A09463:106
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 second thing which the Devil aimed at in this temptation,1 was to bring Christ to a practise of unbelief, namely in want of bread to turn stones into bread, for the present satisfying of his hunger; for the Devil would needs persuade our Saviour. Christ that he must have bread to save his life, and therefore in the want of bread would have brought him to this distrustful course, to turn stones into bread.
The second thing which the Diuel aimed at in this temptation,1 was to bring Christ to a practise of vnbeleefe, namely in want of bread to turne stones into bread, for the present satisfying of his hunger; for the Diuell would needs perswade our Sauior. Christ that he must haue bread to saue his life, and therefore in the want of bread would haue brought him to this distrustfull course, to turne stones into bread.
- 1Satan would bring Christ to a practise of unbelief.Satan would bring Christ to a practise of vnbeliefe.
And as the Devil here deals with Christ, so he assays to do with all his members; as he labours to work unbelief in their hearts, so he seeks to bring them to the practise of unbelief in their lives. See the truth hereof in the course of the world; Is a man oppressed with outward want and poverty? the Devil will tell him, he must needs live, and therefore will persuade him to rob and steal and to filch for his living. If a ⟨p. 17⟩man be sick, and want present help in lawful means, or else be afflicted somewhat extraordinarily, then will the Devil move him to seek to Wizards and Witches, suggesting this into him by one means or other, that they can do more good in such a case then all the Physicians in the world. This is a most vile practise of unbelief, and yet too common in the world, wherein men for the removal of some outward evil, will not stick to hazard the loss of their souls. We therefore must labour to be acquainted with these wiles of Satan, and by the practise of faith in our lives, labour to express the power of faith in our hearts, as in all manner of godly conversation, so especially in using only lawful means for our relief in the time of misery and distress.