them, hilt /all into them. We are not to draw them upon om'selves. Afflictions are not to be sought and desired, but improved. Chris- tians, we never know when it is well with us : sometimes we question God's love, because we have no afflictions and trials ; anon we are questioning his love, because we have nothing but afflictions. In all these things we should refer ourselves to God ; not desire troubles, but bear them patiently and quietly when he lays them upon our backs.
(6.) Again, for those trials which come from God. When God tempts us, or trieth his people in mercy, he hath a great deal of care of them under their trials. As a goldsmith, when he casts his metal into the furnace, he doth not lose it there, and look after it no more ; but sits, and pries, and looks to see if it be not too hot, that nothing be spilt, nothing lost. So it is said, Mai. iii. 3, ' And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver : and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.' The Lord will observe his people when they are under trial, how to moderate affliction, how to refresh them with seasonable comfort, that all this might better them, and bring them to good.
(7.) Though in our trials we manifest weakness as well as grace, yet that weakness is to be done away. You must remember weakness is manifested that it may be removed, and grace manifested that it may be strengthened. When gold and silver is tried in the furnace, there is not only pure metal discovered, but also the drossy part mingled with it ; but it is so discovered that it may be severed from the gold. Such is our trial ; it may discover a great deal of dross and sin in us. But this is our comfort, that as it doth discover sin, so it conduceth to mortify sin. Therefore saith Job, chap, xxiii. 10, ' When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold ; ' that is, purified and refined, and having the drossy part eaten out.
(8.) God permits us to be tempted of Satan and his instruments for his glory and our good. For his glory ; that his power may be dis- covered in our preservation, in upholding that grace he hath put into us : 2 Cor. xii. 10, * Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake : for when I am weak, then am I strong.' We should be glad that God be glorified, though with our great inconvenience. And it is for our good ; to correct our pride and vainglory. When Peter presumed of his strength, then God left him to be tempted of the damsel, Mat. xxvi. 33, 70.
(9.) When God permitteth Satan to exercise us, though he suspends the victory, yet if he give us grace to figlit and to maintain the com- bat, it is a great mercy. For so he dealt with Paul when he had to do with the messenger of Satan — (Satan was in that trouble, be it what it will) — he had only this answer, 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' My grace is suffi- cient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Three times he had been with God, and then he gets his answer, and it was only this, ' My grace,' &c. Jesus Christ in his conflict and combat was answered as to support, and so was heard in the things he feared. So if God give strength to the soul, it is an answer, though he do not take off the trial.
206 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13.
Secondly, There are temptations from Satan, as well as from God, who is called the tempter : Mat. iv. 3. Now the devil's temptations they are evil, and for evil. How doth the devil tempt ?
[1.] By propounding objects ; as Luke iv. 5, ' He showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.' He had nothing to work upon within, therefore he propounds outward objects. So still the devil tempts us with a curious eye to take in the object, that it may be a bait and snare to the soul, Achan takes notice of it him- self : Josh. vii. 21, * When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and a wedge of gold, then I coveted them, and took them.' I saio, I coveted, and I tooh : the eye awakens desire, and desire that inclines to practise. So Pro v. xxiii. 31, ' Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.' Unless we shut the windows of the soul, this pestilent plague gets in by the senses. The heart is corrupted by objects that we take in by the senses, as it corrupted Eve, dealt with her first by the sense ; the forbidden fruit was full in her way, then the devil sets upon her.
[2.] He tempts by the persuasion of instruments, who are the devil's spokesmen : thus was Joseph tempted by the enticements and blandish- ments of his mistress. Gen. sxxix. 7. And many times the devil sets nearest friends and relations to weaken their zeal, and withdraw their hearts from God : j\[at. xvi. 23. Saith Christ to Peter, ' Get thee be- hind me, Satan.' It was Peter said it, yet Christ rebuked Satan, for the devil had a hand in it ; he makes one of Christ's disciples his in- strument.