A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

Comforts against the temptati∣ons of Satan.

THE Faithfull have a promise to preserve them from such temp∣tations as are incident

to their lawfull callings, and which they cannot avoid unlesse they would forsake their calling, Psal. 91.11, 12. In all thy waies (seeme they never so dangerous and full of temptation) they shall beare thee up.* 1.1 The man whose heart is upright shall finde strength enough against every temptation, while he is in the LORDS way, Pro. 10.29. 2 Chron. 15.2.

There is much comfort to be drawne out of that one verse, 1 Cor. 10.13.

• * 1.21. It is the common con∣dition of all the godly, to be tempted. There hath no temp∣tation taken you but such as is common to man.
• 2. GOD will lay no more upon us, then wee shall be able to beare, GOD is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able.
• 3. GOD will give a happie issue out of tempta∣tion: Who will with the temp∣tation

• ... also make away to es∣cape, that yee may be able to beare it.

Another consolation against them, may be the short continu∣ance of our temptations, Wee shall suffer but a while, 1 Pet. 5.10. The GOD of pe••ce shall bruise Satan under your feete shortly, Rom. 16.20.

We should consider, 1 That CHRIST was tempted as we are, Heb. 4.15.

2. That he is our Captaine in this warfare, Rev. 12 7. The Cap∣taine of our salvation was made per∣fect through sufferings, Heb. 2.10.

3. That he overcame the Di∣vell for all his members; so it was promised to Adam and pro∣phesied of him, Gen. 3.15. so it was fulfilled by him, Mat. 4.1. And having spoiled principalities and powers (that is, the Divell and his Angels) He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them upon ••he Crosse, Coloss. 2.15. He led cap∣tivity

captive, Ephes. 4.8. By cap∣tivity is meant sinne and Satan, which did and doe leade men captive into perdition:* 1.3 ••. Death and the grave which held him captive for the space of three daies. He leads them all captive: 1. In himselfe, triumphing over them. 2. In his members, a 1.4 sub∣duing and weakening their power.

4. That CHRIST is tou∣ched with the feeling of our in∣firmities, Heb. 4.15.

5. That hee hath made inter∣cession and prayed for us, Luke 22.32. I have prayed that thy faith may not faile; that is generall for all beleevers as well as Peter, Ioh. 17.9, 10.

6. CHRIST succours and helpes those that are tempted, Heb. 2.18.

7. He assures them of b 1.5 strength and victory; Resist the Divell, and he will flie from you, Iam. 4.7. He is like the Crocodile, whose pro∣perty is, if one follow, it flieth

away; if one flie, it pursueth him; cowardise incourageth the Divell, courage daunts him. See 1 Iohn 5.18. Esa. 27.1. Iohn 12.21. The c 1.6 Divell is subtill, but GOD will teach wisdome to discerne and disappoint his stratagems, 2 Pet. 2.9. He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, Psal. 91.3 He is strong and powerfull; But GOD shall cover thee under his wings, thou shalt be d 1.7 safe under his feathers, his strength shall be thy Buckler. ver. 4. He dissolveth the workes of the Divell, 1 Iohn 3.8. He will tread Satan under our feet. Hee shall bruise his head, wherein lies all his subtilty and strength. e 1.8 The gates of Hell (that is, the power and pollicie of the Divell) shall not prevaile against the Church. For the gates were the places, where both their strength was and their counsell sate, Amos 5.15.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rev. 3.••.
• * 1.2

  Et quam sortem pa∣tiuntur om∣nes, ferre ne∣mo recusat. 1 Pet. 5.9. God will make his grace suffi∣cient for us, 2 Cor. 12.9.
• * 1.3

  Heb 2.14.1••
• a 1.4

  Idem hor∣tatur ut pug∣nemus, adiu∣vat ut vin∣camus, defici∣entes suble∣vat & vin∣centes cero∣nat.
• b 1.5

  If GOD leade them in••o tempta∣tion, he will deliver them from evill, Mat. 6.13.
• c 1.6

  The Di∣vel is a Ly∣on, so is Christ, and that of the Tribe of Iu¦dah, there is a Lyon for a Lyon, cou¦rage for courage: the Divell is a Serpent, so Christ cal∣led himselfe the brazen Serpent, the••e is a Serpent for a Serpent wisdome for wisedome.
• d 1.7

  Psal ••0 12 1 Pet. 1.5. kept with all care as a garrison is kept.
• e 1.8

  Mat. 16.1•• Portarum appellatime urbes & con silio & pro pugna••u•••• munitas in∣telligimus, i•• quicquid vel consilio vel viribus potest Satan Beza in lo¦cum.