pinnacle of the temple Now if hee had power to set him there why might hee not also cary him thither God ordaining this as well as his temptation The vse By this we see that men may be transported by the Diuell from place to place as the records of all ages do report this one thing yet obserued wherin the common opinion faileth that the Diuell cannot conuey a man aliue so far in a little time as many men thinke as a thousand or two thousand miles in an houre for no man is able to endure such violent motion and yet liue as experience teacheth let a man fall from some high steeple and his breath wil be gone and hee dead before hee come at the ground by reason of the violence of his motion Indeed the Diuell can carrie a man very swiftly but yet for the safetie of mans life he must prolong his time far more than otherwise of himselfe hee needs to doe Secondly hence wee learne that by Gods permission the Diuell may haue power ouer the bodies of Gods owne children which are true beleeuers to transport them from place to place for dealing thus with the head Christ Iesus why may hee not doe so with any of his members besides we find that God permitting him hee hath done more than this to the Saints of God hee may possesse their bodies as he did the woman of Canaans daughter Mat. 15. 22. He may torment them long as hee did exceeding grieuously bow the body of a daughter of Abraham eighteen years Luk. 13 16. Yea he may kill the body as he did to Iobs children who no doubt were holy persons Iob. 1. 19. And therefore much more may hee transport them from place to place Heere this question may fitly be answered whether a true beleeuer may be bewitched Answ. Hee may there is none vpon earth so faithfull and holy but if God permit Satan can afflict their bodies grieuously and therefore also they may be bewitched It is but the fancy of presumptuous persons when they say their faith is so strong that all the witches in the world cannot hurt them for if God permit Satan can grieuously afflict mans body as he did the body of Iob. yea he can kil the body as hath been shewed Salomon speaking of outward things saith truly All things come alike to all and the same condition is to the iust and to the wicked now the wicked man may be bewitched as al will grant why then may not the godly also seeing it is but an outward euill This therfore must abate their pride that stand so much on their strong faith behold this fact of Satan to the holy body of Christ and heereby learne for thy humiliation that if God permit Satan is able to bring vpon thy body great affliction Further obserue the place whither Satan caries our Sauiour Christ into the holy city that is Ierusalem Quest. Why is it called holy seeing now it was a polluted place full of sinful people Answ. It is called holy for these causes 1. because heere was the Lords temple the place of his solemne worship wherein were the holy rites and ceremonies prescribed for Gods worship Secondly in Ierusalem as also in all the synagogues of Iudea was Moses chaire the law and the Prophets were read expounded Thirdlie Ierusalem was the mother City of all the world in respect of religion heere God ordained that his church should first be planted and from hence must religion bee deriued to other nations The vse Hence we may obserue that at this time Ierusalē was the true church of God indeed it was very corrupt both for doctrine and maners as Christs seuere reproofe of both doth plainely shew Mat. 5. 21. c. and Mat. 23. 13. 14. c. and yet a true Church else the holy ghost would not haue called it the holy city Now if Ierusalem at this time were the true church of God then then may wee well say that in England God hath his true church for let the corruptions of our Church bee as they are yet shall it match Ierusalem in the prerogatiues of Gods church They had the law and the Prophets read and expounded so haue wee and the Gospel also which is the power of God to mans saluation They had the Sacraments and ceremonies of the Law answerable thereto wee haue the Sacraments of the Gospell and also a true and holy forme of seruing God Their Ierusalem was a mother city and though wee cannot say so much in that behalfe yet hath our Church beene a nurce to neighbour Churches in Germany France and other places round about for many yeares in regard whereof the Lord no doubt hath bestowed many blessings vpon vs. And therefore though our sinnes and abuses be many and grieuous yet in regard of Church prerogatiues we may be called a holy nation and a true member of the Church of God so that as our Sauiour Christ and his Disciples ioined themselues to the congregations of the Iewes in their legal seruice and forsooke them not till they became no Church so ought it to be among vs till we separate from Christ none should seuer themselues from our church ministery seruice of God Those therefore that make a separation from our Church because of corruptions in it are farre from the spirit of Christ and his Apostles If any shal say this makes wel for the church of Rome if so corrupt a place as Ierusalem in regard of Church prerogatiues were an holie city for they haue as many prerogatiues for religion as the Iewes then had and therefore are the church of God and so we do not well to separate from them Answ. Some indeed that are no Papists say the Church of Rome is the Church of God but the truth is the present Church of Rome is spirituall Babylon the mother of abhominations no spouse of Christ but a strumpet But they plead their prerogatiues as first their succession from Peter Secondly true baptisme for substāce according to the first institution Thirdly the Apostles Creed which they hold and beleeue Fourthly the word of God in the writings of the Prophets Apostles And Lastly that theirs is the mother church Answ. All this is nothing when the truth appeares for first succession in person without succession in doctrine is no note of a church now let them shew succession in the Apostles doctrine and we yeeld Secondly their baptisme alone though for substance true baptisme cannot prooue them a true Church Circumcision was the Sacrament of Gods church yet Samaria and Colchis were not the Church of God though they vsed it againe the thiefe may shew the true mans purse but that proueth him not to be true and honest no more doth baptisme iustifie the church of Rome to bee a true church Lastly though they haue outward baptism yet indeed they ouerthrow inward baptisme the life of that sacrament to wit imputed righteousnesse and renued holinesse which
in Gods Church must goe together with the outward element else it is nothing Thirdly for the Apostles Creed they haue it in word but they deny it in deede For though they say they beleeue in God the father and in Iesus Christ yet in effect they deny both God and Christ. For the God of the Papists is an idol God and the Christ of the Papists a false Christ as we haue shewed in handling of the Creed Fourthly for the scripture wee must know the word of God stands not in bare words and letters but in the true sense and meaning of the Holy ghost contained in the scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles Now though they haue the bookes of Scripture yet in sundry main grounds of religion they ouerthrow the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Again they keep the scripture as a lantern holds a candle not for it selfe but for passengers so is the scripture with them not for their synagogue but for Gods secret ones among them for euen in the midst of Poperie hath God euer had some of his elect who haue not embraced their cursed doctrine Lastly for their plea to be the mother Church we must distinguish between the ancient Church of Rome and the strumpet that now is the ancient Church of Rome to whom Paul writ was a true and famous church and a mother Church but she is now dead and buried and the now Roman Church is no mother Church no spouse of Christ but the whore of Babel the mother of abhominations from which we are commanded to depart Reuelat. 18. 4. Secondly in that Christ is brought to Ierusalē that holy City there to be tempted wee learne that no holinesse of place on earth can debarre the Diuell from his temptations he brings Christ from the wildernesse to tempt him in the holy city euen vpon the holy temple hee will thrust himselfe on Iehoshuahs right hand to resist him though Iehoshuah stand before the Angell of the Lord to minister to the Lord. And therefore the follie of Papists is egregious that thinke the signe of the crosse holy water reliques and such Massing inchantments haue vertue in them to free their houses or their bodies frō the assaults of Satan Lastly heereby wee see that change of place is but a sillie cure for a troubled mind indeed change of aire may much further bodily cures but a troubled mind hath conflicts with the diuel who will not leaue for change of place Ierusalem will fit his turne as well as the wildernesse The second part of the Diuels preparation to this conflict is this and set him on a pinnacle of the temple The word translated pinnacle signifieth properly a wing of the temple whereby some take to be meant the sharpe brouches and spires on the top of the temple whereof there were diuers but these as I take it are not heere meant for such a spire cannot wel be called a wing others take it for some part of the battlement made on the top of the Temple which was flat as the Iewes vsed to build to keepe men from falling others take it for any top corner of the Temples and whether of these it was we cannot certainly define but this we must holde that it was some dangerous steepe downe place on some corner of the Temple or on the battlements from which a man might easily cast himselfe whereby we see the Diuell will omit no aduantage that may further his temptations which should make vs the more carefull of our standing against him VERSE 6. And said vnto him If thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe for it is written that he wil giue his Angels charge ouer thee and with their hands they shall lift thee vp lest at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone THese wordes containe the second maine point in this conflict to wit Satans assault vpon Christ wherein we are to obserue first his temptation then the reason whereby he doth enforce it His temptation heere is framed as the former was in a kind of reasoning thus If thou be the sonne of God then shew the same by casting thy selfe downe from this pinnacle of the temple But as I see thou art certainly perswaded that thou art the sonne of God Therefore cast thy selfe downe and thereby declare it Seeing this is a distinct temptation from the former I doubt not but it must be thus framed with this conclusion for if it had the same conclusion with the former it should be the same temptation Satans meaning then is this as if he had said I haue made triall to see expresly whether thou be the sonne of God or not and it seemes thou doest vndoubtedly beleeue that voice of thy father to be true which said This is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am wel pleased Now if this be so indeed it is conuenient thou shouldest confirme the same by some miracle and the fittest place thou canst doe it in is this therefore cast thy selfe downe headlong from this pinnacle and yet preserue thy selfe in safety without all hurt in the fall The drift of Satan in this temptation was to bring our Sauior Christ to a vaine confidence in his Fathers protection and indeed to flat presumption vpon his extraordinarie prouidence in the neglect of lawfull ordinary means as by Satans conclusion the answer of Christ will easily appeare And hereby we may obserue that one maine drift of Satan in his ordinarie temptations in Gods church is to carry men to presumption and vaine confidence in the loue fauor and mercy of God this appeares by the strange reasonings for libertie in sinne which many frame to themselues and some are not ashamed to vtter as first God is mercifull and Christ shedde his bloud for their redemption and therefore they will not be so strict and precise in hearing sermons and reading conferring about the word as many are but they wil take the pleasures and seeke the profits of this life Thus reasoned some in the Apostles daies Let vs continue in sin that grace may abound of such Iude complaineth saying They turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Such there haue beene euer since at this day they doe euerie where abound Secondly some say they are either ordained to saluation or damnation now if to saluation they are sure of it how euer they liue and if to damnation they cannot escape it though they liue neuer so holily for Gods decree is vnchangeable and therfore they will take their pleasure and liue as they list Thirdly others say they haue euer found Gods goodnesse towards them and they are perswaded he will neuer see them want and therefore they will not toile themselues with labor care as others do but take their ease and pleasure while they may haue it and so neglect their charge and calling and giue themselues wholly to their sports and pleasures to company keeping or such
that which belongs to God alone The consideration whereof must moue vs who in all godlie conuersation must be contrary to Satan to renounce all lying and to make conscience to speake the truth from our hearts And also to abandon all vaine boasting of our selues what we are or what we can do yea rather to speake basely of our selues that so God in all good things we do may haue the glory Lying and bragging are the properties of Satan and therefore can not beseeme the tongue and heart of the children of God The second point in this temptation is the hard condition which satan would haue Christ to yeeld vnto for this gift If thou wilt fall down worship me euen to commit most abominable idolatrie in worshipping the Diuell himselfe Heerein we may obserue sundrie things First that it is a principall part of the Diuels endeuours against Gods church to seeke the ouerthrow of true religion and the pure worship of God by sowing therein the seeds of heresies and idolatries for if he dares be thus bold with Christ the head as to seeke to draw him from the worship of his Father to such abominable idolatrie what will he not attempt with silly and sinfull men The Scriptures are plentifull in shewing his indeuours this way Michaiah saw in vision an euill spirit offering himselfe vnto God to become a lying spirit in the mouth of all Ahabs prophets euen foure hundred at one time When Iehoshuah the high Priest stood before the Lord Satan stood at his right hand to resist him hee sought to hinder the building and worship of the materiall temple much more therefore will he seeke to hinder the building of the spirituall temple euen the worke of the ministery in conuersion of soules whereby they are pulled out of Satans kingdome and made pillars in the temple of the liuing God Satan is that enuious man that soweth tares of errors and heresies in the church of God which is the field of the good husbandman He hindred Paul from comming to the Thessalonians whereby it appeares that he did his endeuour to hinder the course of the Apostolicall ministery In the church of Smyrna he cast some into prison stirring vp wicked men so to do thereby to hinder the embracing of the Gospell Iohn saw three vncleane spirits like frogges come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet These are spirits of Diuels working miracles and going to the kings of the earth thither they go for the stoppage of the Gospell for if kings oppose themselues they become greatest hinderers to the Gospell of all other And these frogges by the common consent of Catholike expositors are the rabble of Popish Friers Priests and Iesuites who seeke the infection of States thorow all the world By all which the Diuels enmitie against the Church is most apparent The vse I. This shewes what care and diligence Gods Ministers should shew for the building of Gods Church and the furtherance of the Gospell for they should seeke to the vttermost of their power to counteruaile the enuious practise of satan against the Church II. Euery Christian must hence learne to pray not only for their owne good estate but also for the welfare of Gods Church euery where in the free passage of the Gospell in the establishing of true doctrine and in the continuance of constant obedience therunto For Satans endeuour is to subuert and corrupt the truth and to draw men from obedience and vnto him Gods children must euer oppose themselues the rather because their welfare stands in the good of Gods Church Secondlie in this condition of Satans offer to Christ wee may obserue that his endeuour is to bring men to worship him for if he durst attempt a demaund heerof at the hands of Christ who shall thinke to escape this assault when oportunity serues him And howsoeuer men thinke it impossible that Satan should thus far preuaile with any as to bring them to worship him yet doubtlesse though hee could not preuaile with Christ heerein hee attaines his purpose in the world and that with the greatest part thereof for the three religions of the Iew Turke and Papist doe at this day ouerspread the greatest part of the face of the earth and in them all such a worship of God is propounded vnto men wherein God is not worshipped but the Diuell For the euidence whereof marke these two rules First that all doctrines denised by man in the matter of religion which either directly or by iust consequence oppugne the word of God are doctrines of Diuels 1. Tim. 4. 1. 3. Doctrines repugnant to the word touching mariage and meares are doctrines of Diuels and so by proportion are all such like Secondly all deuised worship of God by man against Gods word is no worship of God but of the Diuell 1. Cor. 10. 20. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice vnto Diuels and not vnto God Doubtlesse the Gentiles intended to worship God in their images but because that worship was not according to Gods wil the Apostle respects not their intent as a thing that could nothing auaile in this case but saith peremptorily their worship was done vnto the Diuell And in reason it must bee so for why should wee thinke that God should accept that for his worship which is not agreeable to his will but denised by man according to the will of the Diuel From these two rules it will follow that the best of the three forenamed religions is no worship of God but of the Diuell for all of them haue such worship as is deuised by man not of God The Iew worships God out of Christ and so doth the Turke yea and the Papists worship God but yet out of the true Christ for as hath beene shewed elsewhere the Christ of the Papists is a counterfet Christ. And in many other points of their religion there is apparent repugnancy to the word of God yea of their sacrifice of the Masse wee may as truly say as the Apostle did of heathen idol worship that they sacrifice not vnto God but to the Diuell for therein is as vile accursed and abominable idolatrie as euer was deuised by man So that it is plaine the Diuel doth mightily preuaile in causing men to worship him Yea hee preuaileth thus not onely in the world but in Gods Church for all such as notwithstanding their outward profession haue their hearts set vpon the world more eagerly affecting the honours profits and pleasures thereof then God and his word do in deed and truth worship the Diuell for hee is the God of this world ruling in the heart of the children of disobedience by the baites of honour profit and pleasure he steales mens hearts from God and so heerein they doing the will of the Diuell must needs worship him for looke whereon a man seteth his
2. Coloss. 1 10 5. c. 2. 2 14. 15. 13. c 2. 51. c. 1. 1. Thessal 2 18 41. c. 1. 3 5 12. c. 2. 1. Tim. 3 6 9. c. 1. 4 1. 3. 41. c. 2. Â 7 13. c. 1. 6 9 22. c. 1. Â 17 22. c. 2. 2. Tim. 2 11. 12. 53. c. 2. Hebr. 1 2 20. c. 2. 2 10 53. c. 1. Â 17. 18. 9. c. 1. 54. c. 1. 11 6 13. c. 1. Iames. 1 2 4. c. 2. 53. c. 2. Â 13 7. c. 2. 3 14. 15. 9. c. 1. 4 7. 13. c. 1. 18. c. 2. 49. c. 2. 1. Pet. 1 25 20. c. 2. 2 9 5. c. 2. 4 17 31. c. 2. 5 7 23. c. 1. Â 8 9. c. 1. 13. c 1. 2. Pet. 1 5. 16. c. 1. Â 10 16. c. 1. 28. c. 1. 2 8 43. c. 1. 1. Iohn 4 1 29. c. 2. Iude. 0 4 27. c. 2. Reuela 2 10 41. c. 1. Â 13 5. c. 1. 11 8. 9. 10. 49. c. 1. 12 3. 4. 3. c. 1. Â 9 9. c. 1. Â 10 19. c. 1. 13 11 40. c. 2. 16 13. 14. 41. c. 1. 18 4 26 c. 2. 19 10 46 c. 1. A Table of the speciall points to be obserued in this Exposition The first number notes the Page the second the Columne b notes the beginning of the columne m the middle and e the end A ADoption Satan would driue vs from assurance of our Adoption 16. 1. b. We must specially labour for assurance of our adoption ibid. m. Affections how to moderate them in all estates 23. 1. b. Alleaging of Scripture Christ and his Apostles therein respected the true meaning therof 44. 2. e. In alleaging scripture they expound it 44. 2. b. Ministers should be carefull not to wrest it in their allegations 31. 1. m. Ambition a bait for Satan in the subuersion of kingdoms 40. 1. b. Angels The bond their ministery vnto Christ and his children 51. 2. e. Their number that doe minister vnto men 52. 2. b. Each one hath not a good Angell and a bad 52. 2. m. B Baptisme why Christ was baptized 1. 2. m. Blasphemers how wee should behaue our selues towards them 42. 2. e. Blasphemers of God ought to die 43. 1. e. Boasting vaine boasting ought to be auoided 40. 2. e. C Calamity Gods children haue specaill protection in common calamities 31. 2. m. Callings A man must not leaue his calling for the trouble thereof 4. 2. e. Men set apart for speciall callings are other men 5. 1. e. Christians should walk worthy their calling of grace 5. 2. m. Whom God calleth hee fitteth thereto 6. 1. m. Carking care how auoided 22. 1. e. Cary Satan may carry men in the aire 24. 2. m. Yea God children 36. 2. m. Christstemptation The time when 1. 1. e. He was led by the spirit to be tempted 3. 2. b. How he went furnished to be tempted 3. 2. e. Christ was tempted in the highest degree that Satan could 50. 1. e. Church no iudge of scripture 32. 2. e. Euery one ought to seeke the good of Gods church 41. 2. b. Church militant in this world as in a wildernesse 11. 1. e. It hath entercourse of temptations 51. 1. e. Comforts to Gods church Christs power in subduing Satan in his humility 19. 1. b. Christ moderates their afflictions and temptations 48. 2. e. Company none ought to thrust himselfe into bad company 5. 1. b. Contentation in extreame misery how gotten 22. 2. m. D Danger no man must runne into danger without a calling 4. 2. b. Deferring of resistance to Satan very dangerous 49. 2. m. Desert see wildernesse Desertion of Spirituall desertion 52. 2. e. Despaire how Satan works it in a guilty conscience 38. 1. b. Comfort against despaire 50. 2. b. Diuell see Satan Diligence in our calling hath special prerogatiue 32. 2. b. Diuinity ascribed to a thing foure waies 45. 1. m. Doctrine Carnall men neglect Christs doctrine but affectmiracles 28. 2. m. E England Gods true church 25. 2. b. Enticers to idolatrie how to be respected 43. 2. b. How to be auoided 44. 1. m. F Faith Satan seekes especially the ruine of our faith 15. 2. m. Fasting three kinds of fasts 9. 2. e. How long a man may fast and yet liue 10. 1. e. Why Christ fasted forty daies 10. 2. b. Lent-fast misfounded on Christs fast 10. 2. e. Filled Christ was alwaies filled with the Spirit 5. 2. e. yet hee increased therein 6. 1. b. Food and raiment How to Consider rightly thereof 21. 2. b. We ought to sanctifie it vnto vs by praier 22. 1. b. Francis Spira too rashly iudged a castaway 50. 2. e. G Gainsaying of Gods truth a property of Satan 17. 2. m. Godhead of Christ infringed by satan 17. 1. e. And by his followers ibid. 2. b. Guide Gods spirit must guide vs in euery thing 4. 1. b. H Holy daies obserued to the honour of Saints vnlawfull 47. 2. m. Holinesse of Christs humane nature 3. 2. e. No holinesse of place on earth can debarre Satan from tempting 26. 2. m. Hunger Christ was an hungred 12. 1. m. and why ibid. e. I Idolatrie Satan seekes to bring Christ to commit it 38. 2. m. Hereby he seekes the ruine of religion 41. 1. m. Ierusalem why called the holy city 25. 1. e. Ignorant persons should labour for knowledge in Gods word 19. 2. e. Iudgement Rash iudgement against men that are tempted by Satan vnlawfulll 50. 2. m. and deceitful 51. 2. e. Iustification by faith onely 48. 1. m. K Kingdomes Satans enmity to Christs kingdome 39. 1. e. Satan knowes all worldly kingdomes and the policies thereof 39. 2. e. How hee seekes the ruine of worldly kingdomes 40. 1. b. Earthly kingdomes are preserued from Satans malice by Gods prouidence 40. 1. e. Kneeling before a chaire of estate 47. 1. m. L League some doe make a league with Satan 42. 2. b. Led how Christ was led to be tempted 3. 2. b. Life of a Christian a continuall intercourse of temptations 51. 2. b. Limite not God in thy praiers 34. 1. b. Lying Satans sinne 40. 2. e. M Magicians may shew strange representations 37. 1. e. Masters of families should be especially zealous against blasphemers 43. 1. e. Meanes neglected a tempting of God 34. 2. e. Melancholy Satans bait 14. 2. m. Ministers especially must looke for temptations 3. 1. b. It is good for them to be tempted and why ibid. e. They ought to get sound knowledge in the text of Scripture 30. 2. m. And be wary of wresting any text 31. 1. m. Monasticall life not warrantable by Gods word 7. 1. m. O Obedience absolute must be giuen to God 48. 2. b. And voluntary 50. 1. m. Occasions of sinne must be watched against 12. 1. b. P Papists are Idolaters 46. 2. e. And 47. 1. b. Papists tempt God in looking now for miracles 34. 1. m. They sacrifice to Satan in their Masse 42. 1. m. Pope of Rome that beast