(2.) When men tempt themselves, or provoke Satan to tempt them. As those which ' make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,' Rom. xiii. 14 ; that cater for their lusts, and contrive how to feed them, and how to cherish those inordinate affections in their hearts ; that run into the devil's quarters, that bespeak a temptation ; r)r, as it is, James v. 5, that ' nourish their hearts, as in a day of slaughter.' To nourish our hearts, is to feed our lusts, to put strength into the enemy's hand. When a commander sent to his prince to know how he should keep such a rebellious town in order, he sent him this answer : That he should starve the dog, and strengthen the clog ;
Mat. VI. 13.] the lord's prayer. 213
that he should weaken tlie city, and strengthen tlie garrison, that was his meaning. Truly, what was his advice in that outward case, that is the duty of a Christian ; to weaken his lusts, and still to be strengthening grace. He should be increasing the better part, and putting the spirit in heart by godly exercises ; by treasuring up promises, getting arguments and fresh encouragements against sin ; and by weakening the flesh, starving and cutting off provisions for the flesh. But, on the contrary, when men cater for tlie flesh, provide for it, indulge carnal distempers, and feed them with that diet which they affect, these tempt themselves, and seem willing to lie under their bondage, and to be glad of it.
(3.) When a man is a sinner to his loss, and hath reasons of nature to dissuade him, as well as reasons of grace, not only religion, but his civil interests, would counsel him to do otherwise ; as he that brings a blot upon his name or ruin upon his estate by evil courses ; when men ' draw on iniquity with a cart rope,' as the expression is, Isa. v. 18; that is, when it is not pleasure, but a very toil and burden and temporal inconvenience to them to be sinful ; that industriously make it their business ; those that are ' holden with the cords of their own sins,' Prov. v. 22. He speaks of such as did bring temporal incon- veniences upon themselves, as did consume their flesh and their own bodies ; these certainly are those that have cause to complain of their own hearts, not to put it on Satan, but themselves.
II. Having opened the nature of temptations, I come now to give the reasons why this is so usual an evil we encounter with in the world — temptation.
1. God permits it for his own glory, to discover the power, the freeness and riches of his grace, that men may be driven the more earnestly to sue out their peace in the name of Jesus Christ. Luther propounds this reason : Though man be prone to sin of himself of his own accord, yet God suffers the tempter to be in the Avorld, because man is backward to seek mercy and grace by Christ; and therefore God urgeth him witli sore temptations. Certainly this reason was given by liim not amiss. You know, when Paul felt those paroxysms and sad counter-buflfs in his own spirit, this makes him bless God for Jesus Christ : Rom. vii. 25. ' But thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' It makes him reflect upon the grace of God in Christ. We keep off from the throne of grace till temptations drive us thither. As when the sheep wander, the shepherd lets loose his dog upon them ; not to worry them, but to bring them back to the fold again : so God lets loose Satan to drive us to himself
2. For the trial of that grace which he hatli wrought in us. Grace doth better appear in temptation than out of it. The greatness of the woman of Canaan's faith would never have been discovered, had it not been for Christ's answer and denial : Mat. xv. 25-28 ; then, ' 0 woman, great is thy faith.' The glory of that grace which God hath wrought in his i)eople would not be discovered so nmch, were it not for the great trials he puts them upon : Heb . xi. 17, ' I3y ftiith Abraham, when he was tried, offei'ed up Isaac' Before we go to heaven we shall have our trials, and shall be tried in our dearest comforts,
214 AN EXPOSITION OF [MaT. VI. 13.
and choicest worldly contentments ; and all to see what faith we have, and what loyalty to God in the midst of these trials. A great tempest discovcreth the goodness of a ship and skill of the pilot ; and so tlaese great trials they discover the soundness of our hearts, and the fruit of that grace which God hath wrought in us. Gold is most tried in the fire, and discovered to be pure and perfect. Stars that lie hid in the day shine in the night. We have but dry notions of the comforts of Christianity, and make them matter of talk, until we are put upon great trials, then is our belief and sense of them proved. A gilded potsherd may shine until it comes to scouring, but then the varnish and paint is worn off. The valour and worth of a soldier is not known in times of peace and when he is out of action. When we are put to some difficulty and straits, then is faith seen. Now this is a very pleasing spectacle to God, to see them approve their faith and loyalty to his majesty.