasting fighting conquering Fasting and an hungry to shew he was man fighting and encountring to shew he was Messiah and conquering and triumphing to shew he was God And as for the diuell you shall see him obiecting answering flying Obiecting that Christ might despaire answering that he might presume and flying when he could not ouercome In Christs temptations we see the estate of the Church in Satans assault we see his malice to the Church Is Christ tempted think it not strange if we fall into temptations For the griefe of the head is the griefe of the members and the temptations of Christ shew the temptations of Christians It is true of Christ that by many tribulations he did enter into the kingdome of God that our High Priest was consecrated by afflictions that so he must suffer and enter into his glory He is no sooner borne into the world but he is hunted by Herod baptized at Iordan but Satan sets on him a Preacher for repentance but the Scribes proscribe him to worke miracles but the Pharises slander him He is no sooner to suffer but the Diuell assaults him apprehended but the Iewes deliuer him deliuered but Herod derides him derided but Pilat condemnes him condemned but the souldiers abuse him Is he on the crosse the people will not pity him is he risen the high Priests will belie him In a word is he vpon earth he is tempted in his person is he in heauen he is tempted in his members Thus the life of Christ was a warfare vpon earth and the life of Christians must be a warfare vpon earth We liue heere in a sea of troubles the sea is the world the waues are calamities the Church is the ship the anker is hope the sailes are loue the Saints are passengers the hauen is heauen and Christ is our Pilot. When the sea can continue without waues the shippe without tossings and passengers not be sicke vpon the water then shall the Church of God be without trials We begin this voiage so soone as we are borne and we must saile on till our dying daie We doe reade in Gods word of many kinds of temptations God Satan Man the World and the Flesh are saide to tempt God tempteth man to trie his obedience Satan tempteth man to make him disobedient man doe tempt men to trie what is in them and man tempteth God to trie what is in him The world is a temper to keepe man from God and the flesh is a tempter to bring man to the Diuell So God tempted Abraham in the offering of his son Satan tempted Iob in the losse of his goods a Queene tempted Salomon in trying his wisedome men tempted God by distrust in the desert the world tempted Domas when he forsooke the Apostles and the flesh tempted Dauid when he fell by adultery Doth God tempt vs take heed of hypocrisie doth Satan tempt vs take heed of his subtiltie doth man tempt man take heed of dissembling doth man tempt God take heed of inquiring doth the world tempt man take heed of apostasie doth the flesh tempt man take heed of carnalitie But dowe so are we warie of these tempers No we are not and therefore we fall We fall on the right hand by temptations in prosperitie and we fall on the left by temptations in aduersitie Of the one it may be said it hath slaine thousands of the other that it hath slaine ten thousands When we come and see cities dispeopled houses defaced and wals pulled downe we say the souldier hath beene there and when we see pride in the rich discontent in the poore and sinne in all we may iustly say the Tempter hath beene there Now of all other temptations it pleaseth God to suffer his church to be tempted with afflictions It is neuer free either from the sword of Ishmael which is a reuiling tongue or the sword of Esau a persecuting hand Neither was there yet euer Christian man found who had not his part in the cup of affliction We must drinke of the same cup our master did the disciple is not aboue his master The reasons why God doth visit vs thus with afflictions are 1. To humble vs. 2. To weane vs. 3. To winnow vs. 4. To preuent vs. 5. To teach vs. 6. To enlighten vs. 7. To honour vs. 8. To cure vs. 9. To crowne vs. 10. To comfort vs. 11. To protect vs. 12. To adopt vs. And last of all to teach and comfort others To humble vs that we be not proud to weane vs that we loue not his world to winnow vs that we be not chaffe to preuent vs that we do not sinne to teach vs that we be patient in aduersity to enlighten vs that we see our errors to honor vs that our faith may be manifest to cure vs that we surfet not of securitie to crowne vs that we may liue eternally to comfort vs that he may send his spirit to protect vs that he may guide vs by his Angels to adopt vs that we may be his sonnes and to teach others that they seeing how sin is punished in vs they may take heed it be not found in them that they seeing our comforts in troubles may not be discouraged in the like trials Thus a Christian mans diet is more sowre then sweet his physicke is more alcës then hony his life is more a pilgrimage then a progresse and his death is more despised then honoured This if men would thinke of before afflictions would be as welcome to the soule of man as afflicted Ruth was to the field of Boaz. But because we looke not for them before they come thinke not on Gods doing when they are come and doe desire to be happie both heere and hereafter therefore we can away with the name of Naomi but in no case would we be called Mara We see the sea not the whale the Egyptian not the saluation the Lious mouth not him that stoppeth the Lions mouth If we could see God in our troubles as Elisha did in his then would we say There are more with vs then there are against vs. But because we doe not therefore at euery assault of the Assyrians we say as the seruant to Elishah did Alas master what shall we doe and with the disciples Carest thou not Master that we perish Yet it is good for vs to suffer affliction Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receiue the
the waues and winds of troubles and persecution and they shall flie before him as Sysera did before Debora and the Philistims before Ionathan and his seruant And as Christ asking the woman of her accuser she answered There was none so in the end aske a Christian of his troubles and he will say There are none He is a buckler for our left hand and a sword in our right he is an helmet on our head and harnesse for our body We shall looke vpon troubles as Israel did on the Egyptians as the Iewes did on Goliah and as the Grecians did on Hector to triumph ouer them and as the Angell said to Ioseph They are dead that sought the childs life so the Spirit shall say to the afflicted They are dead that did seek your life A day of deliuerance a yeere of Iubile will come and then Ioseph shall be out of prison Iacob out of seruitude and Iob shall lie no more in the dust of the earth Let vs comfort our selues with these words I haue exceeded an Epistle especially to such a small bocke If the wals seeme too great for this city abundans cautela non no cet It is vsuall for students not onely to present their owne labours but also other mens to great personages especially such Workes wherein they haue beene either Translators or ouerseers It were infinit to instance this point I am bolde to doe the like to your Honour at this time This Copie it was brought vnto my hand I haue conferred it with another I haue persued it at the Presse I heard diuers of the Sermons I haue added nothing of mine owne and I desire that of those many baskets full of most delicate diet which this worthy man hath now left behind him there may not so much as any one be lost If any such come vnto my hand surely they shall not be lost By his life had I much comfort and I will seeke to honour him after he is dead I was twenty yeeres acquainted with him I at his request made the first fruits of his labours to speake English And now I am bold to present this his posthume to your patronage Your honorable Nephew his vertuous Lady your worthy sister haue heeretofore accepted the labours of this man If it shall please your good Honor to do the like this Preface of mine shall remaine as a perpetuall testimony of my duty to you and the booke following as fully armed against all such aduersaries as shall speake against it The God of heauen who hath made you honorable in your most honorable Progenitors make you thrice honorable in your future successors that the memoriall of the righteous may be euerlasting when as the name of the wicked shall rot London Saint Martins in the fields Ian. 12. 1604. Your Honours at commandement ROBERT HILL Fellow of S. Iohns Coll. in Cambridge A GENERALL VIEW OF the strange Combate betweene our Sauiour CHRIST and Satan The Description of this Combate betweene Christ and Satan conteineth A Preface or Preparation consisting of Christs going forth to the place of combate Vers. 1. Christs abode and conuersing in that place Vers. 2. The Combat it selfe consisting of three great conflicts First tending to bring Christ to vnbeliefe and it consisteth of Satans preparation thereto Vers. 3. The temptation in selfe Vers. 3. Christes repulse thereof Vers. 4. Second tending to bring Christ to presumption conteining Satans preparation Vers. 5. The assault or temptation Vers. 6. Christs repulse and answer Vers. 7. Third tending to bring Christ to idolatry conteining Satans preparation Vers. 8. The assault or temptation Vers. 9. Christs repulse and answer Vers. 10. An happie issue and euent thereof consisting of Satans departing from Christ Vers. 11. The Angels ministring vnto Christ Vers. 11. Resist the Diuell and he will flee Draw neere to God and he will draw neere to you Iam. 4. 7. 8. The true grace of faith enables vs to both for 1. Pet. 5. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith Heb. 10. 22. Let vs draw neere with a true heart in assurance of faith THE COMBATE BETWEENE CHRIST and the DIVELL expounded MAT. 4. 1. Then was Iesus led aside of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Diuell THE eleuen first verses of this chapter do conteine a briefe description of Christes tēptations wherof I haue chosen to intreat hauing formerly handled the doctrine of Conscience because all that endeuour either to get or keepe a good conscience are most of all subiect to temptations Now here we haue the speciall temptations of the Diuell wherewith he assaulted our Sauiour Christ and in Christs example the best way to auoid the same This description consisteth of three distinct parts First A Preface or preparation to a Combate betweene Christ and the Diuell vers 1. 2. Secondly The combate or conflict it selfe vers 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Thirdly The issue or euent of this combate vers 11. I. Part. The Preparation to the combate hath two parts First Christs going foorth to that place where the combate was to be fought vers 1. Secondly his abode conuersing in that place vers 2. 1. Christs going forth to the place is set out by sundry circumstances of the Euangelists as The time when he went The authour of his going The maner how he went furnished the place whither he went And the end wherefore I. Circumstance The time when Christ went foorth to be tempted is noted in this word Then what time this was we shall see in the end of the former chapter where is set downe the baptisme of our Sauiour Christ by Iohn in the riuer Iordan as also the great honour and maiesty wherewith he was there renowmed for it pleased Christ for speciall end and purpose to be baptized not as we are to put off sinne for he had none but to be ordained a Mediatour for vs that putting on our sin he might beare the burden thereof in our steed Againe in his baptisme he was distinctly proclaimed The doctour of his Church for immediately thereupon The Holy ghost descended vpon him like a doue and a voice came from heauen saying This is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased Now so soone as Christ was thus solemnly inaugurated into his office and proclaimed from heauen to be the sole Doctor and Prophet of Gods Church euen then immediately without any delay was he driuen forth as Marke saith chapt 1. 12. The vse In that Christ is no sooner baptized but he is presently tempted we learne that all those who are truely baptized into Christ must make account to be tempted and prepare for a combat with the Diuell euen through the whole course of their liues for if Satan durst be so bolde as to encounter with Christ Iesus the head of the Church after his baptisme then doubtlesse he will not spare any
to the wildernesse as Elias was caried from earth to heauen or as Philip was taken away from the Eunuch and carried to Azotus but it was a motion of the Holy ghost wherewith Christ was filled aboue measure and made willing to encounter with Satan in that combat for so are the words by S. Luke being full of the Holy ghost hee returned from Iordan and was led by the spirit into the wildernesse that is by the inward motion and instinct of Gods spirit Againe S. Marke saying the Spirit droue him into the wildernesse giueth vs further to vnderstand that this motion in Christ from the spirit was a peculiar motion not forced or constrained but voluntary and yet very strong and effectuall Again by the spirit here is not meant the Diuell or an euill spirit but the Holy spirit of God he it was that moued Christ to goe into the wildernesse so that the meaning is this After Christ was baptized in Iordan by Iohn hee willingly tooke his iourney into the wildernesse being moued thereunto by a speciall and strong instinct of Gods holy spirit wherwith he was filled aboue measure If any aske how Christ could be led by the spirit seeing hee sends the spirit Answ. These two may well stand together for Christ must be considered two wayes first as man in the forme of a seruant secondly as God euen the sonne of God yea God himselfe Now as Christ was man he was subiect to Gods prouidēce and so was led and guided by the Holy ghost but as he is God he is not subiect to prouidēce but is the author therof and is not himselfe led or sent but together with the father sendeth the spirit The vse In this circumstance we may obserue first the exceeding holinesse of Christs manhood in that he moued not from one place to another without the speciall instinct and direction of the spirit of God By which example we are taught to suffer our selues to be ordered and guided by the spirit of God in euery thing we take in hand yea in all our thoughts words and deeds for this is the true note of euery child of God to be led by the spirit Rom. 8. 14. where the Apostle vseth the same word that S. Luke doth speaking of this leading of our Sauiour to be tempted we must therefore labour to be of Dauids disposition to haue our harts pliable to all Gods testimonies when God said Seek ye my face Dauids hart answered I seeke thy face O Lord Psal. 27. 8. and thus doing we shall suffer our selues to be directed and guided by the Holy ghost for he teacheth and guideth men by the word Secondly from this that Christ was led vnto temptatiō by the spirit of God we learne That temptations come not by chance nor yet by the will and pleasure of the Diuel only for he could not touch Iob or ought he had till God gaue him leaue nor enter into the heard of swine till Christ said go but temptations come by Gods most iust permission and not without his speciall prouidence appointment This combat of Christ with Satan was decreed of God by his speciall appointment in his eternall counsell And therefore was Christ led by the spirit to encounter with the Diuell that he might performe this one worke of a mediator namely in temptation ouercome him who by temptation ouercame all mankind And as God appointed this combate of our Sauiour so hath he also ordained the temptations of euery Christian and the circumstances thereof The theater or place of this combat is this present euill world the actors are Satan and euery Christian the beholders are men and Angels 1. Cor. 4. 9. The vmpire and iudge is God himselfe who ouerruleth Satan so as the issue cannot but be happie and blessed to those that fight manfully for hee casteth away none that be mighty valiant of courage Iob. 36. 1. he will giue an issue with the temptations 1. Cor. 10. 13. from whence we learne sundry good instructions First when we are tossed and tried by manifolde temptations we must not thinke it strange but rather count it exceeding great ioy Iam 1. 2. because it is Gods blessed will and ordinance that Satan and euery Christian should enter combat and conflict for the triall of his graces in them Secondly we are hereby taught to labour with patience to beare all trials and afflictions not vsing vnlawfull means to winde our selues out of them because they come by the speciall prouidence of the Almighty Thirdly Christ went not to be tempted till he was led by the spirit therfore no man must wittingly put himselfe into danger without a calling from God left therein hee tempt God indeed a man may be moued extraordinarily to offer himselfe into places of danger thus Paul went bound in the spirit to Hierusalem that is he willingly followed the motion of the Holy ghost which inwardly enforced him to go thither And the same may be said of many holy Martyrs who though they might haue escaped by flight yet did willingly offer themselues into the hands of their persecutours and endured the violence of their torments which wee must thinke they did by a special motion of the Holy ghost otherwise for a man to offer himselfe into danger without all warrant from God is to swarue from the practise of Christ in this place Fourthly Christ being ledde by the spirit did not seeke to shrowd himselfe from this combate so likewise if a man follow his calling according to Gods will and thereupon fall into troubles and temptations he may not seeke to escape them by neglecting his duty but with courage and patience must inure himselfe to beare them wayting on the Lord by wel-doing for his deliuerance Heere it may well be asked whether a man can lawfully and with good conscience abide in those places which are certainly knowen to be haunted with euill spirits Answ. Some indeed are so venturous bold that they feare nothing yet the trueth is no man ought on his own head abide or lodge in such places vnlesse it be within the compasse of his calling or els haue a true extraordinary motion of Gods spirit so to doe we are therefore rather to auoid them than wittingly and willingly thrust our selues into the danger of such places for if God haue giuen liberty vnto Satan to possesse such places as haue been consecrated to Idolatry or defiled by oppression and bloud or such like abhominations why should wee without warrant from God put our selues into his hands This also may serue to reprooue those men who presume so much vpō their strong faith that they neuer sticke to thrust themselues into most lewd company but let such persons beware for places of bad company are places of danger by reason of that power and liberty which Satan hath among them for there he hath a throne Reuel 2. 13. How then can it be that
or occasion from vs of all the aduantage he hath against vs his temptations are like fire and bellowes and our infirmities and corruptions are wood and fewell The vse I. Hence then we may behold our miserable estate by reason of sinne for thereby it comes to passe that we beare about vs those darts wherewith the diuel doth wound vs. And sith Satans craft and malice is such to take aduantage from vs for to worke our wo we must labour the more diligently to be throughly acquainted with our naturall dispositions and inclinations yea with our bodilie infirmities for the Diuell will search vs and when wee haue truly found out our own estate we must set a strong watch and guard about our owne hearts in respect of our infirmities and so shall we be the better able to breake the necke of Satans temptations The fourth thing in this preparation is Satans comming to Christ The Tempter came vnto him By which phrase it is probable though not certaine that the Diuell tooke vpon him the forme of some creature and so appeared vnto Christ thus he came to Eue in Paradise abusing the serpent to further his assault against the first Adam And it is like that in his combat with the second Adam he came in the shape of some creature for otherwise he could not properly be said to come and speake Some indeed thinke that these temptations were inward in minde onely and by vision others thinke they were altogether visible and done actually but the safest way is to holde that they were in part actually done in bodily maner and partly shewed in vision And thus much for the preparation to the first conflict II. Point The temptation it selfe conteining matter of great importance being indeed the maine temptation of all in these words If thou be the Sonne of God command that these stones be made bread The Diuell being well prouided for time and place and aduantaged also by Christs bodily hunger doth heere assault our Sauiour Christ like a cunning Sophister and frame his argument Syllogistically thus If thou be the sonne of God thou canst make these stones bread But thou canst not make these stones bread Therefore thou art not the sonne of God The ground of this temptation is this It is no reason that the Sonne of God should starue for want of food but thou must starue vnlesse thou canst make these stones bread and therefore vnlesse thou canst do so thou maist perswade thy selfe it was but a false voice which thou heardest from heauen This is my welbeloued Sonne c. The scope and drift of Satan in this temptation standes in two things First hee labours to ouerthrow the faith of Christ. Secondly to bring him to a practise of vnbeleefe For the first By faith I meane a gift or grace in Christ wherby as he was man he beleeued his Fathers words to be true which said This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased whereby wee may see what the Diuell aimes at principally in his temptations against Gods children for these his assaults against our Sauiour Christ are set down for our instruction in this behalfe Satans maine drift then in temptation is to ouerthrow our faith whereby wee beleeue euerie part and parcell of Gods word to be true See this in his tempting of Eue first he labours to weaken her faith in the trueth of Gods threatning which done he easily brought her to actuall disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit The same course hee holdeth at this day first he will seeke to nuzzell men in ignorance that he may keepe them in vnbeliefe if he faile that way then will he endeuour to plunge their soules into some damnable errour and heresie and by one of these meanes doth he destroy the faith of many for while a man remaines in ignorance he can haue no saith and if he misse of the trueth of God he wants ground for his faith Now the reason why the Diuell labours so much against our faith is because we cannot truely relie vpon Gods mercie nor depend vpon his prouidence nor yeeld any acceptable obedience to his commandements vnlesse we beleeue his word More particularly we are to obserue that special branch of Gods word which the Diuell would haue Christ not to beleeue euen that voice of his Father which a little before Christ heard from heauen at his baptisme This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased And this hath the holy Ghost recorded in great wisedome and mercie to Gods Church for heereby doth appeare a main drift of Satan against Christs members in his temptations namely to make them doubt of their adoption and to destroy this perswasion in them that they are the sonnes and daughters of God for if heerein he spared not the head doubtlesse the members shall not escape his hands This appeares by his vsual assault against them specially when God shall lay vpon them any lingring crosse or affliction either in mind in body or in goods then the diuel will suggest this into their minds If thou werst the childe of God he would neuer lay his hand vpon thee so long a time and in so grieuous maner neuer was any child of God in this case that thou art in But God laies his hand thus heauie on thee and therefore thou maiest perswade thy selfe that thou art not the child of God The vse The consideration heereof must mooue vs aboue all things to labour for assurance of our adoption euen to haue our consciences assured out of Gods word that we are the sonnes and daughters of God in Christ. The diuels drift is to ouerthrow this perswasion in vs and therefore our endeuour must be to confirme and settle our hearts heerein This is the charge of the holy Ghost vpon euerie childe of God 2. Pet. 1. 10. Giue all diligence to make your calling and election sure that is get the assurance thereof sealed vp in your hearts by the comfortable fruition and practise of the sauing graces of Gods spirit ioyning vertue with your faith and with your vertue knowledge with your knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and with brotherly kindnesse loue vers 5. 6. 7. And indeed if we would haue true peace and comfort in euery estate whether aduersity or prosperitie let vs labour for the knowledge of our adoption This will be our ioy in want in wealth in bondage in freedome in sicknesse in health in life and in death Heerein is that ioy of Christ which neuer can be taken from vs Ioh. 16. 22. We cannot doe the Diuell a greater pleasure then to neglect the getting of this assurance for heereupon he will take occasion specially in time of distresse fearefully dangerously to seeke to breake the necke of our soules he cares not much otherwaies what men professe and what knowledge and other common giftes of the spirit they haue
to meane outward diuine worship as if hee should say Thou shalt religiously submit bow or prostrate thy body vnto God in praier or thanksgiuing thereby testifying that thou hast deuoted thy heart and soule vnto him not onely conceiuing him to be the diuine essence omnipotent infinite c. but also that thou doest rest and relie on him as on thy Creator who doth blesse thee with all good things and preserue thee from all euill Besides this worship Christ doth mention a seruing of God which being distinguished from worship must needs import some other thing Seruice in generall is nothing else but the giuing and performing of obedience to the commandement of another This seruice is twofold absolute or in part Absolute seruice is when a man obeies the commandement of another without any condition or exception and that not only in body outwardly but in soule and conscience in thought will affection And this absolute seruice is proper to God alone for wee must neuer call his commandements into question but looke what God commands and as hee commands it so must we simply and absolutely yeeld obedience thereto not only outwardly in body but inwardly in soule and spirit with the powers and faculties thereof and in all the affections of our heart Seruice in part is that which is due to gouernours and superiors from their inferiours in the Lord for God hath giuen power to magistrates heere on earth to make lawes for the good of ciuil estates in yeelding obediēce wherunto their inferiors must doe them seruice yet not absolutely but with restraint to wit in the Lord so far foorth as their commands agree with the wil of God and crosse not his command Againe our obedience vnto them is in body and outward conuersation indeed we must from the heart yeeld seruice and obedience vnto them but yet the conscience properly cannot bee bound by mens lawes they only concerne the outward man in speech gesture and behauiour Now of these two kinds of seruice our Sauior Christ speaketh here of simple and absolute seruice whereby both soule and body with all the powers and parts thereof yeeld absolute obedience and subiection to the will and commandement of God Wee see what worship and seruice is heere required Now wee must obserue the person to whom the same is to be giuen in these words The Lord thy God Diuine worship whether inward or outward and absolute seruice of the whole man must be giuen to no creature Angell or man be they neuer so excellent but to the true God alone The scope and drift of the first and second commandements is to bind euery man to giue so much to his God and to beware of giuing the same to any other besides the Lord. And the practise of the good Angell that talked with Iohn doth shew the same thing for when Iohn fell before his feet to worship him the Angell said see thou do it not worship God Where we see the good angels do striue for the furtherance of Gods right in these duties howsoeuer this wicked spirit tempting Christ doth heerein seeke Gods great disgrace And thus we may perceiue that Christs applying of this text against Satans temptation is most pregnant for Satan requiring of Christ the prostrating of his body before the Diuell in token that he did worship him as the giuer of those kingdomes which he offered vnto Christ is iustly repulsed by this text which bindeth euery man to giue outward diuine worship whereby the inward worship of the heart is signified to God alone and not to any creature Heere then we may learne that it is not lawfull to giue to Saint or Angel or any creature whatsoeuer outward diuine worship or adoration whereby the inward deuotion of the heart is testified This text is plaine to the contrary and the reason we haue heard because diuine prostrating of the body to any thing is a testification that we ascribe diuinity vnto it some way which without the guilt of idolatrie cannot bee done to any creature for let a man worship Saint or Angell by praier or thanksgiuing and therein he doth ascribe vnto them some propriety of the diuine nature as to know the heart to be able to heare to helpe or such like The Papists heere say they doe not thinke the Saints to whom they pray to be God neither do they worship them as God But this will helpe them little for the Diuell mouing Christ to yeeld vnto him outward diuine worship neuer meant that Christ should adore him for God but onely desired that by this outward adoration of prostrating his body before him Christ would acknowledge him to be the giuer of those kingdomes for he durst not be so bold as absolutely to desire to be worshipped for God and yet Christ tels him that outward diuine worship euen in respect of the acknowledgement of such a gift is proper to God alone And yet the church of Rome do giue vnto Saints that which the Diuell demands and Christ denies by appropriating it vnto God for they make seuerall saints deliuerers and protectors from seuerall diseases and dangers as the Virgin Mary from shipwracke S. Roch from the pestilence Raphael from sore aies Apollonia from the tooth-ach And Catharine for al maner of afflictions Yea they make them patrons and protectours of whole countries and kingdomes as Saint Iames for Spaine Saint Denis for France Saint Patricke for Ireland c. Now sith many a one may giue a kingdome that cannot defend it let all men iudge whether they doe not giue more vnto Saints than Satan demanded to be acknowledged vnto him by our Sauiour Christ yea they make them intercessours for the procuring of the sauour of God and life euerlasting they call the Virgin Mary the Queene of Heauen and pray to her that by the authority of a mother she would command her sonne to heare their praiers which is to make Christ a punie and vnderling vnto her which are greater matters then the disposing of earthly kingdomes Heere they say that they may do that to the glorious saints in heauen which is done to earthly Princes for men adore them and in their absence fall downe before their chaire of estate Answ. The adoration giuen to Princes is but a ciuill acknowledgement of their preheminence and kneeling before their chaire of estate is only a ciuil testimony of loyaltie and subiection it is not directed to the Princes person being absent but only serueth to testifie his subiection to that authoritie and power which is set ouer him in the Lord there is no diuine propriety ascribed by either of these vnto the person or authority of the Prince But now in bowing down to pray to Saints there is religious adoration giuen them for therein be ascribed vnto them these diuine properties that they can know the heart heare and helpe afarre off pray for them in particular and such
vnto his Church and children not onely in bestowing heauen and earth vpon them but euen giuing his glorious Angels to become ministring spirits for their protection defence comfort II. This their ministery must admonish vs to carry our selues reuerently and holily in all maner of conuersation If we were in the presence of an earthly Prince oh how carefull would we be to our behauiour both for words actions Much more then should the presence and attendance of Gods glorious angels who pitch their tents about vs if we be Gods children make vs circumspect to all our waies and the rather because their ministery is for our comfort and protection while wee keepe our selues in the straight waies of God II. point Their number It is not said one Angel but angels came and ministred vnto him Indeed when hee was in his Agonie in the garden a little before his passion one Angell came and ministred comfort vnto him so that sometime one sometime moe attended on him euen as the euill spirits come to tempt sometime one alone as Satan did heere to Christ and somtimes moe as they did when he was vpon the Crosse. And as it befell Christ so doth it to Gods children they haue somtime one good Angell to attend vpon them and sometime many so likewise haue they sometime one euill spirit to assault them and somtimes many as the man in whom the legion was And heereby falleth to the ground this common opinion that euery man hath one good Angell and one bad attending vpon him the one to protect him the other to tempt him But this opinion doth not wel stand with the tenour of the scripture which thus sets out the state of men in regard of his attendance by Angels that there are somtimes moe about him and somtime fewer whether we speake of good Angels or of euill spirits III Point The time when these good Angels came and ministred vnto Christ is noted in this word Then that is when the Diuel had done all he could against our Sauiour Christ they came not in the time of his assaults but when Satan had ended his temptations and was gone There is no doubt but the good Angels were alwaies about our Sauior Christ attending on his blessed person but at this time it is like they tooke vpon them some visible shape that so their ministery might be the more comfortable vnto him as it is like the diuel appeared in some shape for Christs greater terrour in his temptations In this circumstance of time we may obserue a worke of Gods prouidence which he pleaseth to exercise in the time of temptation vpon his owne children to wit for a time to hide his mercy from them withdrawing the sensible feeling of his fauour Thus he dealt with his beloued some Christ Iesus during the time of Satans violent temptations he concealed from him the sensible assistance of the ministerie of his Angels they shew not themselues till Satan is departed And so fareth it many times with Gods deere children vpon whom he bestowes the good graces of his spirit as a nourcing-mother to try the affection of her childe will sometime hid her selfe from it leaue it alone and suffer it to take a knocke or a fall so wil the Lord leaue his children to themselues conceale from them the signes of his fauour suffering them to be buffered in temptation for a time that they may find thereby what they are in themselues without Gods grace and by feeling the bitternesse of that estate the more to hunger and thirst after his grace and fauour the more ioifully and thankfully to embrace it when it is renued and the more carefully to keepe it all the daies of their life What made Dauid to accompt so highly of the courts of Gods house as that he esteemed the silly birds happy that might build their nests by Gods altar but his banishment thence by the persecution of Saul wherin hee was constrained to remaine in Meshech and to dwell in the tents of Kedar And so when the people of God were in Babell remembring Zion they wept oh then let my right hand forget to play if I forget thee O serusalem let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth if I prefer not Ierusalem to my chiefe ioy But vnto many this doctrine of temptations will seeme to small purpose nay altogether needlesse for that they neuer felt any such conflicts with the Diuell they defie him from their harts and they trust to God neuer to be troubled with him this is the common estate of most men those onlie excepted who haue felt how hard a thing it is truly to repent and beleeue thus to blesse themselues in a carnall peace but sillie soules they know not their owne hearts nor the fearfull case in which they stand for all the true members of Christ must be made conformable vnto their head now he was consecrated the prince of their saluation through afflictions Heb. 2. 10 his soule was heauie vnto the death before he could finish the worke of our life yea he is tempted by Satan before he is comforted by the Angels those therefore that were neuer tempted haue yet no fellowship in his afflictions they haue not begunne any conformitie with Christ so as it is like they are still bondslaues vnto Satan for if they had escaped out of his snare they should feele his assaults to get them in againe in regard heereof the childe of God is constrained to buckle hard with Satan in temptation and to pray many a time to be deliuered from his buffeting And indeed howsoeuer for the present this be not ioyous yet they may count it exceeding great gladnesse as the Apostle saith not onely for this triall of their faith which bringeth forth patience but also because herein they become like vnto Christ in his humiliation which may giue them assurance that they shall be like him in glorie for if we be dead with Christ we shall also liue with him and if we suffer we shall also raigne with him Adde further that these men that neuer felt the assault of Satan are as yet vnder a most fearfull iudgment of God in hardnesse of heart When Christ sedde fiue thousand men with fiue loaues and two fishes he distributed it by the hands of his disciples But after it is said they perceiued not this matter of the loaues and this reason is rendred because their harts were hardned vers 52. And so it is with them that neuer feele the temptations of Satan for he goeth about continually like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure as they whose hearts are not hardned do well perceiue To conclude therefore let these men who yet neuer felt in themselues these assaults of Satan vnfainedly endeuour to change the course of their liues by the practise of true repentance in eschewing euill and doing good let them giue themselues sincerely to the exercise