Phile. Cast the eyes of your• mind with strong faith on the seed of the woman, which hath trodden down the serpents head, and destroyed his power, as he sayeth by ⟨p. 353⟩the Prophet:1 O hell, I will be thy destruction,2 which by death hath put him to flight that had Lordship over death, even the Devil, that he might deliver them, which through fear of death were all their life time subdued unto bondage, which also (as the Apostle saith) hath spoiled rule & power,3 & hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.4 So shall you be sure to escape his grievous assaults. For the Son of God appeared for this purpose, even to destroy the works of the Devil. Christ was figured by that brazen serpent, which God commanded Moses to set up in the wilderness, adding this promise unto it,5 that whosoever being stricken of the fiery Serpents did look on that, he should be healed. After this manner, is it between Christ and ⟨p. 354⟩us. If that fiery serpent the devil hath stricken and wounded us, let us look upon Christ with strong faith, and we shall surely for Gods promise sake be made whole, as Christ him self testifieth, saying: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness:6 so must the son of man be lifted up, that all that believe on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For god sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. If Satan therefore hath either wounded you already, or else goeth about so to do, fear not, repair unto Christ, look on him with the eyes of your faith, so shall you be free from his venomous chaws. For as you are now tempted,7 so were all godly men, but they overcame the tempter through strong faith in Christ. Therefore saith s. Peter. ⟨p. 355⟩Be ye sober and watch, for your adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring Lion,8 seeing whom he may devour, whom resist ye strong in faith.9 Saint John also saith, this is the victory, which overcometh the world even our faith. Not only all godly & faithful men were tempted, but also our saviour Christ.10 And this is a great comfort for us. For in that it fortuned him self to be tempted,11 he is able to succour them, also that are tempted. Christ being tempted, overcame his temptations to get us the victory over the tempter.12 His triumph is our victory, and his victory is our triumph.
Phile. Cast the eies of your• mind with strong faith on the sed• of the woman, which hath trode• downe the serpents head, and destroyed his power, as he saieth by ⟨p. 353⟩the Prophet:1 O hel, I wyll be thy destruction,2 which by death hath put him to flight that had Lordeshippe ouer death, euen the Deuill, that he might deliuer them, whiche throughe feare of death were all their lyfe tyme subdued vnto bondage, whiche also (as the Apostle saith) hath spoyled rule & power,3 & hath made a shew of thē openly, and hath triumphed ouer them in his own persone.4 So shal you be sure to escape his greuous assaultes. For the sonne of God apeared for this purpose, euen to destroy the workes of the Deuill. Christ was figured by that brasen serpent, which God commaūded Moses to set vp in the wildernes, adding this promise vnto it,5 that whosoeuer beyng stricken of the firy Serpentes did loke on that, he shoulde be healed. After this maner, is it betwene Christe and ⟨p. 354⟩vs. If that firy serpent the deuill hath striken and wounded vs, let vs loke vpon Christ with stronge faith, and we shal surely for Gods promise sake be made whole, as Christe him selfe testifieth, saying: As Moyses lyfted vp the serpent in the wildernes:6 so must the son of man be lyfted vp, that all that beleue on hym should not peryshe, but haue euerlasting life. For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde, but that the world shold be saued through him. If Sathan therfore hath either wounded you already, or els goeth about so to do, feare not, repare vnto Christ, loke on him with the eies of your faithe, so shall you be fre from his venomus chause. For as you are nowe tempted,7 so were al godly men, but they ouercame ye tēpter through strōg faith in Christ. Therfore saith s. Peter.
- 1Osc. xiii.
- 2Hebr. ii.
- 3Collo•. i.
- 4i. John. iii.i. Iohn. iii.
- 5Num. xxi.
- 6John. iii.Iohn. iii.
- 7Hebr. xi.
- 8i. Pet. v.
- 9i. John. vi. Iohn. v
- 10Math. iiii.
- 11Hebr. ii.
- 12Note.
