A09463:119
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 use. I. This fact of Christ doth discover and condemn the damnable practise of the Church of Rome, who lock up the word of God from their people in an unknown tongue, and commend unto them for their defence against spiritual enemies other devices of their own, as holy water, crossing, crosses, &c. which they highly commend as means of special strength and force to vanquish the Devil; when as indeed the word of God is the only true and trusty weapon, whereof while they deprive their people, they send them forth naked and unarmed to encounter with Satan.
The vse. I. This fact of Christ doth discouer and condemne the damnable practise of the Church of Rome, who locke vp the word of God from their people in an vnknowen tongue, and commend vnto them for their defence against spirituall enemies other deuices of their owne, as holy water, crossing, crosses, &c. which they highly commend as meanes of speciall strength and force to vanquish the Diuell; when as indeed the word of God is the onely true and trustie weapon, whereof while they depriue their people, they send them forth naked and vnarmed to encounter with Satan.
Secondly, here also behold the miserable estate of all those that either through covetousness or any other profaneness are drawn to neglect or contemn the written word of God: their case is most fearful; for they cast away those weapons whereby they should defend themselves against the Devil, and quench all his fiery darts, and so betray their own souls into his hands: And doubtless all contemners and neglecters of the word are guilty of their own damnation, because God hath given us his word for our defence, and for the confounding of Satan, so as without guilt of wilful murder not of our bodies, but of our souls, we cannot neglect this heavenly weapon.
Secondly, heere also behold the miserable estate of all those that either through couetousnesse or any other profanenesse are drawen to neglect or contemne the written word of God: their case is most fearefull; for they cast away those weapons whereby they should defend themselues against the Diuell, and quench all his firie darts, and so betray their owne soules into his hands: And doubtlesse all contemners and neglecters of the word are guilty of their own damnation, because God hath giuen vs his word for our defence, and for the confounding of Satan, so as without guilt of wilfull murther not of our bodies, but of our soules, we cannot neglect this heauenly weapon.