A09463:156
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.
Again, observe the order of Satan's temptations by comparing this with the former. There he sought to overthrow Christs faith & to bring him to distrust the trueth of Gods word uttered from heaven; but finding he could not that way prevail, here he takes the clean contrary course, and seeks to bring him to presume.
Againe, obserue the order of Satans temptations by comparing this with the former. There he sought to ouerthrow Christs faith & to bring him to distrust the trueth of Gods word vttered from heauen; but finding hee could not that way preuaile, heere he takes the cleane contrary course, and seekes to bring him to presume.
This serves to discover unto us, the deep guile and subtlety of the Devil,1 that can so cunningly turn himself from one extreme unto another. And look as he dealeth here with Christ the head, so doth he continue towards all his members, if he cannot bring them to one extreme, he will assay them hard in the other. If he cannot bring a man to covetousness, and keep his heart to the love of money, then let him beware of riot and prodigality. Is a man given to pleasures and delight, and an length is deprived of them? then let him beware; the Devil swallow him not up with overmuch grief, as he sought to do with thea incestuous person of Corinth. Doth a man come to love religion, that formerly was given to looseness of life? then if it be possible the Devil will carry him to schism & heresy. The Devil cannot abide that a man should keep the mean according to Gods word, Isay 30. 21. He would have our first parents to be Gods, or no body, Gene. 3. 5. And so still he laboureth to bring a man to some extreme. We therefore in all estates during life, must labour to keep the golden mean, as Christ here did, neither doubting on the one hand nor presuming on the other, but retaining still that blessed faith, whereby his blessed heart was firmly settled in these assaults. Thus much for Satan's drift. Now come to the words of this temptation.