Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	ghost_n	sin_n	sin_v	2,468	5	10.3762	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13530	Christs combate and conquest: or, The lyon of the tribe of Iudah vanquishing the roaring lyon, assaulting him in three most fierce and hellish temptations. Expounded, and now (at the request of sundry persons) published for the common good, by Tho. Taylor, preacher of the word of God, at Reeding in Barkeshire; Christs combate and conquest.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.	1618 (1618)	STC 23822; ESTC S105331	393,043	443

is not repugnant to the analogie of faith or true interpretation of other Scriptures But that Satan should come bodily or assume a shape is not against the scripture but confirmed in the example of Eue and Samuel If it be further asked in what bodily shape he came here I am with the scripture silent Onely he came not in a Monkish habit as the grosse Papists say because there was no such in vse in the world then nor many hundred yeares after And yet it is obseruable that themselues thinke this habit the fittest for the deuill as indeed it hath beene since prooued for neuer did the deuill in any habit so preuaile against Christ in his members as in this Antichristian weed 1. Note hence what mooued Satan thus to come namely his owne voluntary motion and will he came vnsent for Christ comes not but led of the spirit Satan comes of himselfe And the same difference is to be obserued betweene them that are led by the spirit of God and by this vnclean spirit Those that are led by Gods spirit whatsoeuer they be about they will looke to the motion what warrant they haue for it whence it is and whether it tends whether they be led or vndertake things of their owne head they looke whether the thing be good in it selfe whether good in them whether conuenient in circumstances whether it belong vnto them and hence they do it chearfully and with a blessing on it Whereas whom Satan caries they looke for no warrant they set themselues on worke and execute their owne lusts humours and desires yea in the things they doe best they looke for no warrant and therefore if it be in any thing that is good euery thing is begun as with a left hand they are without blessing and protection See this difference betweene Ahab and Iehoshaphat 1. King 22. Ahab saith Let vs goe vp to Ramoth Gilead but Iehoshaphat said I pray thee let vs aske counsell of the Lord and was there not as much difference in the issue yes Ahab was strangely slaine a mighty man by chance drawing a bow hit into a ioynt of his armour and slew him but Iehoshaphat was marueilously deliuered And therefore look to your warrant in your actions aske your hearts whether you be led by the spirit or come of your selues and then you come of your selues when either you haue no word or attempt any thing against the word seeing Gods spirit and word crosse not one another and one neuer directs but by the other So if you be crossed in your actions or attempts cast an eye backe to that which mooued you to it or whether you went by warrant or vpon your owne head If you haue gone and the spirit not leading you what could you expect but to be crossed Looke on the 7. sonnes of Sceua who would take in hand to cast out deuills in the name of Iesus but beeing not led by the spirit the euill spirit tooke aduantage on the want of their commission and ranne vpon them and ouercame them preuailed against them so that they fled out naked and wounded 2. Note Obserue the impudencie and boldnes of the deuill that thus visibly comes against Christ. Had he not heard the voice from heauen or had he forgot it whilest it yet sounded no he begun all his temptations thus If thou be the Sonne of God Or did he doubt that he was the Sonne of God no the deuills confesse him so to be Matth. 8. and he knew by all the prophesies and accomplishments that Christ was he the scepter was gone from Iudah he was borne of a Virgin at Bethlehem whom Iohn went before in the spirit of Elias he knew the shepheards testimony yea the Angels at his birth he knew well he was the Son of God Quest. What could it stand with his policie so visibly to assaile the Sonne of God Answ. 1. God in iustice besotted him that against his knowledge he should encounter Christ for his owne ouerthrow 2. Though ●e knew that Christ was he that should breake his head and that he could not preuaile against him yet his malice made him fearelesse he would set vpon Christ whatsoeuer should be the issue himselfe could be but condemned 3. He would against his knowledge shew his malice to God in molesting and troubling his blessed Sonne for here and daily he sinneth the sinne against the Holy Ghost 4. God hauing him in chaines so ouerruled his malice as it should be turned against himselfe and be a meanes to proclaime Christ in all ages the promised seed who had broken his head He which thus emboldned himselfe to come against Christ wil not feare to come to thee be thou as iust as Iob yea wert thou as innocent as the Lamb of God It is Gods great mercy that hee comes not so bodily and visibly to vs as to Christ we know if God giue him leaue he can possesse euen any of our bodies as appeares in all those demoniaks he can assume a body also to terrifie or delude vs withall if God suffer him as we see in Sauls example So in Gods iust iudgement when men giue vp Gods seruice and vndertake to bee agents for Satan he giues power to the deuill to come to them in a bodily shape for his better familiarity with them as to witches and the like It is Gods mercy that he comes not thus as he did to Christ so ordinarily as he hath done in ignorant and Popish times and we must pray that euen in visible shapes he may neither terrifie nor delude nor grow familiar with vs. But the light of the Gospell hath forced him to come to vs more secretly and spiritually by wicked motions and suggestions partly from himselfe immediately and partly mediately from others And seeing we cannot hinder his comming to vs we must be so much the more watchfull that when he comes he may find vs prepared against him For as we cannot hinder birds from flying in the aire but we may hinder them from making nests on our heads so we cannot hinder the flying motions of Satan but we neede not suffer them to settle in vs. Quest. How shall I know when the tempter comes Answ. By obseruing these two rules 1. Whensoeuer thou art perswaded to any thing that is euill then thou mayest know the tempter comes Sometimes he perswades to sinne by extenuating it why it is but a little one a grain as light as a feather now comes the tempter Gods spirit neuer perswades that any sinne is little Sometimes by the vtility commodity of it Oh it is profitable by one oath or lie thou maiest be a great gainer and why shouldest thou be so nice but now the tempter is come for the holy Spirit commaunds thee not to sweare at all nor to lie for Gods greatest aduantage much lesse thine owne and what profit is it to winne the world with the losse of ones soule Sometimes from

men into these places besides that they neuer doe good no maruell if they fall fearefully as beeing not fenced they cannot say God set them there or will help them against temptations 2. Let them looke that they haue good warrant for that which they do and for euery action of their calling that they may see themselues to be in Gods worke for so long they haue promise of protection He will keepe and helpe thee in thy wayes 3. Let them pray to God for power and successe notwithstanding their trialls which they shall doe if they see the need of Gods strength as the Apostle did Eph. 6.19 Pray for mee and besought the Saints for Christs sake and the loue of the spirit to striue with him in prayer to God Seeing high estates are so dangerous why should not men content themselues with a meane ●ondition but insatiably gape after promotion 1. high callings are like high trees vpon the tops of hills which are subiect to euery winde 2. if height could bring content or a sweet life it were more worthily desired but we see it consumes a man with enuie and feare desiring still some thing beyond his present estate 3. there is as great sorrow in the fall as labour in rising and to come downe in the height is greater griefe And all this comes vpon a man besides Satans malice Lastly this serues to comfort Christians who are acquainted with temptations in the beginning of their conuersion and are ready to giue vp all as seeing nothing but discomfort For 1. it was the lot of Christ the head 2. it is a cursed peace to be at peace with the deuill and a blessed warre to fight for God and Christ Iesus 3. a theefe breakes not into an emptie house and a dogge barkes at strangers it is a good signe that thou art gotten out of Satans power because he pursues thee he needs not pursue those whom he possesseth they be good men whom Satan is an enemie to 4. the Lord first strengthened Christ with his voice from heauen and then brought him into the field and so he will deale with thee his member The second circumstance is the person opposed Iesus This will seeme strange if we consider in our Lord Iesus 1. The perfection of his nature he was free from all originall corruption by his most holy conception by the ouershadowing of the Holy Ghost as also from actuall sinne 1. Pet. 2.22 he did no sinne neither was any guile found in his mouth And though he had our substance and our infirmities yet with one exception without sinne Heb. 4.15 2. The perfection of grace for he was now full of the Holy Ghost indued with infinite knowledge wisedome holines and grace and it might seeme that there was no place or roome for temptation 3. The perfection of his power beeing the Creator and preseruer of all things the Lord of hosts by whose very word or becke all creatures as they be sustained so might be brought to nothing who beeing at the weakest was able by one word to cast down to the earth all that came to apprehend him and compell the very deuils to begge fauour of him 4. The perfection of his fathers loue hauing immediately before testified that hee was his beloued Sonne in whom he was well pleased who as in his priuate estate he encreased in fauour with God Luk. 2.52 so now much more hath he gained his fathers loue as we haue heard And yet ●esus must not escape the tempter It is not any excellencie or high respect that can exempt any man from Satans temptations If a man had all the perfections which Christ had of nature grace power and the loue of God yet in this life he must be exposed vnto them If we looke at all the Worthies of the world of greatest grace in greatest fauour with God as Iob Lot Aaron Moses Dauid Peter none of them could escape this onset Satan desires to winnow the Disciples as wheat euen at the side of Christ Luk. 22.31 Nay our first Parents Adam and Eue created in absolute perfection concerning present righteousnesse and holinesse met with a serpent euen in innocencie in paradise If neither holinesse of person nor place can priuiledge a man from temptation but Prophets Apostles yea the first Adam and the second Adam also must be tempted who can expect immunitie from the tempter 1. This life is the time of warfare and the world is the great field of God in which Michael and his Angels fight against the dragon and his angels and can the captaines and leaders of the rest that goe before them in grace in strength in knowledge and holinesse escape the onset seeing the sharpest and most keene assaults of euery battell is vpon the foreward and forlorne hopes 2. Satans malice beeing the greatest sinne in the world and the sinne against the holy Ghost is directly and professedly against God and consequently against those that appertaine to God because they doe so That he hateth the godly it is because he hateth God and in vs would be reuenged on him in the seruants he persecutes the Master in the members the head whereas his cheife quarrell lyeth against the Master and Head This cannot be newe to him that considereth either Christs prophecie Yee shall be hated of all men for my sake that is of all wicked men that carrie Satans image and properties or else the Saints experience of the accomplishment of it For thy sake are wee killed all the day long Psal. 44.22 Whence it must follow that the nearer any man is to God more graced or more like him the more is Satans malice kindled against him and he is lesse exempted from temptation the nearer Christ the more desirous is he to winnow him 3. Gods prouidence so ordereth the matter that where he giues greater strength and grace there should be greater exercise to preuent pride to keepe grace on worke and to make his gifts knowne to the world If Satans malice and impudencie set vpon the greene tree what will he doe to the drie If he dare make triall of Christs strength will he feare our weakenesse If he dare encounter with perfection can we impotent and infirme creatures looke for exemption No we had more need arme our selues and expect our aduersarie and the rather because the Prince of the world comes vpon Christ and findeth nothing to helpe his temptations by but to vs he needs bring no weapons he finds in our selues a whole armorie of weapons by which he may fight against vs he findes a rebel within vs an old Adam of our corrupt nature that giueth him strength and helpe against vs and therefore his boldnesse will be so much the more against vs when he sees our owne wicked inclinations yeelding strength to his wicked temptations Many men say they are of so strong a faith and of such grace that they defie Satan they

without excuse but not without witnesse Is not thy owne mouth thy iudge who professest so much knowledge and so little grace loue practise To sinne wilfully and presumptuously against the light is an extraordinarie conformity with Satan Rules of reading and hearing the word religiously 1. Consider the excellencie of the word aboue all precious things and how dangerous it is to take Gods name in vaine which is then when the word is frustrate of his right end 2. They are called holy Scriptures not onely in regard of that holy truth contained in them but because they are instruments by which the elect are sanctified and made holy Ioh. 17.17 and therefore are neuer to be vsed without holy affection nor without endeauour to grow vp in holines 3. They are the word of faith therefore we must mingle the word with faith and lay vp the precepts and promises thereof to beleeue it 4. The Scriptures being the rule of life we must submit our whole man to the obedience practise of it with all sinceritie and constancie Hereby we shall goe beyond the knowledge of the word in deuills and vngodly men NOW for the place it selfe we must consider it two wayes 1. As abused by Satan in his allegation 2. As we find it holily set downe by the Spirit of God In Satans abuse of this Scripture we may see many particulars 1. He wrongs the words of God when he vrgeth them spoyled of the right sense of the holy Ghost 2. He peruerteth the right order of Gods spirit in his allegation for whereas Gods spirit first suggests the word and then frames the heart to obedience of it for the propertie of the sheepe of Christ is first to heare the voice and then to follow Ioh. 10.27 Satan first will haue men to conceiue opinions or attempt practises pleasing to him and themselues and then afterwards seeke out some Scripture to iustifie them Thus Iohanan and the captaines were resolued to goe into Egypt but sent for Ieremy to see if they might haue the word of God to goe with them Ier. 42.3 compared with verse 20.3 He wrests the right end for whereas all Scripture is written that wee might not sinne 1. Ioh. 2.1 he abuseth this part of it to draw Christ to sinne ●nd whereas all the precious promises of God should hold vs in the awe and feare of God this promise must occasion Christ to pr●sume vpon an vnlawfull action 4. He willingly mistakes the persons for whereas that Psalme and the great promises of it hold true in Christ our Head yet notwithstanding it w●s principally written for the godly members of Christ and the adopted sonnes of God neither can euery thing in that Psalme be so fitly referred to Christ in himselfe as in his afflicted members Besides that the Angels minister otherwise to Christ himselfe then to his members Christ by his owne power bea●es vp himselfe and Angels and all things Hebr. 1.3 5. He falsifies the text by adding partly to the words partly to the sense To the words he addes least at any time which addes no small strength to the temptation including euen that time wherein he should bee iumping betweene the pinacle and the pauement To the sense thrusting his dart into the sense of the place as if that place said so much in effect to him Cast thy selfe downe which Chrysostome hath well obserued saying Cast thy selfe d●wne was not written but was the poyson of the serpent cunningly mingled with the sweet comfort of the Scripture 6. He puts out and conceales that which most makes for Christ and against himselfe namely those words in all thy waies which most warreth against this headlong casting downe of himselfe for it is not the way of a man to cast himselfe from such an height but to seeke the staires o● the ordinarie way And these words were not vnawares omitted but maliciously and purposely for if Christ shall heare him speake of his wayes and consider that this casting downe of himselfe pertained not to his way one peice of his owne argument had ouerthrowne the whole 7. In th● allegation he commits the fallacie of diuision intending Christs ouerthrow by disioyning the things which God hath coupled together for whereas the words of that text in the right sense consists of two parts namely 1. a promise of protection and preseruation 2. the condition of keeping a mans selfe in his wayes without which condition no promise of God belongs vnto vs for godlinesse hath the promise of this life and the life to come Satan reiects the condition wholly and diuorceth it from the promise This is Mr. Iunius his obseruation 8. From euery part and word of a most excellent text he can vrge his most hellish temptation and make all faire weather when he intends nothing lesse as if he should say If thou be the Sonne of God cast downe thy selfe I do assure thee nay the written word assures thee of protection and safety for in such a Psalme namely the 91. verse 11. thou hast the word of thy Fathers promise yea in one promise a number of promises for 1. If thou wilt knowe the parties that shall support thee they bee Angels creatures swift mighty and powerfull 2. If thou doubtest of their will they must doe it they can neither will nor chuse it is their charge they are commaunded so to doe 3. If thou aske the manner how they must beare thee vp that if thou wouldst thou canst not fall 4. If thou doubtest of their chearefulnesse or willingnes or diligence there is no feare for they must doe it as mothers or nourses as the word signifies who out of their tender loue beare and carie or lead the infant with great watch and circumspection that it fall not and so come to hurt 5. If thou thinkest there is any limitation of their commission there is none for they must beare thee vp at all times 6. To take away all suspition of feare from thee they must saue thee not onely from great danger as breaking thy bones or necke but from the least danger thy foote the lowest and basest part shall not stumble or be hurt much lesse thy head thy selfe Thus subtilly intending to hold with the hound and run with the hare Satan hath prickt out a place which seemeth forcible enough to perswade any reasonable man to his purpose Hence note that A principall wile of Satan is to assay if he can by no meanes else to ouerthrow men by the ouerthrow of Scriptures Gen. 3.1 Hath God indeed said ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden It were strange and maruellous he should say so seeing he knows it would better your estate In this his first temptation of all other he chuseth to make Gods word a meanes of their and our ouerthrow thinking it not an easie thing to destroy Gods image in the soule vnlesse he could first destroy the word of God out of their