The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge

Secondly, That the Saints and People of God do thus suffer, and why?

Thirdly, Answer to an Objection; and so come to the Application.

First, There is a Vexing, Corroding, §1Afflictive disposition in every temptation, when it takes least, though it do not prevail These Granadoes, fire-balls, fire-darts of Satan have a danger with them; though they do not burn down our spiritual building to the ground, they are afflictive, there is somewhat of a suffering with them. Paul calls his buffetings, a thorn, or a prick in the flesh: a Buffeting and therefore Afflictive; a thorn, or a prick in the flesh, and therefore Afflictive. Notable is that expression which our Saviour Christ useth, in the 22. of Luke, at the 31. verse, to Peter. Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. There is never a word here, but carries a suffering with it. It is some affliction, to have so great an Adversary as an Angel is, who is great in Power; the Devil is called an Angel, and he is called Satan, that is an Adversary. [Satan hath desired] the word that is used there, Desired, ¹it is not used again in the new Testament, (as I remember) ⟨p. 102⟩But in other Authors that use it, it signifies such a Desiring, as when one man does challenge another into the field to a Duel: Or such a Desiring, as when a man comes and calls for open, and public Punishment upon a man: and all this is Suffering, and Afflictive. Or, as your translation hath it: Satan hath desired to Have you. He does not say thus: Satan hath desired to Sift you; but Satan hath desired to Have you. Is it not an affliction to a child, to hear a Beggar stand craving, and begging of his father to have him away, to carry him away from his house? There is never a Temptation, but in that Temptation Satan desires to Have you, you that are the Children of God, Satan desires to have you. Then again, He hath desired to have you that he may [sift you as wheat.] Now though in sifting, there is a separation between the Chaff and the wheat, yet it is not without a concussion, and a shaking of the wheat: the wheat and the grain is shaken, though the chaff be blown aside, and laid on heaps. And though through the skill of the sifter, the wheat may be so kept, as it does not fall into the chaff-heap; yet notwithstanding, there is some danger in sifting, that the grain should fall over into the heap of chaff, and be burnt with the chaff: So here. Especially where Satan, the great destroyer of man-kind, hath the fan in his hand: