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 /…

Cast thy self down] The Devil having proved before the faith of Christ to be most constant, that he would not so much as doubt of his fathers providence in his greatest need, now he takes occasion from the graces and gifts of Christ to bring him to presume, and to have a vain confidence of his fathers protection. And so will the Devil deal with all the members of Christ; if he cannot prevail by our weaknesses to bring us to despair, then he will take occasion by the graces and gifts he sees in us, to make us presume: as often he prevails by this means to make men swell and think highly of themselves for some grace they have received, of learning, wit, eloquence, &c. to puff men up with satanical pride and overweening o• themselves.

Cast thy selfe downe] The Diuel hauing proued before the faith of Christ to be most cōstant, that he would not so much as doubt of his fathers prouidence in his greatest need, now he takes occasion from the graces and gifts of Christ to bring him to presume, and to haue a vain confidence of his fathers protection. And so wil the Diuel deale with all the members of Christ; if he cannot preuaile by our weaknesses to bring vs to despaire, then he wil take occasiō by the graces and gifts he sees in vs, to make vs presume: as often he preuailes by this meanes to make men swell and thinke highly of themselues for some grace they haue receiued, of learning, wit, eloquence, &c. to puffe men vp with satanicall pride and ouerweening o• themselues.

Then cast thy self down.] The Lord gave the Devil permission to place Christ in a dangerous place: but yet the Devil coul• not go any further to hurt Christ there; […] ⟨p. 69⟩cast him down he had no power, but persuades him to cast himself down. Where we see, the Devils power is limited, his power is not so great as his malice is to mankind; but the Lord doth limit Satan's power, and in all things hath care of his own children, that Satan can do them no harm. For the Devil, though he had set Christ upon the top of the temple, could not for his life cast him down; where we may see, the Devil for all his malice can go no further then God gives him leave. And this must comfort us: for as God the Father limits Satan in respect of Christ our head, so doth he in us his members.