248 Satanspower to Tempt; andChrift's love to, Chrift and a beleever. As for others (faies he) theyare my own already, I Thal not need to break into that houfe, there is nothing but chaffe lies there; but here's a godly man, and here's treafure ; and therefore he does efpecially lay his battery againft the Saints, and thofe that are the moll beloved Difciples ofJefus Chrift. gLieft. 3. But you will fayunto me, How does Satan come by this temptingpower this infefting, andmolefling power ? Anfre.. Great is the power (as we have read already)that he hath as he is a Superiour creature : but Satan hath yet another power, and that is the power ofConqueft ; for in Adams fall, Satan conquered the whol world, all man-kind, they were the Devils conqueft upon the fall. When a man is Converted, and turn'd to God, then he comes out ofthe kingdom ofSatan. But I fay, upon the fall the Devil made a conqueft upon all man-kind, and fo by conqueft hehath a great power. Satan hath leave from God the Father to tempt; I don't fay, that he hath a fpecial leave for every temptation, not a fpecial commiffion, or permiflion, or leave for every temptation ; but there is nogreat, or extra- ordinary temptation that does fall upon the children of God, but Satan hath a fpecial leave fromGod the Father for it. Therewas a fpecial temptation upon theCountry, in his running their herd offwine into theSea, and he had leave for that before he did it. There was a ?pedal temp- tation upon Ahab, in the lying fpirit of theProphets, and he had a fpecial leave, and perrniffionfromGod for that. There was a fpecial temptation upon Yob, and he had a leave for that. Here wasa fpecial temptation comingdown upon the Difciples, and he had leave for that. Simon, Simon, Satanbath defiredyou. He was fain to ask leave ,and hehad leave for that. There is no extraordinary, or great temptation befals any ofthechildrenofGod, but Satan is fain to ask leave for it : he hathaleave for it,beforehe can come and tempt thefoul. gfejI. 4 But you will fay then unto me, Why does God the Father give Satan leavethus to tempt his own Children, andCbrilis 02V73 Iifciples? Firft:
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