The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

§ Into the holy City, and setteth him on a pinacle of the Temple.

There are two main scruples and questions arise out of these words: 1. Why the Devil bringeth Christ to this place in this temptation. And 2. whether his flying in the air, and standing on the Temple, were visible, or no.

As to the first; It cannot be doubted, but something more was in the Devils thoughts when he brought our Saviour hither, than meerly his precipitation, or casting down head∣long, or flying in the air: For had that been all, he might have found promontories, rocks, precipices by hundreds; from whence to have got him cast down, would have served the turn, as well as from hence, if his precipitation had been all that was intended and aimed at. But certainly there was some reflecting in Satans mind upon the very place, as well as upon the very thing. And that being apprehended what it was, if it be possible to apprehend it, it will help to resolve both the questions at once. Conjecture is all that we can go upon here, and it is better to conjecture at Satans mind in such a thing as this, than to be acquainted in it; and in a matter of this nature if one fail, in conjecture, it is as excusable on that hand, as it is difficult to hit aright on the other.

• 1. Therefore it may be conceived, that the Devil according to his constant practice, would make the utmost advantage he could of his deceipts in this passage and temptation: and that he meant not only evil to our Saviour, whom he had in hand, but some delusion also to the men of Jerusalem, amongst whom he brought him: For why should he take him from the solitude of the wilderness, into the middle of a City, if he meant no more than what he might have equally acted in that solitariness? or why should he set him upon the Temple, if he intented no more than what he might have done upon any pre∣cipice in the desert.
• 2. It seemeth therefore, and is very probable, that our Saviour as he flew in the air, and as he stood on the Temple, was visible and conspicuous to the eyes of the people: and that Satan acted thus, that the people might be deluded with some misapprehensions concerning him. And truly I cannot but conjecture, that he intented to deceive them with misprision concerning Elias, who was so much in their thoughts and expectation, to come personally as the fore-runner of the Messias: For he having been rapt away into the air, and so into heaven, when the Lord took him from the earth, as is related in the story of his transla∣tion, 2 King. 2. how readily might the people have their thoughts on him, when they saw a man in a mantle flying in the air, and taking his pitch upon the Temple, and away again? and this they might be deceived in the rather, because of the misconstruction which they blindly made of those words of the Prophet, Mal. 3. 1. Of the Angel of the Co∣venant coming to the Temple, which they understand of Elias, as see D. Kimch. in loc. But it will be said, what could Satan gain by this deceit? Why, this, that they would be confir∣med in the mistake of Elias his personal coming at the last converse among them, and so the preaching of the Baptist, and the appearing of Christ after him would be the less regarded.
• ...

• 3. Now the acting of the Devil in reference to Christ, affords us these considerations:
  • 1. That whereas in his former temptation, he would have injected into Christ diffidence and despair in God, now would he do the clean contrary, and instigate him to presump∣tion; then would he have suggested that God was mindless of him, and that there was no trust to be had in providence, for he must either turn stones into bread, or be without: but now he will have him to cast all upon providence and promises presumptuously, and neither to use any means, nor regard any rule.
  • 2. That the Devil doth here somewhat parallel his first temptation of our first parents, for that was in the garden a place of happiness, this is on the Temple the place of holi∣ness; that in the paradise of delight, this in the paradise of Religion.
  • 3. That though the Devil could set Christ on the top of the Temple, yet could he not throw him off. Our Saviour refused not to suffer him to bring him to a temptation, but he would not suffer him to have the least power over him in it: either to perswade him into the least sin, or to cast him into the least danger.
  • 4. Whereas Christ had used Scripture to him before, he useth Scripture to Christ now, and so goes about to assault him with his own weapon.
  • 5. That he might the more feasibly cast him upon a presumptuous relyance on the guard of Angels, he hath now brought him to a place as likely to have Angels ready about it, as any place under heaven: for where might they more readily be thought to be, than about the Temple?

What part of the Temple it was that Christ was set upon at this time, it is in vain to go about to determine, whether on some turret of it, as is conceived by some; or on the battlement ledge, as by others; or on some of the flying fanes, as by a third sort; or on the sharp broches that were set there to keep off birds, as by a fourth: it is as little mate∣rial, as it is little determinable; only take this testimony of Josephus concerning the ter∣rible height of some part of the Temple, and then be it left to ruminate upon. He speak∣ing concerning the South side of the Temple, and of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Kings porch there, he saith thus; It was one of the most renowned works under the Sun; for there being a great depth of a valley, even not to be seen to the bottom of, if any one above looked down: Herod, raised a vast height of a Porch over it, so that if any one from the roof of it looked down, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: his head would be giddly, his sight not reaching to the unmeasurable depth, Antiq. lib. 15. cap. 14.

Vers. 8. Again the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain.

It is as undeterminable what mountain this was, as it is what part of the Temple it was that he set him upon, and it is as little material: Only this is conceivable upon good probability, that this mount was beyond Jordan eastward, because the first appearing of Christ after this amongst men, is at Bethabara on that side, Joh. 1. 28. Now whether it were Pisgah, Nebo, Horeb, or what else, is but lost labour to make enquiry, because we are sure we cannot find; only this again is worth our thoughts, to compare together the be∣ing of Moses in the mount with God, and the being of Christ, in a mount with Satan: and the Lords shewing to Moses from an high mount all the Kingdoms of Canaan, and saying, All these will I give to the Children of Israel; and the Devils shewing to Christ all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and saying, All these will I give thee, &c.