Well, then, we had need go to God : Lord, ' Deliver us from evil'
Where we beg : —
(1.) That God would weaken the strength of inbred corruption, that we may not be foiled by it. Paul groans sadly, Piom. vii. 24, ' 0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?' It is a question, but it implieth a wish, for the Hebrews [)ropose their wishes by way of question ; that is, Oh that I were de- livered ! It is a great mercy to be kept from falling into sin : ' kept from every evil work,' 2 Tim. iv. 18.
(2.) If we be foiled by our corruption, we beg that we may not lie in it, nor grow weary of our resistance, nor cast away our weapons, and suffer sin to have a quiet reign : Ps. cxix. 133, ' Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.' We cannot hope for a total exemption from sin, but, 0 Lord, let it not reign over us. How shall we know when sin reigns'r' When there is no course of mortification set up against it, to break the power, force, and tyranny of it. Take this distinction : There are remainmg and reserved corruptions ; sin remains where it doth not reign ; but reserved corruption, that is reigning. I will explain it thus : sin remains when, notwithstanding all our endea- vours, yet it still liauuts and pesters us, though praying, watching,
240 AN EXPOSITION OF [Mat. VI. 13.
striving, waiting, and depending upon God for strength ; but it is reserved when you let it alone and are loth to touch it, but rather cherish, dandle, and foster it in the heart, and make provision for it. Therefore then are we delivered from evil when we recover by repent- ance ; and though we suffer by the tyranny of sin, we will not let it alone to have a quiet reign in our hearts, do not live under the power of corruptions. Sin let alone will do us further mischief.
Secondly, As we have reason to pray to God with earnestness, be- cause of our danger ; so with confidence, because of God's undertaking : 2 Thes. iii. 3, ' The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.' God hath undertaken to keep those who, with humble and broken hearts, do come to him to be kept from evil ; that are watcliful, serious, and careful to get evils redressed as soon as discerned ; therefore we may come with an assured confidence to be deHvered from all evil.
How far hath God undertaken to keep his people from evils and dangers in this life ? I answer : —
[1.] So far as may be hurtful to their souls : 1 Cor. x. 13, ' God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' It is part of God's faithfulness to keep you from evil, to proportion and temper temptation to your strength. God suits the burden to every back, he drives on as the little ones are able to bear ; therefore certainly he will mitigate temptation, or give in supply of strength.
[2.] God will keep you from the evil of sin so far as it is deadly ; that is, that it be not a sin unto death, 1 John v. 16 ; and that it may not reign in our mortal bodies, for you are dead to it : Eom. vi. 14, ' For sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.'
[3.] God undertakes for our final deliverance from all evil upon our translation to heaven. This is included in this prayer, that we may at length come to that state where is no sorrow, no sin, no assault and temptation from Satan, that we may be kept from all wickedness : Ps. xsxiv. 19, ' Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.^ There is a time when God delivereth us from all at once, and that is by death and our translation into heaven.
Well, then, let us fly to God for deliverance, waiting for his help.
Doct. That to be kept from the evil of temptation is a greater mercy than to be kept from the trouble of temptation.
' Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ;' that is, if we be led into temptation, let us be kept from the evil of it.
First, It is a more wonderful providence to be kept from evil than from temptation ; es.se honinn facile est, uhi quod vetat esse remotum est. It is no great matter to be chaste or honest, when there is no temptation to the contrary. Ay, but to keep our integrity in the midst of assaults and temptations, there is the wonder. If a garrison be never assaulted, it is no wonder that it standeth exempt from the calamity of war. This is like the bush that was burned, yet not consumed ; exercised with temptation from day to day, and yet kept from evil.