6. but the chief thing was unbelief, yea hath God said; and so here, if thou be the Son of God, and as that was joy and pride, so in this; as stirring them to a proud desire to be gods, so he aims at drawing a needless shew of it that Christ was God. And our Saviour's answer meets all these; that of his pressing hunger, finding another answer for it than bread, that is not the only thing for it; that of doubting or unbelief as the main evil, so the main of the answer stands opposed to it, trusting in the word of God, that is, his power and effectual support. I need not myself try conclusions to see whether I be the Son of God, nor (which answers the vent of it) need I at this time give a trial that I am the Son of God. So diverts the satisfying him in that point of his Godhead, and answers only for a man; man shall not live upon bread alone, &c.

The second and third, whether by change of place, or representation of species, as I think it cannot be forcibly either concluded or refuted either way, so it is not of much benefit or importance that it be. The notion of throwing him down headlong (though it is not thus urged by any that I remember) seems. to me the strongest appearance to incline to a real standing upon the place; for if not, then it was necessary that both the place and the steepness, should not only be represented to our Saviour's imagination; but that he should really believe that he was there, otherwise the temptation of casting himself down from thence, were altogether null, and could have no place. Nor, though it may be granted that he might suffer a false representation (somewhat of which must likely be allowed, to make up the third temptation, with the advantage of a high mountain) yet whether we may fairly admit in our Saviour, an apprehension of such a false representation as true, should be considered.

But leaving that, we find the second temptaVOL. III.

D

tion clear, to a presumptuous tempting of God; and the third to the horriblest apostacy from God, even to worshipping of the devil, and that baited with an offer of the world. First to commit idolatry to it; and then next to himself for it. He is clearly beat off in all; it could not be otherwise: but truly this may seem strange that Satan durst suggest such horrid, foul notions, to so holy, so singularly a holy man, for that at least he knew him to be, and had strong suspicions that he was more than a man, even the Son of God.

And this I think the sovereign satisfaction of a soul, in the matter of blasphemous injections, which many, even holy persons, are troubled with, and much is said to it by many; but sure there is nothing like the view of this instance, that he that uses them so, what wonder, he had the hardiness even to use thy Lord so, who was so high above all stain of sin, as in all things so in these. True indeed we cannot well avoid all foil, but some guilt sticks to us, as from the throwing of a dirty ball against the wall, though it is presently beat back, yet it leaves a spot behind. Our nature being so easily receptive of sinful defilement, but he altogether undefilable in all assaults; yet this our grand comfort, that he was tempted, and even that with such vile things. So then, if finding any such thing, cry to him for help, as one that can feel it, and intreat to see how grating these thoughts are to thee, and to pity thee and repell satan; and he will do it, and will account those not thy sin at all, but his, and if any thing stick, will wash it off with his own blood.

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Observe. The devil can cite scripture; receive not then, every thing at first, that comes with an it is written: and as not of mens opinions thus. backed, so not those doubts that are raised within thee, and managed against thee in this way. How often does satan make a poor believer at a stand by some scripture objection: but take this course, fol

Satan is a liar, and cuts as he here left out, thy "cast thyself headlong, Now, our Saviour does

low thy captain in this. and pairs when he cites, ways," to make room for, which was not the way. not contest with him about this, takes no notice of that slight, but, in a plain full counterblow, beats him out of it, gives him another, it is written, that carries clear he abused his; and there is admirable wisdom in this, much more than if he had disputed about the word, that all, observe here, was cunningly left out; for in this our Saviour teaches us our better way in. this case, either with perverse men, in the avouching of their errors, or with satan, in his thus assaulting us with misalledged scripture, not so much to subtilize about the very place or words abused. It may be so cunningly done sometimes, that we cannot well find it out; but this downright sure way beats off the sophister with another place, clearly and plainly carrying that truth which he opposes, and we adhere to. So though thou canst clear the sense of an obscure scripture, thou shalt always find a sufficient guard in another that is clearer.

Our Saviour was pleased thus to bear many assaults, and thus to fence and beat off by the word, both for our instruction and comfort, who otherwise, for himself, could presently have repelled him, and sent him back at first; but indeed he pleased not himself in any thing: had an eye to us in all he did and suffered, and did all in reference to our advantage. Oh! how should we

love him.

And let not any abuse of the scripture by satan, or men, abate our esteem, or abandon our use of it, but study it still; labour to be well acquainted with it; make it our magazine, have ready our defences from thence in all kind of assaults. Oh let this word dwell richly in us, for it is our life. A stone out of this brook smites Goliath. And observing these evils here, labour to be fortified against them;

surely they were main ones that were brought forth in this combat. Ready we are either to distrust our God, or in abused confidence, to presume upon unwarranted ways. And for the third, how strong is it, though not to gain that gross point of disclaiming God for love of the world, yet how many hearts are secretly and insensibly inveigled and stole away from him by it, drawn to neglect his worship, or too cold remissness in it, and to follow the ways of the honour, gain, or pleasures of this world; that satan suggests, and so to worship him and it together, instead of the Lord our God, whom alone we are to adore and serve, and whose due is all our heart.

Get thee hence satan.-Thus, when any thing moves to debauch and draw off the heart from God, it is to be beat away with indignation. And thus in all conflicts, continue fighting in thy Lord's strength, give not over, resist still, and the enemy shall flie as here.

He left him.-Retires indeed, but for a season, as St. Luke hath it here. So we would still make for new onsets, and not promise ourselves, upon a cessation, perpetual quiet, but rather fortify in these times of breathing. But this know, that our Lord is tender of us, and will inlay our painful conflicts with sweet comforts. Let us remember to call our Lord to take him off, and he will not see us surcharged nor tempted above what we are able, or he enables us to bear; and he will refresh us with consolations, strong consolations as we need: and these in a high degree usually follow hard conflicts patiently and stoutly sustained. Our Lord had a cordial draught both before, and after this conflict; before, Chap. iii. and confirmed in the very point he was assaulted in; and in the last verse of that chapter, this is my beloved Son. And as confirmed before, so comforted after; the angels came and ministered to him. Oh! the sweet issue our Lord gives to many a sad battle of weak Christians,

wherein they possibly thought once, that all was lost, and that they should never hold out, and come through it; but never think so; we shall come through all, and the day shall be ours.

Ver. 12. When Jesus heard.-We need not fear; God uses men, but needs them not: when they are restrained or removed, he can provide more. When John is shut up, Jesus comes forth.

Ver. 13.-And leaving Nazareth.-Not honoured in his own country. So commonness of things makes them cheap and low with us, how excellent soever. This disease of lightness and novelty so natural to us, we have need to watch.

Now the prophecy is raised to its higher sense. The relief which the prophet speaks of, in relation to a temporal sense, but a shadow. This is light indeed, Jesus, coming into their coasts, and the Sun of righteousness arising. Oh how pitiful is the condition of those nations that still are in darkness, destitute of his light. How should we pity them; but how much more pitiable their condition, that in the midst of this light, are still in darkness; it shining in our hand, but not in our hearts these still under the shadow of death. fear and tremble you that in the clear gospel light, are sitting still in your natural darkness of mind and hardness of heart, and still loving that darkness, and refusing this divine light. Oh! let it in, that you may live, and not pass from darkness to darkness, from inward darkness, to utter darkness, where is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Oh

From that time began to preach.-So light by preaching, shewing the way of salvation, and eminently light: He that very way of salvation. He the exalted prince and Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins, and the kingdom, and yet humbles himself to be the Herald, to proclaim his own gift and pardon, and in humbling himself to this work of preaching, hath highly exalted it. Shall ever it be accounted low, and fit only for