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

Thus a Christian mans diet is more sour then sweet: his physic is more aloes then honey: his life is more a pilgrimage then a progress: and his death is more despised then honoured. This if men would think of before, afflictions would be as welcome to the soul of man, as^d afflicted Ruth was to the field of Boaz. But because we look not for them before they come, think not on Gods doing when they are come, and do desire to be happy both here and hereafter; therefore we can away with the name of Naomi, but in no case would we be called^e Mara. We^f see the sea, not the whale: the^g Egyptian, not the salvation: the^h Lion's mouth, not him that stoppeth the Lions mouth. If we could see God in our troubles, asⁱ Elisha did in his, then would we say: There are more with us, then there are against us. But because we do not, therefore at every assault of the Assyrians, we say, as the servant to^k Elisha did: Alas master, what shall we do? and with the disciples: Carest thou not Master that we perish? Yet it is good for us to suffer affliction:^m Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. It is^a commanded by God,^b practised by Christ,^c yielded to by the Saints,^d