temptation, you might have put black spots in the face of religion, and given occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme, 2 Sam. xii. 14. Had you been overcome you might have lain sick of ' a wounded spirit,' and cried out, with David, of ' broken bones.' After Da\id yielded to temptation, he lay for three quarters of a year in horror of mind ; and some divines think, he never recovered his full joy to the day of his death. O therefore, what cause have they to stand upon mount Gerizim blessing of God, who in a field of battle have got the better of Satan, and been more than con- querors ! Say, as the Psalmist, Ps. cxxiv. 6. " Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us a ])rey to their teeth !" so, blessed be God who hath not given us as a prey to Satan that roaring lion ! When God puts mercy in the premises, we must put praise in the conclusion.
2. You that have been tempted, and come off victors, be full of sympathy, — pity tempt- ed souls, — shew your piety in your pit v. Do you see Satan's darts sticking in their sides ? Do what you can to pull out these darts ; communicate your experiences to them; tell them how you broke the devil's snare, and your Saviour was your succour- er. The apostle speaks of restoring others, ' in the spirit of meekness,' Gal. vi. 1. The Greek word for rest, alludes to chirurgeons, who set bones out of joint : so when we see such as are tempted, and Satan hath, as it were, put their bones out of joint, labour to put them in joint again, with all love, meek- ness, and compassion. ' A word sjjoken in season' may relieve a soul fainting in temp- tation ; and you may do, as the good Sama- ritan, drop in oil and wine into the wound, Luke X. 34«. Vir spiritualis consilia mogis quam convitia meditatur, Aug.
3. You that have got a conquest of Sa- tan, be not secure. Tliink not that you shall never be troubled with the tempter more ; he is not like the Syrians, 2 Kings vi. 23., " The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel." A cock, if he be made once to run away, he will fight no more ; but, it is not so with Satan, he is a restless enemy, atul if you have beaten him back, he will make a fresh onset. Hanni-
ful to God ! Had you been overcome by j bal said of Marcellus, a Roman captain, tha>
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whether he did beat or was beaten, lie was never quiet. When Clirist had worsted Sa- tan, he went away from Christ, but ad tem- pns, " for a season," Luke iv. 13., as if lie meant to come ajjain. When we have got- ten the better of Satan, we are apt to g-row secure, to lay aside our armour, and leave off our watch ; which, when Satan perceives, then he comes upon us with a neAv tempta- tion and wounds us ; he deals with us as David did with the Amalakites, when they had taken the spoil, and were secure, 1 Sam. XXX. 16., " They were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating, and drinking, and dancing:" then, ver. 17., " David smote them, and there escaped not a man of them." Therefore, after we have got the better of the tempter, we must do as the mariners in a calm, mend our tackling, as not knowing how soon another storm may come. Satan mav for a time retreat, that he may after- wards come on more fiercely ; he may go a- wav a while, and bring other seven spirits with him, Luke xi. 26. Therefore, be not se- cure, but stand upon your watch-tower, lie in your armour, always expect a fight. Say, as he that hath a short respite from an ague, I look every day when my fit shall come; so say, I look every day when the tempter should come ; I will put myself into a war- like posture. Satan when he is beaten out of the field, is not beaten out of heart, he will come again, lie had little hope to prevail against Christ; Christ gave him three dead-
ly wounds, and made him retreat ; yet he departed only ' for a season.' If the devil cannot conquer us, yet he knows he shall molest us ; if he cannot destroy us, he will surely disturb us ; tlierefore we must, with the pilot, have our compass ready, and be able to turn our needle to any point where temptation shall blow. If the tempter come not so soon as we expect, yet, by putting ourselves into a posture, we have this ad- vantage, we are always prepared.