Secondly, Satan gives up himself unto it, is wholly in it, he walks to and fro, goes about seeking advantages of this nature, compaffeth Sea and Land to Profelite men to his Slavery, ufeth all means, upon all men, at all times, with all diligence; Hence was it, that Latimer (in his homely way of speaking) called him, a bufy Bishop in his Diocess, and excited the sluggish to learn laborioufnels of the Devil.

Thirdly, He takes a delight in it,not only from a natural propenfity, which his fall put upon him, whereby he cannot but tempt; as an evil Tree cannot but bring forth evil Fruits: But alfo from the power of an habit acquired by long exercise, which is accompanied with fome kind of pleafure; and further, whatever pleafure may be fuppofed to arifefrom revengeful Pride or companionThip in evil, he hath of that in full meafure, preffed down, and Solamen mife. running over. ris, &c.

Fourthly, All other things in Satan, or in his indeavours,have either a fubferviency, or fome way or other a reference and respect to Temptation. His Power, Wisdom, Malice, and other infernal Qualifications, render him able to tempt; his Labour and Diligence in other things are but the work of one that prepares Materials and Occafions; his other bufinefs of accufing, afrighting, deftroying, tormenting, are but the ends and improvements of tempting.

Fifthly, He cares not how it goes on, fo that it go on, as a Man that defigns to be rich, cares not how he gets it; which fhews, that tempting in general is his defign. Of this we have many Inftances, as (1.) he ftick not to lie and diffemble, he will tell them of the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them, and a thousand fair promises which he never intends. (2.) He will tempt for a small matter, if he can but gain a little, or but molest us, yet he will be doing. (3.) He will not give over for a foil or difappointment. (4.) He is not afhamed to tempt contradictory things, he tempted Christ against the work of Redemption, Master pare thy felf. He tempted Judas to further it in betraying him. (5.) Any Temptation that he fees will hold, he takes up with; hence is it that he tempts not the Jews now to Idolatry, because he hath them faft in another fnare, being ftrongly led to an oppo-fition and contempt of Christ.. (6.) He will sometime tempt where he hath not probability to prevail, even against hope. Thus he tempted Chrift and Paul.

The

Applic.

The use of the Obfervation is this: If it be his business to tempt, it must be our work to refift.

Firft, Torefift is a labour, 'tis not an idle formality, confisting in words of defyance, or a few ridiculous Croffings, and fprinklings of Holy Water, or fpitting at the name of him, as Ignorant People are wont to do.

Secondly, We must give up our felves to this work, always fighting and oppofing.

Thirdly, It will be neceffary to make ufe of all helps, as Prayer, Fafting, the Counsel and Support of Holy and Experi

enced Men.

Fourthly, We must also caft off all hinderances, whatsoever in us is apt to take fire, or give advantage,must be laid off; as Pride (which doth prognofticate a fall) and Security, which betrays the beft; or Prefumption, which provokes God to leave those of highest Neh 13.16. attainments.

Obf. 2.

Secondly, In this general Introduction, we may caft our Eye, upon the way and manner of the Affault, when 'tis faid, the Tempter came unto him, we are unavoidably forced to fuppofe, another manner of coming, than that whereby he tempted him for forty days together. And when we call to mind, that at his coming here mentioned, he carried Chrift to the Temple, and from thence to a high Mountain, and there propounded himself an Object of Worship; we can imagine no lefs, than that Satan here came vifibly to him; but in what shape or manner of Appearance, it is altogether uncertain, though'tis moft probable, it was not in the form of a Brute, but in fome luftre of Majefty or Glory, as an Angel; because a deformed, or base appearance, had been unsuitable to the Boaft of giving the Kingdoms of the World, or to his defire that Chrift should fall down and worship him. Hence we may obferve:

That Satan Sometimes tempts in a vifible Appearance, and by

Voice.

Firft, The poffibility of this, is evident from the Apparitions of Pifcar, in loc Angels. Satan is ftill an Angel, and there is nothing of a natural Incapacity in him as to an outward Appearance to our Eyes and Senccs, more than in glorify'd Spirits.

Secondly, In the firft Temptation he did no less, when he used the Serpent, as a Trunc to fpeak through, and an Inftrument to act by, In poffeffions he speaks audibly,and evidenceth a real prefence.

Thirdly,

Thirdly undoubted Inftances may be given of Satans tempting and molefting visibly. I deny not but there are a great many IdleStories of this kind, and a number of ridiculous Figments, but it would be unreasonable and highly prejudicial to the truth of HiStory, and the common Faith of mankind, to refufe credit to the ferious Accounts of sober Men, because of fome foolish and unwarrantable Fables.

What is related of Luther, and his feveral Troubles from Satan this way,is evident in the Story of his Life. Cyrillus tells us of one O Fratres adEufebius Difciple of Hierom, who when he was dying, cryed out juvate nie, neof the Devils appearing to him. The like is ftoryed of St. Martin Peream, nonne and others; and of thefe, you may read more collected by num agnina, Mr. Clark:

videtis Dæmo

qui me debel

lare, & ad Tar

tara ducere festinant,quid hic aftas cruenta beftia ? Cl. Senarclæus in Epift. ad M. Bucerum,&c. Tells of a Country Man, at Tribury in Germany to whom the Devil appeared in the shape of Tall Man, claiming his Soul, and offering to fet down his Sins in a Scroll.

If we would enquire into the reafons of Satans appearing thus, we cannot more fitly pitch upon any other than these.

First, Either he thinks a great affrightment neceffary in fome cafes, and for that end appears: or,

Secondly, He fees his appearance needful, to give a greater Evidence and certainty to the reality of the pleasures of Sin which he promiseth; that is the common ground of his appearing in the ways and defigns of Witchcraft.

Thirdly, Or in the height of rage, when he perceives other ways not available, and when he hath to do with Perfons not ignorant of his devices, where he fees he hath no need of a Vifor, or covert ways of dealing, then he fticks not (if permitted) to tempt or moleft openly.

This must teach us not to wonder at fuch Temptations, much lefs to judg thofe that may be fo molested, as if Satan had a greater fhare in them, seeing Chrift was thus tempted....

1.

Obf. 3.

CHAP. VII.

The general view of thefe Temptations. Of Satans Gradual proceeding in Temptations. Of referving a great Temptation last. What a great Temptation is, in what cafes to be expected. Of Satans using a common Road, in comparing thefe Temptations, with the ordinary Temptations of Men. Of the advantage Satantakes of natural Appetite, Senfe, and Affections.

Have done with the proemium to the Temptations. Yet before I open them particularly, I fhall take a general view of them. First, By comparing thefe with the other Temptations of Chrift during the forty days. Secondly, By comparing thefe with the Temptations of Men.

First, Then, if we compare these with the former Temptations, and obferve that we have no account given us of those Temptati ons, but only in the general, that he was tempted, whereas thefe are particularly fet down and recorded, we cannot apprehend less than this, that thefe laft Temptations were certainly greater and moreremarkable Temptations. Hence note,

That 'tis Satans method to be Gradual in bis Temptations, and that he keeps his greatest Temptations to the latter end.

That Satan is Gradual in his Temptations; this is true of him, if we regard,

First, the manner of his proceeding, That he drives flowly, entreats gently, and is very careful that he do not overdrive Men, but after they are accustomed to his way, he puts on Imperiousness and

commands them.

Secondly, If the matter of Temptation be regarded, he is Gra-
dual therealfo. He tempts to little Sins firft, then to greater.
I fhall Illuftrate both thefe particulars by the example of Thomas
Savage, Apprentice to Mr. Collins Vintener at the Ship-Tavern in
Ratcliff, who fuffered in Anno 1668, for murthering his Fellow-

Servant,

Servant: He confeffeth that the Devil took this courfe with him; he first tempted him to negleci of Duty, then to contempt of Ordinances, and Prophanation of the Sabbath, then to Drinking, then to Fornication, then to Rob and Steal from his Mafter, and laft of all to Murther; and takes particular notice that in this laft Temptation, to kill his Fellow-Servant, there was a violent and more than ordinary Power of Satan upon him, to inftigate him to that Wickedness. All this you may read at large in the Printed Narration of his Life.

The reasons of his Gradual proceedings are,

Firft, He would discover no more of himfelf in any Temptation, than he is neceffitated unto; for the gaining his end, left he crofs his own defign, and inftead of drawing Mento Wickednefs, fcare or affright them from it.

Secondly, Sins are mutually preparatory to each other, smaller Proffers and Temptations do infenfibly prepare, and incline the Heart to greater.

Secondly, That he keeps his greatest Temptations laft, is a confequence of the former; for which (befides what is now spoken) thefe reafons may be given:

Firft, There is provocation given him, in refufing his leffer Affaults. His Head is bruifed by every refufal, he is fet at defiance, which calls him out to ftronger oppofition. He perceives by often. repulfes that those with whom he hath to do are not Subjects of his Kingdom, and that his time is fhort, and therefore no wonder is it, if he Affault moft furioufly, and with all his ftrength.

Secondly, There is alfo Policy in it, when he hath brought down our ftrength and weakned our courage, then a violent onfet is fair to procure him a Victory.

But because I mention a great Temptation, it may not be amifs both for the further explaining of the Text, and Illustration of the matter, to fhew what is a great Temptation. Thefe were great Temptations to Chrift, and there are feveral things remarkable in them,which where-ever they appear, they will denominate the Temptation great, and the more of them are conjoyned together, and in higher degree, it may juttly be called fill the greater. As,

Firft, In thefe Temptations, we may note there were external Objects, as well as infinuated fuggeftions; Inward motions are real Temptations, but when they have the Objects and things prefented

2.