CHRIST S DIRECTIONS IN REGARD TO TEMPTATION. 101
ness and diligence, exercising itself in and by all ways and means prescribed by God, over our hearts and ways, the baits and methods of Satan, the occasions and advantages of sin in the world, that we be not entangled, is that which in this word is pressed on us.
2. For the second direction, of prayer, I need not speak to it. The duty and its concernments are known to all. I shall only add, that these two comprise the whole endeavour of faith for the soul's preservation from temptation.
CHAPTER III.
The doctrine — Grounds of it; our Saviour's direction in this case — His promise of preservation — Issues of men entering into temptation — 1. Of ungrounded professors — 2. Of the choicest saints, Adam, Abraham, David — Self-consi- deration as to our own weakness — The power of a man's heart to withstand temptation considered — The considerations that it useth for that purpose — The power of temptation ; it darkens the mind — The several ways whereby it doth so — 1. By fixing the imaginations — 2. By entangling the affections — 3. Temptations give fuel to lust — The end of temptation considered, with the issue of former temptations — Some objections answered
Having thus opened the words in the foregoing chapters so far as is necessary to discover the foundation of the truth to be insisted on and improved, I shall lay it down in the ensuing observation : —
It is the great duty of all believers to use all diligence in the ways of Christ's appointmient, that they fall not into temptation.
I know God is " able to deliver the godly out of temptations;" I know he is " faithful not to suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but will make a way for our escape : " yet I dare say I shall convince all those who will attend unto what is delivered and written, that it is our great duty and concernment to use all diligence, watch- fulness, and care, that we enter not into temptation ; and I shall evince it by the ensuing considerations: —
1. In that compendious instruction given us by our Saviour con- cerning what we ought to pray for, this of not entering into temp- tation is expressly one head. Our Saviour knew of what concernment it was to us not to " enter into temptation," when he gave us this as one special subject of our daily dealing with God, Matt. vi. 1 3. And the order of the words shows us of what importance it is: " Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." If we are led into temptation, evil will befall us, more or less. How God may be said
102 OF TEMPTATION.
to tempt us, or to " lead us into temptation," I showed before. In this direction, it is not so much the not giving us up to it, as the powerful keeping us from it that is intended. The last words are, as it were, exegetical, or expository of the former: "Lead us not mto temptation, but deliver us from evil;" — "So deal with us that we may be j^owerfully delivered from that ex\\ which attends our enter- ing into temptation." Our blessed Saviour knows full well our state and condition; he knows the power of temptations, having had ex- perience of it, Heb. ii. "18; he knows our vain confidence, and the reserves v/e have concerning our ability to deal with temptations, as he found it in Peter; but he knows our weakness and folly, and how soon we are cast to the ground, and therefore doth he lay in this pro- vision for instruction at the entrance of his ministry, to make us heedful, if possible, in that which is of so great concernment to us. If, then, we will repose any confidence in the wisdom, love, and care of Jesus Christ towards us, we must grant the truth pleaded for.
2. Christ promiseth this freedom and deliverance as a great reward of most acceptable obedience, Rev. iii. 10. This is the great promise made to the church of Philadelj^hia, wherein Christ found nothing that he would blame, " Thou shalt be kept from the hour of temp- tation." Not, " Thou shalt be preserved in it;" but he goes higher, " Thou shalt be kept/rom it," "There is," saith our Saviour, " an hour of temptation coming; a season that will make havoc in the world: m.ultitudes shall then fall from the faith, deny and blaspheme me. Oh, how few will be able to stand and hold out I Some will be utterly destroyed, and perish for ever. Some will get wounds to their souls that shall never be well healed whilst they live in this world, and have their bones broken, so as to go halting all their daya But," saith he, "'because thou hast kept the word of my patience,' I will be tender towards thee, and ' keep thee fi'om this hour of temp- tation.' " Certainly that which Christ thus promises to his beloved church, as a reward of her service, love, and obedience, is no light thing. Whatever Christ promiseth to his spouse is a fruit of un- speakable love ; that is so in an especial manner which is promised as a reward of special obedience.