The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

so when temptations come so strongly and s•ily, that it is above reason, then the adversary abuseth our weakness, our own temptations come more remissly & easily: but when these temptations hale us more violently, then we fight not with flesh alone, but with spiritual adversaries. In the book of Exod. mention is made of a spirit of jealousy, which is more then natural jealousy. In the book of Judges, an evil spirit was between Abimelech, & the Sechemites, which was more then frailty of the flesh. In the Gospel mention is made of an unclean spirit returning with 7. spirits more; so that the pulling of our affection is of Satan, ⟨p. 313⟩as Christ said of Satan's operation to Peter, that Satan sought to sift him and to deal with him: and indeed Satan did so daunt and circumvent him, that he spake he knew not what; so that this fell not only on the wicked, but on the godly: as Satan so bewitched David in understanding, that he made him to number his people. Hereof it is that we pray not to be led into temptation, because though I am well purposed, yet so many vain reasons rage in us, and forcibly draw us another way, that we may see somewhat more than nature. Likewise when we shall without any object be carried away with some affection so strongly, that though our life lay on it, we cannot contain our selves. When Paul, Ephes 5 biddeth us be angry without sin, he showeth, that there is a natural affection without sin: but because our affections are without rule and mixed with sin, he saith, i• so doing we give place to the devil. So that there is a great difference between a natural anger, and a carnal sinful anger, which besides the instinct of nature is wrought by Satan. And therefore as it is good to stop the first breaches in banks for fear of further danger; so it is good to murder the first motions of sin by the word, prayer, fasting, and admonition, least giving the sway to our affections they overrun and overflow us throughly, and so we are carried to strange and furious sins. Wherefore first we are to be thankful, that we may know how to prevent sin (for we may soon let in a guest which we cannot well let out again) and we must labour to repress such raging evils.

so when temptations come so strongly and s•ily, that it is aboue reason, then the aduersarie abuseth our weaknes, our owne tēptations come more remissely & easily: but whē these temptations hale vs more violētly, then we fight not with flesh alone, but with spiritual aduersaries. In the book of Exod. mētion is made of a spirit of jealozie, which is more then natural jealozie. In the booke of Iudges, an euill spirit was betweene Abimelech, & the Sechemites, which was more then frailtie of the flesh. In the Gospell mention is made of an vnclean spirit returning with 7. spirits more; so that the pulling of our affection is of Satan,