6. In falling most violently upon them, when they are lowest and most prostrate in their spirits and comforts: So heassaulted Job witha temptation, to curse God mid die, when he sat in that deplorable state upon the dunghill, Job ii. 8, 9. He loves to fall upon us, as Simeon and Levi did upon the Shechemites, when we are sore and wounded : And therefore ordinarily you find times of c/it^m^ desoiionstohe times of diabolical temptations. So that, look, as the wild beasts of the desart come out of their dens in the night, and then roar after their prey,
62 PREPARATIONS FOR SUFFERINGS ; OR,
Psal. civ. 20. so doth Satan, when the soul seems to be benighted ancf lost in the darkness of spiritual troubles.
And this is the second thing wherein the efficacy and strength of temptation lies.
III. Lastly, It lies in that secret correspondency Satan holds with our bosom enemies. Were it not for this domestic traitor, he could not surprize us so easily : As you see in Christ ; he could do nothing be- cause he found nothing to fasten a temptation on. He was like a chrystal glass filled with pure fountain water : So that though he should have been agitated and shaken never so much by temptation, yet no filthy sediment could appear ; but now we have an enemy within that holds intelligence with Satan without ; and this would prove a dc-v'il to us, if there were no other devil to tempt us, Jam. i. 14, 15. It is a fountain of temptation in itself Matth. xv. 19. and the chief instrument by which Satan doth all his tempting work, 2 Pet. i. 4.
Our several passions and affections are the handles of his tempta- tions. Every thing, saith Epictetus, hath buo Xa^ag, two handles to take it by. Our affections are the handles of our souls. The temp- tation of self-confidence and pride takes hold of a daring and for- ward disposition, the temptation of apostasy upon a timorous disposi- tion, &c. These inbred lusts go over to the enemy in the day of battle, and fight against the soul, 1 Pet. ii. 11. This is a more dan- gerous enemy than the devil. It is true they both work against us, but with a double difference. Satan works externally and ohjectively ; but lust internally and jyhysically, i. e. quoad maferale, as it is capable of physical efficiency. " Sin wrought in me all manner of concupi- " scence," Rom. vii. 8. Yea, it is a subtle enemy that doth his busi- ness politicly, Rom. vii. 11 Sin deceived me ; it betrays with a kiss, strangles with a silken halter, Heb. ii. 12. Eph. vii. 22. These be his agents sitting at the coimcil-table in our own breasts, and there carrying on his designs effectually : Yea, it is the restless and perpetual ene- my, no ridding your hands of him. Satan is sometimes put to flight by resistance, Jam. iv. 7. and sometimes ceases his temptations, Luke iv. 13. But when he ceaseth to teiiipt and inject, thisceaseth not to irritate and solicit ; where we are, it will be ; it is our sad lot to be tied to it, and perpetually assaulted by it, Rom. vii. 24. We may say of it as Hannibal said of Marcellus, that it is never quiet, whether a conqueror, or conquered ; yea, it is a potent enemy too, it hauls men away to the commission of sin. Jam. i. 14. it seizeth the maga- zine of the soul, and delivers up the arms, I mean the members, to be orr'/.d abiz/ccg, weapons of unrighteousness.
Thus you see wherein the efficacy and power of temptation con- sists. And it miglitily concerns you that are, or expect to be suffer- ers for Christ, to be acquainted with these things, and know where the strength of your enemy lies.
But how shall the suffering saint so manage himself in a suffering
THE BEST WORK IX THE WORST TIMES. 63
liour, as not to be captivated by temptations ? This brings me upon the second thing I promised ; viz. to prescribe some rules for the escaping or conquering of those temptations that arc incidental to a suffering state. And first,
1. Rule. Labour to cut off the advantages of temptations before they come. It is our inordinate love to life, estate, liberty, and ease, that gives the temptations so much strength upon us. Do not over- value them, and you will more easily part from them. Rev. xii. 11. O mortify self-love, and creature-love ; let your heart be loosened and weaned from them, and then the temptation hath lost its strength,
2. Rule. Secure to yourselves an interest in the heavenly glory. When once you clearly see your propriety in the kingdom above, you will set the hghter and lower by all things on earth. That is a preg- nant text to this purpose, Heb. x. 34. It is our darkness and un, certainties about those that make us cling so fast to these.
3. Rule. Settle this principle in your heart as that which you will never depart from, that it is better for you to fall into any suffering, than into the least sin, Heb. xi. 24, 25. This all will acknowledge, but how iew practise it ! Oh that you would practically understand and receive it ! Suffering is but a respective^ external, and temporal evil ; but sin is an universal, internal, and everlasting evil.
4. Rule. Believe that God hath cursed and blasted all the ways of sin, that they shall never be a shelter to any soul that flies for refuge to them, Mark viii. 35. Prov. xiii. 15. The way of transgressors is a hard and difficult M^ay. There is no security in the way of ini- quity. He that runs from suffering to sin, runs from the seeming to the real danger ; from the painted to the living lion.
5. Rule. Live up to this principle that there is no policy like sin- cerity and godly simplicity. This will preserve and secure you when carnal wisdom will expose and betray you. Psal. xxv. 2. Job ii. 3. Sinful policy never thrives with saints.
6. Rule. Consider sadly what the consequence of yielding up your- selves to temptations will be: The name of God will be dreadfully reproached, 2 Sam. xii. 14. A fatal stumbling-block is laid before the blind world, 1 Sam. ii. 36. The hearts of many upright ones made sad, Psal. xxv. 3. The fall of a professor is as when a standard- bearer fainteth ; and a dreadful wound it will be to thine own con- science, 2 Cor. ii. 7. Mat. xxv. 76. One hour's sleep of security may keep you many days and nights waking upon the rack of horror.
7. Rule. Never engage a temptation in your own strength, but go forth against it trembling in yourselves, and relying on Divine aids and assistances, Eph. vi. 10. What ! are you to grapple with spirits, to enter the lists with j^nncipaUties and powers ? Or what is your strength that you should hope ?
8. Rule. Let the days of your temptation be days of strong cries and supplications. Thus did Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8. Psal. cix. 4. Your best posture to wrestle with temptation, is upon your knees.
6i PREPARATrONS FOU SUFrERTXGS ; ORj