Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the
wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. Matt. 4:1
In this answer of Christ we may perceive what
weapons are to be used against our adversary the devil, and how we may confute
his arguments, which craftily, and of malice, he makes against God's elect.
Christ might have repulsed Satan with a word, or by commanding him to silence, as
He to whom all power was given in heaven and earth; but it pleased His mercy to
teach us how to use the sword of the Holy Ghost, which is the word of God, in
battle against our spiritual enemy. The Scripture which Christ brings is
written in the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy. It was spoken by Moses a little
before His death, to establish the people in God's merciful providence. For in
the same chapter, and in certain others that go before, He reckons the great
travail and divers dangers with the extreme necessities that they had sustained
in the desert the space of forty years, and yet, notwithstanding how constant
God had been in keeping and performing His promise, for throughout all perils
He had conducted them to the sight and borders of the promised land. And so this
Scripture more directly answers to the temptation of Satan; for thus does Satan
reason, as before is said, "Thou art in poverty and hast no provision to
sustain thy life. Therefore God takes no regard nor care of Thee, as He doth
over His chosen children." Christ Jesus answered: "Thy argument is
false and vain; for poverty or necessity precludes not the providence or care
of God; which is easy to be proved by the people of God, Israel, who, in the
desert, oftentimes lacked things necessary to the sustenance of life, and for
lack of the same they grudged and murmured; yet the Lord never cast away the
providence and care of them, but according to the word that He had once
pronounced, to wit, that they were His peculiar people; and according to the
promise made to Abraham, and to them before their departure from Egypt, He
still remained their conductor and guide, till He placed them in peaceable
possession of the land of Canaan, their great infirmities and manifold
transgressions notwithstanding."
Thus are we taught, I say,
by Christ Jesus, to repulse Satan and his assaults by the Word of God, and to
apply the examples of His mercies, which He has shown to others before us, to
our own souls in the hour of temptation, and in the time of our trouble. For
what God doth to one at any time, the same appertains to all that depend upon
God and His promises. And, therefore, however we are assaulted by Satan, our adversary,
within the Word of God is armor and weapons sufficient. The chief craft of
Satan is to trouble those that begin to decline from his obedience, and to
declare themselves enemies to iniquity, with divers assaults, the design
whereof is always the same; that is, to put variance betwixt them and God into
their conscience, that they should not repose and rest themselves in His
assured promises. And to persuade this, he uses and invents divers arguments.
Sometimes he calls the sins of their youth, and which they have committed in
the time of blindness, to their remembrance; very often he objects their
unthankfulness toward God and present imperfections. By sickness, poverty,
tribulations in their household, or by persecution, he can allege that God is
angry, and regard them not. Or by the spiritual cross which few feel and fewer understand
the utility and profit of, he would drive God's children to desperation, and by
infinite means more, he goeth about seeking, like a roaring lion, to undermine
and destroy our faith. But it is impossible for him to prevail against us
unless we obstinately refuse to use the defense and weapons that God has
offered. Yea, I say, that God's elect cannot refuse it, but seek for their
Defender when the battle is most strong; for the sobs, groans, and lamentations
of such as fight, yea, the fear they have lest they be vanquished, the calling
and prayer for continuance, are the undoubted and right seeking of Christ our
champion. We refuse not the weapon, although sometimes, by infirmity, we cannot
use it as we would. It suffices that your hearts unfeignedly sob for greater strength,
for continuance, and for final deliverance by Christ Jesus; that which is
wanting in us, His sufficiency doth supply; for it is He that fighteth and
overcometh for us. But for bringing of the examples of the Scriptures, if God
permit, in the end we shall speak more largely when it shall be treated why
Christ permitted Himself thus to be tempted. Sundry impediments now call me
from writing in this matter, but, by God's grace, at convenient leisure I
purpose to finish, and to send it to you. I grant the matter that proceeds from
me is not worthy of your pain and labor to read it; yet, seeing it is a
testimony of my good mind toward you, I doubt not but you will accept it in
good part. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant unto you to find
favor and mercy of the Judge, whose eyes and knowledge pierce through the secret
cogitations of the heart, in the day of temptation, which shall come upon all
flesh, according to that mercy which you (illuminated and directed by His Holy
Spirit) have showed to the afflicted. Now the God of all comfort and
consolation confirm and strengthen you in His power unto the end. Amen.
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