A09463:123
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 third point is, Christs Answer it self: Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: This answer is borrowed from Deuteron. 8. 3. And it is that lesson which Moses sought to teach the children of Israel after the Lord had fed them with food from heaven in that barren wilderness where they were afflicted with hunger. The words are something hard, and therefore I will show the meaning of them. Man shall not live; that is, shall not preserve his temporal life in this world; for of eternal life, neither Moses nor Christ did intend to speak. By bread only, that is, only by such ordinary means as food and raiment, sleep, physic &c. which God hath appointed in his providence for the ordinary preservation of natural life. But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: 1This title word betokens divers things in scripture: I. The substantial word of God, the second person in Trinity, Joh. 1. 1. In the beginning was the word, and the word was God. II. It is usually taken for the written word contained in the books of the old and new Testament, 1. Pet. 1. 25. Thirdly, it is sometime taken for Gods will and decree, and it is called his good pleasure: so Heb. 1. 2. Christ sustaineth all things by the word of his power, that is, according to his will and decree, by his powerful appointment: and by this word were all things made in the beginning and hereby have they been preserved ever since: this is that word that melteth the Ice, Psal. 147. 18. And in this last sense must we understand word in this place; meaning that man doth not preserve this natural life by ordinary means only, but withal, by Gods good pleasure, will and decree sanctifying the means for his good. Note further that it is said by every word, and therein lieth the substance of this sentence; for the understanding whereof we must know, that this powerful & working word of God may be distinguished according to the matter whereabout it is occupied: Thus, sometime God will have men to live by bread the ordinary food of natural life;