The use. 1In that Christ is no sooner baptized, but he is presently tempted, we learn; that all those who are truly baptized into Christ must make account to be tempted, and prepare for a combat with the Devil, even through the whole course of their lives: for if Satan durst be so bold as to encounter with Christ Jesus the head of the Church after his baptism, then doubtless he will not spare any of his members who are but ⟨p. 2⟩weak & sinful men. Again, in baptism a man gives up his name unto God, promising therein for ever to renounce all service to the Devil, the flesh and the world; and contrariwise to believe in God, and to serve him; and this vow being thus made, it is the will of God he should be tempted, that in the school of temptation he might learn to practise his baptism. But here most men will say, they never felt by experience in themselves the trueth of this doctrine; for they have not perceived any such combat in themselves, though they have been baptized many years agone. Answ. Such men,2 whatsoever they be, have indeed the outward baptism of water, but they never yet received the inward baptism of the spirit; they wear Christs livery, but as yet they do service unto Satan; And though they have been made partakers of the seals of the covenant, yet still they abide within the kingdom of darkness; for Christ here teacheth by his own example, that all those who have received the inward baptism of the spirit, whereby they have effectually put off sin, and put on the Lord Jesus, are as sure to be tempted by Satan as himself was: therefore let such persons as never yet felt in themselves this spiritual conflict, now begin to reform their lives, and to perform their vow of baptism, and they shall undoubtedly find in themselves the truth of this doctrine, That all that are baptized into Christ, shall be tempted of the Devil. So long as the children of Israel continued under Pharaoh's bondage, they were not pursued by his army; but when they set their faces toward the land of Canaan, then presently he makes after them, with all his might and malice; even so, while men live in sin and submit themselves to Satan's spiritual bondage, he will suffer all things to be in peace with them;
The vse. 1In that Christ is no sooner baptized, but he is presently tempted, we learne; that all those who are truely baptized into Christ must make account to be tempted, and prepare for a combat with the Diuell, euen through the whole course of their liues: for if Satan durst be so bolde as to encounter with Christ Iesus the head of the Church after his baptisme, then doubtlesse he will not spare any of his members who are but ⟨p. 2⟩weake & sinfull men. Again, in baptisme a man giues vp his name vnto God, promising therein for euer to renounce all seruice to the Diuell, the flesh and the world; and contrariwise to beleeue in God, and to serue him; and this vow being thus made, it is the will of God he should be tempted, that in the schoole of temptation he might learn to practise his baptisme. But here most men wil say, they neuer felt by experience in themselues the trueth of this doctrine; for they haue not perceiued any such combate in themselues, though they haue bene baptized many yeres agone. Answ. Such men,2 whatsoeuer they be, haue indeed the outward baptisme of water, but they neuer yet receiued the inward baptisme of the spirit; they weare Christs liuery, but as yet they do seruice vnto Satan; And though they haue been made partakers of the seales of the couenant, yet still they abide within the kingdome of darkenesse; for Christ heere teacheth by his owne example, that all those who haue receiued the inward baptism of the spirit, whereby they haue effectually put off sinne, and put on the Lord Iesus, are as sure to be tempted by Satan as himselfe was: therefore let such persons as neuer yet felt in themselues this spiritual conflict, now begin to reform their liues, and to performe their vow of baptisme, and they shal vndoubtedly find in themselues the truth of this doctrine, That all that are baptized into Christ, shalbe tempted of the Diuell. So long as the children of Israel continued vnder Pharaos bondage, they were not pursued by his army; but when they set their faces toward the land of Canaan, then presently he makes after them, with all his might and malice; euen so, while men liue in sinne and submit themselues to Satans spirituall bondage, he will suffer all things to be in peace with them;
- 1Every Christian must look to be tempted.Euery Christian must looke to be tempted.
- 2The state of those that were never tempted.The state of those that were neuer tempted.
