Doct. 2. That if we would not be overcome by the evil of tempta- tions, we should earnestly deal with God about them.
For so doth our Lord direct us here (' Lead us not into temptation') to come to God himself.
There are two reasons I shall consider of in this discourse : — First, We cannot be tempted without the v/ill of God. Secondly, Nor resist without the power of God. Therefore we should deal with God earnestly in all our tempta- tions.
First, We cannot be tempted without the will of God, That God hath a providence in and about temptations, is clear from the scrip- ture : Mat. iv. 1, ' Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilder- ness, to be tempted of the devil.' The Holy Spirit had a hand in it, as well as the evil spirit. So, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, ' God moved David to number Israel and Judah;' but in 1 Chron. xxi. 1, it is said, 'And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.' Satan, he cannot tempt wdthout leave from God. As a lion cannot stir out of his cage, until the keeper brings him out, so the devil, this roaring lion, is held by the irresistible chains of God's providence, and cannot stir until God brings him out. Consider two things : —
[1.] To be led into temptation is more than simply to be tempted. God's permitting us to be tempted is not so much as God's leading us into temptation, for these are two distinct phrases. God may permit or suffer us to be tempted, as a lord or sovereign, which hath power over his own creature, for the trial and exercise of grace, and can absolutely dispose of it according to his own will ; but he leads us into temptation as a judge. And therefore this is one of the comforts which Job propounds to himself, when Satan had a liberty to molest him : Job ix. 12, ' He taketh away, who can hinder him ? who shall say unto him. What doest thou ? ' The general of an army may, according to his discretion, lead which band he pleaseth, and set them in the forlorn hope, in a place of the greatest danger, and appoint for reserves which part of the army he pleaseth. So God may single out his champions to combat for his glory, and may leave others in a more VOL. I. ., p
226 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. YI, 13.
quiet posture, according as he pleasetli. Thu?, as a sovereign agent, God may suffer to be tempted. But now, to lead into temptation, that is another thing, and implieth something of punishment, or as it is expressed, Mat. xxvi. 41, 'Pray that ye enter not into temptation.' We enter into it by our own vohmtary motion, as having forfeited his protection. But then God leads us in as a judge, puts the male- factor into the executioner's or ofEcer's hands : so doth God lead us into temptation ; it is a judicial act, especially when left to perish under the weight of a temptation.
[2.] Consider God as a judge ; he may lead us into temptation two ways : either he may act in way of correction, to manifest his fatherly indignation ; or by way of strict punishment. And so, in resjject of his fatherly correction, God may give us up to a vexing, or to an ensnaring temptation. He may lead the godly into temptation, that they may be molested and troubled ; and may lead the wicked into temptation, that they may be seduced and led away for their eternal ruin. There is a vexing temptation God useth for the correc- tion of his own children ; and thus Paul was buffeted by Satan, lest he should be exalted above measure : 2 Cor, xii. 7. The shepherd sets his dog upon the strayed sheep, not to worry him, but to lodge him, and bring him back again into the fold : so doth God suffer his children to be buffeted and exercised by Satan, to their great trouble, but for their good in the issue ; for he knoweth how to turn all these things for good. Then there is an ensnaring temptation, by which the wicked are entangled in a way of sin ; and so Satan, as God's execu- tioner, is said sometimes to blind the eyes of wicked men, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine unto them, 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; and sometimes to harden their hearts, John xii. 40, ' lest they should be converted and healed. ' For the punishment of former sins, God may give up the wicked to be blinded and hardened by Satan to their own destruction, which is one of the most dreadful acts of God, as a judge, on this side hell.
Certainly then, when we are tempted, we have great cause to deal with God about the temptation, for he hath a hand : either he may suffer us to be tempted, as lord and sovereign ; or may lead us into temptation, either in a way of fatherly correction, or as a mere punish- ment, that we may more ruin and destroy ourselves.
I come now to the second reason.