Works, Title page 1 – Dedication 1
AN EXPOSITION OF Chriſt's Temptations.
OR CHRISTS COMBATE AND CONQUEST: BEING The LYON of the Tribe of JUDAH, vanquiſhing the Roaring Lyon, aſſaulting him in three moſt fierce and Helliſh TEMPTATIONS.
BY Thomas Taylor, D. D. Preacher of Gods VVord at Aldermanbury, London.
HEBR. 2.18.
For in that hee ſuffered and was tempted, hee is able to ſuccour them that are tempted.
Tentatus eſt Chriſtus, ne vincatur à Tentatore Christianus. Auguſt.
LONDON, Printed for A. K. and R. I. and are to be ſold by Eliſha Wallis at the Golden Horſe-ſhooe in the Old-Bayley. 1659.
To the Right Worthy and Noble Knight, Sir Francis Knollis, and the vertuous Lady Lettice, his Wife; All bleſſings of this Life and a better.
SIR,
WHEN that great Prophet Moſes, was to bee confirmed in the certainty of his vocation for the delivery of Gods people out of Egypt, aAct. 7.30There appeared unto him in the wilderneſſe of Mount Sinai, bChriſt himſel… ſo called, foreign Juſt. Matt.an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in the buſh: cExod. 3.1and hee looked, and behold the buſh burnt with fire, and the buſh was not conſumed. A ſight at which Moſes dAct. 7.31wondred; and ſo may we. But if you pleaſe with Moſes, eExod. 3.4to turn aſide to ſee this great ſight; that is, fAct 7.31draw a little nearer to conſider it, This it is:
I. The buſh (which at that time betokened the people of Iſrael, gExod. 3.7, 9.under the oppreſſions of Egypt) ſignifieth the Church of God: for 1. As a bryarbuſh is a baſe and deſpicable thing, made for nothing but the fire, or to ſtop a gap, or ſome other baſe uſe: ſo ſeems the Church and members to be in the eyes of men; in ſo much as not the moſt eminent members, the bleſſed Apoſtles themſelves, are h1 Cor. 4.10 & 13. foreign.deſpiſed, and accounted the filth of the World, and the off-ſcowring or out-ſweepings of all things: but the Head of it, our Lord himſelf, was in the eies of men without form iIſa. 55.2, 3or beauty, deſpiſed and rejected of men, who hid their eies from him, and eſteemed him not. 2 As a buſh pricketh and vexeth him that deals roughly with it; ſo ſhall the Church of God bee as a ſtiff and prickly bramble, to vex, and wound at length, all the proud enemies of it, ſo as all that kZach. 12 3lift at it ſhal be torn, though all the people of the earth ſhould be gathered againſt it. 3 As the creatures for their own ſafety make their neſts and muſes in a buſh; ſo the mighty Creator (not for his, but the buſhes ſafety) vouchſafeth lDeut. 33.….to dwell in this buſh of the Church. The buſh was in Mount mExod. 3.1 Famous for ſ… memorable things in Moſ… done there. 1 This viſio… 2 Faſting the… forty daies an… nights. 3 Receiving the … there. 4 Scriking the rock for water. 5 Lifting his hands againſt Am…ck. 6 Breaking t… …ables of …Horeb, and God was in the buſh: even ſo the Church is in the mountain of the Lord, lifted up (as a mountain above the vallies) in holineſſe and priviledges above all the earth beſides: for of this mountain the Lord hath ſaid, nPſa 68.16there will I dwell for ever.
II. The buſh burns with fire: In this reſemblance is ſhadowed the oppreſſed eſtate of the Iſraelites in the Egyptian furnace: and by fire here is meant, the moſt painful, and pittiful afflictions and miſeries, which ſeiz upon the Church and Members, as a raging and devouring fire upon a dry buſh: for 1 Fire is a diffuſive and ſpreading element, catching whatſoever combustible matter is neer it: even ſo not a ſprig of this buſh of the Church, ſhall eſcape the flame of affliction, but whoſoever will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, o2 Tim. 3.12ſhall ſuffer perſecution: for either the fiery darts of Satan ſhall ſcorch them within; or they ſhall be ſindged with the fiery p1 Pet. 4.12.tryals of the worlds hatred; or at leaſt, they muſt look to bee be-ſmeared, and blacked in their names, with the colly and ſmoak of odious, falſe, and ſcandalous imputations: and what are qQuid a… ſu…s quam flemma …?Gods people (ſaith one) but the fewel of the wicked worlds fiery indignation? 2 Fire ſhineth and inlighteneth: ſo the afflictions of the Church, as fire, inlighten the mind, rPſal. 119.71teach the ſtatutes. The rod and correction (ſaith Solomon) ſProv. 29.15give wiſdome: and the Lord tJob 33.16. & 36.9.openeth by correction, (ſaith Elihu) the ears of man which hee had ſealed: in which uſe, this fire of affliction becomes as another uExod. 13.21pillar of fire, to inlighten and guide the Iſrael of God, in the night of their wandring through the wilderneſs of this world, towards their land of promiſe, that heavenly Canaan. 3 Fire giveth heat and warm'th: ſo the heat of this fire of affliction melteth and thaweth our frozen hearts, condenſed and congealed by the pinching air of cold ſecurity: this fire kindleth our devotion, enflameth our zeal, xIſa. 26.16. & Hoſ. 5.15.warmeth our prayers, and makes us hot ſuters for releef. 4 Fire ſoftneth and ſmodreth metals: yExod. 9.27Pharaohs ſteely heart will melt and ſoften while it is in this hot furnace: yea, in the ſame man it ſeparateth droſs from pure metal, and like that fire which burnt only the zD…n 3.27 Ig…is non perdi… ſed purg…s.bands of them that were caſt in, but not their bodies: ſo it only conſumeth the corruptions, but preſerveth alive the children of God, who only walk at more liberty and further inlargement in the fire, than they did out of it; and as gold, come forth more purified, more glorious. 5 Fire is a climbing and aſcending element: ſo the fire of affliction maketh the heart to aſcend, and raiſeth the thoughts to heaven-ward. Luk. 15.17Miſery maketh the Prodigal bethink himſelf of his Fathers houſe, when he is a great way from it: and this is the fire which Moſes ſaw ſeizing upon the buſh.
Stabilitatem populi ex veritate promiſſionum dei ad…ravit. Junius in analyſ.III. The buſh burning is not conſumed: ſignifying the preſervation of the Church and Members (as Iſrael in Egypt) in the hotteſt furnace of their afflictions. Well may wee wonder, that ſo flaming and terrible a fire, falling upon ſo contemptible a buſh, and ſo dry and deſpicable a ſhrub, ſhould not preſently turn it into aſhes: for why? is the fire too weak; or is the buſh ſo ſtrong as to defend it ſelf; or is it not diſpoſed or apt to be burnt & conſumed by ſo fierce a fire? Certainly it is not from the impotency of the fire, nor from the ſtrength or conſtitution of the buſh (which is in the matter of it as combuſtible as any chaff, and as eaſily deſtroyed as any ſtubble) that it is not conſumed. But, 1 This fire is not kindled againſt the buſh, cut of the ſparks of Gods wrath, Heb. 12.29 Heb. 12.10.and indignation (which is indeed a conſuming fire) but of his Fatherly affection and love, not for the hurt of the buſh, but for the profit of it: not to deſtroy the perſons, but the ſin for the perſons ſake. Wee have indeed kindled and blown up our ſelves a violent and devouring fire, Heb. 10.27which God might ſend into our bones, Lam. 1.13 Pſal. 83.14 Lam. 3.22to burn us up, as fire burneth the forreſt, and as the flames ſet the mountains on fire: But the mercy of God is as water to quench this fire (for elſe would it burn to the bottome of Hell) and inſtead of a Furnace of fury which melteth away his enemies, Ezek. 22.22he ſetteth up in Zion, Iſa 27.9a furnace of favour, only to melt the metal, conſume away the droſs, and refine his choſen ones to become veſsels of honour. 2 Becauſe the fuel of the conſuming fire of Gods wrath are ſlaves, not ſons: thoſe wicked brambles, Ezek. 15.7which if they eſcape one fire (ſaith the Prophet) they fall into another, which ſhall conſume them: but not this buſh, which is only made brighter, and better by the flame, but not blacker, not worſer. The chaff and ſtubble muſt feed the fire of wrath, never to come forth more; but the pure metal is caſt into the furnace to come forth ſo much the purer, as it hath been the longer tryed. Exod. 3.23 Becauſe the Angel of God is in the buſh. This Angel was Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord of the holy Angels, and the great Angel of the Covenant. For Moſes ſaith expreſly of this viſion, ver. 4.The Lord appeared unto Moſes: and, God called unto him out of the middeſt of the buſh: and S. Luke recording the ſame viſion; Act. 7.31. 2. greeing with Exod. 3.6after that hee had called him an Angel, bringeth him in, ſaying, I am the Lord of Abraham, &c. This ſame preſence of the Son of God, was noted the cauſe why the three children in that furious furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 3.25.being caſt in bound, walked looſe in the midſt of the flames; why, not they, but their bands were burnt; and why, not an hair of their cloaths, verſ. 27.and much leſſe of their heads were touched, no nor ſmelt of the fire. Iſa. 43.2Behold the buſh burned, but not conſumed; becauſe the King ſaw four men walking looſe, having caſt in but three bound: and, they have no hurt; for the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Becauſe God is in the midſt of it (ſaith David of the Church) it ſhall not bee moved: No… potentia urendi ſublata ab ig…e, ſed operatio tantum: ut Dan. 3for God ſhall help it very early. How? partly, 1 by reſtraining the natural force of the fire: 2 partly by obfirming and ſtrengthening the buſh againſt it: 3 partly by watching it that it ſpread not too far; for himſelf (as it were) ſits by the fire to tend it: 4 partly by ſlaking and cooling it when it groweth too hot, leſt the heat ſmite the buſh, as the worm did Jonas his gourd. By theſe means, Jonab 4.7.the buſh in the flame becometh like the Gem Amiantus, Amiantus g… …a ig… non abſumitur, ſed lucidi… ac …urior redditur. Dub. Chytr…s. Iſa. 53.3.which is not conſumed by fire, but becomes brighter and purer than before.
This most holy and comfortable truth is fully aſſured unto us, in the perſon of our Lord and Head, as well as in the body: who in the daies of his fleſh was, 1 A buſh, moſt able to peirce and wound his enemies: in himſelf moſt deſplicable, and baſe in all outward appearances: and in this buſh God dwelt not in any viſible ſign of his preſence; but (as never in any before) eſſentially and bodily. 2 A buſh in the fire; partly of Gods wrath, Col. 2.9. foreign. Iſa. 53.10. Matth. 26.38 Mat. 27.46 Lam. 1.14 True firſt in the head, and then in the members.in inward paſſion and ſuffering in his ſoul the ſorrows of the ſecond death, which made him cry, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? into which flame had the buſh of the Church been caſt, it had been utterly conſumed. Partly of mans wrath, in outward paſſion and miſery, ſuch as whereof hee complained, that no ſorrow was ever matchable to his. And partly of Satans wrath, in moſt fiery and furious temptation: the which helliſh fire was renewed, and blown up againſt him, in moſt violent ſort three ſeveral times, as in the Treatiſe following we ſhall (by Gods grace) diſcover. 3 A buſh in the fire not conſumed: but came forth of the hoteſt Furnace that ever was kindled, more bright and glorious than the Sun in his ſtrength. For eaſy it was with him to convince his temporal adverſaries by the mighty raiſing of himſelf from the dead, through his own Divine power, Rom. 1.4when hee had overcome the wrath of God his Father: and not difficult for him that had in his life overcome Satans Temptations, and in the wilderneſs ſpoiled him of his power and weapons in part: Col. 2.15upon the croſs by his death openly and perfectly to deſtroy his Forces; and as on a glorious Chariot to triumph over him.
This buſh burnt, but not conſumed. As he is the end of all the Scriptures, ſo alſo of the expoſition of them; in whom, and for whoſe glory I have publiſhed this Expoſition, at the importunate requeſt of ſome Friends: Notwithſtanding many diſcouragements that was on the one hand, and ſundry godly lights in our own tongue opening the ſame Scripture on the other. Mr. Udal. Mr. Perkins. Mr. Dike. 2 Sam. 23.13The truth is magnified in the mouth of many witneſſes: and a poor man may give in as true an evidence as a rich. If I may hold Benajahs place in the Church of God, and ſtand for God among the thirties, and the many of his Worthies, it ſhall well content me, although I attain not unto the firſt three.
What ever this labour is, I have preſumed to dedicate it unto you (noble Sir) as a teſtimony of my true and unfeigned affection and duty. 1 Becauſe God hath made you a worthy inſtrument in this place, which as well by your authority and care, as through your godly affection and countenance of good men and cauſes, hath a long time enjoyed much comfort, aſſistance and refreſhing. 2 Your ſound love to the truth hath invited this truth to run under your patronage. 3 As he which hath been once friendly bid welcome, will boldly come again; ſo your good entertainment of this doctrin in the delivery of it, aſſures it you will now bid it as welcome to your eye, as it was to your ears at the firſt offer of it. 4 Your loving reſpect of me and mine, hath been as a continual ſhadow and refreſhing, Phil. 2.2.unto mee, who may and muſt truely ſay with the Apoſtle, I have found no man in theſe Parts Like-Minded: And out of my anſwerable reſpect, I would ſet by you, for your refreſhing, a little veſſel of comfortable water drawn out of the Scriptures, Iſa. 12.3.the wells of conſolation; by which you may allay and cool the heat of that fire, which every ſprig of the buſh ſhall be ſcorched withall, and which perhaps you have not altogether, or ſhall not eſcape. I would alſo expreſs my deſire to put into your hands a weapon againſt the like fiery aſſaults of Satan, who ſpareth neither head nor members: which while you buckle faſt unto you; as you have your honourable Fathers name, and reſemble him in other vertues; ſo herein alſo you ſhall imitate his wiſdome and prudence: of whom I have heard, that living in the Court to a great age, and uſually wearing his weapon about him, one asked why he being ſo weak, burdened himſelf with his weapon: his Noble anſwer was, Hee would not lay off his weapon ſo long as he knew one Papiſt in the Court. A reſolute anſwer of a grave and noble Counſellor.This will be alſo your wiſdome, ſo long to buckle your weapon unto you, as you know one enemy left to tempt and aſſault you. And now in leaving you, let mee leave with you a medicine or receipt againſt the ſting of that fiery Serpent, Rabi folia ſuperjecta ſerpenti, interimunt eum. Amb. Hexam. lib. cap. 9of power to drive him away. For as Ambroſe ſpeaks of the leaves of the bramble buſh, that being caſt upon one kinde of Serpent they kill him: ſo much more true it is, that the leaves of Gods word, which properly belong to the buſh of the Church, and oppoſed to Satans poyſoned temptations, overcome and Maſter them. Deut. 33.16And thus as Moſes requeſted that the bleſſing of him that dwelt in the buſh, might come upon the head of Joſeph; even ſo, the good will of him that dwelt in the buſh, come upon your head, upon the head of your vertuous Lady, upon the heads of your children, to the ſweetning and crowning of your age: verſ. 13.And bleſſed of the Lord bee your portion, verſ. 23for the ſweetneſs of Heaven, and for the ſweetneſs of the earth, till you be ſatisfied with favour, and filled with the bleſſing of the Lord. Amen.
Reading, Octob. 28. 1618. Your worſhips in the Lord to bee commanded, THO. TAYLOR.