Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons /

Fourthly, That Satan's first temptations are more plausible, he doth not at first dash come with fall down and worship me; but only pretendeth a respect to Christs refection, and a demonstration of his Sonship. Few or none are so desperate at first, as to leap into Hell at the first dash, therefore the Devil beginneth with the least temptations. First men begin with less evils, play about the brink of Hell: a man at first taketh a liking to company, afterwards he doth a little enlarge himself, into some haunts and merry meetings with his companions, then entereth into a confederacy in evil, till he hath brought utter ruin upon himself, and what was honest Friendship at first, proveth wicked company and sure destruction at ⟨p. 50⟩last. At first a man playeth for recreation, then ventureth a shilling or two, afterwards by the witchery of Gaming, off goeth all sense of thrift, honesty, and credit. At first a man dispenseth with himself in some duty, then his dispensation groweth into a settled toleration, and God is cast out of his closet, and his Heart groweth dead, dry, and sapless: there is no stop in sin, 'tis of a multiplying nature, and we go on from one degree to another; and a little lust sets open the door for a greater, as the lesser sticks set the greater on fire.

Fourthly, That Satans first temptations are more plausible, he doth not at first dash come with fall down and worship me; but only pretendeth a respect to Christs refection, and a demonstration of his Sonship. Few or none are so desperate at first, as to leap into Hell at the first dash, therefore the Devil beginneth with the least temptations. First men begin with less evils, play about the brink of Hell: a man at first taketh a likeing to company, afterwards he doth a little inlarge himself, into some haunts and merry meetings with his companions, then entreth into a confederacy in evil, till he hath brought utter ruin upon himself, and what was honest Friendship at first, proveth wicked company and sure destruction at ⟨p. 50⟩last. At first a man playeth for recreation, then ventureth a shilling or two, afterwards by the witchery of Gaming, off goeth all sense of thrift, honesty, and credit. At first a man dispenseth with himself in some duty, then his dispensation groweth into a settled toleration, and God is cast out of his closet, and his Heart groweth dead, dry, and sapless: there is no stop in sin, 'tis of a multiplying nature, and we go on from one degree to another; and a little lust sets open the door for a greater, as the lesser sticks set the greater on fire.