upon the Epiflle of J A M I s. confifl:ent with Faith and Piety: He adventured upon Chrifi hiih– .fdf after he had aTefiimony from Heaven, Mat. 4· 1'au/ was troubled with one of Sacans mdfengers, 2 Cor. I 2. 7. And the befl: ·are eX.ercifed with the forell: ConfliCl:s. When the Thief breaketh .into the houfe, 'cis not to take away CtMis, but rewels. 2. The Connexion may be conceived thus: If you would fub– mic to God, you mufi bewareofthofe proud fuggefiions, wherewith Satan would puff up your fpirits. The Note is, That one of 0/J[erv~t. Sat11ns chieftempations is pride. Therefore when the Apofile fpe~k. eth of(ubmiffion, heprefently addeth,rejift the DeviL: By this Satan fell himfelf; therefore •cis called the condemnatio~iPfthe Dev il: That is the caufe for which the Devil was cafi out of Heaven ; He would fain have more company, and draw us into his own fmre. ~ris abaitfoon fwallowed, 'cis natural to us; .our Parents ·carched at that,Ye foal/ he AJ gods : He offered to tempt Chrifi himfdf to a vain glorious action; Certainly we all defire to be fer on high pi– nacles, though we run the hazard ofa fall: We had need then eo be the more watchful againfi fuch chonghcs and infinuacions; Places liable to affault have ufually the grearefi guard. And we may admire the Wifdom ofGod, who can overcome Satan by Satan~ Satans m~lfengcr wherewith Paut was.buffetted, was to cure his pride, z Cor. I 2. 7• 3· It may be the occafiqn of the Dired:ion in this place was only thus: He having told them what Submiffion is required , he would alfo tell them what Refifl:ance is lawful; you mufi fubmit to God,but not to Satan. The Scripturcs 1 that they may fpeak with clc:arnefs and difiintlion, ufe thus to make exception of necelfary duties: So I. Cor.14. 20. In malice heye children, hut in under– ftandingheye men: So Rom.I6.I9· I Would have youWife cM– c~rning that "Which is good, hut jimple in 'Wh.tt is evil: Which are fpeechGs much ftiiting with this of the Apoll:le ; you mufi fubmit, and yet refifi, &c. But to the words, [ Rejifl the Devil, J Obferve, in fiead of car– nal luGs he mentioneth Satan; the Apofile doth not fay, refi/f {in, but rejifl S.t~tttm. Obferve, That Satan hath a great h~~md and Oh[c . vat 1 ftrok! in All fins. 'Survey the pedigree of fin, v.md you (hall fee it er • ._ ~ay call the Devil Father: Carnal defires are called his /ufts, Joh. 8~1-4· And 'cis faid, 'What tver is more, is CM. ?Tovn~~' from the evil otJe, M~tr.s. 37• that is, from the Devil: Giving place to anger, is Ooo · in
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