I might also show how the world and our oa\ti corruptions do act singly by themselves, and jointly in conjunction with Satan and one another, in this business of temptation. But the truth is, the prin- ciples, ways, and means of temptations, the kinds, degrees, eflficacy, and causes of them, are so inexpressibly large and various; the cir- cumstances of them, from providence, natures, conditions, spiritual and natural, with the particular cases thence arising, so innumerable and impossible to be comprised within any bound or order, that to
' Matt. iv. 8.
96 OF TEMPTATION.
attempt tlie giving an accomit of tliem would be to undertake that which would be endless. I shall content myself to give a descrip- tion of the general nature of that which we are to watch against ; which will make way for what I aim at.
Temptation, then, in general, is any thing, state, way, or condition that, upon any account luliatever, hath a force or efficacy to seduce, to draw the mind and heart of a man from its obedience, ivhich God requires of him, into any sin, in any degree of it xvhatever.
In particular, that is a temptation to any man which causes or occasions him to sin, or in any thing to go off from his duty, either by bringing evil into his heart, or drawing out that evil that is in his heart, or any other way diverting him from communion with God, and that constant, equal, universal obedience, in matter and manner, that is required of him.
For the dealing of this description I shall only obsei've, that though temptation seems to be of a more active importance, and so to denote only the power of seduction to sin itself, yet in the Scrip- ture it is commonly taken in a neuter sense, and denotes the matter of the temptation or the thing whereby we are tempted. And this is a ground of the description I have given of it. Be it what it will, that from any thing whatever, within us or Avithout us, hath advan- tage to hinder in duty, or to provoke unto or in any way to occasion sin, that is a temptation, and so to be looked on. Be it business, employment, course of life, company, affections, nature, or corrupt design, relations, delights, name, reputation, esteem, abilities, parts or excellencies of body or mind, place, dignity, art, — so far as they further or occasion the promotion of the ends before mentioned, they are all of them no less truly tem])tations than the most violent solicitations of Satan or allurements of the world, and that soul lies at the brink of ruin who discerns it not. And this will be farther dis- covered in our process.
CHAPTER 11.
What it is to " enter into temptation" — Not barely being tempted — Not to be con- quered by it — To fall into it — The force of that expression — Things requireii unto entering into temptation — Satan or hist more than ordinarily importu- nate— The soul's entanglement — Seasons of such entanglements discovered — Of the "hour of temptation," Rev. iii. 10, what it is — How any temptation comes to its hour — How it may be known when it is so come — The means of prevention prescribed by our Saviour — Of watching, and what is intended thereby — Of prayer.
II. Having showed what temptation is, I come, secondly, to ma- nifest what it is to enter into temptation.
WHAT IT IS TO ENTER INTO TEMPTATION. 97
1. This is not merely to be tempted. It is impossible that we should be so freed from temptation as not to be at all tempted. Whilst Satan continues in his power and malice, whilst the world and lust are in being, we shall be tempted. " Christ/' says one, " was made like unto us, that he might be tempted; and we are tempted that we may be made like unto Christ." Temptation in general is com- prehensive of our whole warfare ; as our Saviour calls the time of his ministiy the time of his " temptations," Luke xxii. 28. We have no promise that we shall not be tempted at all; nor are to pray for an absolute freedom from temptations, because we have no such promise of being heard therein. The direction we have for our prayers is, "Lead us not into temptation," Matt. vi. 13; it is "entering into tem.ptation" that we are to pray against. We may be tempted, yet not enter into temptation. So that, —
2. Sometliing more is intended by this expression than the ordi- nary tuork of Satan and our own lusts, which will be sure to tempt us every day. There is something signal in this entering into tempta- tion, that is not the saints' every day's work. It is something that befalls them peculiarly in reference to seduction unto sin, on one account or other, by the way of allurement or affrightment.
3. It is not to be conquered by a temptation, to fall down under it, to commit the sin or evil that we are tempted to, or to omit the duties that are opposed. A man may " enter into temptation," and yet not fall under temptation. God can make a way for a man to escape ; when he is in, he can break the snare, tread down Satan, and make the soul more than a conqueror, though it have entered into temptation. Christ entered into it, but was not in the least foiled by it. But, —