A09463:240
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 the best way to vanquish Satan is to give him no ground,1 but to withstand him manfully at the first: Jam. 4. 7. resist the Devil and he will fly. Now Satan is resisted, when from our hearts we cast our souls on the promises of God contained in his word, and in the whole course of our lives pray for strength of grace to stand against all his assaults: whereby we may see the great error and deceit of those, who account of Satan's temptations as of fits of melancholy, and think they may be removed by music, merry company and such like; but these are no weapons to drive away the Devil. Secondly, this also shows their dangerous course who yield to Satan's temptations for a time, taking their pleasure in their youth, purposing to resist him when they are old and then to repent: too many take this course, but it is fearful: for thus doing, they set open all the doors of their heart to the Devil, and suffer him to take quiet possession, little considering that it is beyond their power to dispossess him at their pleasure: For indeed hereby they become like to a man that is sick of the dropsy, who the more he drinks, the more he desires; so he that willingly gives place to Satan's temptation, the more he sins, the more he may; for the longer he is tempted, the more by yielding is he weakened, & the greater is the danger of his endless confusion: therefore learn of Christ to resist betime.
First, that the best way to vanquish satain is to giue him no ground,1 but to withstand him manfully at the first: Iam. 4. 7. resist the Diuell and he will flie. Now Satan is resisted, when from our hearts we cast our soules on the promises of God conteined in his word, and in the whole course of our liues pray for strength of grace to stand against all his assaults: whereby wee may see the great error and deceit of those, who accompt of Satans temptations as of fits of melancholie, and thinke they may bee remooued by musicke, merrie company and such like; but these are no weapons to driue away the Diuell. Secondly, this also shewes their dangerous course who yeeld to Satans temptations for a time, taking their pleasure in their youth, purposing to resist him when they are olde and then to repent: too many take this course, but it is fearefull: for thus doing, they set open al the doores of their heart to the Diuel, and suffer him to take quiet possession, little considering that it is beyond their power to dispossesse him at their pleasure: For indeed heereby they become like to a man that is sick of the dropsie, who the more he drinks, the more he desires; so hee that willingly giues place to Satans temptation, the more he sinnes, the more he may; for the longer he is tempted, the more by yeelding is he weakened, & the greater is the danger of his endlesse confusion: therefore learne of Christ to resist betime.