A09463:69
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.
The use. Hence we may observe a good direction for their comfort that are troubled with blasphemous thoughts. Among other temptations that befall men in Gods church, the Devil doth mightily assault some men by casting into their minds most fearful motions of blasphemy against God the Father, the Son and the Holy-ghost, whereby he doth greatly astonish them and bring them to despair. Now the ground of their stay and comfort hence is this: There be incident to the mind of man two kinds of evil thoughts: First, such as arise from the flesh, that is, from our corrupt nature; and the very first motions of these are sins, forbidden in the tenth commandment. Secondly, there be others that rise not inwardly from the flesh, but are from without conveyed into the mind by the devil, as these most horrible blasphemies against God, which would make a godly heart to tremble and quake once to think upon. Now these are our heavy crosses indeed, when we be assaulted with them, but the devils sins wholly, and become not ours, till we receive them by some degree of delight or assent, as may hence appear: for Christ was tempted to infidelity, covetousness and idolatry, yet his holy heart received them not, and so they never became his sins.
The vse. Hence we may obserue a good direction for their comfort that are troubled with blasphemous thoughts. Among other temptations that befall men in Gods church, the Diuell doth mightily assault some men by casting into their minds most fearefull motions of blasphemie against God the Father, the Sonne and the Holy-ghost, whereby he doth greatly astonish them and bring them to despaire. Now the ground of their stay and comfort hence is this: There be incident to the minde of man two kinds of euill thoughts: First, such as arise from the flesh, that is, from our corrupt nature; and the very first motions of these are sinnes, forbidden in the tenth commandement. Secondly, there be others that rise not inwardly from the flesh, but are from without conuayed into the minde by the diuell, as these most horrible blasphemies against God, which would make a godly heart to tremble and quake once to thinke vpon. Now these are our heauy crosses indeed, when we be assaulted with them, but the diuels sinnes wholly, and become not ours, till we receiue them by some degree of delight or assent, as may hence appeare: for Christ was tempted to infidelity, couetousnesse and idolatry, yet his holy heart receiued them not, and so they neuer became his sinnes.