Commentary on Matthew 4:1-11, Sermon 9
CHRIST'S Third Temptation to IDOLATRY. SERMON IX.
MATTH. 4.8.
Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world.
ONe cannot proceed with any Christian comfort, and necessary confidence, on a Text, whilst it remaineth incumbred with doubts and difficulties. We will therefore endeavour, first to remove two of the greatest importance.
Quest.What made Satan shift his place, seeing the Pinacle of the Temple, (whereon he stood before) was as proper to his purpose (by reason of the elevation thereof) thence to render a veiw of the Glory of the world? For the Temple was a stately structure, founded no mount Moriah, 2 Chron. 3.1. and the Pinacle, being on the top thereof, afforded a conveniency to survey round about at great distance.
Answ.Not so: all the City (and the Temple therein) was seated (though on an Hill) in an Hole, surrounded with higher mountains on all sides: Psal. 125.2. As the mountains are round about Ierusalem, so the Lord is round about his people. Olivet on the East, Zion on the South, Gihon on the Southwest, Calvary on the Northwest. Satan therefore chose a larger Horizon, where the Sight was not so circumscrib'd, and removed from the Pinacle to a Mountain. Not to say that the Devil desired to put his new poyson into new bottles, and to make his new temptation the more taking and pleasant, with the novelty of another place, to which he adjourned it.
But the next knot is far harder to untie, consisting indeed of a quaternion of difficulties all complicated, and twisted together.
The first, ex parte loci, drawn from the place. Grant it foreign a mountain, foreign high, foreign exceeding high, whereon Satan took his station, yet was it too low, thence to take the prospect of the whole world.
Tenariff in the Canarie Islands, is beleived the highest mountain of the yet-known world, yet is not conceived to be perpendicularly above fifteen miles high; too low a Pedestal for one thereon to stand, to overlook the whole world.
The second, ex parte objecti, from the thing to be seen, all the world. Abate foreign [the world adorn'd with creatures] according to Saint Matthew, and confine it onelyonly with S. Luke to foreign [the part thereof inhabited by men] and it was not visible at one view, with all the glory thereof For, much of it lay buried in the bowels of the earth, in mines, and minerals; much was concealed in Coin, in the Coffer of Misers, bolting out the beams of the Sun from the sight thereof.
The third, ex parte organi, from the Eye, the instrument of sight. It is true, Matth. 6.22. If the Eye be single, the whole Body shall be full of light. And we must allow our Saviour a single Eye, naturally quick and cleare (except weakened with weeping for our sins;) yet finite was the sphere of the activity thereof; nor so extensive, as with one view, to visit all the Diocess of the world.
The last, ex parte temporis, from the time; Saint Luke allowing no longer term then a moment, for all this performance. Now no considerable impression could be made on Christs affections, to like or loath, in so short a time. As good never a whit, as never the better; and in effect, it was never shown, which was so soon r…moved.
The first answer to these difficulties cometh unto us recommended by the authority of Saint Chrysostome, affirming, that the Devil did show, that is, by his gesture and pointing demonstrate to Christ the glo…y of the world (which might easily be done in a moment) and afterwards Satan at his leasure did largely comment on his foresaid manual Indication, hightning and advancing worldly wealth, power, and pomp, to the greatest advantage, with that flattering Rhetorick and fallacious Logick, wherein that lying spirit doth excell. So that we have onelyonly the Rubrick, and Breviate of Satans oration set downe in text, without the embellishments, and amplifications thereof, wherein he enlarged himself to our Saviour.
The second answer is of such, who conceive Satan chose out a select parcel of ground, probably in Asia and the Eastern parts (where Nature is most triumphant and orient in pleasure and treasure) within the compass of Christs sight, and presented it as a sample unto him, whence he might ghess the glory of all the rest. And I see no cause to the contrary, but that Satan might make his election in Palestine it self; which Country, not in relation to its spiritual advantages, but meerly for the outward fruitfulness thereof (as appears in the text) is twice terme…, viz. Ezek. 20.6. and 15. the GLORY of all LANDS.
A third sort answer, that the glory of the world was not really shown, but onelyonly seemingly, and in appearance, represented by Satan (the master-Iugler in all delusions) to the sight of our Saviour. So that all worldly wealth, being (in comparison of an eternal and stable good) but a shadow, this Pageant was but the shadow of a shadow, quickly vanishing away. Either because the brittle constitution thereof would abide no long continuance, or that Satan purposely withdrew it presently, to make Christ more e…gerly to desire it, as meat is, tyrannically shewn to, and taken from hungry stomacks, to increase their appetite after it.
I will not interpose my opinion, which answer to prefer; but conceive, if all three be compounded together, enough may be collected out of them, to give a modest and sober minde convenient satisfaction.
Shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world.
Observe, Kingdoms are generally the Governments wherein most earthly glory and gallantry is visible and conspicuous. Yet I believe there want not those who dare maintain, that though Pomp may be more in Kingdoms, Pride may be as much in Commonwealths.
Now seeing the whole Text is but a Dumb show, wherein nothing is spoken, but onelyonly all things presented to the sight of our Saviour, we learne,
The Eye is the principal Broker to make up the bargain betwixt sin and our soul.Doct.
I say, principal; the other senses being also active to the same ill end, but in an inferiour degree.
We will not stir a step out of the first book of the Bible, to give four plaine and pitifull instances thereof.
Gen. 3.6. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the Eyes, &c. Herein, in some sort, her eye was taster to her mouth; she presumed (before she tried) it would be delicious to the palate, it was so delightful to the look.
Secondly, Gen. 6.2. When the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were (what? wise? vertuous? religious? oh no) faire, they took them to their wives. And we know what a graceless brood of Giants, was the issue of such equivocal marriages.
Thirdly, Gen. 13.10. When Lot lifted up his eyes (not in prayer to God, to direct him in a choice of such concernments, but) to behold the plain of Iordan, that it was well watered everywhere; which made him unadvisedly fix his habitation there, to his great disturbance, and, without Gods greater mercy, final destruction.
Fourthly, Gen. 19.26. When Lot's wife looked back to Sodom, and was severely punished, though Abraham did the same (in the very next verse save one) without either sin or suffering; partly because no such prohibition was layd upon him; partly because Abraham had better tempered eyes, not to look (as too probably she did) with lusting after the wealth therein.
Let us all pray with David,Use. Psal. 119.73. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.
Which way shall we turn away our faces from beholding vanity? Object.which, as it is so bad, we should not look on it: so, it is so common, we cannot look beside it. If we turn our eyes from the right hand to the left; if from before our face, to behinde our backs, we do but exchange one vanity for another; seeing Solomon saith, Eccles. 1.1. Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity.
There is a fourfold cast of the eyes, Answ.wherewith men behold worldly vanity: the first necessary and lawful, not to be avoided; the two next, useful and laudable, highly to be praised; the last, (but most commonly practised) sinful and dangerous, justly to be condemned.
The first, to behold vanity with a transient eye, as a passenger, who rides post through a Country, and sees men, buildings, meadows, fields, woods, but can give no account of them, as minding their own business all the while.
Ahim…az being asked about Absalom's death, 2 Sam. 18.29 purposely concealed his knowledg, in that his slight and general answer; I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. But should a Saint of God be seriously examined upon Interrogatories, concerning such a fond fashion or fantastick mode, what he knoweth thereof, all the intelligence he would return is this; He saw a great busling, and huddle, and hubbub amongst men in the world, but he took particular notice of nothing, as beholding worldly vanities with a transient Eye.
The next, and that commedable, beholding worldly vanities, is with a contemning & disdaining look, slighting the poverty & emptiness thereof.
The third, still more to be praised (as speaking a greater degree of grace) is with a pitying and bemoaning eye, (not to the things themselves, but) to souls of men so delighting in, and doating on them, that they, for whom Christ shed his precious blood, should undervalue themselvs so unworthily, as to set their affections on so useless, yea dangerous objects.
But to behold worldly vanities with an admiring and almost adoring eye, as the Disciples, Luke 21.5. gazed on the fabrick and furniture of the Temple, is much to be condemned in all Christians.
Now whereas Satan shews our Saviour, all the glory of the world, but suppresseth all the sorrows thereof, and concealeth the cares of the world, mentioned Matth. 13.22. we observe,
The Devil discovereth what is pleasant,Doct. hideth what is painful, in all his allurements to sin.
He was suspicious, had he really represented the world, with all the vexations inevitably appendant thereunto, it would have disheartned our Saviour from the acceptance thereof.
Beleive it, they have not the soundest sleeps within them, who lie on the softest beds beneath them, and have the finest Curtains about them. Might one be but admitted to listen to the pillow of great persons (seemingly swimming in all outward felicity) he would be witness to strange sighs, and sobs, and moanes, and groans, musick little suspected to come from such mouthes; dayly and hourly fearing to be depress'd by their superiours, justled by their equals, undermined by their inferiours.
The Scholar who reading to his Master in haste mistook THORN for THRONE, committed an ingenious fault; and the wofull experience of some, will justifie that his Error was too true an Anagram: and therefore the craft of Satan concealed the grievances, shews onelyonly the glory of the world.
Let us look as well,Use. on the bitterness in the end, as on the present pleasantness of sin; and eye Iaels naile and hammer, as well as her butter in a Lordly dish.
Now if one mark these opera preparatoria of Satan in the text, and consider their tendency whereunto, one may observe a darker comple…tion, and more of hell, likely to be in this, then in both the former temptations.
Satan will reserve his worst assaults for the last.Doct.
Of the three, this Bait was far most pernicious; If we consider,
1. The sin to which he tempted, was more damnable.
2. The meanes whereby he tempted, were most plausible.
The outward Court of Solomons Temple, was Holy, the middle Holier; but the third, or innermost, the Holy of Holiest.
But in the hellish method of Satans Temptations, the first to Despair, was profane; the second to Presumption, was profaner; the last to Idolatry, profanest of all.
Now we will insist on three reasons, why Satan keepeth the worst alwaies for the last.
First, because he is of the nature of a serpent, That old serpent called the devil, Rev. 12.9. and that beast is sufficiently knowne to carry his worst poison in his hindmost parts.
Secondly, because he alwaies delighteth to be one of the Antipodes in opposition to Gods proceedings, who (being the Author of concord) makes ever the sweetest musick in the close, as the other the worst jarring therein. Christ, Iohn 2.10. kept the best wine unto the last, Satan in this his Temptation, reserved to the last the dregs and lees of his sowrest and sharpest vinegar.
Thirdly, because morsus ferarum morientium dirissimi, the bites of dying beasts are the sharpest; and when Satan must depart (a death to him) and leave off to tempt us, he will badger-like, make his teeth meet, and take his leave with leaving a deep impression.
Beware the last last Temptation of Satan, on the day of our death. Then, he will (as we say) make a bolt or shaft of it, put it to the push, either lose himself, or gain thy soul.
We read Iohn. 7.37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Iesus stood and cryed, &c. But how loud will the Devil that Lion roar, in the great and last day of thy life, when it is with him, the last time of tempting! either now conquer, or let him hereafter for ever hold his peace.
This is sad tidings (will the weakObject. Christian say) to all in my condition. Alas, the Devil too oft prevaileth against me in my strength and health; I shall certainly then be foiled, when, being weakned with long sickness, I shall be assaulted with death, and the Devil, both at the same instant.
Be not dejected,Answ. God will keep thee unto the end, and in the end, and will not suffer thee at the last gaspe, for any paines of death, to fall from him. Comfortable is the expression, Psa. 68.20. Unto God the Lord belong the ISSUES from death.
Wherein observe, first, Death is not a total and final extinguishing of mens being, but there is an emergency, an Issue out of it.
Secondly, In the Plural, there be Issues, two Exits out of death: Mat. 25.4. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.
Thirdly, These issues are not in the power of man or angel, to order and dispose of. Alas, were it in the power of some men to order them in this uncharitable age, so full of fractions and factions; those of an opposite judgement unto themselves, would hardly find a favourable Issue from death.
Lastly, and most to our comfort, these Issues are only in the sole disposing of God himself, who of his mercy will make us conquerors over Satans temptations; by whose gracious …ssistance, Psa. 91.15. the Lyon and the Dragon (two names of the Devil in Scripture) shall at the minute of our death, be trampled under our feet. Amen.