A09463:226
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.
Besides this worship, Christ doth mention a serving of God, which being distinguished from worship must needs import some other thing.1 Service in general, is nothing else but the giving and performing of obedience to the commandment of another. This service is twofold;2 absolute, or in part. Absolute service is, when a man obeys the commandment of another without any condition or exception, and that not only in body outwardly, but in soul and conscience, in thought, will & affection. ⟨p. 46⟩And this absolute service is proper to God alone, for we must never call his commandments into question, but look what God commands and as he commands it, so must we simply and absolutely yield obedience thereto, not only outwardly in body, but inwardly in soul and spirit with the powers and faculties thereof, and in all the affections of our heart.3 Service in part, is that which is due to governors and superiors from their inferiors in the Lord: for God hath given power to magistrates here on earth to make laws for the good of civil estates, in yielding obedience whereunto, their inferiors must do them service; yet not absolutely, but with restraint, to wit, in the Lord, so far forth as their commands agree with the will of God, and cross not his command. Again our obedience unto them is in body and outward conversation: indeed we must from the heart yield service and obedience unto them: but yet the conscience properly cannot be bound by mens laws, they only concern the outward man in speech, gesture and behaviour. Now of these two kinds of service, our Saviour Christ speaketh here, of simple and absolute service, whereby both soul and body with all the powers and parts thereof yield absolute obedience and subjection to the will and commandment of God.
Besides this worship, Christ doth mention a seruing of God, which being distinguished from worship must needs import some other thing.1 Seruice in generall, is nothing else but the giuing and performing of obedience to the commandement of another. This seruice is twofold;