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SECT. IV. Of the Fasting and Temptation of Christ.
3. FOr the Fasting and Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness. No sooner is Christ come out of the water of Baptism, but he presently enters into the fire of temp∣tarion; no sooner is the holy Spirit descended upon his head, but he is led by the same holy Spirit to be tempted in the wilderness; no sooner doth God say, This my Son; but Satan puts it to the question, if thou be the Son of God; all these are but Ghrists prepa∣ratives to his Prophetical Office; in the former Section, Christ was prepared by a solemn Consecration, and now he is to be further prepared by Satans Temptations; there is much in this particular, and therefore in the same method as the Evangelist layes it down, Mat. 4.1.2, 3. to v. 12. I shall proceed. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil, &c. In the whole, we may observe these seve∣ral Branches, as, First, the place where the Temptation was; to wit, the Wilderness. Secondly, the cause of Christ's going into the Wilderness; the Spirits leading. Third∣ly, the end of the spirits leading Christ into the wilderness; to be tempted of the Devil. Fourthly, the time and occasion of the Devils onset; at the end of forty dayes fast, and when he was an hungred. Fifthly, the Temptations themselves which are in number three; to which are added as many Victories, which Christ had over the Tempter; who there∣fore left him, and so the Angels came, and ministred unto him. I shall begin first with the place where the Temptation was; to wit, in the Wilderness.
This wilderness was not that same wilderness, or not that same place of the wilderness wherein John Baptist lived, Mat. 3.1. For that wherein John Baptist lived, was a place inhabited; there was in that place Cities and Towns, and a number of people to whom John Preached; but this wilderness was devoid of men, full of wild beasts; so saith Mark, He was tempted of Satan, and was with the wild Beasts. As Adam in his Inno∣cency lived with wild Beasts and they hurt him not; so Christ, the second Adam lives, here in a wilderness with wild Beasts, and he has no hurt at all; he is Adam-like in his safety and security; but above Adam in the resisting of temptation. Some say that in this wilderness, during his forty dayes abode, Christ was perpetually disturbed and as∣saulted with evil Spirits; however the last brunt is only expressed, because it was most vi∣olent; now whether they appeared in any horrid and affrighting shapes during that time, it is not certain; but 'tis most likely, that to a Person of so great sanctity, and high designation as Jesus was, they would appear more angelical and immaterial, and in re∣presentments intellectual, because Jesus was not a Person of those low weaknesses, to be affrighted or troubled with any ugly phantasmes; 'tis not much material to enquire of this; but in the wilderness (say they) Christ was perpetually tempted; and in this re∣spect I know not, but the Devil had more advantage now he had Christ in a wilderness; solitariness is no small help to the speed of a Temptation; Wo to him that is alone, for if he fall, there is not a second to take him up. Others say, that in this wilderness, during his forty dayes abode, Christ was continually exercised in Prayer and Fasting; all that while he had his immediate Addresses and Colloquies with God; he knew he had a great work of Redemption to promote; and therefore his Conversation for this interval must be preparatory to it; in this respect I know not but the wilderness might be an advantage to Christ's Design: In this solitary place he could not but breath out more pure inspira∣tion; Heaven usually is more open, and God usually is more familier and frequent in his visits in such places. I know not what other experiences may be; but if I have found any thing of God, or of his Grace, I may thank a Wood, a Wilderness, a Desert, a solitary place, for its accommodation; and have I not a blessed Pattern here before me? It was Solitude and Retirement in which Jesus kept his Vigils; the de∣sert places heard him pray; in a privacy he was born, in the wilderness he fed his thousands, upon a Mountain apart he was transfigured, upon a Mountain he died, and from a Moun∣tain he ascended to his Father: I make no question but in these Retirements his Devotion received the advantage of convenient Circumstances, especially of time and place. And yet I dare not deny the firster opinion; for I suppose both Christ and the Devil had their advantages of this Wilderness, the one is to pray, and the other to tempt.
2. The cause of Christs going into the Wilderness was the Spirits leading. Then was