oot. "img and care of, his Peopleunder Temptation. 169 Andin the Lan temptation : Allthis will Igive thee, if thou wiltfalldown andworfhip me. He tempted him toBlaffheniy, and 4theifme ; and what greater unbeleef ? So 'cis with the Saints alfo : Satan, he comes and tempts them to fowre- neffe, frowardneffe, andpaffion in theirfamilies, but he hath a further reachupon that diftemper : for (faies he) I will tempt thisman or woman to paffion, and froward - nefs, and when he hathbeen froward, and paffionate, then I will tempt him to be doubting whether he be the childof God or no : firft I wil tempt thisman for to break the Law, and when he bath broken the Law, then will I tempt him to fin againft the Gofpel, then will I firike at his faith : hisgreat defign (till isupon your faith in all his temptati- ons. But youwill fay, Why isSatan: great defign upon our faith in time oftemptation? He is the great Robber, or Theef : and ifhe can, he will be fore to fpoil a manofthat which is thebelt. Now faith is more precious thangold; the trial ofyour faith is, faith is the gift ofGod : and therefore, if he can get any thing from a man, he will get that which is Gods gift. He is thegreat hinderer of all good, of every good work; and he will efpeci ally labour to hinder that work which is The work of God in a fpecial manner : and this is TH E Work, of God, that yebeleeve in his Son. Satan knows, that faith is the moil Beneficial grace unto the Saints : The Shield of faith, it is called ; and the Anchor of faith. Ifye be in a ftorm at fea ; faith is your Anchor : If ye be in danger at land, before Enemies, faith is your Shield. If that a mansFaith fail, his Duties fail, his heart &Hes, and all failes. He knows well enough, that he (hall loon make us fuller ibipwrack, ifhe can but weaken faith, and there- fore his great defign is upon our faith. He knows, that faith'smoft prejudicial toHimfelf : for by faith we overcome the world; whom refit, fied(aft in thefaith ; And by faith we quench the fiery darts of the Devil. Now then (faies Satan) Does faithquench my fiery darts ? then will I labour to e e quench gre e j . Anfra.
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