Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

of the tem ptatións of the devil. the devil. And as he knoweth in generali our prone- neffe to finne , by which he taketh advantage again(f us, fo he obferveth and by obfervation acquainteth himfelf with the particular inclinations, humours and difpofitions ofinen, following and fitting therm in their humours, and by all means egging them on to the extremities of thofe things whereunto they are themfelves inclined And thus he worketh ef- fedually in the hearts ofmen,carrying them captive to the obedience of his will. 2. He ufeth other men as his inffruments; fome- times friends, fometimes foes. Friends ; So he u- fed Jobs wife and friends to tempt him to defpair ; Peter, to diffwade Chrift from the work of our re- demption ; Abilbai, to tempt David unto revenge; Jezebel, to egge on Ahab to all wickedneffe. Some- times he ufeth foes : As when they are incenfed by them unto anger, malice, and defire of revenge. For thefe are the works of the devil ; and he that yield - eth to thefe things,giveth place to the devil,Ephef.4. 27. So Shimei was the inftrument of the devil, and his tongue fet on fire frog hell , Jam. 3.6. fet on work by Satan , to provoke David to impatience and finne. 3. Sometimes he ufeth (as bath beenPaid) the defires of the world as his baits and fnares ; therein cunningly fitting the feverall humours of men, by offering the bait of pleafure to the voluptuous, of profit to the covetous, of preferment to the ambi- tious, of honour and renown to the vainglorious. Thus (although in vain) he affaulted Chrift, Matth. ..Sometimes by threatning future dangersand crof- D d fes, 401