:

Here, then, comes in the last act and employment of faith; for after this brunt passed, there is no more use of faith, but of vision that heartens the soul in a lively apprehension of that Blessed Saviour, who both led him the way of suffering, and is making way for him to everlasting glory: that shews him Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God: that clings close unto him: and lays unremoveable hold upon his person, his merits, his blessedness. Upon the wings of this Faith, is the soul ready to mount up toward that heaven, which is open to receive it; and, in that act of evolation, puts itself into the hands of those blessed angels, who are ready to carry it up to the throne of glory.

SIC, O SIC JUVAT VIVERE, SIC PERIRE!

SATAN'S FIERY DARTS QUENCHED:

OR,

TEMPTATIONS REPELLED.

IN THREE DECADES.

FOR THE HELP, COMFORT, and PRESERVATION OF WEAK CHRISTIANS, IN THESE DANGEROUS TIMES OF ERROR AND SEDUCTION.

BY JOSEPH, BISHOP OF NORWICH.

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER,

GRACE AND PEACE.

SOME few months are past, since a worthy and eminent Divine from the west, once part of my charge, earnestly moved me to undertake this task of Temptations; seconding his Letters with the lines of a dear intercessor from those parts.

Upon the first view, I slighted the motion: returning only this answer, That I remembered this work was already so completely performed by the reverend and learned Mr. Downame, in his "Christian Warfare," as that whoso should meddle with this subject, should but seem to glean after his sickle.

But, when I had sadly considered the matter, my second thoughts told me, that there is no one point of Divinity, wherein many pens have not profitably laboured in several forms of discourse; and that the course, which I was solicited unto, was in a quite different way of tractation, namely, to furnish my fellow-christians with short and punctual answers to the particular suggestions of our great enemy; and that our deplored Age had rifely yielded public temptations of impiety, which durst not look forth into the world in those happy days. I was, thereupon, soon convinced in myself, how useful and beneficial such a Tractate might be to weak souls; and embraced the motion, as sent from God, whose good hand I found sensibly with me in the pursuance of it.

I, therefore, cheerfully addressed myself to the work: wherein what I have assayed or done, I humbly leave to the judgment of others; with only this, that if in this Treatise my decrepit hand can have let fall any thing that may be to the service of God's Church, to the raising up of drooping hearts, to the convincing of blasphemous errors, to the preventing of the dangerous insinuations of wickedness, I desire to be thankful to my good God, whose grace hath been pleased to improve those few sands that remain in my glass to so happy an advantage. That God, the Father of all Mercies, fetch from these poor labours of his weak servant much glory to his own Name, and mnch benefit to the souls of his people.

And may the same God be pleased to stir up the hearts of all his faithful ones, that shall, through his goodness, receive any help by these well-meant endeavours, to interchange their prayers with and for me, the unworthiest of his Ministers, that I may finish the small remainder of my course with joy. Amen.

From my Cottage at Higham,

near Norwich: Feb. 12, 1646.

a Mr. Hannibal Gammon, of Cornwall.

TEMPTATIONS REPELLED,

THE FIRST DECADE.

TEMPTATIONS OF IMPIETY.

IST TEMPTATION:

"Foolish sinner, thou leanest upon a broken reed while thou reposest all thy trust in a Crucified Saviour:" Repelled.

BLASPHEMOUS Spirit! It is not the ignominy of the Cross, that can blemish the honour of my Saviour. Thou feelest, to thy endless pain and regret, that he, who would die upon the tree of shame, hath triumphed victoriously over death and all the powers of hell. The greater his abasement was, the greater is the glory of his mercy. He, that is the Eternal God, would put on man, that he might work man's redemption, and satisfy God for man. Who, but a man, could suffer? and who, but a God, could conquer by sufferings? It is man, that had sinned: it is God that was offended: who, but he, that was God and man, could reconcile God unto man? He was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth, and triumpheth, in the power of his, omnipotent, Godhead: 2 Cor. xiii. 4. Neither was it so much weakness to yield unto death, as it was power to vanquish it. Yea, in this very dying, there was strength for here was no violence that could force him into his grave: who should offer it? I and the Father are one, saith that Word of Truth; and in Unity there can be no constraint: and, if the persons be divers; He thought it no robbery to be equal with God, the Father; Phil. ii. 6. and there is no authority over equals. And, for men or devils, what could they do to the Lord of Life? I lay down my life, saith the Almighty Redeemer, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; John x. 17, 18. Ŏ infiniteness, both of power and mercy, met in the centre of a willing death!

Impudent Tempter, dost thou not remember thine own language? The time was, indeed, when thou couldst say, If thou