The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee Lord, that shall not be unto thee, but he turned, and said unto Peter, get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Jesus Christ suffered himself to be tempted of the Devil, he gave Satan leave to do his worst against him. The time when he entered upon this horrible conflict was, so soon as he was baptized by John, and had the Spirit descending upon him like a Dove, and had that Divine Testimony from Heaven. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. These things might have terrified and disanimated Satan from attempting him with his carnal & worldly Temptations, but his envy & hatred against Christ did rather incense provoke, and embolden him to assault him, having leave given him to do his worst against him. Jesus Christ was carried by the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted, he was not carried by a transporting act of the Spirit, but by a spiritual Rule and power extraordinary, he was now entering upon the great work of his public Ministry, he saw meet to begin that extraordinary work with an extraordinary Fa•t; to spend forty days (as Moses did in the Mount w•th God) with God in prayer. Now being in the wilderness the Devil had him alone, separated from all humane communion, or assistance, o• ⟨p. 59⟩diversion, he was where no living Creature was, save Beasts of the wilderness, Mark. 1.13. he was with the wild Beasts, but the Angels ministered unto him, and how far they were a bridle to Satan, in assaulting him, it is not said, he began his Ministry with fasting and prayer, and with suffering Temptation, for this was the season that Satan had his Commission to tempt him. He was tempted all these forty days and forty nights, while he was in fasting and prayer, for