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

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, 2. Sam. 23. 16.

Fiftly, they tempt God, that refuse or §5neglect the ordinarie and necessarie meanes of their preseruation, either for body or soule: as hee that being to goe ouer a water, will leaue the bridge which is the ordinarie way, and aduenture ⟨p. 35⟩dangerously through the water: for heerein he seekes a needlesse experience of Gods power: so doe they also that neglect or contemne Gods holy ordinance for the sauing of mens soules in the ministery of the word. Now to this kinde of tempting God doth Christ apply this commandement in this place; as if he should say, when God hath affoorded vnto men an ordinarie meanes for their helpe and safety, they are not to refuse the same, and seeke for safety from God extraordinarily. I am now in a dangerous place I confesse, vpon this pinnacle, yet there is some ordinarie way to get down as staires or ladder; and therefore vnlesse I would tempt the Lord my God, I may not cast my selfe downe and thereby seeke for extraordinarie preseruaiton, as thou perswadest me. Thus also they sinne that goe into places of great danger without a calling: so Peter sinned in thrusting himselfe into Caiphas hal, a place of temptation, as by lamentable experience he found too true. Thus Dauids three Worthies sinned in aduenturing vpon their enemies host, for the fetching of a little water out of the well of Bethlehem; & therfore when it was brought vnto him, Dauid would not drinke thereof, but powred it out for a sacrifice vnto the Lord,