The combate betwixt Christ and the deuill Foure sermons vpon the temptations of Christ in the wildrenes by Sathan, wherein are to be sene the subtle sleightes that the tempter vseth agaynst the children of God, and the meanes that God hath appointed to resiste him, sanctified to our vse in the example of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. By Iohn Vdall preacher of the word of God, at Kyngston vpon Thames.

¶A Prayer after these Sermons.

MOst gracious God and louing Fa∣ther, we thy vnworthy seruauntes present our selues here before thy glorious Maiestie, not trusting to our owne merites or worthynesse, but onely to thy mercy in thy sonne Iesus Christ. For we ac∣knowledge, from the bottome of our hartes, a∣gainst our selues, that we are not onely concea∣ued and borne in sinne, but also haue continued in the same, from the beginnyng of our tyme vnto this present, transgressing thy lawes and commaundementes both in thought worde and deede, in so much that we are not worthy to appeare before thee much lesse to presume to begge or craue any good thing at thy handes, with hope to obteine the same, if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deseruinges, not∣withstanding (most mercyfull and holy Father) for as much as thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thee, when we feele our selues loden

with the burthen of our sinnes, and hast promi∣sed to ease vs. We trusting vnto the truth of this thy promise do come vnto thee at this pre∣sent, most humbly beseeching thee (for thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake) to par∣don and forgeue vs all our sinnes, to blot them out of thy remembraunce, and to bury them is silence that they neuer appeare before thee to accuse vs. And beseeche thee (good Father) to worke in our harts an earnest loathing of sinne, a detestatiō of all iniquitie with a carefull de∣sire and an vnfayned indeuour, to frame our li∣ues and conuersations, according to thy blessed will. Lord for somuch as we haue learned out of thy holy word, that all those whom thou hast vouchsafed to giue into the handes of thy son Iesus Christ, shall be cōtinually (so long as they liue in this presēt world) be assailed, with trials, temptations, tribulations and afflictions, by rea∣son of the malice of Sathan, their enemy, the allurementes of the world: and the enticements of their owne sinnefull nature: We acknow∣ledge and confesse, that a greater honor can no way befall vnto vs, then to be molested by thy enemies for the testimonie of thy truth: yet (Lord) such is our weakenesse by nature, and so vnfit is our fleshe to begin, or continue any

good thing, that we must needes quayle in the same, and vtterly renounce thee and thy truth, vnlesse thou of thy gracious goodnesse assiste vs with thy grace, in such wise, as both the loathi∣nesse of our flesh (to do any good thing) be taken away, and also thy fauour so support vs, that we may be strengthened to abide in thy true feare and seruice. We beseeche thee therefore good Father (euen for his sake whose bloud thou ac∣comptest not too deare for our redemption) that as it is thy will to impose vppon vs this estate of bearyng the Crosse for thy sake, so thou wouldest giue vs strength, contentednesse and paciēce to make vs able to vnder go the same. Lord let not our weakenesse, betray thy glory, let not our shrincking, giue aduauntage vnto thy foes: neither let our wantes, any way hin∣der thy graces from comming vnto vs: but for as much as thou hast thought it most meete, to haue thy glory shewed in weakenesse, thy power to be perfect in infirmitie, and the foolish ones of the world to confounde the wise, graunt (we beseeche thee) that wee may so sight vnder the banner of Iesus Christ thy sonne, and so striue to builde his kingdome, in the middest of his enemies, that by vs thy name may be glorified,

thy truth may be magnified, thy Sonne Christ Iesus may be aduaunced, and our soules and consciences euerlastingly comforted. Lord we pray thee graunt these gra∣ces, not alone to vs that are here present. &c.

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