Branch 3. Here is matter of humiliation, that there is in us such an aptitude and proneness to yield to temptation. Nitimur in vetitiim — We are as ready to swallow a temptation, as the fish to swallow the bait. If the devil tempt to pride, lust, envy, re- venge, bow do we symbolize witb Satan, and embrace his snares ? Like a woman that hath a suitor come to her, and she doth not need much wooing, she presently gives her consent : Satan comes a-wooing by temptation, and we soon yield ; he strikes fire, and we are as dry tinder that catcheth the first spark ; he knocks by temptation, and it is sad to think how soon we open the door to the devil, which is as if one should open the door to a thief; this may cause a spring of tears.
Brancb 4. See hence, a Christian's life is no easy life ; it is military ; he hath a Go- liah in the field to encounter with, one that is armed with power and subtilty ; be bath liis wiles and darts. A Christian must be continually watcbinff and ficrbtincr. Satan's designs carry death in the front, 1 Pet. v. 8., " Seeking whom be may devour ;" there- fore we bad need be always with our wea-
pons in our liand. llow few think their life a warfare ? Though they have an enemy in the field, that is always laying of snares, or shooting of darts, yet they do not stand sentinel or get their spiritual artillery ready they put on their jewels, but not their ar- mour. Job xxi. 12., " They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ," as if tliey were rather in music than in battle. Many are asleep in sloth, when they should be fighting against Satan ; and no wonder the devil shoots them when he finds them asleep !
Use 2. It reproves them who pray, " Lead us not into into temptation," yet run them- selves into temptation : such are tliey who go to plays and masfpierades, and bunt after strange flesh. Some go a slower pace to bell, but such as run themselves into temp- tation, these go galloping tbitber; we have too many of these in this de])auched age, who as if they thought they could not sin fast enough, tempt the devil to tempt them.
Use 3. Exhortation. Let us labour that we be not overcome by temptation.
Quest. IJ'/iot means may be tiscd, that Sa- ta7i's temptations may not prevail against us ?
Ans. 1. Avoid solitariness. It is no wis- dom in fighting with an enemy to give him the advantage of the ground : we give Sa- tan advantage of the ground when we are alone. Eve was foiled in the absence of her husband. A virgin is not so soon set upon in company, Eccl. iv. 9., " Two are better than one." Get into the communion of saints, and that is a good remedy against temptation.
2. If you would not be overcome of temp- tation, beware of the predominancy of melancholy; this is a/ra ii7/.v, a black liu- niour seated chiefly in the brain. Melan- choly disturbs reason, and exposeth to temp- tation. One calls melancholy balneum dia- bcli, ' the devil's bath ;' be bathes himself with delight in such a person. Melancholy clothes the mind in sable; it fills it with su'h dismal apprehensions, as oft end in self-murder.
3. If you would not be overcome of temptation study sobriety, 1 Pet. v. 8., " Be sober, because your adversary walketh about." Sober-mindedness consists in the moderate use of earthly things ; an immo-
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derate desire of tliese things oft brings men into the snare of the devil. 1 Tim. vi. 9., " Tliey that will be rich fall into a snare." He who loves riches inordinately, will ])ur- cliase tliem unjustly. Ahab would swim to Naboth's vineyard in blood. lie wlio is drunk with the love of tlie world, is never free from temptation; he will pull down l)is soul to build up an estate. ' Qiiid non mortalia pectora cogis auri sacra fames ?' Be sober, take heed of being drunk with the love of the world, lest ye fall into temptation.
4. Be always upon your guard, — watch against Satan's wiles and subtil ties, — 1 Pet. v. 8., " Be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about." A Christian must excubias agere, — keep watch and ward ; see where Satan labours to make a breach, — see what grace he most strikes at, or what sin he most tempts to : Mark xiii. 37., " I say unto you all, watch." Watch all the senses, the eye, the ear, the touch ; Satan can creep in here. O how needful is tlie spiritual watch ! Shall Satan be watchful, and we drowsy ? Doth he watch to devour us, and shall not we watch to save ourselves ? Let us see what sin our heart most natur- ally inclines to, and watch against this.
5. Beware of idleness ; Satan sows most of his seed in fallow-ground. It was Ilie- rom's counsel to his friend, to be ever bu- sied, that if the devil did come, he might find him working in the vineyard. Idleness tempts the devil to tempt ; the bird that sits still is shot; he that wants employment, never wants temptation ; when a man hath nothing to do, Satan will bring grist to the mill, and find him work enough.