The combat between Christ and the Devil displayedThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed

Here then behold another trick of Satan; if he cannot prevail by assaults drawn from our infirmities, then will he assay us by temptations drawn from Gods good gifts and graces in us; If he cannot keep a man in ignorance that hath good gifts of wit & memory, then will he seek from his knowledge to puff him up with pride, and so mingling his poison with Gods good gifts, doth cause many a one to become a bane to Gods church, that otherwise might have proved an excellent instrument therein; as might easily be showed in sundry particulars.

Heere then behold another tricke of Satan; if he cannot preuaile by assaults drawen from our infirmities, then will he assay vs by temptations drawen from Gods good gifts and graces in vs; If he cannot keepe a man in ignorance that hath good gifts of wit & memory, then will hee seeke from his knowledge to puffe him vp with pride, and so mingling his poison with Gods good gifts, doth cause many a one to become a bane to Gods church, that otherwise might haue prooued an excellent instrument therein; as might easily be shewed in sundry particulars.

Thirdly,¹ here mark how Satan's malice is restrained, and his power limited: By Gods permission he is able to carry Christ from the wilderness to Jerusalem, and there to set him in a most dangerous place on a wing of the temple; the thing he now desireth is his destruction by casting down head long, but that he can not do, and therefore persuades Christ to cast himself down; wherein we see the special providence of God over Christ Jesus in all these temptations, restraining his enemy in the thing he most desired. And the same providence doth he still continue over his Church for the effectual preservation of Christs members in all their temptations. The Devils unwearied desire & drift is, to bring contentions, hurliburlies and ruins into all societies in Church and Commonwealth; therefore the peace and tranquillity of these is, and so must be acknowledged, a notable fruit of Gods blessed providence restraining the spite and malice of Satan. Again, hence it is evident, that in temptation Satan cannot go beyond the permission of God: he can tempt Christ, yea transport his body, and set him in a dangerous place, for thus far God permits him to go; but to cast Christ down from the pinnacle he cannot, therein comes Gods restraint. So it fareth with Gods children; for the trial of his graces in them, and to chastise them for some sins, he suffers Satan to buffet them; but yet one jot of his malice beyond Gods permission he cannot show,