Herein we learn a special point;1 namely, that the devil will have some ground in us for those temptations wherewith he doth assault us; for as we may see by his dealing here with Christ, he observes not only the inclination of mans heart and soul, but the state and constitution of the body, that if either body or mind will afford him the least advantage, thereon he will be sure to take occasion to tempt. If we regard the seed and root of sin, it is true that every man hath all sins in him, but yet through the work of God, restraining corruption in some, and renewing grace in others, it comes to pass, that each man is more inclined naturally to some sins then to others, which thing Satan doth observe most diligently; and as an enemy that besiegeth a city will go about it and espy where the wall is weakest and most fit for his entrance, and there will be sure to give his strongest onset; and as a man that would strike fire with a flint, will turn it about in his hand, to see what part is fittest; even so the devil, he goes about a man, and as it were turns him to and fro, to spy out his weakness, and to what sins he is most inclined, and there he will, be sure to try him often, and to assault him with greatest violence. Example: If a man be impatient of poverty, he will seek to carry him to picking and stealing: If a man be prove to covetousness, he will provoke him to fraud and oppression: If he be inclined to ambition, Satan will puff him up with pride and vainglory: nay, which is far more, Satan will take occasion from the very constitution of a mans body to draw him unto sin; if choler be predominant in him, Satan will labour to stir him up to wrath, anger, and fury, and if he can, to bloodshed and murder: If a man be of a sanguine complexion, Satan will seek to carry him to immoderate mirth, and to excess in pastimes, pleasures and delight, that if it be possible he may drown him therein, whether they be good or bad: If a man be melancholic, Satan will sometime take occasion by that humour to strike him with exceeding sadness, with terrors and fears; and otherwhile to intoxicate his brain with strange fantasies and delusions, causing a man to think himself to be Elijah, John Baptist, Christ, &c.
Heerein we learne a speciall point;1 namely, that the diuell will haue some ground in vs for those temptations wherewith he doth assault vs; for as we may see by his dealing here with Christ, he obserues not onely the inclination of mans heart and soule, but the state and constitution of the body, that if either body or minde will affoord him the least aduantage, thereon hee will be sure to take occasion to tempt. If we regard the seed and root of sinne, it is true that euery man hath all sinnes in him, but yet through the worke of God, restraining corruption in some, and renewing grace in others, it comes to passe, that each man is more inclined naturally to some sinnes then to others, which thing Satan doth obserue most diligently; and as an enemie that besiegeth a citie will goe about it and espie where the wall is weakest and most fit for his entrance, and there will be sure to giue his strongest onset; and as a man that would strike fire with a flint, will turne it about in his hand, to see what part is fittest; euen so the diuell, he goes about a man, and as it were turnes him to and fro, to spie out his weakenesse, and to what sinnes he is most inclined, and there he will, be sure to trie him often, and to assault him with greatest violence. Example: If a man be impatient of pouertie, he will seeke to carry him to picking and stealing: If a man be proue to couetousnesse, he will prouoke him to fraud and oppression: If he be enclined to ambition, Satan will puffe him vp with pride and vainglory: nay, which is farre more, Satan will take occasion from the verie constitution of a mans bodie to draw him vnto sinne; if choler be predominant in him, Satan will labour to stirre him vp to wrath, anger, and furie, and if he can, to bloodshed and murther: If a man be of a sanguine complexion, Satan will seeke to carrie him to immoderate mirth, and to excesse in pastimes, pleasures and delight, that if it be possible he may drowne him therein, whether they be good or bad: If a man be melancholike, Satan will sometime take occasion by that humour to strike him with exceeding sadnes, with terrors and feares; and otherwhile to intoxicate his braine with strange fantasies and delusions, causing a man to thinke himselfe to be Elias, Iohn Baptist, Christ, &c.
- 1Satan grounds his temptations on something in us.Satan grounds his temptations on something in vs.
