A09463:102
The combat between Christ and the Devil displayedThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed
The combat between Christ and the Devil displayed: or A commentary upon the temptations of Christ: preached in Cambridge by that reverend and judicious divine M. William PerkinsThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed: or A commentarie vpon the temptations of Christ: preached in Cambridge by that reuerend and iudicious diuine M. William Perkins
London: printed by Melchizedek Bradwood for E. Edgar, 1606London: printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for E. Edgar, 1606
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The scope and drift of Satan in this temptation stands in two things; First he labours to overthrow the faith of Christ. Secondly, to bring him to a practise of unbelief. For the first, By faith I mean, a gift or grace in Christ, whereby as he was man, he believed his Fathers words to be true, which said, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased: whereby we may see, what the Devil aims at principally in his temptations against Gods children; for these his assaults against our Saviour Christ are set down for our instruction in this behalf.1 Satan's main drift then in temptation is to overthrow our faith, whereby we believe every part and parcel of Gods word to be true: See this in his tempting of Eve; first he labours to weaken her faith in the trueth of Gods threatening, which done, he easily brought her to actual disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit. The same course he holdeth at this day; first he will seek to nuzzle men in ignorance, that he may keep them in unbelief: if he fail that way, then will he endeavour to plunge their souls into some damnable error and heresy; and by one of these means doth he destroy the faith of many; for while a man remains in ignorance he can have no saith; and if he miss of the trueth of God, he wants ground for his faith. Now the reason why the Devil labours so much against our faith is, because we cannot truly rely upon Gods mercy, nor depend upon his providence, nor yield any acceptable obedience to his commandments, unless we believe his word.
The scope and drift of Satan in this temptation standes in two things; First hee labours to ouerthrow the faith of Christ. Secondly, to bring him to a practise of vnbeleefe. For the first, By faith I meane, a gift or grace in Christ, wherby as he was man, he beleeued his Fathers words to be true, which said, This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased: whereby wee may see, what the Diuell aimes at principally in his temptations against Gods children; for these his assaults against our Sauiour Christ are set down for our instruction in this behalfe.1 Satans maine drift then in temptation is to ouerthrow our faith, whereby wee beleeue euerie part and parcell of Gods word to be true: See this in his tempting of Eue; first he labours to weaken her faith in the trueth of Gods threatning, which done, he easily brought her to actuall disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit. The same course hee holdeth at this day; first he will seeke to nuzzell men in ignorance, that he may keepe them in vnbeliefe: if he faile that way, then will he endeuour to plunge their soules into some damnable errour and heresie; and by one of these meanes doth he destroy the faith of many; for while a man remaines in ignorance he can haue no saith; and if he misse of the trueth of God, he wants ground for his faith. Now the reason why the Diuell labours so much against our faith is, because we cannot truely relie vpon Gods mercie, nor depend vpon his prouidence, nor yeeld any acceptable obedience to his commandements, vnlesse we beleeue his word.