Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 3 · Chapter 13
MATTH. 4. 5.
Then the Devil taketh him up into the Holy City, and ſetteth him on the Pinacle of the Temple.
CHAP. XIII. The preparation to the ſecond Temptation. Of his Nimbleneſs to catch Advantages from our Anſwers to Temptation. That Satan carried Chriſt in the Air. Of his Power to moleſt the Bodies of God's Children. How little the ſuppoſed Holineſs of places priviledgeth us from Satan. Of Satan's Policy in ſeeming to countenance imaginary Defences. Of his pretended Flight in ſuch caſes, with the reaſons of that Policy. Of his improving a Temptation to ſerve ſeveral ends.
I Omit Chriſt's Anſwer to the firſt Temptation at preſent (purpoſing to handle his Anſwers to all the Temptations together.) And now the ſecond Temptation is before us, in which, firſt, I ſhall obſerve a few things in Satan's preparation to the Temptation, which takes in (1.) the time, (2.) the manner of his carrying him, (3.) the Place where he acted it.
Firſt, for the Time, That is noted in the word [then:] which (1.) points at the immediate Succeſſion of this to the former Aſſault. The Evangeliſt Luke puts this Temptation laſt, but he only had reſpect to the ſubſtance of the Temptation, in his Narration; not regarding the order of them, which Matthew hath punctually obſerved, as appears by his cloſe connecting of them, with the Particles, Then and Again, ver. 5, 8. Beſides, whoſoever ſhall conſider, that in the firſt, Satan tempted Chriſt to diſtruſt, (which he repelled, by telling him that it was his duty (in the failure of outward means) to rely upon Divine Providence, ſeeing Man lives not by Bread alone, &c.) he will ſee ſo much of connection in the matter of the Temptations, that he will eaſily perſwade himſelf that the ſecond place belongs to this, for this is but (as it were) a fit and pertinent reply to Chriſt's refuſal; as if Satan had ſaid, Since thou wilt rely upon the Help and Providence of God, in an extraordinary way of working, give an Experiment of that, by caſting thy ſelf down, which thou mayſt with greater confidence do, becauſe he hath promiſed an extraordinary help, and hath given his Angels charge concerning thee, &c. Hence Obſerve,
That Satan is not diſcouraged eaſily,Obſ. 1. nor doth he always deſiſt upon the firſt repulſe, but frequently renews the Aſſault, when he is ſtrongly and reſolutely reſiſted.
This word [then] doth alſo (2.) tell us of Satan's Nimbleneſs, in catching a preſent advantage for a new Temptation from Chriſt's Anſwer, he declared his truſt in Providence, this he preſently lays hold on, as a fit opportunity to tempt him to preſumption. Here note,
That when Satan is upon any deſign,Obſ. 2. if an occaſional advantage occur, from our way of refuſal, he will not let it ſlip, but improves it to what it may lead to, though it be contrary to that which he was firſt labouring for.
This was the Policy which Benhadad's Servants uſed in their addreſs to Ahab, 1 Kings 20. 33. the Men did diligently obſerve whether any thing would come from him, and did haſtily catch it: If any thing come from us, we are under his Temptation, he is diligent to obſerve it, and proſecutes it accordingly; which may ſerve to ſatisfy the wonder that ſome have, concerning the contrariety in the Temptations to which they are urged. They admire how it comes to paſs that their Temptations ſhould ſo ſuddenly alter, that when Satan ſeems to be ſo intent upon one deſign, he ſhould ſo quickly change, and urge them preſently to a different, or contrary thing; but they may know that the Devil watcheth the Wind, and ſpreads his Sayl according to the advantage which ariſeth from our anſwer or repulſe. So that if we would but plow with our own Heifer, and obſerve our frame of Spirit, we ſhould eaſily find out this Riddle. For as it is in diſputings and arguings of Men, Replies beget new matter for Anſwer, and ſo do they multiply one another; thus are Temptations altered and multiplyed, and out of the Aſhes of one aſſault repelled, another doth quickly ſpring up.
The ſecond Circumſtance of preparation is, Satan's taking him up, and ſetting him on the Temple. That this was not a viſionary or an imaginary thing hath been proved before. Yet granting it to have been real, (as in truth it ſeems to have been) it is diſputed what was the Modus, Spanhem. dub. Evan. in loc.the way and manner of it. Some think this was no more than Chriſt's voluntary following of Satan, who guided and conducted the way; partly becauſe the words, foreign and foreign, are in Scripture accomodated to a Mans taking of any as a Companion under his guide, and conduct of the way, and to a diſpoſal of them in any kind of ſtation. Thus,Mat. 2. 13. where 'tis ſaid, Joſeph took Mary, and the young Child to go to Egypt, the ſame word is uſed: and when Chriſt tells his Diſciples, Mat. 22. 2….that they ſhall bring the Aſs and the Colt which they ſhould find tyed; the ſame word which expreſſeth Chriſt's being ſet on the Temple, is there uſed. Partly alſo, they think it below the Dignity of Chriſt to be thus violently hurried.
Others think that Satan, was permitted to take up the Body of Chriſt, and by his Power to have conveyed him in the Air. And indeed the whole ſeries of the Narration, with all the Circumſtances thereof are evident for it. The diſtances of places, the quickneſs and ſpeedineſs of the removals, the more proper applications of the words, taking and ſetting, to Satan as the actor, and the declaration of his Power therein, as able to do great things; theſe make the matter ſo clear, that it ſeems to be an unnatural forcing of the Text, to give it any other Interpretation. Beſides, the former opinion of Satans taking of Chriſt, as a Manuductor or Guide, ſeems every way unreaſonable: for if Chriſt only followed Satan, then it muſt have been either by a Land Journey on foot, or in the Air. This latter it could not be; for if Chriſt had ſupported himſelf in the Air by his own Power, he had anticipated the Temptation, and it would have been folly and madneſs for Satan to have urged him to fly in the Air, after ſuch an evidence of his Power; and who can imagine that Chriſt followed Satan on Foot from the Wilderneſs to the Temple, or that his acceſs to the roof of the Temple was ſo eaſy, in ſuch a way when the Temple was always ſo ſtrictly Guarded? Note hence,
That Satan is ſometime permitted to exerciſe his Power upon the Bodies of thoſe that are dear to God. Obſ. 3.That he hath Power to carry the Bodies of Men in the Air, is ſufficiently confirmed by what he doth frequently to Witches,Equitatio cum Diana aut Herodiade. who are uſually carried (if we can give any credit to the Stories that are writ of them) in the Air, to places far remote from their dwellings. And that this Power is permitted him upon others, than ſuch as are in compact with him, is as evident from what is teſtifyed of thoſe, whoſe forward curioſity hath led to imitate Witches in their Anointings, who have thereupon been conveyed after them to their Aſſemblies, and when the Company hath been ſuddenly diſmiſſed, they have been found many Miles diſtant from their dwellings; ſuch inſtances we have in Bodin, Bodin. p. 147.and among other things, that of Domina Roſſa mentioned by him, whom Satan would ſometime bind to a Tree, ſometime to a Table, or to a Beds-foot, or to a Manger; ſometime one hand bound to another, the Devil thus moleſted her from eight years old,New-Caſtle. a long time. This Power of conveying Perſons in the Air, is not uſual, yet there are ſome in this place, that have known one frequently moleſted by Satan at this rate. However, if we take notice of his Power, to abuſe the bodies of Holy Perſons more generally, we ſhall find it frequent. Mary Magdelen was poſſeſſed, Chriſt mentions a Daughter of Abraham bowed down by him many years; Job was filled with Botches and Sores; and there are many Diſeaſes wherein Satan hath a greater hand, than is commonly imagined. Phyſitians frequently conclude ſo much, while they obſerve ſome Diſtempers to clude ſuch Remedies, as are uſually ſucceſsful upon other Perſons under the ſame Diſeaſes.
From this we may infer (1.) the great Power of Satan;Applic. who can tell the extent of it? doubtleſs (if he were permitted) … ſhould ſee ſad inſtances hereof daily. (2.) This diſcovers the wonderful Care and Providence of God over us in our preſervation from his fury. (3.) We may further note, that the abuſe of the bodies of Men by Satan, will be no evidence, that therefore God doth diſregard them, or that they are not precious to him. Chriſt did undergo this abuſe, to give ſuch as ſhall be ſo moleſted, ſome comfort in his example.
The third Circumſtance, which is that of place, is ſet down firſt in general,Luke 5. 6. The Holy City, that is Jeruſalem, for ſo Luke ſpeaks expreſly. Jeruſalem was ſo called, becauſe of God's Worſhip there eſtabliſhed, and his peculier preſence there; but that it ſhould be called ſo, at this time may ſeem ſtrange, ſeeing it might now be lamented as of old, How is the Faithful City become an Harlot? Righteouſneſs lodged in it, but now Murtherers. In anſwer to this, we muſt know, that God having not yet given her a Bill of Divorce, He is pleaſed to continue her Title and Priviledg. This might be profitably improved; but I will not ſuffer my ſelf to be diverted from the matter of Temptation, which is the only thing I propound to proſecute from hence. I ſhall here only Obſerve.
That the Holineſs or Sanctity of a Place, Obſ. 4.will be no Priviledg againſt Temptations. He is not ſo fearful (as many imagine) as that he dares not approach a Church-yard or a Church, neither Place, nor Duty can keep him off. I do not believe the Popiſh Fiction of their St. Bennets Viſion, wherein they tell of his ſeeing but one Devil in a Market, and ten in a Monaſtery; yet I queſtion not the truth of this, that the Devil is as buſy at a Sermon, or Prayer, as at any other Imployment.
But to ſearch a little further into this matter. It ſeems undeniable, that Satan had a deſign in reference to the place, (of which afterward;) and I ſee no reaſon to exclude our ſuſpicion of a deſign from the Name and Title which the Evangeliſt here gives to Jeruſalem. 'Tis an expreſſion which (to my remembrance) we meet not with oft in the New-Teſtament. At the Suffering of Chriſt, when the bodies of the Saints aroſe out of their Graves, 'tis ſaid,Mat. 27 53 they went into the Holy City; but 'tis evident, that it is there ſo ſtyled upon ſpecial deſign, as if the Evangeliſt would by that point at the ſtaining of their Glory, and that in a little time their boaſt of the Temple and Holy City ſhould ceaſe, and that all ſhould be polluted with the Carcaſſes of the Slain; and by the ſame reaſon may we ſuppoſe, that Satan (intending for Chriſt a Temptation of preſumption, and backing it with the Promiſe of a Guard of Angels) had in his Eye the uſual Confidence that the Jews had of that City, as a place where the preſence of Angels might be more expected than elſewhere. So that it ſeems, Satan intended to impoſe upon Chriſt a Confidence, in order to preſumption. From the priviledg of the Place, here obſerve,
That Satan is willing to gratify us with Nominal and Imaginary Priviledges and Defences againſt himſelf; Obſ. 5.he will willingly allow us ſuch defences, as are altogether inſignificant and deluſive, and his Policy here is centred upon theſe two things:
Firſt, He doth induſtriouſly prompt us to ſelf-deviſed inventions, ſuch as were never appointed or bleſſed of God to any ſuch uſe, but only found out by the bold ſuperſtitions of Men. Of this we have an inſtance in Balack, who carried Baalam from place to place in his proſecution of his deſign of curſing Iſrael; neither can we imagine that a commodious proſpect of Iſrael was all he aimed at,Numb. 23. 27. ſeeing he diſcovers his mind in this variation of places, Peradventure it will pleaſe God that thou maiſt curſe them from thence; clearly implying, that he had a confidence that the place might contribute ſomething to his deſign, and that there was ſome inherent vertue in thoſe conſecrated places,Numb. 22. 41. c. 23. 14. 28. Plui imumſunt praeſervativa locorum, hominum, & jumentorum, verba tituli triumphalis noſtri Salvatoris, dem ſcilicet per quatuor partes loci, in modum crucis inſci ibuntur Jeſus † Nazar…nus † Rex † Judeorum †, Ritibus Eccleſiae ſervatis & veneratis, ut aquae benedictae aſperaſionem per ſalis conſecrati ſumptionem & candelarum in die Purificationis & frondium in die palmarum conſecratorum uſum licitum vires Daemonis immuniunt, ſe muniunt. Spreng. Malleus Maleficarum Part 2. Q. 1. licitum eſt aqua benedicta, quaecunque honeſta loca, hominum & jumentorum, in Salvationem hominum & jumentorum aſpergere. id. ibid. and therefore did he begin with the high Places of Baal, and then to the Field of Zophim, and then to the top of Peor. Among the Papiſts we find too much of this, what Power they Attribute to Holy-Water, Bleſſed-Salt, Sign of the Croſs, Hallowed-Earth, Conſecratrd Places, Reliques, Baptized-Bells, Exorciſms, and abundance of ſuch Stuff, may be ſeen in many of their Writings, too tedious to be related.
Secondly, He is alſo willing that Men uſe thoſe real defences and helps which God hath commanded, ſo that they uſe them in a formal manner, which indeed deprives them of all the Life and Efficacy, that might be expected from an inſtituted means; thus he readily permits ignorant Perſons without any diſturbance or moleſtation, to uſe the repetition of the Lords-Prayer, Ten-Commandments and Creed, or any other Prayer, while they perſwade themſelves, that the very ſaying of the words, is a ſufficient defence againſt the Devil all that day.
The reaſons of Satan's Policy in ſuch Gratifications are theſe:
Firſt, While we are kept doing with theſe, we are diverted from that which might be really helpful; he puts a broken Reed into our hand, that we might be deprived of a Staff. Experience confirms this, thoſe that with greateſt devotion uſe theſe empty Inventions, are uſually careleſs in the uſe of God's own Appointments.
Secondly, Beſides that he thus betrays them by theſe lying helps, he doth by this means caſt them on a further iniquity, of idolizing theſe fooliſh Calves of their own invention. In this caſe Men have a preſumptuous expectation from ſuch uſages, of that which God never promiſed to do by them, neither ever entred into his heart ſo to do; ſeeing he anſwers them all with this, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? And accordingly their Conſciences are more concerned for the Omiſſion of one of theſe Fooleries, than for the neglect of the greater things of the Law; ſuch are more troubled for the neglect of the Sign of the Croſs or Holy-Water, than for their conſtant careleſneſs, and want of Faith, by which their Hearts ſhould be guarded againſt their Enemy.
Thirdly, In the mean time, he makes work for his own Triumph over them, that dote upon theſe ſottiſh Inventions. If we can ſuppoſe Satan to have Pleaſure or Mirth at any thing, we may be ſure he will laugh at ſuch preparations, for a Spiritual Welfare; it being as truly ridiculous for any Man to go out with theſe Weapons againſt Satan, as for a Combatant to aſſail a Gyant, with a Paper-Helmet, a Wicker-Shield, and a Wooden-Daggar. And indeed when Satan counterfeits a Flight, or fear of ſuch matters, (as for his advantage he ſometimes doth, it is but in deſign to beget or confirm in Men a confidence of a Vertue or ſtrength in theſe uſages againſt his Power; that ſo they may fix upon them to the neglect of God's own Inſtitutions, which he moſt dreads. Thus we read, that he cunningly ceaſed his Oracle at Daphne, Zozomen, Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 5. cap. 18.upon a pretence of the ſilencing Power of the Bones of the Martyr Babilas, which were buried near the place; on purpoſe to lead unwary Chriſtians to the adoration of Saints and their Reliques. Many ſuch inſtances we have in Sprenger of the Devils feigned Flight at the Sign of the Croſs, Mal. Malific. Part 11. Q. 11. cap. 1, 3.the ſprinkling of Holy-Water, the Angelical Salutation, St. Bernards Staff, or certain Words and Verſes hung about the Neck, and a great deal of ſuch ſtuff we may meet with in moſt of their Writers; all which are but cunning contrivances of Satan, to advance a belief of the vertue of theſe things, and ſo to ſtop Men there, to the neglect of thoſe Spiritual Weapons, which the Scripture recommends.
Theſe we have obſerved from the place in general, the Holy City: Let us go on to the place in particular, where Satan acted all this; the Pinacle of the Temple. Various are the conjectures of Men about this, whether it were ſome Fane, or the top of ſome Spire, or the place whence the Apoſtle James was thrown down, or the top of the Kings Porch, which was erected to a great height, over a deep Valley, or ſome Battlement, &c. But we are not concerned in ſuch inquiries, only here I ſhall take notice of Scultetus, who ſuppoſing the place to be the top of a Fane or Spire, and reading in Joſephus, In Delic. Evang.that the points of ſuch Broaches were ſo ſharp, that a Bird could not reſt upon them, without piercing its Foot; was therefore willing to conclude, that theſe Temptations were not really, and hiſtorically acted, but in Viſion only; all this ariſeth from a wrong interpretation of foreign, which our Engliſh renders Pinacle, Spanbem. dub. Evan in loc.whereas it properly ſignifies any Battlement, or Angular prominency, jutting out over the reſt like a Wing, which would afford a ſufficient footing and ſupport.
'Tis more profitable to enquire after Satans Reaſon for the choice of ſuch a place; no queſtion but it was upon deſign; for elſe he might with equal convenience, have tempted Chriſt to caſt himſelf down from ſome Tree or Precipice in the Wilderneſs; but then what that deſign was, is not ſo eaſy to determine, it ſeems plain, that he might ſuppoſe that Chriſt might be the rather animated to the undertaking of flying in the Air, by the hopes of Glory, which might be expected from ſuch a performance, before ſo many Spectators. …ightfoot Harm. in loc.But ſome think that he had a deſign alſo upon the Men of Jeruſalem, and intended ſome deluſion to the Jews, which I am not unwilling to cloſe with, partly becauſe the Experiences that we have of his devices, aſſure us that in one Temptation, his ends are oft manifold, and I cannot but think that Satan would make all things ſure, and provide (in his projecting Mind) againſt allevents; for if Chriſt ſhould have yeilded and evidenced ſo great a Power in the ſight of all the People, it might have been a conviction general, that he was the Meſſias, about that time univerſally expected; and partly I am ready to think ſo, becauſe (in caſe Chriſt had done ſo) it lay ſo fair, to confirm the Jews in a miſapprehenſion of the perſonal coming of Elias, of whom they underſtood the Prophecy of Mal. 3. 1.Dr. Konchi. in loc. Behold, I will ſend my Meſſenger, and he ſhall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye ſeek ſhall ſuddenly come to his Temple, even the Meſſenger of the Covenant. If the Jews expected Elias to come from Heaven to the Temple, how ſtrongly would they have been confirmed in this opinion, if they had ſeen a Man fly from the Temple in the Air, and by this means John the Baptiſt (who was the Elias that was to come) ſhould have been neglected, and Chriſt himſelf (though honoured as Elias) not owned for the Meſſias.
Obſerve then,Obſ. 6. That Satan's deſigns are large, and that he projects the enſnaring or deluding of others, by ſuch Temptations, as ſeem only to concern thoſe that are under the immediate trouble of them. He tempts Chriſt to caſt himſelf down, and alſo by it (at leaſt) intends a deluſion to the Jews, he tempts one Man upon the back of another, one is tempted to Errour, another by that Mans Temptation, is tempted to Atheiſm, and rejecting of all Religion. One Man is tempted to Prophaneneſs, another is tempted by that to an uncharitable diſreſpect of him; 'tis Eaſy to multiply Inſtances of this.