away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way If we let loose our senses without a guard we soon contract a deadness of Heart There is nothing so soon led away as the eye it is the broaker between the Heart and the object the eye gazeth and the heart lusteth this is the window by which Satan hath crept in and all manner of taint hath been conveyed into the soul. In the first sin Eve was corrupted this way Gen. 3. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes c. She took of the fruit thereof and did eat Gazing on the fruit with delight her heart was insnared We read of Potiphars Wife she cast her eyes on Ioseph Gen. 39. 7. Achan Iosh. 7. 21. When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight then I coveted them and took them First he saw then he coveted then he took them then he hid them then Israel falls and he is attached by lot so it is said of Sechem and Dinah Gen. 34. 2. He saw her and took her and lay with her and defiled her So of Sampson Iudges 16. 1. He went to Gaza and saw there an Harlot and went in unto her David was ensnared by his eyes 2 Sam. 11. 2. From the roof he saw a woman washing her self and the woman was very beautiful to look upon Naboths Vineyard was ever in Ahabs eye as being near his Palace therefore he is troubled and falls sick for it 1 King 21. 1 2. Now because so many have been betrayed by their senses the devil taketh this way to tempt Christ as knowing this is the next way to the heart 4. He taketh him into an high Mountain that he might look far and near and see the more Provinces Cities and Kingdoms to move him the more The devil was sensible that small things were not to be offered to Christ and therefore dresseth out the temptation in as glorious a manner as he can The chapman of souls is grown thrifty of late he doth not offer all the Kingdoms of the Earth and the glory thereof he knoweth that we will accept of less with thanks The devil buyeth many at a very easie price he needeth not carry them so high as the Mountain they are contented with a little gain that is got by a fraudulent bargain in the shop if we stand in our window or at our doors we meet with temptations enough to carry us away He needeth not come with Kingdoms or with the glory of all the World thirty pence the price of a slave is enough to make Iudas betray his master Matt. 26. 15. and the Prophet telleth us of some that will transgress for handfulls of Barley and pieces of Bread Ezek. 13. 19. and those pretended Prophets too making God the Author and maintainer of their lyes and deceits and again of those that respect persons whether Magistrates or Ministers Prov. 28. 21. To have respect of persons is not good for for a piece of bread will that man transgress and another Prophet telleth us of those that sell the poor for a pair of shooes Amos 2. 6. and 8. 6. Those will take any price And the Apostle saith of Esau Heb. 12. 16. For one morsel of meat he sold his birth-right So that the devil may abate a great deal of what he offered Christ he need not say to such you shall have all these things nay hold you you shall have this petty gain that slight pleasure and carnal satisfaction It is a wonder to consider what small things make up a temptation to many yea to most The World is so corrupt that they will violate Conscience with a small hire We are not tempted with great things less will serve the turn But the devil knew that small matters were no temptation to Christ therefore he carryeth him to the Mountain that he might see the glory of all the earth to make the temptation the more strong 5. He sheweth him the Kingdoms of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 4. 5. In a moment of time that circumstance is not to be passed over When many objects and glorious come together of a sudden they do the more surprize us Therefore the more to affect Christ with the splendor of these things and on a sudden to prevail upon him which otherwise he was not likely to do he did not represent the glory of these Kingdoms of the World to Christ that he might see them one after another but all together that there might be less time for consideration that so his mind might be the more blinded by the appearing splendor of the tempting object and his heart the more captivated thereby Diverse things seen in one view do more surprize us than if viewed by a leisurely contemplation alass We are sometimes overborn by the violence of a temptation sometimes overtaken by the suddenness of it Gal. 6. 1. Brethren if one be overtaken in a fault 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inconsiderately and suddenly surprized by a sin We do many things preposterously and in haste which we repent of by leisure Thus the devil thought to surprize Christ but he was aware of him 6. In other temptations the tempter doth only ask a thing to be done but here he doth ask and promise things glorious profitable and pleasing to carnal sense and such as seem every way desirable The offers of gain and glory are promised to the temptation 7. He craveth but one thing a very small thing and this under the hope of the greatest advantage One act of external adoration easie to be performed if Christ would but kneel to him not as supream God an inferiour adoration would have contented him yeild but a little do but fall down and worship it shall be enough As the Heathens of old said to the Christians Do but touch the Censer The commendation of Gods servants was that they had not bowed the knee to Baal Rom. 11. 4. The devil knoweth if he can get us to a little he shall get us to more and the least reverence is too much to such an impure Spirit Secondly The Observations I. Observe from that Again the Devil taketh him That we must expect not only to be tempted but to be often tempted Satan hath both his wiles and darts Eph. 6. 11 16. He sometimes assaulteth us with the one sometimes with the other Therefore 1. Be not secure but watch and stand upon your defence It is a careless Soul that can sleep in so great a danger There is yet a malicious tempting Devil alive who would sift you as wheat Luk. 22. 31. and somewhat within you which would betray you to him if you be not wary and you may meet with such snares as you have not yet met withal 2. Be not overmuch troubled and dejected if you be assaulted afresh
hinder them yet he directeth them for good to his people Therefore that power that Satan hath is not given but permitted not absolute but limited It is a lye that Satan can give these things at pleasure see these Scriptures Ps. 24. 1. The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof the World and they that dwell therein Dan. 2. 21. He changeth the times and the seasons he removeth Kings and setteth up Kings and verse 37. The God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom Power and Strength and Glory All the alterations that are in the Earth are of the Lord he pulleth down and raiseth up as seemeth good unto him Therefore this power of disposing Kingdoms belongeth unto God 2. That the Son of God is the right Heir of the World Heb. 1. 2. Whom he hath appointed Heir of all things To whom the Nations are given Psal. 2. 8. Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession Matth. 28. 18. All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth And therefore it was impudence in him to arrogate this power and to promise these things to the Lord which were his before 3. Though this was a lye yet here is the colour of the lye God permitteth that men sometimes by indirect means to become great in Honour and Dignity in this World all which are done by the instinct of Satan and his help And evil men often succeed in their attempts and from hence Satan is called the Prince of this World Iohn 12. 31. Now shall the Prince of this World be cast out Iohn 14. 30. The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me Iohn 16. 11. Of Iudgment because the Prince of this World is judged Yea Paul goeth higher and calleth him the God of this World 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not but this is by usurpation not just right And the devils are called Eph. 6. 12. The rulers of the darkness of this World as the wicked consent to his Empire and evil suggestions But all this implyeth but a limitted and restrained Kingdom and the devils impudence and falshood lyeth in this that he interprets Gods permission for a commission his connivance for a conveyance Indeed there are two lyes in the devils offer one assertory as if the power and glory of the World were at his disposal the other promissory as if he would invest Christ in the full and peaceable possession thereof whereas indeed he went about to divest and dispossess the Son of God of his right or to tempt him to do a thing contrary to his Kingdom for he knew the abasement of Christ was the way to his glory the cause of mans happiness and the ruine of the Kingdom of the devil therefore he seeketh to prevent this by these magnificent promises 2. The Postulation or demand if thou wilt fall down and worship me Here the devil appeareth in his own likeness Before it was if thou be the Son of God now it is fall down and worship me Before he appeared as a Friend to advise him in his hunger then as a Divine to instruct him how to discover himself as the Messiah now as a plain usurper of Gods Worship And he demands but one act of prostration such as was given to the Kings of the East and the Jews in that manner did Worship God Therefore this was the vilest and most blasphemous suggestion which Satan could devise that the Son of God should stoop to Gods Rebell Here we see the devil not only importunate but impudent 2. The grievousness of the temptation that will appear in these considerations 1. Because it was represented in a matter grateful and pleasing It was unnecessary to turn stones into bread dangerous to throw himself down from a pinnacle of the Temple but it might seem sweet and grateful to behold the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof for surely the glory of the World is a bewitching object and would much move a carnal heart and therefore he produceth this tempting object and sets it before Christ himself Mark he shewed him the glory only not the burdens the labours the cares those storms of jealousie and envy which those encounter with who are at top This way did he now chuse wherewith to assault Christ. Had he really represented the World with all the vexations attending it the temptation had not been so great but he sheweth the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof the bait not the hook he talketh highly of small things commendeth what is pleasing but hideth the bitter of these luscious sweets he offereth Christ the glory of the Kingdoms of the World but dissembleth the cares the troubles the dangers Alass we see the best side of those that live in Courts their gorgious apparel their costly entertainments their power and greatness but their fears of being depressed by superiors jusled by equals undermined by inferiors are hidden from us Therefore the temptation was dexteroufly managed by the devil in that he shewed him the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof Temptations of the right hand are more dangerous than those of the left hand 2. He sheweth the bait before he offereth the temptation that the World might speak for him before he spake for himself and prepared the mind of Christ by this bewitching object before he cometh either with his offer or demand and then afterwards before he maketh his demand he premiseth his offer all these things will I give thee the offer is made before the spiteful condition is mentioned Observe the different methods of Christ and Satan Satan maketh shew of glory first but Christ of the Cross Satan offereth the benefit before he seemeth to require the service as here he doth first offer and then ask but fallaciously for indeed he requireth a present Act but only promiseth a future compensation I will give thee all these things Christs telleth us the worst at first Matth. 16. 24. If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me The issue sheweth the fraud of the tempter and the misery of those poor deluded souls who hearken to him On the contrary the sincerity of our Lord and the happyness of those that obey him will soon appear The devil will have all payed before he part with any thing no Worship no Glory But I am carryed too far my purpose was only to shew his dexterity and cunning how he sets a colour upon sin before he mentions it by glorious promises and the manifold pleasure and profit which comes by it 3. He doth not seek to move him by naked Words but by the sight of the thing it self Objects move the senses senses draw away the mind nor are they the Porters of the soul so much as the corrupters Ps. 119. 37. Turn
1. 24. All flesh is grass and the glory thereof as the flower of the grass David saith Psal. 119. 86. I have seen an end of all perfection It is good often to intermingle these serious thoughts of the frailty of all sublunary injoyments to keep us modest in what we have or desire to have that we may not be blinded with the delusions of the Flesh and inchanted with an admiration of worldly Felicity 2. As the devil seeketh to open the eye of sense so must we open the eye of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 18. We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Things unseen must be every day greatened in our Eyes that all our pursuit after things seen may be subordinated to our desires of and labour after things unseen There we must see the greatest Reality or else we have not the true Christian Faith Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen It is such an evidence of the worth and reality of the unseen Glory as draweth off the heart from things seen which are so pleasing to the flesh Faith sets it before the eye of the soul in the Promises of the Gospel Heb. 6. 18. Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Heb. 12. 2. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross c. 2. As he dealeth with us by Promise Every thing we hope to get by sin is a kind of promise or offer of the devil to us As suppose by unconscionable dealing in our Calling Here consider two things 1. The falsity of the Devils Promises 2. The truth and stability of Gods Promises 1. The falsity of Satans Promises Either he giveth not what he promised as he promised our first Parents to be as Gods Gen. 3. 5. Ye shall be as Gods And what ensued Psal. 49. 12. Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish degraded to the Beasts as the brutish and bestial nature prevailed in him when he fell from God Or else if we have them we were better be without them we have them with a Curse with the loss of better things Ier. 17. 13. Oh Lord all that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth They are condemned to this felicity we have them with stings of Conscience Matth. 27. 4 5. I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood and he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple and went and hanged himself which are most quick and sensible when we come to dye Ier. 17. 11. He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool Now rise up in Indignation against the Temptation shall I fell my birthright Lose my fatness to rule over the trees As the olive Tree in Iotham's Parable Iudges 9. 9. 2. The Sufficiency and Stability of Gods Promises 1. Sufficiency Gen. 17. 1. I am the almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness is profitable for all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come of heaven and of Earth Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be added to you It may be you have less than those that indulge themselves in all manner of shifts and wiles but you shall have enough not to be left wholly destitute Heb. 13. 5. He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And you shall have it with contentment Prov. 15. 6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble And better is a little with righteousness then great revennes with sin Prov. 16. 8. And you have it so as not to lose other things 2. Stability 2 Cor. 1. 20. All the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen And Heb. 6. 18. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have strong consolation c. Psal. 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever they are the rejoycing of my heart 4. Observe Fall down The Pride of the Devil he sinneth from the beginning 1 Ioh. 3. 8. The sin of Pride was fatal to him at first and the cause of those Chains of darkness in which now he is held yet still he sinneth the same sin he requireth Adoration and would be admitted into a Partnership of Divine Worship He obtained it from Pagans and Idolaters not from Christ. The Angel deprecates and detests it Rev. 19. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him and he said unto me see thou do it not for I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus worship thou God So Rev. 22. 9. I fell down to worship before the face of the angel that shewed me these things and he said to me see thou do it not for I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren the prophets and of them that keep the sayings of this book worship God Paul when the Priests at Lycaonia were about to sacrifice to him Acts 14. 14 15. When the Apostles heard of it they rent their clothes and run in among the people crying out and saying Sirs why do you these things we also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God But the evil Angels they are apt to invade the right of God SERMON VI. MATTH 4. 10. Then saith Iesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve THirdly Christ's Answer and Reply which is double I. By way of Rebuke Defiance and bitter Reprehension Get thee hence Satan II. By way of Confutation For it is written c. 1. The Rebuke sheweth Christs Indignation against Idolatry Get thee hence Satan This was not to be endured Twice Christ useth this form of Speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Satan tempting him to Idolatry here and when his servant disswaded him from suffering Mat. 16. 23. Get thee behind me satan for thou art an offence to me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men This suggestion intrenched or touched upon the Glory of God the other upon his love to Mankind and Christ could endure neither Satan is commanded out of his Presence with Indignation The same zeal we see in his servants in Moses in case of Idolatry Exod. 32. 19. He brake the Tables So in case of contradiction to the Faith of Christ Paul taketh up Elimas Acts 13. 10.