PAR. 14.
THe Question is, How shall we know the Temptations of the Devill, from the temptations of the World, and the Flesh? Some thinke they cannot be knowne. I never read them distinguished aptly enough.
I wish men would rather labour to avoyde all: yet I answer; The Obrepentes, or creeping Temptations, are more slow; The Ascendentes, or arising Temptations more inward, and more naturall, yet more sinfull; as Selfe-sowne, Selfe-growne, in the corrupt masse of Mankinde. The third sort are more quicke, more sharpe, or lesse thought of: and these proceede from Sathan more immediatly.
Once againe thus; The temptations of the World, properly are, when men and women are drawne unto sinne, by other folkes flatterings, perswasions, threats, fashions, evill examples, or customes of the world, because of these scandalls. The temptations of the Flesh, are not onely carnall lusts, but all inordinate concupiscence of any wordly things. The Apostle reckoneth, even some spirituall offences among the sinnes of the flesh, Gal. 5.19. For the concupiscence, even of the Regenerate, hath its seate; not in the sensitive appetite, so much, as in the reasonable soule.