[2.] In an hour of temptation, we should be more solicitous about duties than events, and about sins than dangers. As to events, God is concerned as well as you, and he will order them for his own glory. It should be your great care that you may be kept blameless to his heavenly kingdom : 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18, ' The Lord, that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.' However God deal with you as to events, and whatever dangers attend you, this should be your care mainly, that you may not sin, but be kept blame- less. David often begged direction, that he might be guided in his trouble, and not falter, and do anything unseemly.
224 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13.
[3.] Be more jealous of Satan's wiles than of his open assaults. Natural courage, and the bravery of a common and ordinary resolu- tion, together with- deep engagement of credit and interest, may do much to make us stand out against assaults, against open force and violence of evil men ; but there needs a great deal of judgment to stand out against the wiles and crafts of the devil. Flesh and blood will not so easily bear us out against the secret ensnarings of the heart. The young prophet doth thunder out his message against the king, 1 Kings xiii. 3, yet was enticed by the wiles of the old prophet. So we may stand out against an open assault and apparent violence, but take heed of the secret wiles of Satan.
[4.] The wiles of Satan are to enforce and draw us into those cor- ruptions which are incident to the season. Here is the great point of spiritual wisdom, to be seasoned in our mortification, and to withstand the spiritual evil that is apt to grow upon us in the time of our fears : Ps. Ivi. 3, ' What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.' Then our great business is, to cherish our dependence upon God, to prevent distrust and unbelieving thoughts of God's providence. As, on the other side, in a time when we are likely to be corrupted with ease and prosperity, then our business is to watch against security and deadness of heart, which is apt to grow upon us. As Nazianzen said, When things go prosperous with me, I read the Lamentations of Jeremiah, I remember the mournful passages which befall the people of God, and that is my cure. So to prevent despondency in a time of fears, to encourage our souls to dependence.
Now, when our wills are crossed, dangers attend us on every side, and we know not how far evil will break out to the overturning of all. What are the sins incident to such a time of trouble ? and how do the wiles of Satan come upon us ?
(1.) Impatience : Gen. xxx. 1, when the will of Rachel was crossed, she said unto Jacob, ' Give me children, or else I die.' When we im- patiently fret against the Lord : Ps. xxxvii. 1, ' Fret not thyself because of evil-doers ; neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.'
(2.) Murmuring and repining against the Lord, that is another snare : Jonah iv. 9, ' I do well to be angry, even unto death;' when he was crossed. Discontent at God's providence gratifieth Satan exceedingly ; when we will justify ourselves, and think it a kind of zeal to be angry, and pet against providence.
(3.) A spirit of revenge against instruments, when we do not sweetly calm the heart with the remembrance of God's hand : 2 Sam. xvi. 9, ' Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.' Thus when wicked men disturb order, the heart is apt to rise in revenge, therefore we are to calm our hearts.
(4.) There is fainting in duty ; when we begin to give over prayer, and are discouraged, and are loth to wrestle with God in an ordinance: Heb. xii. 12, ' Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.' When a man's hands begin to wax feeble, and he is dis- couraged in the ways of the Lord : ' My foot had well-nigh slipped,' saith David, Ps. Ixxiii. 2.
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(5.) There is closing with sinful means, and running to them for an escape ; as Saul, when he was crossed : 1 Sam. xxviii. 7, ' Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.' When we go to carnal shifts, and unworthy means, these are very natural to us.
(6.) Despair and distrustful thoughts of God, though we have had much experience of his goodness. David, 1 Sam. xxvii. 1, ' I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul,' after all his experience.
(7.) Questioning our interest in God, by reason of crosses, or the doubtful posture of our affairs: Judges vi. 13, 'If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us ? '
These are the wiles of Satan. Ride out the storm upon gospel encouragements. This will bear us up, it is but a moment to eternity. It is but ' a light affliction, and will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,' 2 Cor. iv. 17. The second point is this : —