A09463:208
The combat between Christ and the Devil displayedThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed
The combat between Christ and the Devil displayed: or A commentary upon the temptations of Christ: preached in Cambridge by that reverend and judicious divine M. William PerkinsThe combat betvveene Christ and the Diuell displayed: or A commentarie vpon the temptations of Christ: preached in Cambridge by that reuerend and iudicious diuine M. William Perkins
London: printed by Melchizedek Bradwood for E. Edgar, 1606London: printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for E. Edgar, 1606
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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 thatc envious man that soweth tares of errors and heresies in the church of God which is the field of the good husbandman. He hinderedd Paul from coming to the Thessalonians, whereby it appears, that he did his endeavour to hinder the course of the Apostolical ministry. In the church of Smyrna,e he cast some into prison, stirring up wicked men so to do, thereby to hinder the embracing of the Gospel.e John saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet. These are spirits of Devils, working miracles, and going to the kings of the earth: thither they go for the stoppage of the Gospel; for if kings oppose themselves they become greatest hinderers to the Gospel of all other. And these frogs, by the common consent of Catholic expositors, are the rabble of Popish Friars, Priests, and Jesuits, who seek the infection of States through all the world. By all which, the Devils enmity against the Church is most apparent.