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

The second point in this temptation, is the hard condition which satan would have Christ to yield unto for this gift; If thou wilt fall down & worship me: even to commit most abominable idolatry in worshipping the Devil himself. Herein we may observe sundry things:

The second point in this temptation, is the hard condition which satan would haue Christ to yeeld vnto for this gift; If thou wilt fall down & worship me: euen to commit most abominable idolatrie in worshipping the Diuell himselfe. Heerein we may obserue sundrie things:

First, that it is a principal part of the Devils endeavours against Gods church, to seek the overthrow of true religion, and the pure worship of God, by sowing therein the seeds of heresies and idolatries; for if he dares be thus bold with Christ the head, as to seek to draw him from the worship of his Father to such abominable idolatry, what will he not attempt with silly and sinful men? The Scriptures are plentiful in showing his endeavours this way. Michaiah saw in vision ^aan evil spirit offering himself unto God, to become a lying spirit in the mouth of all Ahab's prophets, even four hundred at one time. When Jehoshuah ^bthe high Priest stood before the Lord, Satan stood at his right hand to resist him, he sought to hinder the building and worship of the material temple; much more therefore will he seek to hinder the building of the spiritual temple, even the work of the ministry in conversion of souls whereby they are pulled out of Satan's kingdom, and made pillars in the temple of the living God. Satan is that^c envious man that soweth tares of errors and heresies in the church of God which is the field of the good husbandman. He hindered^d