The third temptation is yet more horrid; the Temple was not high enough; so that now Satan takes him up to the top of an exceeding high mountain, 1and he shows him all the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them, saying, all these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me, Not to insist on those many Queries; how should all the Kingdoms of the World be presented to Christ's eye? Or if they were only presented to his imagination, why could not the Valley have served the Devil's turn, as ⟨p. 178⟩well as an hill? or whether was not Rome the object that the Devil presented? because at that time, Rome was the top of all the Kingdoms of the world, and the Glory of them? For my part, I think, in this Temptation, the Devil united all his Power of stratagems, and by an angelical Power he drew into one centre, the several Species and Idea's, from all the Kingdoms and Glories of the world; and he made an admirable Map of Beauties; and represented them to the eyes of Jesus; he thought Ambition more likely to ruin him, because he knew it was that which prevailed upon himself, and all those fallen stars, the Angels of darkness; and therefore, come (saith Satan) all these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. How? God worship the Devil? was ever the like Blasphemy since the first Creation? indeed now we have many fearful, execrable, cursed Blasphemies belched out, and Idolatry, I believe, is the spreadingest sin in the World; but was ever the like Blasphemy, or Idolatry to this, that not only a Creature, but the Creator himself must fall down before the Devil, and give worship unto him? The Lamb of God, that heard all the former Temptations with patience; he could by no means endure this; our own injuries are opportunities of patience; but when the Glory of God, and his immediate Honour is the question, then our Zeal should be all on a flame; now Christ bids him avoid; as soon as he observes his demands so impudent and Blasphemous; he commands him away, and tells him, it is written, 2thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Now was the Devil put to flight, and in his stead the Angels came and ministered unto Jesus; (i.e.) after his Fast, they ministered such things as his necessities required of them.
The third temptation is yet more horrid; the Temple was not high enough; so that now Satan takes him up to the top of an exceeding high mountain, 1and he shews him all the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them, saying, all these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me, Not to insist on those many Queries; how should all the Kingdoms of the World be presented to Christ's eye? Or if they were only presented to his imagination, why could not the Valley have served the Devil's turn, as ⟨p. 178⟩well as an hill? or whether was not Rome the object that the Devil presented? because at that time, Rome was the top of all the Kingdoms of the world, and the Glory of them? For my part, I think, in this Temptation, the Devil united all his Power of stratagems, and by an angelical Power he drew into one center, the several Species and Idea's, from all the Kingdoms and Glories of the world; and he made an admirable Map of Beauties; and represented them to the eyes of Jesus; he thought Ambition more likely to ruin him, because he knew it was that which prevailed upon himself, and all those fallen stars, the Angels of darkness; and therefore, come (saith Satan) all these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. How? God worship the Devil? was ever the like Blasphemy since the first Creation? indeed now we have many fearful, execrable, cursed Blasphemies belched out, and Idolatry, I believe, is the spreading'st sin in the World; but was ever the like Blasphemy, or Idolatry to this, that not only a Creature, but the Creator himself must fall down before the Devil, and give worship unto him? The Lamb of God, that heard all the former Temptations with patience; he could by no means indure this; our own injuries are opportunities of patience; but when the Glory of God, and his immediate Honour is the question, then our Zeal should be all on a flame; now Christ bids him avoid; assoon as he observes his demands so impudent and Blasphemous; he commands him away, and tells him, it is written, 2thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Now was the Devil put to flight, and in his stead the Angels came and ministred unto Jesus; (i.e.) after his Fast, they ministred such things as his necessities required of them.
- 1Ver. 8, 9.
- 2Ver. 10.
