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

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,² as in Jobs affliction by him may notably appear. Which we must carefully remember for our special comfort in our most grievous assaults; Gods will permitting Satan so far must make us patient, and yet his power restraining Satan from doing worse, must give us comfort. Thus much for the temptation itself.

Thirdly,¹ heere marke how Satans malice is restrained, and his power limited: By Gods permission he is able to carrie Christ from the wildernes to Ierusalem, and there to set him in a most dangerous place on a wing of the temple; the thing hee now desireth is his destruction by casting downe head long, but that he can not doe, and therefore perswades Christ to cast himself down; wherein we see the speciall prouidence of God ouer Christ Iesus in all these temptations, restraining his enemy in the thing he most desired. And the same prouidence doth he still continue ouer his Church for the effectuall preseruation of Christs members in all their temptations. The Diuels vnwearied desire & drift is, to bring contentions, hurliburlies and ruines into all societies in Church and Commonwealth; therfore the peace and tranquillity of these is, and so must bee acknowledged, a notable fruit of Gods blessed prouidence restraining the spite and malice of Satan. Againe, hence it is euident, 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 goe; but to cast Christ downe from the pinnacle he cannot, therein comes Gods restraint. So it fareth with Gods children; for the triall of his graces in them, and to chastise them for some sinnes, he suffers Satan to buffet them; but yet one iotte of his malice beyond Gods permission he cannot shew,