Ch. 4. Chriftfaleth. St. Mat with his Soldiers. Chrift received Baptifm for the ends he was capable, as to profefs that the Kingdom ofGod was at hand 15. And Jefus anfwering, laid unto him, Suffer it to befo now ; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all riglyteoufnefs. Then he fuffered him. rs. I mull fulfill the Law of Mofes, and thy ProphetickMillion, and be thus entered onnay proper work. 16. AndJefüs when he wasbap- tized, went up fraightway out of the water : and lo, the Heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit ot; God defcending like a Dove, and lighting upon him. 16. As Jefuswent up out of the water, ,`fehst law the Heavens open to Chrift, and the Spirit of God, in Tome refemblance of a Dove (or as a Dove dothlight on any place) defcending on him, (it's like in a lucid ap- pearance) and telling onhim. 17. And lo, a voice from Hea- ven, laying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I amwell pleafed. 17. And with the Apparition camea voice from Heaven,laying, This is, s?c. This ismy beloved Son the Mefah, fent ,from Heaven as the Mediator to reveal my will, and to fulfil it, and by his perfe& righteoufnefs and facrifice to reconcile the World to me, and be thepropitiation for their fina. CHAP.IV. I, Hen wasJefus led up of the 1 Spirit into the Wildernefs, to be tempted of the Devil. Note, r, That tho' Chrift was God, his humane nature was a&ed bythe HolyGhoft, to whom in Scripture is afcribed Divine Ferfe&ion ofoperationon Creatures. 2. Man was overcome by the temptation of, Satan, and fo fin and death, and all evil did invade Mankind s Therefore our Redeemermalt de- liver us from Sin and Satan, and Mitery, by conquering the Temprerin his way of temp- tation, by which he conquered: To give as alto notice that the warefare preparatory to our future flute, is managed by overcom- -ing ter:orations, or being overcomeby them. At:d therefore the (lady of temptations, and thew. Chrift fafteth. Ch. 4. the refiftance is a great part of theChrißian Life. 3. Chrift raft not himfelf on temptati- ons, but was led to it by the Spirit. 4. To be tempted is no fin. z. And when he had famed for- ty days, and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Note, t. In this Mofes was a Type of Chrilt. a. Fatting andTryal by temptation were great preparatives to Chrifta Exercife ofhis prophetidk Office: And his Minifters fhould not be ftran ers to it; the fentcal are never true to Chrt. To ferve the fief]) by the Miniftry, by feeking preferment, ho- nour and flefhly cafe, and fulnefs more than ' Mens Salvation, is to ferve the Devil, as con- quered by his temptations. g. Hunger, and bodily fuffering give Satan advantage for many temptations, rho' not fo dangeroufly as profperity, and fleshly 'pleafures do. 3. And when the Temptercame to him, he Paid, If thou be the Son of God, command that thefe (tones be made bread, 3. The Son ofGod can do what he will : feed thy fell now by Miracle: Nate, t. Whether the Devil thought by this to tempt him to doubt, whether he were the Son of God, or only as fappofing itto draw him to fin, by obeying him, is uncertain. 2. Satan cannot tempt us when hewill, 'but when God permiteth him. 3. His deftgn was to obCcure Chrift's Godhead andGlory. 4. But he anfwered and faid, It is written, Man (hall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth ofGod. 4. Note, r. Chrift himfelf was not aboye snaking.ufe ofGod's written word. 2. It is by this word that the Tempter malt be confuted and overcome. 3. It is by God's will that our Foodcloth nourifh us, and his will and love is more neceffaty to us than our food. 5. Then the Devil taketh him up intothe holy City, and fetteth him on a Pinacle of the Temple, 6. And faithunto him, If thou be the Son ofGod,caft thy felfdown : For it is written, He (hall give his Angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they ¡hall bear thee up, leaft at any time thou dalh thy foot againft a ¡tone. s, 6.
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