(3.) God tempts no man, as temptation is taken properly for a so- licitation to sin : James i. 13, ' Let no man say, when he is temjoted, I am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.' Mark, the apostle proves it, that in this sense God cannot tempt, because of the unchangeable holiness of his nature. In temptation we must distinguish between the mere trial, and the solicitation to sin ; the mere trial, that is from God ; but the solicitation to sin, that is from Satan and ourselves. God solicits no man to sin. It is true, God may try us, trouble us, toss us, exercise our faith, hope, and patience. God is the author of our trouble ; but the devil is the author of our sin, who sinneth himself, and soliciteth others to sin.
(4.) When we say, ' Lead us not into temptation,' we do not beg a total exemption from God's trials, but only a removal of the judgment of them. Not a total exemption, for then we must go out of the world, for while we are here every condition is a trial to us, and every
204 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13.
enjoyment. Afflictions and trouble more or less put to trial, and therefore temptation in this sense is a necessary part of that warfare we must encounter and grapple withal while we are in the world. Prosperity tries us, to see if we be then mindful of God when all things succeed well ; and adversity tries us, to see if we can patiently depend upon God. But it is the judgment of trials that we deprecate, that they may not come upon us as a j udgment, or tliat our trial may be so moderate that we may stand our ground. "When doth a trial come as a judgment ? When it is immoderate and beyond our strength, either in a way of prosperity or adversity, but chiefly in a way of adversity ; for that is most commonly set out in a way of trial in scripture. When it is immoderate and beyond our strength, 1 Cor. X. 13, God hath promised to his people that ' they shall not be tempted above that they are able to bear ; but will with the tempta- tion also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it.' God's conduct is very gentle. As Jacob drove on as the little ones were able to bear, so doth God proportion his dispensations to his people's strength, not to their deservings, but he considers what they are able to bear. Either God keeps off greater trials, or gives in greater strength ; a sweeter sense of his love, or a greater measure of gracious support. A child would sink under that load that a strong back bears without any grudging. Now, this is that we ask of God, according to his promise, that our temjjtation may be not immoderate and too hard for us. Or else it is a judgment when it proves a provoca- tion to sin ; and so God's temptation, which was meant for our good, we may abuse it, and take occasion thence to sin ; as when we murmur under the cross, or turn our worldly comforts into an occasion to the flesh. Now, to prevent the judgment which may be in these tempta- tions ; in all the trials which befall us, we should fear more the offence against God than our own smart, or the power of the devil, or any inconvenience that may accrue to us in natural evils which we feel. When we are under afflictions, we should be more solicitous that we do not offend God, that he would keep us from murmuring and dishonouring his name, then we should be about our ease and safety ; for this is to prevent the judgment of the temptation. This was Paul's comfort when he was drawing to the conclusion of his life: 2 Tim. iv. 18, ' The Lord hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, and he shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.' And so, in good things that we enjoy, we should fear more offending God with them than the losing of them ; for the loss of his favour is more than the loss of our com- forts. A man that loseth his worldly portion, this loss may be recom- pensed ; but he that loseth the favour of God, that breach cannot be made up by any worldly comforts whatsoever.
(5.) In passive evils, which are the usual trials of God's people, we are not to seek them, but to submit to them when they come upon us. We are not to seek them : Mat. xvi. 24, ' If any man will be my dis- ciple, let him take up his cross.' When clearly it is our cross, that is, when it lies in our w^ay, and we cannot decline it, then take it up and fit his back to it. So James i. 2, ' My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' He doth not say when ye run into
Mat. VI. 13.] the lord's tiiayer. 205