298 Christ's temptation. [Sep.. IV.
Canaan ; and the apostle tells us that all the things which happened to Israel of old happened to them w? Tinrot,, as patterns of providence. A people might easily read their own doom and destiny, if they would hlow off the dust from the ancient providences of God, and observe what proofs and characters of his justice, wisdom, and truth are engraven there. The desert of sin is still the same, and the exactness of divine justice is still the same ; and therefore what hath been is a pledge and document of what may be, if we fall into like crimes. God is impartially and immutably just ; he is but one : Gal. iii. 20. God is one, always consonant unto himself, and doth like unto him- self: his power is the same, so is his justice. Even the historical part of the word is a kind of prophecy, not only a register and chro- nicle of what is past, but a kind of calendar and prognostication of what is to come. As other histories in scripture are left upon record for our learning, so especially the history of Israel's passage through the wilderness into Canaan.
Use. Let us not tempt God in any of the kinds mentioned.
1. Not by requiring new grounds of faith, when God hath given sufficient already ; not by cherishing scepticism and irresolution in point of religion, till new nuncios come from heaven, with a power to work miracles, and to be endowed with extraordinary gifts, as the Seekers do. Many waver in religion, would fain see an apparition, and have some extraordinary satisfaction, which God would not give them upon every trifling occasion. The Pharisees must have a sign from heaven ; the Papists would have the Protestant teachers show their commission by miracles ; the Jews would believe if Christ came down from the cross. To suspend our faith till God gives us our own terms is to tempt God ; and to dispossess you of this conceit, consider : —
[1.] Signs and wonders done in one age and time for the confirma- tion of the true religion, should suffice all ages and times afterwards ; and it is a tempting God to ask more signs and wonders for the con- firmation of that truth, which is sufficiently confirmed already, if there be a good and safe tradition of these things to us. The giving of the law was attended with thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of a terrible trumpet, Exod. xix., by which means the law was authorised, and owned as proceeding from God. Now, it was not needful this should be repeated in every age, as long as a certain report and records of it might convey it to their ears. In the setting up a new law, signs and wonders are necessary to declare it to be of God ; but when the church is in the possession of it, these cease. So in the Christian church ; when the gospel was first set on foot, it was then confirmed with signs and wonders, but now they are unnecessary. See the law and gospel compared : Heb. ii. 2-4, ' For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedi- ence received a just recompense of reward : how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will ?'
[2.] If you had lived in the age of signs and wonders, there were hard hearts then, unbelievers then, and blasphemers then, and tempters
Mat. IV. 7.] Christ's temptation. 299
of God then : Ps. Ixxviii. 22-24, ' Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation, though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven,' &c., to ver. 32, ' For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.' Extraordinary works will not work upon them upon whom ordinary works will not prevail.
Object. But for them that have to do with the conversion of Indians and remote parts of the world, is it a tempting of God to ask the gift of miracles ?
Ans. 1 cannot say so. God may be humbly sought unto about direction in the gifts of tongues, and healing, being so necessary for the instruments employed, as well as the conviction of the nations. I dare not determine anything in the case, but I am satisfied with Acostus his reasons why miracles are not afforded by God now, as well as in the primitive times. Then simple and unlearned men were sent to preach Christianity among the nations, where many were armed and instructed against it with all kind of learning and philosophy ; but now learned men are sent to the ignorant, and are superior to them in reason, and in civility and authority ; and, besides, present them a religion far more credible than their own, that they cannot easily withstand the light of it.