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

Fourthly, they tempt God, that impose §4upon Gods people, there ligious observation of legal ceremonies abolished by Christ: Act. 15. 10. Why tempt ye God (saith Peter) to lay a yoke on the Disciples necks, which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear? This is to make trial of Gods power in the saving of his people. Whereby we may see how wicked and damnable the Romish religion is, which wholly stands in the observation of ceremonies, partly heathenish, and partly Judaical, whereto when men submit themselves, they do nothing else but tempt God.

Fourthly, they tempt God, that impose §4vpon Gods people, there ligious obseruation of legall ceremonies abolished by Christ: Act. 15. 10. Why tempt ye God (saith Peter) to lay a yoake on the Disciples neckes, which neither our Fathers nor we were able to beare? This is to make triall of Gods power in the sauing of his people. Whereby we may see how wicked and damnable the Romish religion is, which wholly stands in the obseruation of ceremonies, partly heathenish, and partly Iudaical, whereto when men submit themselues, they do nothing else but tempt God.

Fifthly, they tempt God, that refuse or §5neglect the ordinary and necessary means of their preservation, either for body or soul: as he that being to go over a water, will leave the bridge which is the ordinary way, and adventure ⟨p. 35⟩dangerously through the water: for herein he seeks a needless experience of Gods power: so do they also that neglect or contemn Gods holy ordinance for the saving of mens souls in the ministry of the word. Now to this kind of tempting God doth Christ apply this commandment in this place; as if he should say, when God hath afforded unto men an ordinary means for their help and safety, they are not to refuse the same, and seek for safety from God extraordinarily. I am now in a dangerous place I confess, upon this pinnacle, yet there is some ordinary way to get down as stairs or ladder; and therefore unless I would tempt the Lord my God, I may not cast my self down and thereby seek for extraordinary preservation, as thou persuadest me. Thus also they sin that go into places of great danger without a calling: so Peter sinned in thrusting himself into Caiaphas hall, a place of temptation, as by lamentable experience he found too true. Thus Davids three Worthies sinned in adventuring upon their enemies host, for the fetching of a little water out of the well of Bethlehem; & therefore when it was brought unto him, David would not drink thereof, but poured it out for a sacrifice unto the Lord,