Satan's sophistry answered by our Saviour Christ and in divers sermons further manifested /…Satans sophistrie ansuuered by our Sauiour Christ and in diuers sermons further manifested /…
Satan's sophistry answered by our Saviour Christ and in divers sermons further manifested / by that worthy man Master William Perkins ; to which is added, a comfort for the feeble minded, wherein is set down the temptations of a Christian.Satans sophistrie ansuuered by our Sauiour Christ and in diuers sermons further manifested / by that worthy man Maister William Perkins ; to which is added, a comfort for the feeble minded, wherein is set downe the temptations of a Christian.
William Perkins 1558–1602London: printed by Richard Field for E.E., 1604
[16], 186 p. · 43k words · STC 19747.7 · ESTC S4051
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus a Christian mans diet is more sour than sweet: his physic is more aloes then honey: his life is more a pilgrimage then a progress: & his death is more despised then honoured. This if men would think of before, afflictions would be as welcome to the soul of man, asd afflicted Ruth was to the field of Boaz. But because we look not for them before they come, think not on Gods doing when they are come, and do desire to be happy both here and hereafter: therefore we can away with the name of Naomi, but in no case would we be callede Mara. Wef see the sea, not the whale: theg Egyptian, not the salvation: the hLions mouth, not him that stoppeth the Lions mouth. If we could see God in our troubles, asi Elisha did in his, then would we say: There are more with us, then there are against us. But because we do not, therefore at every assault of the Assyrians, we say, as the servant tok Elisha did: Alas master, what shall we do? and with the disciples: lCarest thou not master that we perish? Yet it is good for us to suffer affliction.m Blessed is ⟨image 5⟩the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. It isa commanded by God,b
trees, we shall grow better by pruning: Gods pomander, smell better by rubbing: Gods spice, be more profitable by bruising: and Gods conduits, we are the better by running. Let us suffer afflictions, they are
favours, if we respect Gods love, and a means to bring us to the kingdom of God. If they did consume us, we might wish them an end: but they do purge us, let us be content. They
cords, we are Gods sacrifice: they are Gods furnace, we are Gods gold. The wheat will not be good without the fan, nor the meal without the bolter, nor the bush without the flame, nor the sacrifice without the cords, nor the gold without the furnace: they are trials, not punishments, if we be sons: punishments, not trials, if we be slaves. Let us then bear them, they
Thus a Christian mans diet is more sowre thē sweet: his physicke is more aloes then honie: his life is more a pilgrimage then a progresse: & his death is more despised then honoured. This if men would thinke of before, afflictions would be as welcom to the soule of man, asd afflicted Ruth was to the field of Boaz. But because we looke not for them before they come, think not on Gods doing when they are come, and do desire to be happie both here and hereafter: therfore we can away with the name of Naomi, but in no case would we be callede Mara. Wef see the sea, not the whale: theg Egyptian, not the saluation: the hLions mouth, not him that stoppeth the Lions mouth. If we could see God in our troubles, asi Elisha did in his, then would we say: There are more with vs, then there are against vs. But because we do not, therefore at euery assault of the Assyrians, we say, as the seruant tok Elishah did: Alas maister, what shall we do? and with the disciples: lCarest thou not maister that we perish? Yet it is good for vs to suffer affliction.m Blessed is ⟨image 5⟩the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receiue the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to thē that loue him. It isa commanded by God,b practised by Christ, cyeelded to by the Saints,d assigned by Gods prouidence, and good for vs each way. We are Gods etrees, we shall grow better by pruning: Gods pomander, smell better by rubbing: Gods spice, be more profitable by bruising: and Gods conduits, we are the better by running. Let vs suffer afflictions, they aref momentanie in respect of time: gfauors, if we respect Gods loue, and a meanes to bring vs to the kingdome of God. If they did consume vs, we might wish them an end: but they do purge vs, let vs be content. Theyh are Gods fan, we are Gods wheate: they are Gods boulter, we are Gods meale: they are Godsi flame, we are Gods bush: they are Godsk cords, we are Gods sacrifice: they are Gods f•rnace, we are Gods gold. The wheate will not be good without the fan, nor the meale without the bolter, nor the bush without the flame, nor the sacrifice without the cords, nor the gold without the fornace: they are trials, not punishments, if we be sons: punishments, not trials, if we be slaues. Let vs then beare thē, they lwill haue an end: ioym will follow: theyn shew vs our weaknesse: theyo moue vs to pray: theyp shew we are in the path way to heauen:
andq make us ⟨image 6⟩contemn this present world. By them wea learn to repent us of sin past,b to take heed of sin present, and to foresee sin to come. By them wec receive Gods spirit,d are like to Christ: are acquainted ewith Gods power: havef joy in deliverance: know benefit of prosperity: made more hardy to suffer: andg have cause to practise many excellent virtues. They cause us (as one saith) to seek out Gods promise: the promise to seek faith: faith to seek prayer: and prayer to find God.h Seek, and ye shall find:i call, and he will answer:k wait, & he will come. I am to write an Epistle, I must not be long. Jobsl messengers came not so fast on him: but Jobs afflictions may come as fast upon us. Hath David slainm a Bear? he shall encounter with a Lion: hath he killed a Lion?n he must fight with Goliath: hath he subdued Goliath? he must make a r•ad upon the Philistines: are the Philistines conquered?o Saul will assault him. Remember Davids troubles, and foresee what may be our troubles. The more righteous we are, the more manifold are our troubles: and the better we are, the better we may endure them.
andq make vs ⟨image 6⟩contemne this present world. By them wea learn to repent vs of sin past,b to take heed of sinne present, and to foresee sin to come. By them wec receiue Gods spirit,d are like to Christ: are acquainted ewith Gods power: hauef ioy in deliuerance: know benefite of prosperitie: made more hardie to suffer: andg haue cause to practise many excellent vertues. They cause vs (as one saith) to seeke out Gods promise: the promise to seeke faith: faith to seeke prayer: and prayer to find God.h Seeke, and ye shall find:i call, and he will answer:k waite, & he wil come. I am to write an Epistle, I must not be long. Iobsl messengers came not so fast on him: but Iobs afflictions may come as fast vpō vs. Hath Dauid slainem a Bere? he shall encounter with a Lion: hath he killed a Lion?n he must fight with Goliah: hath he subdued Goliah? he must make a r•ad vpon the Philistims: are the Philistims conquered?o Saul wil assault him. Remēber Dauids troubles, and foresee what may be our troubles. The more righteous we are, the more manifold are our troubles: and the better we are, the better we may indure them.
But as our troubles are many, so are our deliverances many: God will deliver us out of all. He that deliveredp Noah from the flood,q L•t from Sodom, rJacob from Esau,s Joseph from Potiphar, ⟨image 6⟩Moses from Pharaoh,abIsrael from Egypt,c David from Saul,d Elijah from Ahab,e Elisha from the Syrians,f Naaman from his leprosy,g Hezekiah from the plague,h the three children from the fire,i Daniel from the Lions,k Joseph from Herod, the Apostlesl from the Jews,m and Christ from the Devil: he, even he will either deliver us from trouble, or comfort us in trouble, or mitigate troubles when they come upon us.
But as our troubles are many, so are our deliuerances many: God will deliuer vs out of all. He that deliueredp Noah frō the floud,q L•t frō Sodome, rIacob from Esau,s Ioseph from Potiphar, ⟨image 6⟩Moses from Pharaoh,abIsraell frō Egypt,c Dauid from Saul,d Eliah from Acab,e Elysha from the Syrians,f Naaman from his leprosie,g Hezechiah from the plague,h the three children from the fire,i Daniel from the Lions,k Ioseph from Herod, the Apostlesl from the Iewes,m and Christ from the Diuell: he, euen he will either deliuer vs frō trouble, or comfort vs in trouble, or mitigate troubles when they come vpon vs.
He,n he hath promised to do it, and he that hath promised, is able to do it. And this he doth sometimes by no means, sometimes by small means, sometimes by ordinary means, sometimes by extraordinary, sometimes contrary to all means. By noo means he cured a cripple at Bethesda: byp small means he fed five thousand in the desert: byq ordinary means he was brought from the pinnacle: by means extraordinary he was provided for in hunger:r and contrary to all means were thes three children preserved in the furnace of fire.
He,n he hath promised to do it, and he that hath promised, is able to do it. And this he doth sometimes by no meanes, sometimes by small means, sometimes by ordinarie means, sometimes by extraordinarie, sometimes contrarie to all meanes. By noo meanes he cured a creeple at Bethesda: byp small meanes he fed fiue thousand in the desert: byq ordinarie meanes he was brought from the pinnacle: by meanes extraordinarie he was prouided for in hunger:r and contrarie to all meanes were thes three children preserued in the fornace of fire.
I have good cause to think of Gods gracious deliverance, being my self delivered from a great trouble.1 Since the time I was unkindly dismissed from my poor charge, where I would have continued, if malice had not hindered me, I have lived in an end of this City: dangerously in respect of the sickness; poorly, in regard of maintenance; ⟨image 7⟩and painfully, in respect of my ministry: yet ti• this time hath the Lord delivered me: and […] Paul said:a he will deliver me, if that he se• it be best for me.
I haue good cause to thinke of Gods gracious deliuerance, being my selfe deliuered frō a great trouble.1 Since the time I was vnkindly dismissed from my poore charge, where I would haue continued, if malice had not hindred me, I haue liued in an end of this City: dangerously in respect of the sicknesse; poorely, in regard of maintenāce; ⟨image 7⟩and painfully, in respect of my ministerie: yet ti• this time hath the Lord deliuered me: and 〈…〉 Paule said:a he will deliuer me, if that he se• it be best for me.
Let man thereforeb comfort himself in the Lord:c after two days he will revive us, and the third day he will raise us up again:d Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning.e Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous: verily,f God retaineth not his wrath for ever. Could he overcome the world, and can he not overcome many troubles in the world? Yea, let one plague follow another, as one quail sings to another: yet as theg viper leaped on Pauls hand, and forthwith leaped off again, so one trouble shall leap upon the righteous, and anon leap off again:h though he fall, he shall rise again, the righteous shall not be forsaken for ever.
Let man thereforeb comfort himselfe in the Lord:c after two dayes he will reuiue vs, and the third day he will raise vs vp againe:d Heauinesse may endure for a night, but ioy will come in the morning.e Doubtlesse there is a reward for the righteous: verily,f God retaineth not his wrath for euer. Could he ouercome the world, and can he not ouercome many troubles in the world? Yea, let one plague follow another, as one quaile sings to another: yet as theg viper leaped on Paules hand, and forthwith leaped off again, so one trouble shall leape vpon the righteous, and anon leape off againe:h though he fall, he shall rise againe, the righteous shall not be forsaken for euer.
If he hath delivered us from the guilt of our sins, he will deliver us from the punishment of our sins. Let us then therefore be patient in trouble, constant in hope, rooted in love: let us wait […] he will come, call and he will hear, believe and he will perform, repent us of our evil committed against him, and he will repent of his evils intended against us. He is over us by his providence, about us by his Angels, in us by his spirit, ⟨image 7⟩with us by his word, under us by his power, and upon us by his Sonne. In him is our help, from him is our comfort, by him is our victory, and for him is our trouble.a In thee have I trusted, saith a king:b who ever was confounded that trusted in the Lord, said a friend? and as El•anah was toc Hannah in stead of many sons, so God is to his in stead of many comforters. Of other comforters, we may say as Job did of his friends: dSilly comforters are you all. They will leave us, as mice do a ruinous house: but the Lord (like eRuth to Naomi) will never leave us, nor forsake us. Especially in the hour of death,f which is in remembrance bitter to great men: in that hour of death he will be with us, and command hisg Angels to take charge of our souls, theh earth to be as a bed for our bodies: that so the onei may go into glory, the other reserved in hope of like glory, kand be made one day like unto the glorious body of Christ Jesus. Thus right Honourable you have seen the righteous in afflictions: asl Israel was in Babylon: and that the Lord likem Zerubbabel is ready to deliver them. Though in troubles Christ seems as in then ship to sleep, yet in deliverance he awakes as a man out of sleep, and as a Giant refreshed with wine. He will rebuke the waves and winds of troubles and persecution, and they shall fly before him as Sisera did before ⟨image 8⟩aDebora, & theb Philistines before Jonath• and his servant. And as Christ asking the wom•• of her accusers, she answered:c There was none: […] in the end ask a Christian of his troubles, & h• will say, There are none. He is a buckler for ou• left hand, and a sword in our right: he is an helmet on our head, and harness for our body. We shall look upon troubles, asd Israel did on the Egyptians, as thee Jews did on Goliath, and as the Grecians did on Hector, to triumph over them: and as the Angel said to Joseph:f
If he hath deliuered vs from the guilt of our sinnes, he will deliuer vs from the punishment of our sins. Let vs then therefore be patient in trouble, constant in hope, rooted in loue: let vs waite 〈…〉 he will come, call and he will heare, beleeue and he will performe, repent vs of our euill committed against him, and he will repent of his euils intēded against vs. He is ouer vs by his prouidence, about vs by his Angels, in vs by his spirit, ⟨image 7⟩with vs by his word, vnder vs by his power, and vpon vs by his Sonne. In him is our helpe, from him is our comfort, by him is our victorie, and for him is our trouble.a In thee haue I trusted, saith a king:b who euer was confounded that trusted in the Lord, said a friend? and as El•anah was toc Hannah in stead of many sons, so God is to his in stead of many comforters. Of other comforters, we may say as Iob did of his friends: dSilly comforters are you all. They wil leaue vs, as mice do a ruinous house: but the Lord (like eRuth to Naomi) will neuer leaue vs, nor forsake vs. Especially in the houre of death,f which is in remēbrance bitter to great men: in that houre of death he will be with vs, and command hisg Angels to take charge of our soules, theh earth to be as a bed for our bodies: that so the onei may go into glorie, the other reserued in hope of like glorie, kand be made one day like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus. Thus right Honourable you haue seene the righteous in afflictions: asl
They are dead that sought the child's life, so the Spirit shall say to the afflicted, They are dead that did seek your life. A day of deliverance, a year of Jubilee will come, and theng Joseph shall be out of prison, hJacob out of servitude, andi Job shall lie no more in the dust of the earth:k Let us comfort our selves with these words.
They are dead that sought the childs life, so the Spirit shal say to the afflicted, They are dead that did seeke your life. A day of deliuerance, a yeare of Iubile will come, and theng Ioseph shall be out of prison, hIacob out of seruitude, andi Iob shal lie no more in the dust of the earth:k Let vs comfort our selues with these words.
I have exceeded an Epistle, especially to such a small book. If the walls seem too great for this city: abundans cautela non nocet. It is usual for Students not only to present their own labours, but also other mens to great personages, especially such Works wherein they have been either Translators or overseers. It were infinite to instance this point. I am bold to do the like to your Honour at this time. This Copy it was brought unto my hand, I have conferred it with ⟨image 8⟩another, I have perused it at the Press, I heard diverse of the Sermons, I have added nothing of mine own: and I desire, that of thosea 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 unto my hand, surely they shall not be lost. By his life had I much comfort, and I will seek to honour him after he is dead. I was twenty years acquainted with him:2 I at his request made the first fruits of his labours to speak English. And now I am bold to present this his posthume to your patronage.3 Your honourable Nephew, his virtuous Lady, your worthy sister, have heretofore accepted the labours of this man. If it shall please your good Honour to do the like,4 this Preface of mine shall remain as a perpetual testimony of my duty to you: and the book following as fully armed against all such adversaries as shall speak against it. The God of heaven, who hath made you honourable in your most honourable Progenitors, make you thrice honourable in your future successors: that the memorial of the righteous may be everlasting,5 when as the name of the wicked shall r•t.
I haue exceeded an Epistle, especially to such a small booke. If the wals seeme too great for this citie: abundans cautela non nocet. It is vsuall for Students not onely to present their owne labours, but also other mens to great personages, especially such Works wherin they haue bene either Translators or ouerseers. It were infinit to instance this point. I am bold to do the like to your Honour at this time. This Copie it was brought vnto my hand, I haue conferred it with ⟨image 8⟩another, I haue perused it at the Presse, I heard diuerse of the Sermons, I haue added nothing of mine owne: and I desire, that of thosea many baskets ful of most delicate diet, which this worthie 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 honor him after he is dead. I was twentie yeares acquainted with him:2 I at his request made the first fruites of his labours to speake English. And now I am bold to present this his posthume to your patronage.3 Your honorable Nephew, his vertuous Lady, your worthy sister, haue heretofore accepted the labours of this man. If it shall please your good Honour to do the like,4 this Preface of mine shall remaine as a perpetuall testimonie of my dutie to you: and the booke following as fully armed against all such aduersaries as shall speake against it. The God of heauē, 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,5 when as the name of the wicked shall r•t.
Gentle Reader, in the life of that worthy man Master Perkins, his books for the most part were printed at Cambridge. The only reason was, his desire to be Corrector to his own books. Since he departed this life, some good men have brought me certain labours of his. I desire not to print them to make gain to myself, but because I would not have his labours to be lost. He was heard of many by his speech, read of many in his writings, and his works have been translated into many languages. Mislike not this book, because it was printed at London, his auditors can tell it was as he spake it. If you say, it was hard to write as he spake: know this, that he observed his auditors, and so spake, as a diligent Baruch might write verbatim all that was spoken by this Jeremiah.1 Use this, and communicate that which thou hast of his.
GEntle Reader, in the life of that worthie man Master Perkins, his books for the most part were printed at Cambridge. The onely reason was, his desire to be Corrector to his owne bookes. Since he departed this life, some good men haue brought me certaine labours of his. I desire not to print them to make gaine to myselfe, but because I would not haue his labours to be lost. He was heard of many by his speech, read of many in his writings, and his works haue bene translated into many languages. Mislike not this booke, because it was printed at London, his auditors can tell it was as he spake it. If you say, it was hard to write as he spake: know this, that he obserued his auditors, and so spake, as a diligent Baru• might write verbatim al that was spoken by this Ieremiah.1 Vse this, and communicate that which thou hast of his.
IN the eleven first verses of this Chapter, are recorded and set down unto us the several temptations of our Saviour Christ: and in them we are to consider three especial points: First, the preparation unto the combat▪ vers. 1. and 2. Secondly, the combat it self in three several temptations, vers. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Thirdly, the issue and effect of this combat, vers. 11.
IN the eleuen first verses of this Chapter, are recorded and set downe vnto vs the seuerall temptations of our Sauiour Christ: and in them we are to consider three especiall points: First, the preparation vnto the combat▪ vers. 1. and 2. Secondly, the combat it selfe in three seuerall temptations, vers. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Thirdly, the issue and effect of this combat, vers. 11.
The preparation hath two parts: first, the going forth of Christ into the wilderness, in the first verse. Secondly, his abode and conversation in the wilderness, in the second verse.
The preparation hath two parts: first, the going forth of Christ into the wildernesse, in the first verse. Secondly, his abode and conuersation in the wildernesse, in the second verse.
ship to sleepe, yet in deliuerance he awakes as a man out of sleepe, and as a Giant refreshed with wine. He will rebuke the waues and winds of trobles and persecution, and they shall flie before him as Sysera did before
There was none: 〈…〉 in the end aske a Christian of his troubles, & h• will say, There are none. He is a buckler for ou• left hand, and a sword in our right: he is an helmet on our head, and harnesse for our bodie. We shall look vpon troubles, as
