Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 3 · Chapter 18
MATTH. 4. 8.
Again the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high Mountain, and ſheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them.
CHAP. XVIII. The manner ef Satan's ſhewing the Kingdoms of the World, Of Satan's Preparations before the Motion of Sin. Of his confronting the Almighty by preſumptuous imitation; and in what caſes he doth ſo. Of his beautifying the Object of a Temptation, and how he doth it. His way of engaging the Affections by the Senſes. Of his ſeeming ſhineſs.
THis is the Preparation to the third Temptation; in which we have, (1.) The Place where it was Acted. (2.) The Object ſet before him there.
Firſt, The Place was an exceeding high Mountain. What Mountain it was, Nebo, Piſgah, or any other, 'tis needleſs to enquire. 'Tis of more uſe to ask after the Reaſons of Satan's choiſe of ſuch a Place. The Text doth clearly imply one that was the commodiouſneſs of Proſpect; Satan intending to give him a view of the Kingdoms of the World, chuſeth a Mountain as fitteſt for that end. But that this was not all the Reaſon, is not only*Lightfoot Harm. in loc. intimated by ſome, but poſitively†Parkins Comb. in loc. Deut, 32. 49. & 34. 1. affirmed by others, who think that Satan in this imitated the like in God to Moſes, who was called up to Mount Neho to view the Land which God promiſed to Iſrael. Whether theſe Circumſtances of the Mountain, and the view of the Kingdoms of the World, were of purpoſe contrived to affront God by ſuch an Imitation, I will not be Poſitive in it: but we may with greater Evidence affirm, that in offering the Kingdoms of the World, as things altogether in his diſpoſal, he doth directly out-brave God by an inſolent Compariſon of his Power with that of the Almighty's, whoſe is the Earth and the fulneſs of it, and to whom the Sovereignty of the diſpoſal of it doth belong.
Secondly, That which Satan ſheweth Chriſt from the Mountain, is ſaid to be the Kingdoms of the Word, and the Glory of them. Here ſome buſy themſelves to conjecture what Kingdoms were thus pointed at, ſome keep ſo ſtrictly to the word [all,] that they are forced to take up with that Opinion,Hobs Leviath. c. 45. p. 354. that all theſe Temptations were only in Viſion; for they conſider that no one Mountain in the World, can give a Proſpect over one whole Hemiſphere, or if it could, yet no Eye would be able to diſcern at ſo great a diſtance. But the inconveniencies of this Surmiſe have been pointed at before, and 'tis enough to ſhew that the Text may admit of an Interpretation which ſhall not be incumbred with this ſuppoſed impoſſibility.
Others reſtrain this to the Land of Canaan, as if Satan only ſhewed this as a famous Inſtance of the Glory of all Kingdoms. Some think the Roman Empire (which was then moſt flouriſhing, and lifted up its Head above other Kingdoms) was the great Bait laid before Chriſt, as if he had a Deſign to divert Chriſt from the buſineſs of his Office, Lightfoot Harm. in loc.by offering him the Seat and Power of Antichriſt: But the Text runs not ſo favourably for any of theſe Opinions, as to conſtrain us to ſtay upon them. [Kingdoms of the World] ſeem to intend more than Canaan, or the Roman Empire, the Word foreign, uſed here, and foreign in Luke, which we tranſlate the World, do ſo apply to one another in a mutual accommodation, that we cannot ſtretch the World to the largeſt Senſe of the whole Globe of the Earth, becauſe 'tis expreſſed in Luke by foreign, which ſignifies ſuch a part of the World which is more cultivated and honoured by Inhabitants; nor can we ſo reſtrain it to the Roman Empire (though when they ſpake their apprehenſions of their own Empire, they ſeem to engroſs all, Luke 2. 1.) becauſe Matthew uſeth the word foreign, a word of greater freedom. It ſeems then that many Kingdoms, or the moſt conſiderable Kingdoms of the then known World were here expoſed to his Sight. But then the difficulty ſtill remains how the Devil could ſhew them to his Eye. That it was not a viſionary diſcovery to his Mind hath been ſaid; Some think he ſhewed theſe partly by Ocular Proſpect of thoſe Cities, Caſtles, Towns, Vineyards, and Fields that were neer, as a Compend of the whole; and partly by a Diſcourſe of the Glory, Power, and Extent of other Kingdoms that were out of the reach of the Eye: but becauſe the Expreſſion which Luke adds,foreign. [in a moment of time,] intimates that the way which Satan took, was different from common proſpecting or beholding; others are not ſatisfied with that Solution of the difficulty, but fly to this Suppoſition, that Satan uſed only Jugling and Deluſion, by framing an airy Horizon before the Eyes of Chriſt; ſhewing not the Kingdoms themſelves, but a Phantaſm of his own making. But ſeeing this might have been done in any Place, and that an high Mountain was choſen for furthering the Proſpect, I think 'tis ſafeſt to conclude that the Proſpect was Ocular, So alſo Lucas Brugenſis thinks in loc.and not Phantaſtical but real, only helped and aſſiſted by Satan's Skill and Art, as a great Naturaliſt, and as a Prince of the Power of the Air, by which means, in reflections, or extraordinary Proſpectives, he might diſcover things at vaſt diſtances: which we may the rather fix upon, becauſe we know what helps for Proſpect, Art hath diſcovered by Glaſſes and Teleſcopes, by which the Bodies of the Sun, Moon, and Planets (at ſuch unſpakeable diſtance from us) have in this latter Age been diſcovered to us, beyond ordinary belief. And we have Reaſon to think that Satan's Skill this way far exceeds any thing that we have come to the knowledg of, and ſo might make real diſcoveries of Countrys far remote, more than we can well imagine.
Theſe things thus explained, I ſhall note ſeveral Obſervations.
Firſt,Obſ. 1. If we conſider this great Preparation that Satan makes, as Introductory to the Temptation to follow, we may obſerve, That where Satan hath a ſpecial Deſign, he Projects and makes ready all things relating to the Temptation before he plainly utter his Mind: He provides his Materials, before he builds, and lays his Train before he gives fire. What is his Method we may learn from the practice of thoſe that are trained up in his Service. They in Rom. 13. ult. foreign.are ſaid to make proviſion for the Flaſh, to fore-contrive their Sins, and to Project all Circumſtances of Time, Place, Occaſion, and Advantage for their accompliſhment. This is not to be underſtood of all Sins, for in ſome that are inward in the Mind, (as vain, Thoughts, Pride of Heart, &c.) there needs not ſuch Proviſions; we may ſay of them, their times are always, and in many caſes the Houſe is ſwept and garniſhed to his Hand, he finds all things ready, by the forwardneſs of thoſe who are Free in his Service, and the ſudden accidental Concurrance of things. But where the Temptation is ſolemn, and where the thing deſigned (in the perfecting of it) relates to Exteriour Acts, there he uſeth this Policy, to have all in readineſs (though it coſt him the labour of compaſſing Sea and Land for it) before he expreſly ſpeak his purpoſes. His Reaſons are theſe;
Firſt, If things neceſſary for the Encouragment and Accompliſhment of a Temptation, lay out of the way, and were not at hand, his Suggeſtions would periſh as ſoon as they were born, and would be rejected as impoſſible or inconvenient. To tempt a Man to ſteal, when he knows not where, nor how, or to revenge when he hath no Enemy, nor Provocation; ſeem to be no other than if they ſhould be commanded to remove a Mountain, or to fly in the Air; which would quickly be declined, as Motions affording no ground of entertainment. And therefore that his Temptations may not bring a Reaſon of refuſal with them, as being unſeaſonable; he takes care to fit his Servants with all things requiſite for the work he puts them upon.
Secondly, As Temptations (of this kind) would be no Temptations, (becauſe not feaſible,) without their Preparations; ſo muſt we not think that it is the bare Suggeſtion of Satan that makes a Temptation to pierce. The Reaſon of its Prevalency, is not barely becauſe Satan breaks ſuch a Motion to us, but becauſe ſuch a Motion comes accompliſhed with all ſuitable Preparations. When it prevails, it is the ſinful Motion that wounds, but Preparations are as the Feathers that wing his Arrows, without which they would neither fly nor pierce.
Let this,Applic. Firſt, renew our Caution and Suſpition in every thing, and every place, that Satan is at work againſt us, though we ſee no viſible ſnare.
Let it put us upon ſuch a watchful carefulneſs in every of our ways, that we may reſolve to undertake nothing for which we have not a good and warantable Reaſon at hand, that if our Conſcience ſay to us, What doſt thou here? we may be able to give a good Account.
Secondly, If we mind the behaviour of Satan in theſe Preparations and Offers, we ſee him act after the Pattern of higheſt Sovereignty, diſpoſing of Earthly Kingdoms at ſuch a rate, as if all Power were in his Hand Hence we may obſerve, That when Satan tempts to Sin of higheſt Contempt and Inſolency againſt God, Obſ. 2.he then thinks it concerns him to bear himſelf out, by confronting the Almighty, in imitating his Authority and Power.
This carriage of Satan is not to be found in all his Temptations: For in moſt caſes he acts with greateſt ſecreſy; and as a Thief that is afraid of Diſcovery, he uſeth all ways poſſible for Concealment; but when he ſets up himſelf as the God of the World, and ſtands in Competition with the Lord, claming an Intereſt in the Fear and Devotion of Men, then he boldly avoucheth himſelf, and labours to out-vie God in point of greatneſs, that he might poſſeſs them with a belief that he only ought to be feared. This Arrogancy of Satan againſt God, may be ſeen in three things:
Firſt, In imitating Divine Ordinances, and Inſtitutions. There is not any part of Divine Worſhip the Obſervation whereof God hath enjoyned to Men, but Satan hath ſet up ſomething like it for himſelf. As God appointed his Temple, Prieſts, Altars, Sacrifices, Offerings, Tyths, Sanctuaries, Sacrament, &c. So hath Satan had his Temples, Prieſts, Altars, Sacrifices, Offerings, Sanctuaries, Sacraments, &c. This is ſufficiently known to any that read his Hiſtories; and I could give a full Account of it from Heathen Authors, but that I have done already when I ſpoke of Satan Subtilty in promoting Idolatry in the World. I ſhall only add here that which Varro relates of the Books of Numa Pompilius, Varro de cultu Deorum.which were caſually caſt up by the Plough of one Terentius, coming too near the Sepulchre of Numa, where theſe Books had been Buried. This Numa was the ſecond King of the Romans, who inſtituted the Rites and Ceremonies of Pagan Worſhip for his Subjects, and in theſe Books (which he thought fit to conceal, by burying them with him) he had laid open the Bottom of theſe Deviliſh Myſteries, ſo that when they were brought to the Senate, they (judging them unfit to be known) adjudged them to the Fire. Which is a clear ground of Suſpition that he had there diſcovered ſo much of the Cauſes of theſe Rites, or of the way whereby he came to be inſtructed in them, that the publick Knowledg thereof, conſiſted not with the Intereſt of their Heatheniſh Religion.De Civit Dei. l. 7. c. 34, & 35. This conjecture Auſtin hath of the Matter, who alſo notes that Numa pretended familiar Converſe with the Nymph Aegeria, as a plauſible cover to that deviliſh Art of Hydromantia, by which he was inſtructed in ordering the Ceremonies of Idolatry, which he eſtabliſhed.
Secondly, Satan with no leſs Arrogancy, takes upon him to Imitate God, in his Acts of Power for the countenancing of his Worſhip in the World. He had his Miracles frequently, of which I have ſpoken elſewhere, ſo had he his Oracles, as at Delphos, and other places. Here it ſhall ſuffice to note, that as the ſending the Lord Jeſus into the World, furniſhed with ſuch Power of doing Miracles for the Confirmation of that Office and Authority, which he had received from God, for the Redemption of Man; was the higheſt Inſtance that can be given of the Mighty Power, Wiſdom, and Goodneſs of God; ſo Satan ſet himſelf with greateſt Induſtry to Imitate that. Chriſt was almoſt no ſooner aſcended to the Father, but we hear of Simon Magus; Acts. 8. 9. who was cryed up as an Inſtance of the great Power of God; and after that at Rome he gave out that he was God, confirming the People in ſuch a belief, by the ſtrange things which he there did among them, that a Statue was erected for his Honour, with this Inſcription, To Simon a Great God. Long after this, the Devil raiſed up Apollonius Tyanaeus, a Man of an Abſtemious and Commendable Life; him the Devil did deſign to match Chriſt in his Miracles, which were ſo many and ſo ſtrange, that Philoſtratus doth not only compare him to Chriſt, but prefer him as the more Honourable Perſon. Chriſt himſelf foretold this Stratagem of Satan, that he ſhould raiſe up falſe Chriſts with lying Signs and Wonders. And to omit Inſtances of former days, it is not beyond the Memory of moſt of you, That the Devil renewed this Policy in James Nayler, who in a blaſphemous Imitation of Chriſt's riding to Jeruſalem, rode to Briſtol with a great Company before him, Crying, Holy, Holy, and Hoſanna to the Son of David, and ſtrewing the way with Branches of Trees: The Authority that was then, taking notice of this and other Blaſphemous outrages, ſentenced him to exemplary Puniſhment: but here alſo the Devil renewed his Mockery, for a certain Citizen of London of good note, being overcome with Deluſion, Printed a Book of Naylers Sufferings, wherein the Devil had opportunity to vent his Malice more fully, for he compared all the parts of his Puniſhment, to the Sufferings of Chriſt; his Whipping he ſaid was, that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by Matthew, And Pilate delivered him to be Scourged; His Stigmatizing he ſaid, was that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the Prophet, his Viſage was marred more than any Mans; the Boring of his Tongue with an hot Iron, he ſaid was the fulfilling of that, and they Crucified him: and after other particulars of Compariſon, (in all which he equalled him to Chriſt) he at laſt takes notice that the multitude of Spectators held off their Hats, while his Tongue was bored thorow, (a thing common in a Croud to give opportunity of Sight to thoſe that are behind) and to this act he applys that of the Evangeliſts, The Vail of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom.
Thirdly, In acts of Empire and Sovereignty he Imitates God: that is, as God propounds himſelf as the only Lord God, and enjoyns himſelf to be worſhipped accordingly, by Promiſes of Advantage in caſe of Obedience, and threatnings of Miſeries and Plagues in caſe of Diſobedience; ſo doth Satan ſet up himſelf in the World as God to be adored and worſhipped, and him do all Idolaters worſhip, as God teſtifies, Deut. 32. 17. They ſacrificed unto Devils, not to God. Pſal. 106. 37. They ſacrificed their Sons and Daughters unto Devils. 1 Cor. 10. 20. The things which the Gentiles ſacrifice, they ſacrifice to Devils, and not to God. And though it be true, that many of theſe blind Worſhippers did not formally worſhip the Devil, but thought they had worſhipped God, yet by ſuch cunning did he engage them to take up with ways of Worſhip of his preſcribing, that it was in reality a Service done to him. But beſides this, in thoſe places of the World, where he hath greater Power, he formally propounds himſelf to be worſhipped, and doth accordingly often appear to them in a Viſible Shape; ſo that many of theſe blind Heathens acknowledg two God's, one Good, and another Cruel and hurtful, which latter they ſay they muſt worſhip, leſt he deſtroy, or harm them. By this Satan conteſts with God for an Empire in the World, and to promote it the more, he ſometimes deals by fair Promiſes, of Riches, Advancement, Pleaſure, and ſuch other Baits, to allure Men to his Profeſſed Service; thus are Witches drawn to a Compact with him. Thus Sylveſter the ſecond gave up himſelf to the Devil for the Popedom, and ſo did ſeveral others. When this is not enough to prevail, he adds Menacings, and breaths forth cruel Threatnings, by which means many Heathens are kept in awe by him, and worſhip him, ne noceat, for no other reaſon but to preſerve themſelves from hurt by him. In this Temptation he propounds himſelf to Chriſt as the Object of Divine Worſhip, and boaſts of the Kingdoms of the World as things of his diſpoſal; by which he ſeeks to draw him to fall down before him.
This courſe Satan takes for theſe Reaſons.
Firſt, As this Proud and Malicious Oſtentation of his Power, is ſome kind of ſatisfaction to his revengeful Humour againſt God: So Secondly, He doth hereby raiſe up himſelf and his wicked inſtitutions of Idolatry, into Credit and Eſteem with Men. Thirdly, As this is a Mockery to true Religion, and a ſcorn caſt upon the ways of God's Service, to bring it into diſgrace and diſcredit: So, Fourthly, By this means he hardens the Hearts of Men againſt God. This was the Conſideration by which Pharaoh hardened his Heart, when Moſes turned his Rod into a Serpent, changed Waters to Blood, and did ſo many Signs before him; his Magicians did the like: upon which the King might thus reaſon with himſelf, that Moſes had no other Power, but what his Magicians had, though he might think him a more skillful Magician, and therefore there was no reaſon to believe his Meſſage as being from God, ſeeing his Miracles might be no other than the Effect of his Art, to countenance a pretended command from Heaven.
This Inſolency of Satan, may inform us; Firſt, of the great Patience of God that ſees theſe outragious mockings, and yet doth not by a ſtrong hand put a ſtop to them.Applic. Secondly, Of the great Power and Pride of Satan, that he both can (though not without permiſſion from God) and dare attempt things of this Nature. Thirdly, The great Power of Deluſion, that can ſo blind Men, that they not only are drawn to act a part in ſuch Deſigns, but believe confidently a Divine Impulſe and Heavenly warrant for their ſo doing. Fourthly, The miſerable Slavery of ſuch Vaſſals of Satan, that are thus led by him, who are therefore ſadly to be pittied and lamented, as being under ſuch ſtrong Chains of Captivity.
Thirdly,Obſ. 3. We cannot paſs by the Art which the Devil here uſeth to ſet off the Temptation, and to make it plauſible; he ſets before him the World in all its Glory. Here Obſerve, That Satan in his Temptations to Worldly Pleaſures, doth uſually paint the Object with all its utmoſt Beauty.
When I have ſometime obſerved a Mountebank upon a Stage, giving exceſſive Commendations of a trivial Medicine, aſſerting it good almoſt for every Diſeaſe, and with a great many Lyes and Boaſtings, enforcing it upon the credulous Multitude: It hath put me in mind of this Spiritual Mountebankery of the Devil; how doth he gull and delude the Fooliſh, by laying out the Pleaſures of Sin? and no otherwiſe doth he keep them at a gazing Admiration of Worldly Pomp, Delights and Satisfaction, which he promiſeth them from Iniquity, than the Serpent Scytale doth with Paſſengers, whom ſhe ſtays, by amazing them with her beautiful Colours, till ſhe have ſtung them. The Art of Satan in this matter lyes in four things.
Firſt, If there be any thing that can be called a Delight, or may any way conduce to a Satisfaction in any Sin, he will be ſure to ſpeak of it in its higheſt Praiſes; he not only ſtreacheth his Rhetorick to the height in giving Commendations to the moſt noted Pleaſures that Men propound to themſelves: but he ſeeks out the hidden things of Delight, and raiſeth in Men an Itch of deſire after the improvement of Delight, by the contrivances of Wit or Art. Thus he tells them of Jollity, raviſhing Mirth, high Satisfaction, and (if they will believe him) of unſpeakable Delight to be had by giving themſelves up to the World, and the Courſe of it. Nay he hides nothing that will bear any Praiſe, the leaſt Advantage, the ſmalleſt Gratification that any Sin can afford to Humane Deſire, he will be ſure to ſpeak of it.
Secondly, He carries on this Deſign by Lying, he promiſeth more than ever Sin can give, and he ſends his Proſelytes out after Sin under the higheſt Expectations, and when they come to enjoy it, they often find the Pleaſure falls ſhort of his Boaſt; he whiſpers Honours, Preferments, and Riches, in the Ear of their Hearts, and often pays them with Poverty and Diſgraces, and gives them pro theſauro carbones, Stones for Bread, a Serpent for a Fiſh. Witches give frequent Accounts of Satan's lying Promiſes, he tells them of Feaſts, of Gold, of Riches, but they find themſelves deluded; he ſends them oft hungry away from thoſe Banquets, ſo that they have no more than when a Man Dreams he Eats. He gives that which ſeems Gold in Appearance, but at laſt they find it to be Slaits or Shells. We find in this Temptation he is liberal and large in his Offers to Chriſt, and what he requires he will have in preſent Payment, but the reward for the Service is future: 'Tis his buſineſs to engage Men in Sin, by his Promiſe of Advantage, but being once engaged, he takes not himſelf concerned in Honour or Ingenuity for Performance. Hence doth the Scripture fitly call the Pleaſures of Sin, lying Vanities, a vain Shew, a Dream, thereby warning Men from a forward Belief of Satan's Promiſes, in that they find by Experience they ſhall be at laſt but Lyes and Diſappointments.
Thirdly, To make his Bait more taking, he conceals all the inconveniencies that may attend theſe Worldly Delights. He Offers here the Kingdoms of the World to Chriſt, as if all were made up of Pleaſure; theſe Cares, Troubles, and Vexations, that attend Greatneſs and Rule he mentions not; their Burthen, Hazard, and Diſquiet he paſſeth over. Thus in common Temptations, he is careful to hide from Men the Miſeries that follow theſe empty Pleaſures; So that often Men do not conſider the Miſchief, till a Dart ſtrike through their Liver, Prov. 7. 23. and till a dear-bought Experience doth inform them of their Miſtakes.
Fourthly, His Power and work upon the Fancies of Men, is none of the leaſt of his ways, whereby he advanceth the Pleaſures of Sin. That he hath ſuch a Power hath been diſcourſed before, and that a Fancy raiſed to a great Expectation, makes things appear otherwiſe than what they are, is evident from common Experience; the value of moſt things depends rather upon Fancy than the Internal worth of them, and Men are more engaged to a purſuit of things by the Eſtimation which Fancy hath begat in their Minds, than by certain Principles of Knowledg. Children by Fancy have a value of their Toys, and are ſo powerfully ſwayed by it, that things of far greater price cannot ſtay their Deſigns, nor divert their Courſe. Satan knows that the beſt of Men are ſometimes childiſh, apt to be led about by their conceits, and apt in their conceits to apprehend things far otherwiſe than what they are in Truth.D'Eſpaigne popular Errors. §. 1. cap. 4. Hence is it (as one obſerves) that of thouſands of Men that return from Jeruſalem, or from Mount Sion, or from the River Jordan, ſcarce can we find one, which brings back the Admiration which he had conceived before he had ſeen them. Fancy doth preoccupate the Mind with an high opinion of things, and theſe exorbitant Imaginations paſs to ſuch an exceſs, that Men think to find a ſatisfaction beyond the Nature of theſe Pleaſures they aim at, which hath theſe two inconveniencies, the one, that this Effects and draws as powerfully, as if they were all as real and high as they are conceited to be; the other, that Sight and Fruition takes away the Eſtimation, and by a diſappointment, doth deaden and dull the Affections to what may be really found there. Thus Satan by one deceit makes Men believe that Sin hath Pleaſure, which indeed it hath not, and by that belief leads them on powerfully to endeavour an embracement of them, and at laſt urgeth them with a deluſion.
In oppoſition to this deceit of the Devil,Applic. we muſt learn to eſteem Worldly Delights as low as he would value them high. And to this purpoſe the Scripture ſpeaks of them, in undervaluing Language,foreign. calling Worldly Pomp, an Opinion, a Phantaſy, a Faſhion, or Figure, an Imagination rather then a reallity; and further injoyns us not to admire theſe things in others, not to envy them that enjoyment of them,Pſal. 37. 1. & 49. 16. nor to fret at our want of them, much leſs to be tranſported with any angry Paſſion about them, nor to concern our ſelves in any earneſt purſuit of them.Jer. 45. 5.
Fourthly,Obſ. 4. Satan in this Temptation did not bravely ſpeak of theſe things, nor only make an offer in Diſcourſe, but he thought it moſt conduceable to his Deſign, to preſent them to his Sight; he knew full well, that the Heart is more affected by ſenſible Diſcoveries, than by rational Diſcourſes.
Note here, That Satan in Temptations of Worldly Pleaſure, endeavours to engage the Affections by the Sences.
That 'tis Satan's great buſineſs to work upon the Affections, I have ſhewed at large. Here he endeavoured to prepare the Affections of Chriſt, that ſo the motion (when it came) might not die, as a Spark falling upon wet Tinder, but that the Affections being ſtirred up, might cheriſh the Offer, and that the Offer by a mutual warmth, might more enflame the Affections that were heated before.
To this End he works by the Senſes, and would have Chriſt's Eye to raiſe his Affections of Love, Deſire, Hope, and whatever elſe might wing his Soul to Activity. There is a great connection betwixt the Senſes and the Affection, the Senſes bring Intelligence unavoidably, and are apt to ſtir up our Powers to Action: as the Jaccall is ſaid to hunt the Prey for the Lyon, ſo do the Senſes for the Affections, and both for Satan.
It is alſo remarkable that Satan endeavouring to make the Eyes of Chriſt Traytors to his Affections, and that he thinking it neceſſary to give him a view of what he proffered him, ſhould not give him time to take a full Survey of theſe Kingdoms, but ſhould huddle it up in ſuch an haſt, that all (as Luke tell us) was done in a moment of time: was Satan in haſte? or was he unwilling to part with what he ſo liberally proffered? Surely no, but this tranſient view was his Subtilty, to entice him the more, and to enflame his Heart with greater deſires.Obſ. 5. Obſerve then, That where Satan is moſt liberal in his Proffers, he there manageth his Overtures of Advantage with a ſeeming ſhyneſs. And this he doth, Firſt, To heighten the worth of them in our Eſtimation, as if they were Jewels not to be gazed at, or curious Peices, not fit to be expoſed to common view. Secondly, By this Art he makes Men more eager in the purſuit. Our natural Curioſity preſſeth us with great earneſtneſs after things of difficult acceſs, and we have alſo ſtrange deſires kindled in us from a prohibition, Nitimur invet… tum.ſo that what we liſt not to chuſe if we have a liberty of Enjoyment; when we are forbidden, we are troubled with Impatient Longings for it, and cannot be at quiet till we do enjoy it.
When Satan makes nice with Men, offering the Pleaſures of the World, and yet hedging up the way with difficulties: they ſhould make no other conſtruction of it,Malo me Galatea petit—Et fugit ad ſalaces, & ſe cupit ante videri. but that Satan doth (ſo far as he is concerned) more ſtrongly entice them. He Plays at Peep with them, that he may make them more earneſt to follow him, and to bid high for the Poſſeſſion of theſe Delights.