A sanctuary for the tempted: being a discourse on Christ's friendly admonition to Peter Wherein the fall and rising of Peter, is at large considered: the craft, potency, and malice of Satan (that arch-enemy of our salvation) discovered: his various wiles. stratagems and machinations invalidated: several choice and excellent Gospel-truths handled, and cleared (from the calumnies and objections of gainsayers.) ... Delivered in sundry sermons, at first; and now, published for the benefit of God's church in general. To which is added, four sermons, preach'd upon sacramental occasions. By Thomas Powel, preacher of the Gospel, and one, whom Satan hath winnowed.
About this Item
Title
A sanctuary for the tempted: being a discourse on Christ's friendly admonition to Peter Wherein the fall and rising of Peter, is at large considered: the craft, potency, and malice of Satan (that arch-enemy of our salvation) discovered: his various wiles. stratagems and machinations invalidated: several choice and excellent Gospel-truths handled, and cleared (from the calumnies and objections of gainsayers.) ... Delivered in sundry sermons, at first; and now, published for the benefit of God's church in general. To which is added, four sermons, preach'd upon sacramental occasions. By Thomas Powel, preacher of the Gospel, and one, whom Satan hath winnowed.
Author
Powell, Thomas.
Publication
London :: printed by T.M. for B. Harris, at the Stationers-Arms in Sweetings-Rents, near the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil,
1678. [i.e. 1679]
Rights/Permissions
To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms
Peter, -- the Apostle, Saint -- Early works to 1800.
Sermons, English -- 17th century.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A55567.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A sanctuary for the tempted: being a discourse on Christ's friendly admonition to Peter Wherein the fall and rising of Peter, is at large considered: the craft, potency, and malice of Satan (that arch-enemy of our salvation) discovered: his various wiles. stratagems and machinations invalidated: several choice and excellent Gospel-truths handled, and cleared (from the calumnies and objections of gainsayers.) ... Delivered in sundry sermons, at first; and now, published for the benefit of God's church in general. To which is added, four sermons, preach'd upon sacramental occasions. By Thomas Powel, preacher of the Gospel, and one, whom Satan hath winnowed." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A55567.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 2, 2024.
First, Satan shews his exceeding great Subtilty, in choosing those Sea∣sons for Tempting unto Despair, (that may proue most Advantageous unto him) being such as followeth.
First, Satan Tempts to Despair, af∣ter great Manifestations of God's Fa∣vour and Love to the Soul. When God smiles and opens himself a little Familiarly unto us, we grow Wan∣ton; and thereupon God* 1.1 with-draws, we sink in our Faith, and Satan eyes us on to Despair, by making of us to conclude; That because God is with∣drawn, he will never come again. There is not a larger, and more preg∣nant Proof for this, than Peter. Had ever any a greater Testimony from Heaven, than Peter? Who making an Excellent Confession of his Faith, Matth. 16. 17. Christ immediately pronounceth him Blessed, puts a sin∣gular Honour upon him, and makes
him the † 1.2 Representative for all the Saints. Now without doubt, this Favour to Peter stirred up the En∣vious Spirit the sooner to Assail him. No marvel it was, that Satan did shew his Spite, even when and where Christ loved most dearly: Therefore, soon after we find the Devil at Peter's Elbow, making him his Instrument to Tempt Christ; who soon espyed his Cloven Foot, and therefore Re∣bukes Peter, with a Get thee behind me Satan.
He that seem'd a Rock but just now, is through Satan's Policy be∣come a Stone of Offence for Christ to stumble at.
Secondly, Satan Tempts to Despair at the Hour of Death;‖ 1.3 and indeed, his Assaults are usually sharpest then: And the Reason why he is so busy with Christians when they come to Die, is, because he knows, his time
is then very short. As our Extre∣mity is God's Opportunity to help us; so likewise it is the Devil's Opportu∣nity, in what he can to destroy us. When Death approacheth, we are Weak, and our Strength beginning to decay, Satan thereupon furiously Assails us; yea, he doth reserve his firiest Darts, his deadliest Poyson and his sharpest Sting, till he meets us on our Death-Bed.
Notes
* 1.1
The Spi∣rit is going and coming, (saith Holy Mr. Lati∣mer. A Christi∣an's Light may some∣times be E∣clipsed, and his Ioy and Comfort put out.
What is said of the Natural Serpent, (Nunquam nisi mori∣ens produ∣citur in lon∣gum: He never is seen at length, till Dying) may be said of this Mystical Serpent: He never strains his Wits and Wiles more, than when his time is short.