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

Secondly, this allegation of Christ teacheth us, how to behave our selves against all enemies to the truth, that would allure us to heresy, as to Popery, Anabaptism or such like; namely to stick fast to the text of Scripture, and not to suffer our selves by any means to be drawn from it. It may be thou art unlearned and thine enemy both learned and eloquent; yet here is thy refuge, cleave the faster to this written word, and if thou have one text for thy truth, make more account thereof, then of all the restimonies of councils, fathers, or men whatsoever. This instruction is needful, for it may be God will suffer seducers to try his children, and then, unless they keep sure this ground of faith, they shall surely be seduced.

Secondly, this allegation of Christ teacheth vs, how to behaue our selues against all enemies to the truth, that would allure vs to heresie, as to Popery, Anabaptisme or such like; namely to stick fast to the text of Scripture, and not to suffer our selues by any meanes to bee drawen from it. It may bee thou art vnlearned and thine enemie both learned and eloquent; yet heere is thy refuge, cleaue the faster to this written word, and if thou haue one text for thy truth, make more account thereof, then of all the restimonies of councels, fathers, or men whatsoeuer. This instruction is needfull, for it may bee God will suffer seducers to try his children, and then, vnlesse they keep sure this ground of faith, they shall surely be seduced.

The text which Christ allegeth for his answer, is taken out of Deutr. 6. 13. where the words are thus read; Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him. At the first, it may seem that Christ misalledgeth that text, and corrupteth it: for where Moses saith, Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; Christ saith, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God: and to the latter part Christ addeth the word only; saying, him only shalt thou serve, for that which Moses saith, and serve him. But the truth is, here is no corruption, but a most worthy allegation, as we shall plainly see, if we consider two things: first, that Christ and his Apostles in alleging the Scriptures of the old Testament, did not so much respect the words as the true and proper meaning of the place. Secondly, that they oft expound the places which they allege, and thereupon do sometimes vary in word, but still retain the true sense and meaning. So it is in this text alleged: Moses saith, thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, understanding by fear, religious awe and reverence: And Christ saying, thou shalt worship or adore the Lord thy God, understandeth by worship, outward adoration in bowing of the body, whereby we testify the inward awe and reverence of the heart, as when we humble our selves to call upon God by prayer. And this change of words by Christ, serves for excellent use in this place, to wit, to let us more clearly see what this fear of God is. To fear God in that place is from a reverent awe of the heart towards God to humble a mans self in prostrating his body before the Lord, either to praise God for benefits received, or to pray unto him for gifts and graces needful. Again, for the word which he addeth, therein is no fault at all, for the full sense and true meaning of Moses text must needs include so much, as the prohibition annexed in the verse following doth plainly show: for saying thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him: and adding,