I take the Darts here spoken of to be those several and sundry temptations which the Devil useth to draw us to doubt of that help we have in GOD,1 and to despair: for oft he casteth sundry thoughts of despair into us, that he might shut out all hope in God, and so draw into perdition. Thus afflictions, so far forth as the Devil useth them as means to disquiet and vex the soul, may be here understood: and likewise all sins and provocations to sin, as they tend hereunto. These temptations were they light and fasten, pierce deep. Satan let store of these fly against Job, they fell on him as thick as hail-stones: despair was it which Satan sought to bring Job unto by depriving him of his cattle, goods, children, & all that he had: by striking his body all over with sore botches & boils. The contradicting speeches of Jobs wife and friends (the instruments of Satan herein) tended to this. These darts also he let fly at David, as appeareth by the many complaints of David: yea, he flung some of these at Christ in thed wilderness, in thee garden, and on thef cross. No darts so wound the body, as these wound the soul where they fasten.
I take the Darts here spoken of to be those seueral and sundry temptations which the Diuell vseth to draw vs to doubt of that helpe wee haue in GOD,1 and to despaire: for oft he casteth sundry thoughts of despaire into vs, that he might shut out all hope in God, and so draw into perdition. Thus afflictions, so farre forth as the Diuell vseth them as meanes to disquiet and vexe the soule, may be here vnderstood: and likewise all sinnes and prouocations to sinne, as they tend hereunto. These temptations were they light and fasten, pierce deepe. Satan let store of these flie against Iob, they fell on him as thicke as haile-stones: despaire was it which Satan sought to bring Iob vnto by depriuing him of his cattell, goods, children, & all that he had: by striking his body all ouer with sore botches & boiles. The contradicting speeches of Iobs wife and friends (the instruments of Satan herein) tended to this. These darts also he let flie at Dauid, as appeareth by the many complaints of Dauid: yea, he flung some of these at Christ in thed wildernesse, in thee garden, and on thef crosse. No darts so wound the body, as these wound the soule where they fasten.
- 1Diabolus in varias desper ationis cogitations nos immittit, quo excludat in Deum expectationem. Chrys. paren. ad Theod.Diabolus in varias desper ationis cogitationes nos immittit, quo excludat in Deum expectationem. Chrys. paren. ad Theod.
- dMat 4. 3.
- e& 26. 37, &c
- f& 27. 46.
