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

Here some may ask, whether they do not tempt God, that adventure to clime on high places, to stand on spire steeples, to run on the ridge of high houses, and to go on ropes a great height from the ground. Answ. Men may do such things in a twofold estate, either having a lawful calling thereto, as Carpenters and Masons, who are to work upon high buildings; now they without tempting of God may clime and stand on high and dangerous places: or else having no lawful calling thereto, as they who use to do such things to make known their activity, or only to afford delight and admiration unto others for their private gain and advantage; and such tempt God fearfully; for Christ was better able to have cast himself down from this pinnacle, and have preserved himself without hurt, then these men are to save themselves in their adventures, and yet he refused so to do, because he would not tempt the Lord his God. Thus much for the meaning of this commandment.

Heere some may aske, whether they do not tempt God, that aduenture to clime on high places, to stand on spire steeples, to runne on the ridge of high houses, and to goe on ropes a great height from the ground. Answ. Men may doe such things in a twofold estate, either hauing a lawfull calling thereto, as Carpenters and Masons, who are to worke vpon high buildings; now they without tempting of God may clime and stand on high and dangerous places: or else hauing no lawfull calling thereto, as they who vse to doe such things to make knowen their actiuity, or only to affoord delight and admiration vnto others for their priuate gaine and aduantage; and such tempt God fearefully; for Christ was better able to haue cast himselfe downe from this pinnacle, and haue preserued himselfe without hurt, then these men are to saue themselues in their aduentures, and yet hee refused so to do, because hee would not tempt the Lord his God. Thus much for the meaning of this commandement.

The doctrine for instruction hence, is to be gathered from this command applied to the text which the Devil allegeth; and it is this: whosoever looketh for the accomplishment of Gods promises unto him, must be careful to walk before God in the ways of his commandments, and in the works of his calling with all good conscience. God indeed hath made many gracious promises in his word, of blessings temporal and eternal, but they that tempt God shall not find the comfort of them; mens sins hinder these things from them; Gods goodness is to be seen and tasted in the ways of faith and obedience. God hath promised the guard of his Angels to his children while they keep themselves in their ways: if therefore thou wouldest have this protection thou must keep thy self in those ways that God would have thee to walk in. Also in their hesse of his love God hath made a promise of everlasting life with freedom from eternal perdition, to those that believe in Christ,