THere is not mention of many actions of our Sa­viour Christ betwixt his Birth and his Baptism, in those thirty years, as if he had not been man [...]re for any publick matter, or otherwise not called to them he lived privately; only we read of his Father and his Mother) though that Sex may seem to be exempted) their yearly going to Je­rusalem, and himself very probably went along, for certain he was there in the twelfth of his age, where he stay'd behind them, to the grief of his Parents, and occasion of their search with sorrow, and the third day (as if he would so early inti­mate the time of his Resurrection) was he found of them, in a place and posture where they could not expect him: He was in the Temple, and that n [...]t with mean company but amidst the Doctors; nor idle, for he was hearing, asking, and answering Questions, and not according to an ordinary rate, but so, that it filled all that heard him with admiration: His Parents return not from Jerusalem till the holy Duties he ended, those which attend not the accomplishment of holy Exercises depart with­out a blessing: His Mother she is present, love to the happy Childe, and love to the holy Duty, takes away the tediousness of the iourney: Christ after his return contents himself with [Page 2]privacy, and whilst so he is at quiet, Satan is not so busie to assault him, till he be ready for the conflict, Christ stayes till he have power, and when he hath ability stayes for authority, runs not before he be called; and knowing that he must finish his course with the Baptism of Blood, he begins it with the Baptism of Water, which no sooner done, and God doth own him for his Son, but Satan would tempt him to his service, no sooner is he out of the Water then he is in the Wilderness, where and when it was that the Tempter came unto him and said;

The words do plainly divide themselves into three parts.

• 1. The Person tempting, called here, The Tempter.
• 2. The Person tempted; Him, in the first verse, Jesus,
• 3. The manner of his tempting, and that twofold.
  • 1. By approaching: He came to him.
  • 2. By express words: He said.

In the Person tempting, there is three particulars.

• 1. The time, Forty dayes.
• 2. The place, The Wildernesse.
• 3. The present want, He was hungry.

The time was tedious, forty dayes, and very troublesome, a continued series of temptations: The place was sad and so­litary, the Wildernesse, and wild beasts: His present want is much, he was hungry; and in this hunger, after forty dayes, does the Tempter take his opportunity, Then came unto him the Tempter, &c.

The time, forty dayes.

He which found our first Parents in P radise finds our Saviour [...]ere in the Wilderness: There he tempted them to eat the Fruit which was forbidden; and here he tempts our Saviour, when he hath not any thing to eat. Then the Serpent tempt­ed man by a subtil insinuation to eat, that he may become as God. Here he works and tempts by necessity, that our Savi­our would distrust God, and by providing to eat would become as the worst of men; God there bestowed his Image and an innocent estate upon Adam, which he lost in eating; And no sooner hath he owned the innocency of his Son in the like­ness of a D [...]ve, [...]at 3. ulr. and an express approbation, but Satan tempts him by his diffidence to forfeit that title, and part with his birth [...]ight for a piece of bread.

These forty dayes we cannot think free from fiery onsets; t [...] Tempter would not loose any time to further his design; [...] he directs his greatest Ordnance against the weakest wall, [...] raiseth his strongest battery when and where he can expect the least resistance, when forty dayes was done, and when he was hungry.

Moses who received the Law, Elias by whom the Law was restored, and Christ by whom the Law was fulfilled, had their fast of forty dayes. In Moses his first fast the sight of the glory of God was like a consuming sire, and the anger which he concei­ved, if it did not satiate,Exod. 24.1 [...]. yet did it not admir of any appe­tite to meat. And when he goes up the second time, as he was not mindful of it, so there was no need of provisions; if the vision of God did before fright him, now it feasts him, and if before he was possessed with anger, now he is replenished with glory; but in both he lives the life of faith, and like one who rightly shadowed Christ, it was his meat and drink t [...] [...]o the Lords work. And we must confess, though want did attend Elijah, yet in his fastings no lesse then a miracle did feed him; the Ravens they became his Purveyours, and the Widows last Cake was sustenance to him, and a store-house to her self, and though the threats of Jezabel makes the Prophets life as a burden to him, yet whilst he is sleeping,1 K [...]rg. 1 [...]. [...]. the Keeper of Israel slumbers not, his Angel awaketh him, gives him command to arise, gives him meat to enable him to that command, and in the strength of that to accomplish his journey to Mount Horeb. In that Mount where Moses saw God, shall God find Eliah; and Moses, and Eliah, and Christ, the three great Easters, shall be seen in Mount Tabor in his Transfiguration; yet must we consider a difference in their condition, Moses was both times on the Mount talking with God; but Christ is in the Valley, nay in the Wilderness tempted of the Devil: Moses was on the Mount receiving Gods Commands and the Tables of stone, but Christ is in the Wilderness receiving Satans de­mands, that the stones may become bread for his table; Eli [...]ah was in the Wilderness under the Juniper tree, and though he was hungry and thirsty, his soul fainting within, yet could he sleep; but Christ is in the Wilderness, where his temptation [Page 4]doth not admit or an intermission, but the increase of necessity doth strengthen the assault. Then came the Tempter.

In remembrance of this fast the holy practice of his dearest Spouse may aptly be approved, the like time of forty dayes be­ing by her sequestred to abstinence; a fast it was for admiration not for imitation, and this commends unto our use the moral, not the miracle, wherein we are to abstain a tanto, though not a toto, by abatement, but not by ablation of meat. And very seasonably hath the Church appointed this Fast, Fassionem pre­dic [...]e & a [...] Resucre [...]ti [...]nem preparare, to humble us in the sense of his [...] st [...]ring and so pr [...]diet us the Passion,Christ R [...]s [...] [...]st Ch [...]y­ [...] [...]u [...] Ex [...]l­ [...]. [...]. and that his rising may be our only Festival.

Agree [...]ble with this is the continue practice of the Eastern Church, who solemnly observed this Fast for six weeks before the Resurrection: And an ingenious Pen observeth, that this forty dayes is attended with Christs forty hours or thereabouts remaining in the Sepulchre, his forty dayes conversing with his Disciples betwixt his Ruing and Ascension; all which dayes, like Jonah's errand of forty dayes, proclaims unto us a sitting down in s [...]ck [...]loath, and turning to our God by true repentance, that we may expend o [...]r dayes according to this happy presi­dent in prayer and in fasting. Noltut tentari Christus usque­dum [...]ejunasset, [...] [...]d. Christ would not be tempted before he had fast­ed; not that he should have offended without that preparation, but to teach others the best preparative and preservative a­gainst temptation; for seeing that Adam's innocent estate could not exempt him from the Serpents cunning, nor Christs entire and untainted Piety could not priviledge him from the Tempter, it is our parts to arm against so feirce assaults, and in our f [...]lness and fasting, plenty and want, to be upon a good guard when the Tempter shall come unto us.

As this temptation was for forty dayes and forty n [...]g [...]s, [...] this lose and powerful assault is likely to be at the expiration▪ Achitophe [...]'s advise to Absalon was,2 Sam. 17.2. I will come upon him whilst he is weary and weak banded. 'Tis the pollicy here of this Tempter I will fall upon him when this fast hath produced hun­ger, skin for skin, what will he not do for his life? And this was his con [...]ition, he was hungry.

That Christ had the passions and affections of a man none which are more then brutish will deny, joy and sorrow, fear and want, hunger here, and thirst at his Passion; and that Satan is sedulous and subtle, in baiting his books with what is most ta­king▪ and tendering such supply as is most sut [...]le to the tempt­eds necessity, is as easie to affirm: Christ is hungry what will he not do to procure meat? Jacob rather then his Sons and himself shall starve will send them into Egypt to buy Corn and, though hardly perswaded, parts from his Benjamin rather then their lives shall part from them for want of bread: David when he was hungry entred into the House of God, eat of the Shew­bread, which was only for the Priest: Christ on the Sabbath pluckt the ears of Corn where was the proprieties,Matth 12. besides the prophanation of the day, yet for all this blameless; necessity legitimates that act which otherwise was sin [...]l, and want was the warrant for this work: And why may not his present hun­ger engage him to a miracle for his maintenance? He that for pleasuring of others, manifesting of his glory,John 2. and augmenting faith in others, turned water into wine, and at a Wedding, when we presume there was not much want▪ Why may not he in the Wilderness, when he is hungry for refreshment, for evi­dencing his power, confounding Satan, turn stones into bread? He that had compassion on the multitude that came from far and had not to eat, hath he no pity on himself, who had fasted far beyond their time in the desert? This Tempter could an­swer God concerning J [...]b. Doth J [...]b serve God f [...]r nought? And hath God less care of his Son then of his servant?Job. 1 must Christ serve him for nought? Did Christ say to his Disciples, when he sent them out without scrip or pur [...]e, did you lack any thing? and doth God send f [...]rts his Son into t [...]e Desert a­mongst Wolves and wild be [...]sts and hath nothing? Quare adduxisti, was the peoples against Moses

O blessed Jesu, how much rather hadst thou suffer want then thy Fathers wrath, death then thy Fathers dis­pleasure, famish then offend thy God, or need of that great work thou hadst in hand: Adam eats and sins, bidden by Satan and forbidden by God to eat, but thou fasts and sins not, though bidden by Satan to eat, yet forbidden by God; Thou wast not [Page 6]here without power to command bread, but thou art with [...] purpose to distrust thy Father; thou wast not without power [...] do a miracle, b t without will to gratifie Satan, and do it a [...] pleasure: What God was pleased to say to the Jews Christ thought meet in effect to say unto Satan, If I were hungry I will not tell thee, though thou usurps it,Psa [...]. 50. yet the World is mine and the fulness thereof; I will offer thanksgiving and pay my vows to the most High; bread is not that only which I depend upon, that Providence which hath kept me forty dayes will not let me perish man live [...]h not by bread only, there is another Ma [...]m which it left for relief, and that is the Word of God, that is the childrens bread, O seed us with these crums and we shall not perish.

And is this nothing unto us that pas [...] by? Yes it is, see and c [...]rs [...]er how answerable Christs obedience is to our offence; Adam cast behind him the Commandment of God, and having the Apple before his eyes he eat; Christ he casts the 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 le [...]st promise him what he most desireth; he wants not his Factors and active Agents to drive on his design and bring the dece [...]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 [...]no [...]r; if poor, he will tender thee a supply, and though he can challenge nothing but torments as his due, yet Omnia ha [...] 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 h [...] a Serpent can [...]ll thee how to be exempted from thy obe­dience instead of thy submission to his Commands, Eritis sic [...]t d [...]i, you shall be as gods.

G [...]d sayes, Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image, but the Tempter tells thee of a greater liberty, If God from ab [...]ve do not condescend to thy desires, attend thy expectati­ons; if Moses st [...]y but in the Mount, Satan hath his season in [Page 7]the Valley; Ʋp let us make our selves Gods which shall go be­fore us; we know not what is become of Moses,Exod. 32. let us make g [...]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 Rab [...]hakeh to belch out ugly language, What is the Lord, Isai. 36.4. or what is this confidence whe [...]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 to [...] [...]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, p [...]oph [...]ing of his Majesty, en­gaging of confusion, calling dawn daman [...]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 [Page 8]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,

which occasioned the Christian that came by on the Sunday to answer him in his own kind;

Thus some will not heal others, n [...] 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 in [...]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 yo [...] shall account his Sabbath a delight; Satan tempts you to repu [...]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 we [...]riness, this service a hinderance, When will the Sabbath be gone that we may set f [...]rth [...]heat? God would have you to observe it as a rest from your la [...]our, from your sin: Satan he tells you it is a ceasing from you lucre, and in it [Page 7]tempts you to sin: This is no [...] 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.

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 b [...]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 [...]he is unprovidedly assaulted by a strong Phi [...]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 m [...]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 s [...]o [...]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, [Page]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.

Third [...], To c [...]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 confess [...], 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 [Page 12] [...]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 m [...]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 [...]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, a half heart is no heart; Aut totum honora aut totum abjice, God loves not a sleepy service;N. [...] z. Awake thou that sleepest and call upon thy God: God loves not an unmannerly service, he is not proud, he delights that thou shouldst walk with him; but let not con­discension lift up thy heart, for he requires thou shouldst walk humbly with him:M [...]. God would not have his Spouse to be gaw­ [...]y ga [...]ish and painted, but he loves to have her decent, not in a new [...]a [...]hion, but in a Matron-like and ancient order: He that will have her glorious within, will not have her sluttish without; [...]. [...]6.14. She shall be brought to the King in a rayment of needle-work, not masked as to externals, but one part of de­cency joyned and woven with another.

How dreadful is thy dwelling-place, O God, how carefully must we enter thy presence Chamber? How must we long to hear thy Will imparted to us? How must we fear to impart our wants unto thee? If our Petition be rude, how can we ex­pect a gracious reference? How shall not we deport our selves with reverence when we have to deal with a holy God in a holy place, on a holy day, to do a holy duty, knowing that i [...] these duties the Tempter comes unto us, &c.

God sayes, Honour thy Father and thy Mother; but [...] [Page 13]Tempter ran from the mouth of Christ; quote Scripture and acquit thee from this obligation: Mary in the mouth of her Son is no more then Woman, and that not with obedience but objurgation, What have I to do with thee? Jo. 2.4. What say we to this bait? doth he who teacheth this Commandment disdain his Mother? The giver of the Precept is he a president for the breach?

Let Reverend Bishop Hall answer this Objection;Bish. Hall. In all bodily actions his stile was Mother; in spiritual and heavenly Woman; she was the Mother of his flesh, his Deity was eter­nal; that part which he took from her shall observe her, she must observe that nature which was above her; as that nature made him a Son and Man, so that nature made her both a Wo­man and a Mother: God as thy heavenly Father calls for fear, the King as Pater patriae calls for honour; Fear God and bo­nour the King; the Conjunction couples them; Whom God hath put together let no man put asunder. The spiritual Fathers, so sayes Saint Paul, Vos genui in Evangelio, I have begotten you in the Gospel; claim an honour, let them have a double portion of the spirit of your honour: Thy natural Father calls or obedience; Can the Mother forget her affection? Shall the Child forget his duty? Can the Parent forget his care? Shall the Child not crave a blessing? Blesseme, even me also my Father.

And now am I come to that great temptation, which hath been and is too common in our bloody dayes; God sayes, Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not shed the blood of thy brother under the Gospel, who might not eat the blood of the beast under the Law. The Tempter comes, yea, hath God said so? and hath no small store of provocations and pretences to the breach of this Commandement: The first and most unfortunate quarrel was the Tempters, when in Paradise he prevailed with our first Parents to rebel against God; this quarrel, from the mouth of God that sharp-edged sword, did produce no lesse then death, Morte morieris; in this Duel Man, being instigated by the Tempter, lost the field, and in this re­bellion was the whole posterity tainted, and without the satis­faction of that blessed and powerful second Adam wholly and [Page 14]finally destroyed; and as if t [...]ls had not been a too sufficient witness of his malice against man: The Tempter starteth an­other quarell betwixt two brothers when there was none to rescue, Here was the first [...]nhappy field wherein Cain spills the blood of his brother Abel, provoked by this grand mur­derer, because his brothers sacrifice was better accepted, he cannot rest till the innocent blood of his brother be sacrificed to his malice, Cain made himself drunk with revenge, and now that deadly draught doth so distract him, that he proceedeth to dispair, and now his guilt as clamorous as the act makes him cry out, My sin is greater then can be pardoned, passing from the [...]in against a finite creature, to sinne against the inexhausted mercy of an infinite and eternal Majesty; Thus hell tempting him [...]o this hainous act, bequeaths its horror to him, which whatsoever way he looks still stands before him.

And still this Tempter, as if blood were his business, conti­nueth his course he hath now charactered Cain in the chequer­ed colours red and black, blood and despaire; his next piece must be to set a difference betwixt Jacob and Esau, these struggling in the womb must not be quiet in the world; That the Devil therefore may become a perfect dueller, he without doubt ap­points the place in Cain, the field; now the time in Esau. The day of mourning for his Father to be the day of murdering his Brother, which purposed and heart-murder being prevented by a great providence, as if the Tempter were ingaged to pro­secute in the defence of his servant Esau, he sowes a dissent be­twixt the children of Jacob, and patches a conspiracy amongst the brethren to kill Joseph, still more blood? what pretence can this furious fiend have for his acting? horrid enemy! how coul [...]st thou design a duel betwixt God and man? the Potter and the [...]lay? How durst thou attempt this affront against the Maker of mankind? How canst thou glos [...]e or any way excuse the lifting up Cains hand against his brother? Esaus heart a­gainst Jacob? and all the brethrens voices against Joseph [...] thou [...]st out rebellion, and interlines reasons thou bl [...] out di [...]obedience towards God, and settest down advan [...] into man, Eat, says God, and thou shalt die, Eat, saies S [...] and thou shalt be as Gods, which do not die: Thou blot [...] [Page 15]murder, and writest in Cains neare a copy of discretion, justice and of policy: There's none stands in comperition with the onely Abel what obstruction to the acceptance of my offering? why dost thou not remove him and then thy tender will be re­ceived; Besotted Cain! couldst thou be tempted to believe that the blood in the field smelled sweeter then the fruit of the ground? Thou blottest out murder in Esau, and tells him it is justice; Has not Jacob supplanted thee in thy birth right, and in thy blessing? what's thy life unto thee if he lives he will a­gain dissemble? is it not justice to stop his breath who stole thy blessing (how can it be counted murd nor revenge, or con­strued cruelty to put a period to his dayes, who hath supplant­ed thee in thy enjoyments? Thou blo [...]test out murder in the false brethren, and though in Letters of blood thou writest Rea­son, great cause why Joseph should be slain, first he is a tel [...]ale,Gen. 37. he pries into our actions, and gives an evil report to our father: then though a youngling he wears the only livery of our fathers favour, as if we were not his children, or it so that we were cast off; next the lad makes bad use of that favour, it makes him insolent; the dearness of our father doth di­stract him, pride swells him and makes him burst out into dis­dainful and undutiful language: He dreams, and not only so, but sayes it waking, that be shall have dominion over us; A son to rule over his father, where is nature? where is grace? is this the requital? hath Jacob bestowed a coat upon Joseph to go naked himself? a brother, and a younger brother to rule over us his elder brethren, where is nature? where's affection? Though he come to see us, it is but to be ray us; though he hath taken this journy, it is but to return our evil report, Come therefore and let us kill him and let his blood be charged in the salvage beasts, wil [...]e creatures! bruits and without under­standing, though Satan hath informed you, his sub [...]ilty hath tempted you, yet Joseph doth live, Joseph must reign over you, your eyes shall see it, and your hearts shall enforce your tongues to confess your bloody act, your guilt,Gen. 4. and his inno­cency: Thus did the [...]empter move the Jews to kill our bet­ter Joseph, but in despight of his and their malice it is our joy, Joseph, Jesus is yet alive and triumphs.

But though this was of old, and the Tempter might prevesrie in those times yet can it be that any such temptation should take place in our century; whose eyes do not drop a tear, nay, whose hearts do not bleed to hear our Rachels weeping for their children, and cannot be comforted because they are not; War hath of late been as a pastime, we have lately lived as if Abner and Joab had been among us; Come let the young men play before us: 2 Sam. 2.14.16. Each caught his fellow by the head, thrust him thorow with his sword, they fell together, this Tragick play de­serves a memory, and the field is called Helkath hazzurim, The field of strong men: surely the strength of our transgressi­on hath slain the strength of our Nation, Quis legit haec, who reads these red lines running so lately and drawn amongst us, and receives temptations to bloudshed.

This crafty Serpent can yet skin over these wounds, and mitigate the sting of these complaints; the commonnesse and seeming advantages, the present satisfactions, are not the least and meanest of the baits. Abimilech forgets the murder of his brethren for a Kingdome; he hath so much thought of what he would have, that he forgets what he doth to obtain it; the end makes him forget the act: O Abimelech, thou layest the sixty nine brethrens blood upon a stone to gain a Crown, which though upon thy head is not armour enough against one stone by a weak Woman, but from the powerful hand of Hea­ven.

Rebellious Absalon, thou forgettest thy duty towards David, envies him as King, for a Crown forgoes thy Father, suffers thy self to be tempted, and tempts others to the excess of sinfulness, goes up to thy Fathers Concubines, makes thy self odious in the sight of Heaven and Earth, all this for a Crown, whilst that giddy head shall only live for thy shame and punishment, and lives to learn thee, that a Tree is fitter then a Crown for thy treachery.

Sull n Ahab. can the sight and the unwarranted desire of thy Neighbours Vineyard make thee forget his murder? Who hath tempted thee? Is not thy subjects blood [...]earer then his field? Is not the welfare of his person more to thee then his possession? Hast thou not learned to know, that a good Kings heart cannot [Page 17]but bleed in the losse and slaughter of a subject? He cannot but bleed with them that bleed, suffer with them that s [...]er. Thou and the Tempters Minion shall know, that you shall not be priviledged from your shares in this destruction.

Let us come further: Blind-folded Jews, who hath tempted and bewitched you to kill the Lord of life? Can you forget his Miracles, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the Le­pers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and will not yet your souls be subject to his Scepter? what profit can you propose to your selves and your posterities by his death? what evil do you find in him? for which of his works of wonder do you kill him? Satan hath seared their consciences, Let us kill him, not one check but an encouragement, the inheritance will be ours.

Deluded Herod, how hath the Devil tempted thee to the murder [...] a Man who endeavoured thy salvation? Art thou become his enemy because he hath told the truth? must he be exposed to the sword because he hath opened his mouth against thy sin? shall the Devil first tempt thee to act filthiness with thy brothers wife, then draw a rash and unadvised oath from thee, to grant whatsoever the Strumper requires? and must thou now to make good thy bad oath murder a good man?Matth. 14.9. can the Tempter make thee mindful of thy oath, and forgetful of thy murther? Much better hadst thou bro [...]k thy promise then have slain thy Prophet: must thy birth needs be his dying day? is this the glory thou givest to Christ for being born, to murder him who was the fore-runner of Christ born? Consider how the Tempter deals with them, with you, where there is murder he pretends Justice, where there is murder he pleads advan­tage: Here for the killing John he pleads the necessity of performing his promise, he is prompted to it for the compa­nies sake, where he ought to have forborn it for conscience sake.

Yet a little further; the Devil doth skin ever this wound, let us launce it to the bottome; God sayes, Thou shalt not kill; Satan sayes, (for in plain truth it is he) it is against thy ho­nour to passe by an injury unrevenged: Grant that thou worst injured, shall God forgive sins, and thou not forgive errors? [Page 18]What a thing is this b [...]ble o [...] honour, that cannot be main­tained but by dishonouring God defacing his Image wounding thy soul, and without Gods great mercy destroying and damn­ing bo [...]y and soul. But all this is against killing of another; does he then passe by or priviledge the killing of thy self? [...]very temptation thou entertainest is a wound, Peceata sunt t [...]tidem vulnera, sins are so many wounds to Christ, to thy soul, makes him bleed afresh, kills thy soul without found re­pentance: [...]very man in acting wickedness layes violent hands upon himself, like Baal's Priests, cuts, launces and wounds himself. Think not then, he that is angry, if thy hand be lifted up against others, will not be offended if thou liftest thy hand against thy self.

It was a bad sign Achitophel had not ordered his house aright when he hanged himself: We must have care to dispose domum intertorum, and domum exteriorum, thy inward and outward stare: Achitophel might distribute his goods, I doubt he did not dispose his soul; he might bequeath his goods to the world, not give his soul to God: What if his counsel was not taken, must therefore this desperate course be taken? O the Tempters cunning! First, it was he that bids him give Absalon bad ad­vi [...]e, now it is he that gives Achitophel worse counsel; hadst thou kept close to thy God in Heaven, then hadst thou not for­saken thy God, I mean the King upon earth; hadst thou con­tinued loyal to him thou mightest have lived as an Oracle, and died as a Saint; but now rebelling, Quem Deus vult perdere dement at trius, thy wisdome is become foolishness, thy hand which was against thy King is now against thy self, thou livest a Rebel, and dies a Reprobate: so let the enemies of my Lord the King perish.

Monster of men, accursed Judas, son of perdition, it was Satan came to Christ, but into thee and made thee go out from, thy Master; How wast thou guilty of betraying thy Master and ca [...]st be innocent in murdering thy self? The Pens of Angels cannot write thy impiety. A Disciple one which saw Christ, which the Fathers longed for; one who heard Christ, with whom was the Words of Life; one which knew Christ, whom to know was life eternal if rightly known; one which [Page 19]was intrusted by Christ with what he had; How hath the Tempter fool'd thee? A little money becomes thy master; and at last the fact is so ugly presented to thee, to thy consci­ence, that, as if thou wert unworthy of anothers hand, thou be­comes thy own Executioner: Thus comes the Tempter, &c.

Neither doth he want fig-leaves to hide the breach of other Commandements, let him patch them they are but fig-leaves, the eye of God can easily look thorow them: If God sayes, Thou shalt not commit aduliery: Thou shalt not steal: Satan who dares appear amongst the Children of God to tempt Job, and here dares assault Christ, can present David with a Bath­sheba, and with her a way to cover the transgression: Uriah must be sent for home, invited, encouraged to her bed to smother their unlawful dalliance: when that leaf will not do, another must be applied, drunkenness must be added, that may prevail with Ʋriah to do he knows not what: when this will not serve, Uriah must be sent away recompenced, with the tru [...] of a Letter, as he conceives: This proves a fatal order, the message of his own mortality; Place him in the front (the place of perillous honour) but leave him alone in the v [...]n, forlorn, void of aid, for fear of his evasion, so shall he not live to return, not return to know his Wifes sin and his own sorrow. David a King, a Priest, a Prophet, yet under his sinful passions blinded in iniquity; to what purpose dost thou slay thy loyal subject, that prizes the event of thy warrs before the joyes of wedlock? canst thou by this means masque it? No, the blood of thy subject cryes in the ears of God, in the ear of another Prophet, thou canst not be at quiet till thou hast condemned thy self in a Parable, and afterwards becomes the moral of that history, and notwithstanding all these vizards acknowledge thy sin, shame and sorrow.

Unhappy Achan, the Tempter brings thee to an accursed thing; unhappy to Israel, who cannot stand before the enemy; unhappy to thy self, thou trustest this betrayer: Satan is a bad Secretary, he bids thee hide the Golden Wedge▪ the Garment, in the ground; what ground is this for thy security? He that can cause the earth to open upon Corah to his destruction, cannot he cause the ground to open for the discovery of Achan's fact; [Page 20]a l [...]t shall do it, and now must Achan confesse his sin, and give glory unto God.

Poor spirited Souldiers, what tempted you to witness a­gainst your consciences, against Christ, who came to be your Jesus? What moved you to report the Disciples stole away our Saviour by night when you were sleeping? Souldiers and sleep upon your watch! If sleeping, how could you tell they st [...]le him? if waking, why did you not obstruct it? 'Twas the J [...]ws money, that Aqua vitae to a bad cause, and Satan paid it; this testimony stands upon record, and their false witness will be against them when truth it self shall appear.

I [...] at the last Commandement, Thou shalt not covet, so says G [...]d: but Satan can dispense with that, and give another comment upon the Commandement. Simple Ananias and Saphira, who moved you to sell? You will say, Gods Spirit. Who moved thee to give? the same Spirit. But who moved thee to lye? who moved thee to court a strange courting? be­fore thou soldst it, was it not thy own? but when it was sold it was Gods, that alienes the propriety; the whole sum is re­quired, what moves thee to deny it? Deceitful and distrustful [...]earts, would seem to serve God, but reserve something for your selves, would trust to God but with a reservation, seales God a [...] Deed but keeps possession. I have posted through the Precepts, I have s [...]own you presidents, I have set before you Satan [...] b [...]its, the best works, and duties, and persons are not free from his temptations; let our Saviours Rules be general he ha [...] his exceptions; let Gods Commands be absolute, Sa­tans demands shall be peremptory, plausible, and very spacious; so was it here for bread when Christ was hungry: Then came to him the Tempter, and said▪ &c.

And this leads us to the third part observable,Third Part. the manner of his temptation, He came unto him and said, &c.

There is a vast difference betwixt coming unto, and coming into, the Tempter came unto Christ, but into Judas.

Shall I seem to speak a Paradox, if I say Satan hath a will to come near to Christ, but no will that Christ should come near to him;Job 1: Satan came into the presence of God as a servant [Page 21]amongst the Sons of God, some company is ever with Christ with whom Satan would have to do: There is a J [...]b, and as God hath kept him, so Satan hath considered him;M [...]m. Imm [...]nei huic occasiont: If Christ and his Angels have true joy in the conversion of a sinner, Satan and his Angels have their joy in the delusion of a Saint; let Peter be with Christ, Satan is about him, and would be within Peter; let Christ do his work to win, Satan doth his part to winnow him▪ yet is the power of Christ so awful unto Satan, his presence so much of preju­dice to his proceedings, that the very sense thereof makes them complain of his coming near them. Quid habemus tecum agere, Ma t [...] 8.29. &c. What have we to d [...] with thee, O Jesus of N [...]z [...]reth art thou come to torment us before the time. What plea ure can they have in his approach, or quiet, when they know it is to displace and dispossess. When a stronger man cometh the Fort must be surrendred.

Wherever the Devil was found by Christ he dis [...]mfited him; he found him in heaven, thence he ejected him by his power; he finds him lurking in the secret cabinet of the heart, thence he throws him by his Word and Spirit; he finds him in the bodies of possessed men, thence he commands their departure and they unwillingly obey him; he might have kept his state and would not, he would have kept heaven his habitation, but co [...]ld not; and this present trouble which they have at his presence, gives them to remember their future tormen, for as he shall come to the completion of the joy of his elect, so shall he come to the fulness and aggravation of the demands, grief and sorrow.

If any shall enquire in what manner or form the devil c mes unto the creatures, we must know that no form is [...]o [...]lorious that he either does not, or dares not undertake, no language so heavenly which he cannot dissemble. He transf [...]rms himself into the likeness of an Angel of light,2 Cor. 11.14. light is taken there for glory, and without peradventure, where he deludes one as de­vil, he deceives thousands as an Angel of glory.

When Saul contracts with the witch for the raising up Sa­muel, we find Satan appearing like the good old prophet, when Saul asks her what she saw, she answers,1 Sam. 18.1 [...]. Gods ascending from the earth; He bids her not fear when he had more cause of sear [Page 22]and horrour; He enquires the form, an old man covered with a mantle, S tan neither wants the habit nor the haires of Samuel, not yet the language of the Prophet, Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up? wherefore dost thou ask of me seeing the Lord is depart [...]d from thee? What could Samuel have said if he had been present that Satan saies not in his likeness; he tells him his present condi [...]ion, and that he may evidence himself a pro­phe [...] he pr [...]cts his future state. To morrow thou shalt be with me and thy s [...]ns, 1 Sam. 28.19. and God shall give the army into the hands of the Phil [...]s [...]mes; and if we wonder at his speaking since nothing can natur [...]l [...]y speak but what hath the instrumen [...]s of speech, which spirits have not, they can no otherwise speak vocally (then as they [...]ss me voices) in taking of bodies. This Tempter did appear in one likeness of a Serpent, and hath communica­ted m [...]ch of his subtil [...]y to that creature, pl [...]usible appearance and crafty insinuation, seducing the we [...]ker creature, the woman but we m [...]st conceive the spirit of the Devil in that Serpen [...], and so that Angel speaks in the Serpent as the good Angel spoke in Bal [...]ams [...]sse; nor can we wonder of these miraculous transformings, and pr [...]phet-like expressions, nor ye [...] of the wor [...]s of his evil spirit in the Serpent; if we consider of the author whose Almightiness can as easily create a voice withou [...] a body as a body without a voice.

When God asks Sa [...]an, not but that he knew it, Whence com­ [...]st th u? that liar is fo [...]ed to re [...]urn a truth, From compassing the earth, walking to and fro up and down in it; Then as he comes unto Christ so is he continually about Christians, and within the wicked, for by Gods permission he is the same in the men [...]al p [...]ss [...]ssi ns, as he is in the corporal, and as he seats himself in the bodies, s [...] h [...] endeavours to seize the souls of all wh [...]n he [...] s duce.

There is a threefold comming of Christ, saith holy Bernard. Ad homin [...]m in hominem, c [...]ntra h [...]minem; Bernard. unto man to re­deem him, into man to comfort him, against man to judge him: And on the con [...]r [...]ry we may admit the like comings of Satan unto man, so unto Christ in [...]o man, so into Ju [...]as and against man, so against the wicked who ha [...] [...]o [...] [...]rmed, and are reserved for futher torment: [...] [...]omings there is [Page 23]this difference, unhappy they unto whom Chr st only came, and came not into them; but happy those unto whom Satan comes, but enters not into them; Christ and Christians c [...]nnot be free from the assaults of Satan, but happy [...]re we, if with an [...] through Christ he have not entertainment: The godly man is [...]h [...] great­est combatant, and it is through Chr [...]st only [...]hat he is conque­rour: So much of Sa an attends the regenera [...]e man, n [...]y, creeps within that he hath a great militancy wi [...]hin himself, which the elect vessel St. Paul did undergo,Rom. 7.23. I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my minde, and bring­ing me into captivity: His only confidence was in his cham­pion Christ: the assa lts of Satan co ld not be by that holy man prevented, but by Christ in Paul they were repelled; And though our brain-sick Saints will br [...]g of their impeccan­cy, yet I must rank them among Saint Johns rabble, who de­ceive themselves, and there is no truth in him, and then there must be much of error; and dare affirm with confidence and warrant, that whilst we live in this Wilderness we can nei her free our selves from remanencies of sin, nor several temptati­ons: And though S [...]z men could report of Apoll [...]nius, that he never was tempted, never wanted what he wished, yet I may doubt that full supply might turn a temptation, and shall not without scruples ascertain their titles unto Heaven, who labour not to assure it under the seal of many tryals.

It was the complaint of our Saviour, that though his House was appointed for prayer, yet they had made it a den of theeves: And it is to be feared that our bodies, which [...]re as the Temple, and our souls as the sanctum sanct [...]ram, [...]re become the recep­tacles of Satan.

For what requireth or coveteth Satan, but that which is Gods due, the heart? our condition is never so dangerous whilst we quench his evil motions, and do not give w [...]y to his suggesti­ [...] and suffer our selves to be overcome of ou [...] own corrupti­ [...] A g [...]od Souldier, when he is besi [...]ged, though he cannot [...] [...]er his enemy from assaul [...]ing, yet he will be circumspect th t he may not enter, and if he have a Mutineer within his Garrison he will be sure to secure him: A good Christian, though he has enemies abroad, yet he will [...]bour to have all at [Page 24]home in quiet. Cortugal the Turkish Embassadour returns from Rhodes with this intelligence to his Master, Christianus occasus intestinis dissid [...]is corroboratur, Home differences do promise and confirm victory to our forreign Adversaries, Israel could not stand against Ai because there was an accur­sed thing in the midst of Israel: Josh. 7.13. Satans temptations are not in their way unlike to J [...]shuahs besieging of Jericho, Diabo­lus est dei simia, he goes about the City, he shuts up the soul strictly he would not have any thing of Christ to come in, nor any thing of a good motion to come out for its assistance; yet can he not take the City, enter the soul, till the walls fall. And more, Satan though he seem to slight it at the first, that his ass [...]ults be not so assiduous, yet at 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 purpose [...] 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 mans▪ 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, [Page 25]for he was the Word, and this is temptation proof, one job one syllable of this shall no [...] sail. Holy Job n [...] 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 se [...] 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 [...]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 Sat [...] dare assault Christ, his servants will dare to [...] [...]sciples: If Satan be transformed, it is no gre [...] [...] [...] ­nisters be transformed: If no man can be [...] [...]ra­tion, then no man but he is concerned in thi [...] [...]ex [...], a [...] [...]e sad example, which occasions this Sermon, conc [...]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 [Page 26]for all encounters, shrubs may be unmoved when the tallest Ce [...]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, [...]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 mar [...] not y [...]el an inch of ground, [...]u [...]e. [...].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 [...]e killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands; but Christ doth more, for though his person meets with Legions, his word ejects them, s [...]yes them. Lord, thou h [...]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: Eli [...]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 Para [...]ise, Christ finds a Wildernesse, Jos [...]h a Prison, Jeremy a Dangeon, Daniel a [...]ons Den, the three Children a fiery F [...]ce, Peter and Paul a Prison, but [...]l [...]x [...]o passio cum Christus ingreditur careres, happy prison [...], unhappy paradise where Satan inhabits: [...] are in the Wildernesse how weary we are of [...] [...]e dye, sayes Elijah: when Peter was left alone [...] [...]ith began to saint, and going afar off gave [...] [...]n to interpose temptations: Hold up our [...] [...]derne [...]s of this world with that comfortable [...] with ye in life in death: thus shall the De­sert be leli [...]ome to us.

3. The condition, He was hungry: Sometimes want and sometimes wealth are in laqueum. Agar prayed against both; [...]ve m [...] neither poy [...] [...] nor riches, not poverty, least I be poor [Page]and steal, not riches least I b [...] full and forget God: Pread [...] the bait which he laid before Christ, if that would have temp [...] him, Christ had turned thief and [...]ob' [...] God of his honour. I [...] 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 [...]lness [...]erve [...], [...]in to the full against God: And we have great cause to impect the sins of our fulness when we do but [...]ll [...]t upon Christs [...]er [...] by his fasting, seeing therefore for our sakes and sins, that righte­o [...]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 appe [...]latives? Names are predictionary, so are [...]is, not one but it hints the evilness of, [...]s nature. W [...]l [...] judge of him by his works▪ they are like the authour, and speak not his pr [...]se, but his s [...]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 si [...]? it is the deceiver: Is it any thing would make ship [...]v [...]ck of thy saith▪ it is the son of perdition: Is [...] my thing may [...] the [...] of one pre­cept, the commision of a s [...]n [...]n [...] of the D [...]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 [...] [...]eave [...] le [...]s; what he promised he hath performed: That a [...]our w [...]h hep [...] [...]d, wherewith he prevailed, as a legacy of his l [...]ve, is tendeth be­queath'd unto thee, Scripium si, it is written was Satans wea­pon; this proud Goliah's sword [...]ath our better D [...]vid t [...]ken f [...] him, cut off [...]s hea [...] with his own sw [...]rd, and turned the [...] himself: The while panoply▪ the compleat ar­ [...] [...] [...]roved furniture are afforded; Christians must the C [...] [...]: med from top to toe,Ephe [...]. 6.14. there is a he [...]met and a breast-plate, a shie [...]d and a tried [...]word, and if your enemies be prin­cipalities and powers, your armour is experienced, your en­gines [Page] [...] 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 J [...]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 de­ [...]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 [...]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 Chur [...]h triumphant praising thee with Songs of Salvation and victory for evermore, Amen.