The Institution of Christian Religion

Neither yet do we here require that we may feel no tentations at all, with which we have great need to be stirred up, pricked, and pinched, least by to much rest we grow dull. For not in vain did David wish to be tempted:¹ and not without cause the Lord daily tempteth his elect, chastising them by shame, poverty, trouble, and other kinds of cross. But God tempteth after one manner and Satan after an other: Satan, to destroy, damn, confound and throw down headlong: but God, that by proving them that be his he may have a trial of their unfeignedness, and by exercising them may confirm their strength, to mortify, purge by fire, and sear their flesh, which unless it were in this wise restrained, would wax wanton and would wildly outrage above measure.² Moreover Satan assaileth men unarmed and unready, that he may oppress them unaware: God even with tempting worketh the effect, that they which be his may patiently bear whatsoever he sendeth upon them. By the name of the Evil, whether we understand the Devil or sin, it maketh little matter.³ Satan in deed himself is the enemy that lieth in wait for our life: but with sin he is armed to destroy us. This therefore is our request, that we may not be overcome or overwhelmed with any tentations, but may by the power of ⟨image 316⟩the Lord stand strong against all contrary powers wherewith we are assailed: which is, not to yield us vanquished to tentations, that being received into his keeping and charge, and being safe by his protection we may endure unovercome over sin, death, the gates of hell, and the whole kingdom of the devil: which is to be delivered from evil. Where it is also to be diligently marked, that it is above our strength to match with the devil so great a warrior, and to bear his force and violence. Otherwise we should but vainly or as it were in mockage ask that which we had already in our selves. Surely, they which prepare them to such a battle with trust of themselves, do not sufficiently understand with how fierce and well armed an enemy they have to do. Now we pray to be delivered from his power, as out of the mouth of a mad and raging Lyon, whereas we should be torn in pieces with his teeth and paws, and swallowed with his throat, unless the Lord do deliver us out of the middest of death: