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

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, John 3. 16. Thou therefore that wouldest enjoy the comfort of this promise to thine immortality and life, must get true faith into thy heart and thereby live all the days of thy life. The same may be said of every promise of God pertaining either to soul or body, the fruition of them doth depend upon the practise of some part of obedience; which if thou doest neglect thou doest but presume in making title to the promise: Peter tells Simon Magus plainly, he had no part with them in the gifts of the spirit, while his heart retained a purpose to live in sin, Act. 8. 21. Break off therefore the course of sin, and inure thy self to the practise of obedience, so shall Gods promises be sweet unto thine heart; and the more thou proceedest in obedience, the more comfort thou shalt find in Gods gracious promises: but if thou do lay hold on sin, the comfort of the word will depart from thee. And thus much for the second temptation.

The doctrine for instruction hence, is to be gathered from this command applied to the text which the Diuell alledgeth; and it is this: whosoeuer looketh for the accomplishment of Gods promises vnto him, must be carefull to walke before God in the waies of his commandements, and in the workes of his calling with all good conscience. God indeed hath made many gratious promises in his word, of blessings temporall and eternall, but they that tempt God shall not find the comfort of them; mens sinnes hinder these things from them; Gods goodnesse is to bee seene and tasted in the waies of faith and obedience. God hath promised the guard of his Angels to his children while they keep themselues in their waies: if therefore thou wouldest haue this protection thou must keep thy selfe in those waies that God would haue thee to walke in. Also in theri hesse of his loue God hath made a promise of euerlasting life with freedome from eternall perdition, to those that beleeue in Christ,