4. The hopes of success. God would set Christ before us as a pat- tern of trust and confidence, that when we address ourselves to serve God, we might not fear the temptations of Satan. We have an example of overcoming the devil in our glorious head and chief If he pleaded, John xvi. 33, ' In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world ; ' the same holdeth good here, for the enemies of our salvation are combined. He overcame the devil in our natures, that we might not be discouraged : we fight against the same adversaries in the same cause, and he will give power to us, his weak members, being full of compassion, whicli certainly is a great comfort to us.
Use. Of instruction to us : —
1. To reckon upon temptations. As soon as we mind our baptismal covenant, we must expect that Satan will be our professed foe, seeking to terrify or allure us from the banner of our captain, Jesus Christ. Many, after baptism, fly to Satan's camp. There are a sort of men in the visible church, who, though they do not deny their baptism, as those did, 2 Pet. ii. 9, ' Who have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins,' yet they carry themselves as if they were in league with the devil, the world, and the flesh, rather than with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; with might and main they oppose Christ's kingdom, both abroad and at home, in their own hearts, and are wholly governed by worldly things, the lusts of the flesh, and the lusts
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of the eye, and the pride of hfe. Now these are the devil's agents, and the more dangerous because they use Christ's name against liis offices, and the form of his religion to destroy the power thereof ; as the dragon in the Revelation, pushed with the horns of the Lamb. Others are not venomously and malignantly set against Christ, and his interest in the world, or in their own hearts, but tamely yield to the lusts of the flesh, and go ' like an ox to the slaughter, and a fool to the correction of the stocks,' Prov. vii. 22. We cannot say that Satan's work lieth about these. Satan needeth not besiege the soul by temptations ; that is his already by peaceable possession ; ' when a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace,' Luke xi. 2L There is no storm when wind and tide goeth together. But then there is a third sort of men, that begin to be serious, and to mind their recovery by Christ : they have many good motions and convictions of the danger of sin, excellency of Christ, necessity of holiness ; they have many purposes to leave sin and enter upon a holy course of life, but ' the wicked one cometh, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart,' Mat. xiii. 19. He beginneth betimes to oppose the work, before we are confirmed and settled in a course of godliness, as he did set upon Christ presently upon his baptism. Baptism in us implieth avowed dying unto sin and living unto God ; now God permitteth temptation to try our resolution. There is a fourth sort, of such as have made some progress in religion, even to a degree of eminency : these are not altogether free ; for if the devil had confidence to assault the declared Son of God, will he be afraid of a mere mortal man ? No ; these he assaulteth many times very sorely : pirates venture on the greatest booty. These he seeketh to draw off from Christ, as Pharaoh sought to bring back the Israelites after their escape ; or to foil them by some scandalous fall, to do religion a mischief : 2 Sam. xii. 14, ' By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme ; ' or at least to vex them and torment them, to make the service of God tedious and uncomfortable to them: Luke xxii. 31, 'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat ' — to toss and vex you, as wheat in a sieve. So that no sort of Christians can promise them- selves exemption ; and God permitteth it, because to whom much is given, of them the more is required.
2. The manner and way of his fight is by the world, per hlanda et aspera, by the good or evil things of the world. There is ' armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,' 2 Cor. vi. 7, as there are right-hand and left-hand temptations. Both ways he lieth in ambush in the creature. Sometimes he tempts us by the good things of the world: 1 Chron. xxi. 1, 'And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel,' so glorying in his might, and puissance, and victory over neighbour kings. So meaner people he tempteth to abuse their wealth to pride and luxury ; there- fore we are pressed to be sober : 1 Pet. v. 8, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walkcth about, seeking whom he may devour.' The devil maketh an advantage of our prosperity, to divert us from God and heaven, and to render us unapt for the strictness of our holy calling. Sometimes he tempts us