3. God doth not judge of his children by one action, but by the frame of their heart; as God doth not judge of a wicked man by one good action, so neither of a god- ly man by one bad action ; a holy person may be worsted by a temptation : but God doth not measure him by that. Who mea- sures milk when it seethes and boils up ? God doth not take the measure, of a saint when the devil hath boiled him up in a pas- sion, but God judgeth of him by the pulse and temper of his heart; he Avould fear God ; when he fails he weeps. God looks which way the bias of his heart stands : If his heart be set against sin, God will par- don.
4. God will make a saint's being foiled by temptation, turn to his spiritual advan- tage.
(1.) He may let a regenerate person fall by a temptation, to make him more watch- ful ; perhaps he walks loosely, and so was decoyed into sin, but for the future, he grows more curious and cautious in his walking. The foiled Christian is a vigilant Christian ; he will have a care of coming within the lion's chain any more, he will he shy and fearful of the occasion of sin ; I'.e will not go abroad without bis spiritual armour, and he girds on his armour by prayer. When a wild beast gets over the hedge, and hurts the corn, a man will make his fence stronger : so, when the devil gets
' over the fence by a temptation, and foils a Christian, he will be sure to mend his fence, and be more vigilant against a temptation afterwards.
(2.) God lets his children be sometimes foiled by a temptation, that they may see
, their continual dependance on God, and may go to him for strength. We need not
only habitual grace, to stand against temp- tation, but auxiliary grace : as the boat needs not only the oars, but wind, to carry it against a strong tide. God lets liis chiU dren sometimes fall by a temptation, that, seeing their own weakness, they may rest more on Christ and free-grace. Cant. viii. 5w (3.) God, by suffering his children to bo foiled by a temptation, will settle them the more in grace : they shall get strength by their foils. Tlse poets feign, that Anta^as the giant, in wrestling with Hercules, got strength by every fall to the ground: it is true here, — a saint, being foiled in wrest- ling with Satan, gets more spiritual strength. Peter had never such a strengthening in his faith, as after his being foiled in the high -priest's hall. How was he fired with zeal, steeled with courage ? He who be- fore was dashed out of countenance by the voice of a maid, now dares openly confess Christ before the rulers and the councils ! Acts ii. 14. The shaking of the tree set- tles it the more : God lets his children be shaken with the wind of temptation, that they may be more settled in grace after- wards. This I have spoken that such Christians as God hath suffered to be foiled by temptation, may not cast away their anchor, or give way to sad despairing thoughts.
Ouj. But this may seem to make Christians careless whether they fall into a temptation or not, if God can make their being foiled by a temptation advantageous to them.
Ans. We must distinguish between one who is foiled through weakness, and through wilfulness. If a soldier fights, but is foil- ed for want of strength, the general of the army will pity him, and bind up his wounds;, but if he be wilfully foiled, and proves treacherous, he must expect no favour : so,, if a Christian fight it out with Satan, but is foiled for want of strength (as it was with Peter) God will pity liim, and do him good by his being foiled ; but if he be foil- ed wilfully, and runs into a temptation, (as it was with Judas), God will shew him no favour, but will execute martial law upon him.
The uses remain.
Use 1. Branch 1. See in what conti- nual danger we are. Satan is an exquisite
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artist, — a deep head-piece, — he lies in am- bush to ensnare, — he is the tempter, — it is his delig^ht to make the saints sin ; and he is subtle in tempting, he hath ways and methods to deceive.
First, He brings a saint into sin, by making him confide in his habitual graces. Satan makes him believe he hath such a etock of grace as will antidote him against all temptations ; thus Satan deceived Peter, he made him trust in his grace ; he had such a cable of faith and strong tacklings, that though the winds of temptation did blow never so fierce, he could Aveather the point : " Though all men forsake thee yet will not I !" as if he had more grace than all the apostles. Thus he was led into temptation, and fell in the battle : a man may make an idol of grace. Habitual grace is not sufficient without auxiliary. The boat needs not only oars, but a gale of wind to carry it against the tide, so we need not only habitual grace, but the blow- ing of the Spirit, to carry us against a strong temptation.