Thus Satan is ever crossing, tempting, enticing us when we are or should be addressing our selves to do the will of our God. So was Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 1Nehemiah, Christ himself tempted, being about most notable works. What said our Saviour to Peter? Satan hath desired to sift and winnow you as wheat. Who are these whose peril satan so earnestly desireth? Even Peters, and James, and Johns. No marvel, for Christ himself, though acknowledged the Son of God, was most fiercely assaulted of the tempter forty days, and then indeed was left, but it was only for a season, Luke. 4. 13. Therefore never dream of a truce with Satan, whosoever thou be, whatsoever thou art about to do. For the enemy, the envious foe, the tempter, the false accuser goeth about continually seeking whom he may devour. Now his manner of tempting is, first and most usually with flattering, but yet very often with most terrible threatening. For whatsoever we do or feel, cometh from one of these three spirits, the spirit of satan, the Spirit of God, or our spirit. Now our own spirit of it self is always occupied about worldly things, seeking delights in pleasures, not disquiet by threats. The spirit of God is gentle, loving, and meek, not forcing, nor threatening. Therefore Christ saith, If any will follow me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, &c. 2And mark his spirit, he saith not, you shall follow me, but ⟨image 61⟩you shall deny your selves, and take up your cross, but if any will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross: Let him. The same is to be seen in the Canticles, 3where he saith: Open unto me my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. For mine head is full of dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. For 4when she opened not unto him, making most unmeet excuses, though he had most lovingly prayed, and lively urged her to open, and she most unkindly, most unworthily had denied, yet the went his way mildly without 5any threats. But the spirit of Satan takes an other course: For when by lying and deceit he cannot allure to sin, he threatens most fearfully with sin, grief, or loss of goods, solitariness and want of pleasure, and sometime by his ministers, imps of his own likeness, he threatens death, and deadly torments, whatsoever they may inflict upon any.
Thus Sathan is euer crossing, tempting, enticing vs when wee are or should be addressing our selues to doe the will of our God. So was Moises, Ieremy, Ezechiel, 1Nehemiah, Christ himselfe tempted, being about most notable workes. What said our Sauiour to Peter? Sathan hath desired to sift and winnow you as wheate. Who are these whose perill sathan so earnestly desireth? Euen Peters, and Iames, and Iohns. No maruaile, for Christ himselfe, though acknowledged the Sonne of God, was most fiercely assaulted of the tempter fortie daies, and then indeed was left, but it was onely for a season, Luke. 4. 13. Therefore neuer dreame of a truce with Sathan, whosoeuer thou be, whatsoeuer thou art about to doe. For the enemy, the enuious foe, the tempter, the false accuser goeth about continually seeking whom he may deuoure. Now his manner of tempting is, first and most vsually with flattering, but yet very often with most terrible threatning. For whatsoeuer we doe or feele, commeth from one of these three spirits, the spirit of sathan, the Spirit of God, or our spirit. Now our owne spirit of it selfe is alwaies occupied about worldly things, seeking delights in pleasures, not disquiet by threats. The spirit of God is gentle, louing, and meeke, not forcing, nor threatning. Therefore Christ saith, If any will follow me let him deny himselfe and take vp his crosse daily, &c. 2And mark his spirit, he saith not, you shall follow me, but ⟨image 61⟩you shall denie your selues, and take vp your crosse, but if any will follow me, let him deny himselfe, and take vp his crosse: Let him. The same is to be seene in the Canticles, 3where he saith: Open vnto me my sister, my loue, my doue, my vndefiled. For mine head is full of deaw, and my lockes with the droppes of the night. For 4when she opened not vnto him, making most vnmeete excuses, though he had most louingly praied, and liuely vrged her to open, and she most vnkindly, most vnworthily had denied, yet the went his way mildly without 5any threats. But the spirit of Sathan takes an other course: For when by lying and deceit he cannot allure to sinne, he threatens most fearfully with sinne, griefe, or losse of goods, solitarines and want of pleasure, and somtime by his ministers, impes of his owne likenesse, hee threatens death, and deadly torments, whatsoeuer they may inflict vpon any.
- 1Exo. 3. 11. &. 4. 10. 13. Jer. 1 6. •ze. 3. 14 15. Neh. 2. 19. 4. 2 8. 5. 5. 6. 6. 7. 10. Luk. 22. 31. 32 Matth 4. 1. L•k. 4. 2. •. 13 1. Pet. 5. 8.Exo. 3. 11. &. 4. 10. 13. Ier. 1 6. •ze. 3. 14 15. Neh. 2. 19. 4. 2 8. 5. 5. 6. 6. 7. 10. Luk. 22. 31. 32 Matth 4. 1. L•k. 4. 2. •. 13 1. Pet. 5. 8.
- 2Luke 19. 23.
- 3Cantic. 5. 2.
- 43.
- 52. 4. 6.
