Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

4th. Snare of Satan is, to carry on his mischievous designs under a pretence of Friendship. He puts off his Lions Skin, and comes in Sheeps Clothing^†. Thus Satan came to Christ; Command that these Stones be made bread, Mat. 4.3. As if he had said, I see thou art Hungry, I therefore out of Pity Counsel thee to get something to eat, turn stones to bread that thy hunger may be satisfied: but Christ ⟨p. 61⟩spied the Serpent in the Temptation and repulsed him. Thus Satan came to Eve under the Notion of a Friend. Eat, saith he, of the Tree in the midst of the Garden, Ye shall not dye, ye shall be as Gods, Gen. 3.4, 5. As if he had said, I persuade you only to that which will put you into a better condition than now ye are; eat of the Tree of knowledge and it will make you Omniscient. What a kind Devil was here! but Eve found a Worm in the Apple. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes—^*.

4th. Snare of Satan is, to carry on his mischievous designs under a pretence of Friendship. He puts off his Lions Skin, and comes in Sheeps Clothing^†. Thus Satan came to Christ; Command that these Stones be made bread, Mat. 4.3. As if he had said, I see thou art Hungry, I therefore out of Pity Counsel thee to get something to eat, turn stones to bread that thy hunger may be satisfied: but Christ ⟨p. 61⟩spied the Serpent in the Temptation and repulsed him. Thus Satan came to Eve under the Notion of a Friend. Eat, saith he, of the Tree in the midst of the Garden, Ye shall not dye, ye shall be as Gods, Gen. 3.4, 5. As if he had said, I perswade you only to that which will put you into a better condition than now ye are; eat of the Tree of knowledge and it will make you Omniscient. What a kind Devil was here! but Eve found a Worm in the Apple. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes—