2. From our weakness. We cannot keep ourselves. We are so weak, we are apt to consent to lusts, or to faint under afflictions. We can no more stand against Satan than a lamb can against a wolf. The world hath a treacherous party in our own hearts. The best things are most dependent — a sheep, not a wolf ; a vine, not a bramble ; a saint, he is always depending.
Use 1. Do not forfeit God's keeping. This may be done ; therefore we pray, Mat. vi, 13, ' Lead us not into temptation/ God, as a judge, puts us for our exercise under Satan's hands ; as a malefactor is put into the Serjeant's hands, if he will not be ruled ; this is a spiritual excommunication. Partly to cure us of self-confidence, or resting in our own strength. We use to try men that boast with a heavy bur- den ; so doth the Lord : Judges x. 14, ' Go and cry unto the gods whom ye hath chosen ; let them deliver you in the time of your tribu- lation.' Partly to cure us of neglect and unthankfulness, when we do not take notice of God's keeping, when God hath lent us his grace, and we think we are not beholden to him ; as if a man is weary, and another should lend him his staff to go by, and thereupon he should begin to slight him. He taketh no notice of his preservation that doth not walk answerably to it ; dependence should beget observance : Phil, ii. 12, 13, * Work out your salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God that worketh in you, to will and to do according to his good pleasure.' When we do not thrive under his custody it is scandalous. God will take away the hedge, let the boar of tlie forest come in and eat them down.
Use 2. To press the children of God to two duties— dependence, confidence.
1. Dependence : 1 Chron. xx. 12, ' We have no might against this great company, neither know M'e what to do, but our eyes are up to thee.' We must profess that we do not stand by our own strength,
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but are as a staff in the hand of a man, or a child in tlie hand of thc- father : Ps. Ixx. 5, * I am poor and needy, make haste imto me, O God : thou art my help, and my deliverer, make no tarrying, 0 my God.' God is honoured when "we acknowledi^e him for our 2:uardia,n.
2. Confidence that he will preserve us in that .G;race to which he hatli called us in Christ. There will be shakings and wanderings, as a tree fastened at the root is driven to and fro with violent blasts. There may be an interruption of the acts of grace; as a man in a swoon, or as stunned by a great blow, but he is alive : so there may be particular falls, but we shall not fall constantly, readily, easily. As in a land flood the meadows may be overflown, but the marshes are drowned every tide. Preservation from damning sins is sure and certain ; Christ hath asked it. God is able to keep us. Haj^py are they that have an interest in Christ's prayers, and that have God for a guardian. Therefore wait upon God with hope in the midst of temptations.
6. I observe from the last words, ' the evil,' from the evil one, or evil thing ; it lieth indifferently.
[1.] From the evil one. Observe, Satan hath a great hand in the evils that befall us in the world, both afflictions and sin. He instigateth our enemies, and inflameth our lusts.
(1.) He instigateth our enemies. Christ said, Luke xxii. 53, 'This is your hour, and the power of darkness ; ' Kev. xii. 12, ' The devil is come down imto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.' If you could behold with bodily eyes this evil spirit hanging on the ears of the great men of the world and of the common people, to animate them against the saints, you would more admii-e the work of God that you do subsist.
(2.) He inflameth our sins and lusts : 1 Cor. vii. 3, ' Lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.' The sin is ours, but Satan joins- with it and makes it more violent ; as in storms and tempests, when matter is prepared, the devil maketli them more formidable.
Use 1. Let persecutors take heed; the devil is near, and they are guided by him, though they see him not : Eev. xvi. 14, ' They are the spirits of devils working miracles, 'which go forth to the kings of the earth.'
Use 2. Here is advice to the people of God. (1.) To beware of sins, that you gratify not Satan with the displeasure of God. Do you think Peter would ever have given such advice to Christ as he did, if he knew Satan had been in it ? Would carnal men ever lie if they knew the devil filled their hearts ? Acts v. 3, ' Why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie to the Holy Ghost ? ' Would men sin so freely if they knew the hand of Satan was in all ? And if the Lord should give you over to his power, if he should give Satan charge over you, how far might he hurry and carry you ! (2.) Let this teach you dependence upon God so much the more : Eph. vi. 12, ' For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' We have to do with the devil as well as men, and therefore have need to look up to God. And this is thy comfort, 0 christian, that God is stronger than Satan.