3. Temptations, as they serve to prove, so also to humble us, that we may never be proud of what we have, or conceited of what we have not. As Paul, that he might not be exalted above measure, he was buffeted with a messenger of Satan : 2 Cor. xii. 7. Poor bladders we are, soon blown up and swollen into vanity and vain conceits of our- selves, therefore had need be pricked, that we may let out those swell- ing winds. A ship that is laden with precious ware, needs to be ballasted with wood, stones, or contemptible stuff. But why will God humble us by temptations, and such kind of temptations as are solici- tations to evil ? Answer. Spiritual evils need a spiritual cure. Out- ward afflictions they humble, but not so much as temptations do ; they are not so conducible to humble a gracious heart as temptations to sin. Why ? For then the breach is made upon our souls, and the assault is given to that which a gracious man counts to be dear, and therefore these are sufiered to come upon us. If anything will humble a child of God, this will do it. It may be he may bear up under losses tolerably, but when his peace comes to be assaulted, and his grace, this will humble him to purpose. Worldly men, they value their estate by their outward interest, but a child of God by his peace of conscience, and his thriving in grace. Oh, this wounds him to the heart, when in either of these he suffers loss ; this sets him a-praying and groaning to God, as Paul groans bitterly when he felt those gripes of sin, and those reluctances in his heart: '0 wretched man!' &c. Afflictions, they conduce to ' humble and prove ' us, Deut. viii. 16. And besides, too, the Lord loves to make the cause of our mischief to be the means of our cure. This giveth us the sight of some corrup- tion we saw not before.
4. God permits this exercise to his people to conform us to Christ. We must pledge him in his own cup, it must go round ; he himself was tempted: Heb. ii. 7. Christ hath felt the weight, burden, and trouble of temptations, and knows the danger of them. Now the dis- ciple is not above his lord, nor the scholar above his master. The devil, that did set upon Christ, will not be afraid of us.
5. By temptations to sin God mortifieth sin ; not only that sin to which we are tempted, but others, that we may not be so heedless. When we have smarted under temptation, we are not so indulgent to
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corruption as before ; we do not let our senses nor affections run loose. As David speaks, that he got this by his fall : Ps. li. 6, ' In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.' Oh, I shall be wiser and more circumspect for this all my life. When men have smarted they grow more cautious ; and so, by the overruling and good hand of God, our sins do us service in our passage to heaven, as well as our graces ; and God's children may say, they had sinned more if they had sinned less : they are more acquainted with the wiles and depths of Satan and naughtiness of their own hearts, and so are more solicitous.
6. To make us more meek to others : Gal. vi. 1 , ' If any man be fallen, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meek- ness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' We are very apt to be severe and fierce upon the failings of others ; but now, when we are tempted ourselves, we learn more pity and compassion towards them. Severe censurers are left to some great temptation, that they may be acquainted with their own frailties ; they are tempted to some sins, to which their hearts were not so inclinable before. Well, then, that we may pity others, mourn over them, and have a fellow-feeling of their condition, God will make us know the heart of a tempted man, that we may have more compassion over poor tempted souls. Possibly that may be a part of the apostle's sense: 2 Cor. i. 6, ' Whether we be ajBlicted, it is for your consolation and salvation ; or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.' Persons in office in the church, they are afflicted and tempted ; and, it may be, have a gi'eater measure of afflictions and temptations, that they may show more pity to other souls. Therefore Luther was wont to say, three things made a minister, viz., prayer, meditation, and temptation. When he is much in communion with God, much in the study of the word, and hath been exercised in temptation, then he will be of a tender and compassionate heart over others ; and that he may help them out of the snares of the devil, he is more fitted to his work by temptation.
7. It occasions much experience of the care and providence of God, and the comforts of his promises. A man doth not know what the comforts of faith mean till he be exercised by temptation. And spiritual experiences will countervail all other troubles. This is an hour of temptation : Kev. iii. 10. What should we do in this hour of temp- tation? Be not over-confident, nor over-diffident, in an hour when God casts us upon trying times. Not over-confident, in casting your- selves upon needless troubles without cause : Mat. xiv. 28. Peter said, ' Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.' Peter thought he could do anything in the strength of Christ's word ; Peter seeks a call before it be given him. Nor yet be over-backward and diffident to own God, and the truths of God. As Paul taxed Peter for dissembling : Gal. ii. 12. When those false brethren were likely to bring great trouble, Peter dissembled, and runs with them, and sepa- rates himself from the purer sort of Christians, he is taxed there for it. We should not run into them without cause, nor yet be ashamed to own the ways of God, those which are most agreeable to his holy word. Not be solicitous so much about events as duties ; for God is