Seven sermons on, the wonderfull combate (for Gods glorie and mans saluation) betweene Christ and Sathan Delivered by the Reuerend Father in God, Doct. Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, lately deceased.

VI.

THe sixt is, that none of these Dominum Deum tu∣um, neither Lord, nor God, nor that he is thine, are fit arguments to proue, that we may presume vp∣on him. The deuill belike had perceiued, that there was some acquaintance betweene Christ and God, and peraduenture had said vnto him; You may bee bold with him, and with his Angels. What? he is your Father, and (as Caesars daughter answered) that though he forget himselfe to be Caesar, yet doe not you forget to be his sonne. No saith Christ, these be no good arguments to make one presume. As for Dominus we will all grant (I am sure) there is small matter of presumption in that. In Deus there may be some more colour: but yet very little. It is no good dealing with one that is mightier than our selues, least he happen not to take it in good part, but fall to earnest, and so we feele the smart. We were not best to make sport with Sampson, least he pull the house a∣bout our eares, and so make vs pay dearly for our pastime. Paul saith, Do we prouoke the Lord to anger? Are we stronger than he? 1 Cor. 10, 22. If wee will needs tempt, we were b••st tempt with our matches. There is no dealing with fire, for it will burne all that toucheth it, Heb. 1, 7. his Angels and Ministers are a flame of fire: but Heb. 12, 29. it is said, Our God is euen a consuming fire. Indeed, if he were like Dagon, the Philistims god, hee might be set vp and taken downe, and we might breake his necke and hands at our pleasure: but being the strong and mighty God of hoasts, we were best take heed how we deale with him.

Tuum, what say we to that? Anvngracious childe might make that an argument of presumption: but whosoeuer is of any good nature, will make it an ar∣gument of the contrary. Isaac was Iacobs father, but was Iacob more bold to abuse him for that? No, but rather more timerous, Gen. 27. My father (saith he) may chance feele me; and so I shall seeme to him a mocker, and so bring a curse on me, and not a blessing. Is God mercifull? yea truly, Mercy is with thee, but that thou maist be feared, Psal. 130, 4. We may not a∣buse his mercy, as to sin, that grace may abound, Rom. 6. 1. Is he bountifull and long suffering? We must therefore the more feare to displease him. When the Pharisies tempted him, and would aduenture their soules in seeking a signe, it is said, Math. 8, 11. Christ sighed: and why did he sigh? Because God sware in his wrath, that they should neuer enter into his rest, whose fathers tempted him in the wildernesse. Psal. 95. What rest? He doth not meane the rest in the Land of Ca∣naan onely, but that which shall be in the kingdome of God. Heb. 3, 10. These two temptations of the di∣uell, may fitly be compared to those two rockes, be∣tweene which Ionathan was to passe, which are said, 1 Sam. 14, 4. to be sharpe. One is called Borez, which signifieth dirt; the other Seneh, which signifieth a bramble, or some sharpe pricke; betweene which, he and his Armor-bearer were faine to clamber vp, ver. 13. Betweene two such rockes lyeth our way, that is, Presumption, and Desperation: therefore bles∣sed is he that so loueth God, that he can be content to creepe on hands and feete to him.

The end of the fift Sermon.