Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

This wilderness was not that same wilderness, or not that same place of the wilderness wherein John Baptist lived, Mat. 3.1. For that wherein John Baptist lived, was a place inhabited; there was in that place Cities and Towns, and a number of people to whom John Preached; but this wilderness was devoid of men, full of wild beasts; so saith Mark, ¹He was tempted of Satan, and was with the wild Beasts. As Adam in his Innocency lived with wild Beasts and they hurt him not; so Christ, the second Adam lives, here in a wilderness with wild Beasts, and he has no hurt at all; he is Adam-like in his safety and security; but above Adam in the resisting of temptation. Some say that in this wilderness, during his forty days abode, Christ was perpetually disturbed and assaulted with evil Spirits; however the last brunt is only expressed, because it was most violent; now whether they appeared in any horrid and affrighting shapes during that time, it is not certain; but 'tis most likely, that to a Person of so great sanctity, and high designation as Jesus was, they would appear more angelical and immaterial, and in representments intellectual, because Jesus was not a Person of those low weaknesses, to be affrighted or troubled with any ugly phantasms; 'tis not much material to enquire of this; but in the wilderness (say they) Christ was perpetually tempted; and in this respect I know not, but the Devil had more advantage now he had Christ in a wilderness; solitariness is no small help to the speed of a Temptation; Woe to him that is alone, for if he fall, there is not a second to take him up. Others say, that in this wilderness, during his forty days abode, Christ was continually exercised in Prayer and Fasting; all that while he had his immediate Addresses and Colloquies with God; he knew he had a great work of Redemption to promote; and therefore his Conversation for this interval must be preparatory to it; in this respect I know not but the wilderness might be an advantage to Christ's Design: In this solitary place he could not but breath out more pure inspiration; Heaven usually is more open, and God usually is more familiar and frequent in his visits in such places. I know not what other experiences may be; but if I have found any thing of God, or of his Grace, I may thank a Wood, a Wilderness, a Desert, a solitary place, for its accommodation;

This wilderness was not that same wilderness, or not that same place of the wilderness wherein John Baptist lived,