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

From this admirable History of Jesus Christ his suffering himself to be tempted by the Devil, even to the uttermost of his power and skill, we may gather up some General Considerations.

From this admirable History of Jesus Christ his suffering himself to be tempted by the Devill, even to the uttermost of his power and skill, we may gather up some General Considerations.

First. See the marvellous power of fictitious Imaginations, and figments of the mind. What strong conceptions and mental productions of Sin they fill the Souls of men withal. They prevailed not so far with Jesus Christ as to pollute him, but to tempt him to the uttermost. Mad men do many times speak out their mental fictions and conceptions: but sober men have more command over themselves, than to vent and speak out what is boiling in their hearts. But the thoughts and figments of the mind are seldom quiet, unless they be overpowered by a soul-ruling employment and Spirit. The presence and Worship of God should over-bear them, and often doth: Yet vanity of mind, running after these mental figments, is a mournful complaint of Gods Children, as being a troublesome vexatious sore, and bitter interruption, even in our best Services: and well if this be bitter! they do the less hurt, they are most pernicious when they are sweet, pleasant, delightful. These kind of Temptations hath Jesus Christ experienced ⟨p. 61⟩and conquered, he was now exercised in an extraordinary duty of fasting and prayer, at his making entrance upon his public Ministry, and lo, what interruption he met with by these fictitious imaginations and figments which Satan assaulted him withal. But praised be his grace, he hath conquered them for our great encouragement and advantage.

First. See the marvellous power of fictitious Imaginations, and figments of the mind. What strong conceptions and mental productions of Sin they fill the Souls of men withall. They prevailed not so far with Jesus Christ as to pollute him, but to tempt him to the uttermost. Mad men doe many times speak out their mental fictions and conceptions: but sober men have more command over themselves, than to vent and speak out what is boyling in their hearts. But the thoughts and figments of the mind are seldome quiet, unless they be overpowered by a soul-ruling imployment and Spirit. The presence and Worship of God should over-bear them, and often doth: Yet vanity of mind, running after these mental figments, is a mournfull complaint of Gods Children, as being a troublesome vexatious sore, and bitter interruption, even in our best Services: and well if this be bitter! they doe the less hurt, they are most pernicious when they are sweet, pleasant, delightfull. These kind of Temptations hath Jesus Christ experienced