Quest. 2. What rochs of support are therCf or what comfort for tempted souls ?
Ans. \st, That is not our case alone, but hath been the case of God's eminent saints, 1 Cor. X. 13., " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man," yea, to the best men ; Christ's lambs, which have had the ear-mark of election upon them, have been set upon by the world. Elijah that could shut lieaven by praver, could not shut his heart from a temptation, 1 Kings xix. 4. ; Job was tempted to curse God, Peter to deny Christ ; hardly ever any saint hath got to heaven but hath met
OF THE SIXTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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with a Hon by the way. Sortem qiiam om- himself lay under them and did feel them
ties sancti patiuntur nenio recusal. Nay, Je- sus Christ himself though he was free from ein, yet not from temptation : we read of Christ's baptism, Mat. iii., and Mat. iv. 1., ** Then he was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." No sooner was Christ out of the water of baptism, but he was in the fire of temptation ; and if the devil would set upon Christ, no wonder if he set upon us. There was no sin in Christ, no powder for the devil's fire ; temptation to Christ, was like a bur on a crystal glass, which glides oif, or like a spark of fire on a marble pillar, which will not stick ; yet Satan was so bold as to tempt Christ. This is some comfort, such as have been our bet- ters have wrestled with temptations.
2d Rock of support, that may comfort a tempted soul, is, that temptations (where they are burdens) evidence grace. Satan doth not tempt God's children, because they have sin in them, but because they have grace in them. Had they no grace, the devil would not disturb them ; where he keeps possession all is in peace, Luke xi. 21. His temptations are to rob the saints of their grace. A thief will not assault an empty house, but where he thinks there is treasure ; a pirate will not set upon an emp- ty ship, but one that is full fraught with ppices and jewels ; so the devil most assaults the people of God, because he thinks they have a rich treasure of grace in their hearts, and he would rob them of that, \\liat makes Ko many cudgels be thrown at a tree, but because there is so xnuch fruit hanging upon it ? The devil throws his temptations at you, because he sees you have so much fruit of grace growing upon you. Tliough to be ten)j)ted is a trouble, yet to think why you are tempted is a comfort.
3d Rock of support or comfort, is, that Jesus Christ is near at hand, and stands by us in all our temptations. Here take notice of two things : 1. Christ's sympathy in temp- tation. 2. Christ's succour in temptation.
1. Christ's sympathy in our temptations. Nobis com patitur Cliristus. Ileb. iv. 15., " We have not an high-priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Jesus Ciirist doth sympathize with us ; he is so sensible of our temptations as if he
in his own soul. As in music, when one string is touched all the rest sound, so Christ's bowels sound ; we cannot be tempt- ed but he is touched. If you saw a wolf worry your child, would you not pity your child ? You cannot pity it so as Christ doth tempted ones. Christ had a felh)W-feeling when he was upon earth, much more now in glory.
Quest. But hoiv can it stand with Christ's glory now in heaven^ to have, a fellow-feeling of our miseries and temptations ?
Ans. This fellow-feeling in Christ ariseth not from an infirmity or passion, but from the mystical union between him and his members, Zech. ii. 8., " He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye." Every injury done to a saint Christ takes as done to him in heaven ; every temptation is a striking at Christ, and he is touched with the feeling of our temptations.
2. Christ's succour in temptation. As the good Samaritan first had compassion on the wounded man, — there was sympathy ; then he poured in wine and oil, — there was suc- cour, Luke X. 34. So when we are wounded by the red dragon, Christ is first touched with compassion, and then he pours in wine and oil, Hcb. ii. 18., " In tliat he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." The Greek word to succour, signifies to run speedily to ones help : so fierce is Satan, so frail is man, that Christ, who is God-man, runs speedily to his help. AVhen Peter was ready to sink, and said, " Lord, save me !" Christ presently stretched forth his hand, and caught him : so when a poor soul is tempted, and cries to heaven for help, " Lord, save me !" Christ comes in with his auxiliary forces ; noscit Chrislus, our Lord Jesus knows what it is to be tempted, therefore he is so ready to succour such as are tempted. It hath been an observation, that child-bear- ing women are more jiitiful to others in their travails, than such women as are bar- ren : so the Lord Jesus having been in travail by temptations and sufferings, is more readv to ])ity and succour such as are