A09463:91
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 second thing in this preparation is, the time when Satan began to tempt our Saviour Christ in a more strong and violent manner, noted in this word Then, that is, when Christ had now fasted forty days and forty nights, and was an hungered; when the devil saw Christ not only to be alone in the wilderness, but also perceived that he was afflicted with hunger, and so the more weak being in the low estate of a miserable man, Then he prepares to assault Christ with a most violent temptation.
The second thing in this preparation is, the time when Satan began to tempt our Sauiour Christ in a more strong and violent maner, noted in this word Then, that is, when Christ had now fasted fortie dayes and fortie nights, and was an hungred; when the diuell saw Christ not onely to be alone in the wildernesse, but also perceiued that hee was afflicted with hunger, and so the more weake being in the low estate of a miserable man, Then he prepares to assault Christ with a most violent temptation.
The use. 1This discovereth unto us the deep policy of Satan in making choice of the fittest time for his assaults: he will not tempt all men at all times, neither always with the greatest temptations; but he forecasts for the time of mans greatest weakness, and thereto he reserveth his strongest assaults: Now usually a man is most weak, when he is under some grievous affliction; either in body, mind, or both; or when he lieth in the pangs of death: these times doth Satan observe; and keep his strongest temptations against they come, as doth notably appear by his dealing with Christ, not only at this time when he was an hungered, but also and especially at his passion; for the Scripture saith, He bspoiled principalities and powers upon the cross: whereby is apparent, that the Devil with his greatest power did then assault him, thinking either then or never to give him the foil, when as he did sustain the wrath of God due unto the sins of man; and so will he handle all the members of Christ; in their greatest extremities they shall be sure to feel Satan's deepest malice, unless God restrain his power. Which must teach us in the day of peace and strength, to prepare against the day of weakness by any affliction or by death