CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. To Persons, Thus often in the Scripture, Mat. 12.45. So it shall be to that wicked generation in that day. Sometimes it's applied to the devil as the Original of all wickedness, who also tempts to it, So Matth. 13.19 Then comes the wicked one, 1 Joh. 2.13. Ye have overcome the evil one. Now there are some who limit this to the devil, keep them from the devil, because it is with the article, [Greek or Hebrew] but that is not necessary, as appeareth, Matth. 5.37. Whatsoever is more then this cometh, [Greek or Hebrew], So Mat. 5.49. Resist not evil, [Greek or Hebrew], that cannot be the devil, for we are commanded to resist him, but we may take the word generally both for sin and the devil, and sinful persons, That the sense may be thus, Though I pray not that thou should keep them free from all evil and afflictions, yet I pray that they may be preserved from sin thereby, that whatsoever may befall them, yet they may not sin, and here we see also that it's Gods gift to keep men in their afflictions that they sin not; Otherwise they would undo themselves, and through many tribulations they would go not into the Kingdom of Heaven, but of hell, from misery here to misery hereafter.

2. To Persons, Thus often in the Scripture, Mat. 12.45. So it shall be to that wicked generation in that day. Sometimes it's applied to the devil as the Original of all wickednesse, who also tempts to it, So Matth. 13.19 Then comes the wicked one, 1 Joh. 2.13. Ye have overcome the evil one. Now there are some who limit this to the devil, keep them from the devil, because it is with the article, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 but that is not necessary, as appeareth, Matth. 5.37