216 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VL 13.
far more concerned than we, and hath a greater interest than we can have. What is our interest, and tlie interest of onr families and our children, to the great interest of God, the safety of his children, the safety of his glory, and cause of his church ? Be not troubled about events, for all our business is to understand our duty, that we may not sin, hut keep blameless in the hour of temptation.
Use. If temptations be a usual evil, wherewith we encounter in the present world, then —
First, We should not be dismayed at them.
Secondly, We should be prepared for them.
First, We should not be dismayed at them, as if some strange thing did befall us. When we enter into the lists with Satan, resist the devil. Why? 1 Pet. v. 9, ' For all those things are accomplished in your brethren that are in the flesh.' They are all troubled with a busy devil, a naughty world, and a corrupt heart ! And why should we look for a total exem^^tion, and to go to heaven in an unusual way?
That we may not he dismayed by temptation, I shall give j'ou several considerations.
[1.] We took an oath to fight under Christ's banner. Baptism it is sacranientum militare, our military oath, which we took to fight in Christ's cause, against all the oppositions and difficulties we meet with in the world: 1 Pet. iii. 21. The apostle calls baptism ' The answer cf a good conscience towards God,' An answer supposeth a question. Ii is an allusion to the questions propounded by the catechist to the catechumen. When they came to desire baptism, they asked them, Ahrenuncias f Dost thou renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil ? And they answered, ^69-eww?ic/o, I do renounce them. So Credis? Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ with all thy heart ? as Philip pro- pounds the question to the eunuch ; and they answered. Credo, I do believe. Wilt thou undertake to walk in all holy obedience ? and the answer is, I do undertake before God. Conscience, which is God's deputy, puts the question, in God's name, to those which take the seals of his covenant. Are you willing to renounce the flesh and worldly vanities ? Will you cleave to God, and his ways, whatever they cost you? Whosoever makes this answer,, is supposed that he makes it knowingly, that he doth understand the difficulties of salvation, and what he must meet with in his way to heaven. So the apostle saith, ' You are not debtors to the flesh,' Rom. viii. 12. A man is a debtor to another, either by the obligation of some received benefit, or by his solemn promise and engagement ; both are of use in that place. They that would seek the well-being of their souls, need not gratify the flesh. They that are engaged to walk after the Spirit, and come under the bond of a holy oath, and that are thus solemnly engaged, cannot expect to carry on the profession of godliness without conflicts and multiplied difficulties.
[2.] That is not the happiest condition which is most quiet and free from the temptations of Satan ; for Luke xi. 21, ' When the strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace ' When the devil hath quiet possession, he doth not trouble men. The sea must needs be smooth and calm when wind and tide go one way. There
Mat. YI. 13.] the lord's prayer. 217
are some which suspect their condition, becaii?e of continual tempta- tion ; and others, because they have no temptation. Neither is a safe rule, for the time of our conflict may not yet be come. But if any have cause to suspect themselves, it is the last sort ; for they that are least troubled may be most hurt ; they are quiet and secure, because Satan hath got them into his snare, and hath a quiet dominion in their souls.
[3.] Jesus Christ himself was tempted, and therefore we should not be dismayed with temptations. Upon several accounts is this a comfort to us ; partly, as it shows that we cannot look for an exemp- tion, for the captain of our salvation was thus exercised, Heb. ii. 10. Be not disconsolate, it becomes good soldiers to follow their captain. We are to pledge him in this cup. He was tempted, therefore ive shall be tempted. Partly and chiefly, because now he is more likely to pity us. It is said, Heb. ii. 18, ' Wherefore he is able to succour those that are tempted.' Jesus Christ hath felt the weight and trouble of temptations, therefore sure he will pity us if we lie under griefs and dangers ; as a man that hath been shipwrecked himself is the more likely to pity others in their distress when they have lost all. One that knows evils by guess and imagination, knows them only at a distance, and doth not know how evil they are ; but he that knows them by experience, he knows them at hand, and by such a smart sense as must needs leave a deep stroke and impression upon the soul. So Jesus Christ, that hath had an experimental knowledge, that knows the heart of a tempted man, can more feelingly succour those that are tempted ; his heart becomes tender by experience ; he knows the danger and troubles we are subject unto ; therefore be not dis- mayed. And partly too, because by suffering this evil in his own person, he hath pulled out the sting of temptation. Christ sanctified every condition that he passed through ; his being poor hath pulled out the sting of poverty. It is the more comportable now to a godly jpoor man, one that hath an interest in Christ. His dying hath pulled out the sting of death ; so that what is to him a prison (Isa. liii. 8, 'He shall be taken from prison and from judgment') is to us a bed of ease : Isa. Ivii. 2, ' They shall rest in their beds ;' so his being tempted hath unstung temptations, and hath made them not so grievous. And partly too, as he hath directed us how to stand out, and with what kind of weapons to foil Satan. Christ, that is a pattern of doing and suffering, is also a pattern of resisting. He that left us an example of doing the will of God, and of suffering with meekness, and when he was reviled, reviled not again ; so in resisting temptations hath he left us an example, hath taught us how to grapple with the devil, and in what manner to repress his temptation ; therefore we should not be altogether dismayed.