temptation behind him and having the fear of God before his eyes he fasted but answers for that sin in fasting which was committed by eating This Tempter like a cunning Broaker will not that his Customer shall want any Commodity his store-house must furnish at the leâ—st promise him what he most desireth he wants not his Factors and active Agents to drive on his design and bring the deceâ—â—ful heart within his books if thou art low he hath a way to promise riches and wants not a Ballade to promote thee unto â—â—noâ—r if poor he will tender thee a supply and though he can challenge nothing but torments as his due yet Omnia haâ— dubitibi is as ready with him to offer as with our depraved natures to accept God tells thee Thou shalt have no other Gods if thou beest weary of thy subjection unto him Satan hâ—â— a Serpent can â—â—ll thee how to be exempted from thy obedience instead of thy submission to his Commands Eritis sicâ—t dâ—i you shall be as gods Gâ—d sayes Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image but the Tempter tells thee of a greater liberty If God from abâ—ve do not condescend to thy desires attend thy expectations if Moses stâ—y but in the Mount Satan hath his season in the Valley Vp let us make our selves Gods which shall go before us we know not what is become of Moses Exod. 32. let us make gâ—ds will go with us Thus Satan frames gods according to their minds and their minds according to their gods God sayes Exod. 5.2 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain but Satan can afford thee a release of this severity the Tempter wanteth not his Pharaohs Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice and what is his Name that I should reverence it He wants not his Rabâ—hakeh to belch out ugly language What is the Lord Isai 36.4 or what is this confidence wheâ—â—in thou trustest This Tempter will suggest unto thee to take his Name in thy mouth so do those servants who draw near to God with their lips but their hearts are far from him and Satan hath other servants who have his Name toâ—â—â—ten in their mouths because it is to make up their vanity his Name is used not to call upon him for a blessing but is used in cursing such Oaths as the horridness thereof commands me to rebuke though modesty forbids me to mention madness of men nay monsters rather Was it Thomas his weakness that he must have his fingers in his Wounds and must it be the sinful wickedness of these wretches that they must have his Wounds in their mouths let them beware that Fountain which was opened for uncleanness may that upon their filthiness God sayes Swear not at all let your communication be yea yea and nay nay that is make not an use of Oathes in your discourse mingle not your conference with them swear not unless where and when controversies are to be decided and right to be evidenced and vindicated by your solemn Oaths but Satan will not have his gallants to be thus tongue-tyed their Tongues are their own who shall controul them yea and nay are syllables which serve not their turns such morsel of words will not fit their mouths tearing of his Heart renewing of his Wounds piercing of his Soul pâ—ophâ—â—ing of his Majesty engaging of confusion calling dawn damanâ—â—â—n and it Gods Justice were ready to answer our desires and deserts confirming it are only such terms as do them service their curses must be like their clothes Alamode and east in the latest mold this temptation hath been too taking under which the Land mourneth every parish nay this place where I forbear to personate any but should I forbear to rebuke all the stones would speak doth grievously lye under this temptation the Lord reform them and cast out these Devils of drunkenness and swearing by fasting and by prayer for Hoc genus Damomi c. these kind of Devils is not otherwise to be ejected God commands thee to remember the Sabbath in keeping it holy but the Tempter will release thee from the severity of this Precept some he tempts them to so much superstition that they will not do good nor have good done on that day if Christ cure on that day the people murmure and that which is the perfection of the Gospel must be accounted the breach of the Law It is not lawfull to beal on the Sabbath-day nay such superstitious observers may be very well observed to be derived from the family of Salomon that Anglo Judamy who falling into a ditch on the Sabbath refused to 〈◊〉 taken out Sabbata nostra colo de â—â—er â—re surgere nolo which occasioned the Christian that came by on the Sunday to answer him in his own kind Sabbata nostra quidem Salâ—â—on celibrabis ibidem Thus some will not heal others nâ—â— be healed on the Sabbath so let the superstitious perish In our times we are more under the temptation of prophaness then superstitious observation God commands holy Duties and commends them Satan inâ—inuates what doth it avail to walk mournfully all the day long and what profit have ye that ye have served the Lord thus 〈◊〉 the Tempter God requires that yoâ— shall account his Sabbath a delight Satan tempts you to repuâ—e it a burden God requires that in it you will call for a blessing on your weeks-work Satan he tempts you to account this work a weâ—riness this service a hinderance When will the Sabbath be gone that we may set fâ—rth â—heat God would have you to observe it as a rest from your laâ—our from your sin Satan he tells you it is a ceasing from you lucre and in it tempts you to sin This is noâ— all God would have you to his Church the Devil would keep you in his Chappel because it is a day of rest from the labour of the body he must have it a rest from the service of the soul Thou shalt keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary A holy time the Sabbath Levit. 26.2 and a holy place the Sanctuary and holy duties reverence to be used Satan tempts thee against the time Every day is a Sabbath but never a day is kept holy against the place he wants not Factors of Jeroboam's family It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem to the publick place of worship behold nearer gods 1 King 12.28 and he set the one in Dan and the other in Bethel Why should we go to Gods place let God come to our place What Corah said of the persons Satan sayes of the places You take too much upon you seeing all the places are holy I speak not against private duties prayer in families but I would not have Martha to justle out Mary many cumbers and troubles and inventions to take place of the one thing which David desired of that better part which Mary chose
I would not have them to look to their own and let Gods House lye waste What as the Tribes said concerning their Brother Benjamin I say with sorrow for these separating Brethren O Lord how comes it to passe that one Tribe this day is wanting in Israel How comes it to passe that one Tribe one Family one Person is this day wanting in thy Temple It was David's joy and let it be ours to go up to the Temple of the Lord but admit we come to the Sanctuary Satan hath yet more baits to catch simple souls into his drag-net Abraham he prepares to sacrifice but Fowles lights upon it we prepare to sacrifice but Satan hath Fowles ready to fall upon it when the heart is unprepared when the affections are indisposed suspect a Fowl upon the sacrifice God commands Nehemiah to build up the wall that there may be no breaches but Satan wants not a Sanballet to send an errand to obstruct the work Come let us meet together let the work alone Nehem. 6.3 Nehemiah knew it to be a temptation replyes like a Prophet I am doing of a great work I cannot come down why shall I leave the work and let it cease whilst I come down to you It is the observation of an ancient Writer that Satan doth especially busie himself at these times In principio bonae actionis ne sit Hugo Car. In medio ut obsit In fine bonae actionis ne prosit That this is Divinity Christ his temptations will attest it and I think our own experience will confirm it What Saint Paul sayes of Afflictions Christ and Christians may say of Temptations me manent They wait for me Christ though formerly in the world is but entered into the work of our Redemption publickly appearing to the world for our welfares newly baptized into obedience and acting what God had sent him for David had a security in the sheep-coats though his flocks yet himself was not assaulted but when he was sent by his father to visit his brethren he meets with the insolencies of a great Goliah he is in the publick Court entertains the Challenge hearing the promise made That whosoever killeth the Philistine the King will enrich him will give him his Daughter and make his Fathers house free in Israel 1 Sam. 17.25 He is now not only tempted but his weakness is contemned a youth a stripling our better David in his privacy and retirement we find not to be tempted but now that he is sent out to gather his lost bâ—ethren now that he appears openly and hath received an assurance that he that overcomes the spiritual Goliah the King will enrich him giving him his Daughter the Church making his Kindred free which noteth our freedome through Christ our Conquerour â—he is unprovidedly assaulted by a strong Phiâ—â—stine and in the beginning of his work when want is upon him is tempted by him whose weapons threaten ruine and promise victory to the owner Thus came the Tempter c. Secondly Though he be disappointed in the first design he mâ—y withdraw but he will not wholly desist the enterprise he leaves him for a season Luke 4.13 he set upon him without meat and he will endeavour to find him without ministration to come upon him when the Angel is gone from him and this ut obsit Christs life was said and truly to be continuata passio as well it may be templatio for in the midst of this work his Disciple Peter sâ—â—oâ—â—eth of Satan and would withdraw his Master from his business had the Son of God gone ten degrees backward he had spo led all had he stood still Non progredi est regredi he had hindered the work of our restoration but he rejoyced to run his course and therefore speaks a defiance to all delay rebukes Peter Get thee behind me Satan Thirdâ—â— To câ—â—th him in his words was the Pharisees design and at last to catch him in their hands in the end of his work Ne prosit At his end how strongly is he tempted betrayed by his Disciple apprehended by the multitude forsaken by his followers arraigned accused exclaimed against mocked struck blindfolded and derided in the Tempters language If thou be the Christ prophesie who is this that smote thee either must he chuse to submit to their temptation or it must passe pro confessâ— he was not the chosen of God Miracles he did in the time of his trouble his enemies fall backward and yet can these blinded Jews go forward to condemn him he heals Malchus his eat and yet they kill their Physitian Nay his temptation is yet stronger one of the Malefactors in the same condemnation with him raileth on him with an If the language of the Tempter If thou be Christ save thy self and us O blessed Jesu if thou at the instance of thy Tempters hadst saved thy self from temporal how hadst thou saved us from eternal death We must not forget his Agony where those grumae sanguinis that bloody sweat that exceeding fear that parching thirst but that bitter cup that sense of his Fathers desertion was upon him which made him with his precious blood to pour out cryes and prayers and all this doth not express a tythe of his temptations whilst this work was a finishing Thus in the beginning progress and perfecting the work of our reconcilement the Tempter came unto him If Satan be thus busie at our holy works we must likewise expect him on Gods holy Day set apart for performance of holy duties The last Lords day afforded us a sad example whilst we were tendering of an Evening-sacrifice our sacrifice was mingled with blood The Word of God read and the work of Satan under the same roof our eyes and ears were witnesses and when the occasion of this dismal act was required what return could we expect Was it blood that might have required blood Was it the murdering of another which provoked â—â—m to his own murder No but it was a due denyed to God the breach of his Sabbath turning his Grace into lewdness the day of prayer and devotion into playing and drunkenness this he did against God on his day and this doth the Devil against him on the Lords day this was the day when he should have drawn near to God but withdrawing himself from God Satan draws near to him into him and he that could not keep a Sabbath cannot have a rest but must attempt to be his own mâ—rderer This example should serve to imprint the first line of this Commandement in all our hearts Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day And in the performance of the duties relating to the Sabbath let not thy services be cold coldness and luke warmness are not relishing be zealous is Gods expectance yet let thy â—eal have knowledge otherwise it will but be madness and let thy knowledge have zeal otherwise it will be deadness let thy service be entire God loves not a half service
the last he shall compass the City seven times At the first he draws forth his temptations which may be named after him Legion for they are many give thy soul an Alarum proffer thee fair conditions draw a league betwixt you proffer a truce if thou wilt pay him tribute promise to remove hostility if thou wilt pay him homage but all this time he waits but an opportunity of approaching nay of entering It was a prudent and safe piece of advice which a Councellour gave to his King That it was only safe for a King to treat with a sword in his hand And it is safe for every Christian we have a dangerous enemy to deal withall Judas was their General and led those that took Jesus he comes unto him with a kisse when he brought them to kill him we have no safer way then to keep him at the swords point A noble and judicious Peer of this Realm was wont to say Prevention was cheaper then recovery our armour avails us little after the wound be received that which timely put on had kept out the bullet now serves but to increase the wound and to that purposeâ— though Saul's Armour will not fit David yet is it not fitting that David should combate with Goliah wholly unprepared We must observe that Sauls Armour another man 's will not serve us in this day of battel and why sayes David For that I have not proved 1 Sam. 17.39 Christ Armour by which he repels Satan was his own Armour which he hath proved we may say it himself for he was the Word and this is temptation proof one job one syllable of this shall noâ— sail Holy Job nâ— had special Armor the Devil considered him considered what way he might enter him but he finds God had made a hedge about him his goods they were abroad in the fields the lives of his children they were in the house of their eldest brother only the life of Job was inclosed was hedged about Satan attempts a nearer assault moves that his bone and his flesh may be touched and yet can he only fire the subburbs but the City he cannot take his body may be plagued but his life and soul is protected The Church the Spouse of Christ hath Armour of proof she is builded upon a Rock and that Rock is Christ like a good Wife she is under covert the gates of Hell though they labour her discomfiture yet shall they not prevail against her The Dragon may and will make war against the Woman he may like a resolute Souldier rally his forces prepare his batteries pour out his poyson floods and waters crosses and persecutions schismes and heresies yet shall he not prevail Christ shall break his head but let his members be prepared wrath and war is against them he will though he shall not break we bruise his heel he will labour to seâ— the Bush on fire though blessed 〈◊〉 God it shall not be consumed this fire of the Church shall give light though it doth not burn but Satans â—ell fire shall burn though it gives no light And thus I am come to the Application Nunquidego Domine was the Disciples Is it I Lord Who is it that Satan does thus assault No lesse then Christ and if this befall the Master 2 Cor. 16.15 what may the servant 〈…〉 If Satâ—â— dare assault Christ his servants will dare to 〈…〉 â—â—sciples If Satan be transformed it is no greâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—nisters be transformed If no man can be 〈…〉 â—ration then no man but he is concerned in thiâ—â—â—exâ—â— aâ—â—â—â—e sad example which occasions this Sermon concâ—â—ns us and to good and evil is an admonition the time place and condition of the person tempted doth concern us The time when Christ had begun the great work of our redemption when he was entering into the execution of his divine Office it is not for man to appear in the field of God without he be armed for all encounters shrubs may be unmoved when the tallest Ceâ—â—ars are shaken and privacy doth supersede from several attempts whereunto those of publick concernment are exposed He that espouseth the Lords quarrel cannot but expect many adversaries and few men though they may put themselves forward are fitted for this conflict Gideons Army of thirty two thousand are reduced to three hundred and serves to inform â—at as God can do his work by few so few are sitting for doing Gods work how few will stand lap water in their spiritual marâ—â—â— not yâ—el an inch of ground â—uâ—e â— 6 not loose of their neight in time of danger How many will kneel and bend for water in the fiery tryal and though they be armed and furnished to the field yet like the children of Ephrams they prove but broken bows and start back in the day of battel but Christ hath not to taught us Saul â—e killed his thousands and David his ten thousands but Christ doth more for though his person meets with Legions his word ejects them sâ—â—yes them Lord thou hâ—st given us thy Word give us thy Spirit and we shall not be afraid if thousand be against us 2. The place doth concern us it was in the Wildernesse Eliâ—ah was much dejected when he was alone and the place doth not a little contribute to the lessening or augmenting of misery Adam had a Paraâ—ise Christ finds a Wildernesse Josâ—â—h a Prison Jeremy a Dangeon Daniel a â—â—ons Den the three Children a fiery Fâ—â—â—â—ce Peter and Paul a Prison but â—â—lâ—xâ—â—â—o passio cum Christus ingreditur careres happy prison 〈…〉 unhappy paradise where Satan inhabits 〈…〉 are in the Wildernesse how weary we are of 〈…〉 â—e dye sayes Elijah when Peter was left alone 〈…〉 â—ith began to saint and going afar off gave 〈…〉 â—n to interpose temptations Hold up our 〈…〉 â—derneâ—s of this world with that comfortable 〈…〉 with ye in life in death thus shall the Desert be leliâ—â—â—ome to us 3. The condition He was hungry Sometimes want and sometimes wealth are in laqueum Agar prayed against both â—â—ve mâ— neither poyâ—◠〈◊〉 nor riches not poverty least I be poor and steal not riches least I bâ— full and forget God Preadâ— the bait which he laid before Christ if that would have tempâ—â— him Christ had turned thief and â—ob'â— God of his honour Iâ—â—ness was Judahs yes and Sodoms sin and hath been my and 〈◊〉 our iniquity It we want we murmure if we have plenty we lift up our hearts against God and our â—â—lness â—erveâ—â— â—in to the full against God And we have great cause to impect the sins of our fulness when we do but â—â—llâ—â—t upon Christs â—â—â—er 〈◊〉 by his fasting seeing therefore for our sakes and sins that righteoâ—sness did hunger Give us Lord for thy sons sake hearts to hunger after righteousness Again it is the Tempter which comes unto Christs surely we cannot though he assumes several forms but understand him Wouldst thou know him by his appeâ—latives Names are predictionary so are â—is not one but it hints the evilness of â—s nature Wâ—â—l 〈◊〉 judge of him by his works they are like the authour and speak not his prâ—â—se but his sâ—ame in the gates Is it any thing would tempt thee to unlawful acts it is 〈◊〉 thou canst but suspect him Is it any thing would diver thee from thy God it is the Devil thou hast cause to 〈◊〉 him Is it any thing would tempt thee unto siâ— it is the deceiver Is it any thing would make shipâ—vâ—â—ck of thy saith it is the son of perdition Is 〈◊〉 my thing may 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 of one precept the commision of a sâ—n â—n 〈…〉 of the Dâ—vil thy unto him as Christ unto Satan tempting Peter 〈◊〉 thee behind me Satan But if he presumes to come unto Christ how shall I withstand him Christ promised 〈◊〉 â—eave 〈…〉 leâ—s what he promised he hath performed That aâ—â—our wâ—â—h hepâ—â—â—d wherewith he prevailed as a legacy of his lâ—ve is tendeth bequeath'd unto thee Scripium si it is written was Satans weapon this proud Goliah's sword â—ath our better Dâ—vid tâ—ken fâ—â—â— him cut off â—â—s heaâ— with his own swâ—rd and turned the 〈…〉 himself The while panoply the compleat arâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—roved furniture are afforded Christians must the Câ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 med from top to toe Epheâ— 6.14 there is a heâ—met and a breast-plate a shieâ—d and a tried â—word and if your enemies be principalities and powers your armour is experienced your engines 〈…〉 as powerful not parleys and surrenders but prayers 〈◊〉 supplications these ordnance does gall your adversaries 〈◊〉 with an acceptable violence opens the gates of heaven 〈◊〉 only place of refuge to the conquerors the choicest Centinel is perseverance In this quarrel our Captain is before us that valiant Jâ—nathan who through temptations hath prevailed ascended up the hill and having in his fathers house prepared Mansions calls to us for our following good souldiers will not fail the expection of their Captain loyal subjects will go wheresoever their King goeth in life and death they will be with him O blessed Captain glorious King thou hast conquered Satan for us thou hast left us thy Spirit to conduct us thy Word to comfort us the sword of thy Word and Spirit to deâ—end us let the same spirit go along with us in this conflict and in our selves though we are unable yet through thy strength we shall be more then conquerours In this battel be thou with â—s who by thy blood hath overcome our enemies and give us hearts to ascribe the glory of this conquest unto thee that when this painful time of our militancy is ended we may become members of the Churâ—h triumphant praising thee with Songs of Salvation and victory for evermore Amen FINIS