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

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 Mark. 1.13. he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan, and Luk. 4.2. being forty days tempted of the Devil. What conflicts and Temptations he underwent all that time, is not expressed, and therefore not necessary for us to know, nor fit to enquire, where God is silent; it becometh us to lay our hand upon our mouth, secret things belong unto the Lord, revealed things belong unto us, and to our Children, Deut. 29.29