[2.] Consider the particular ways and means that such a heart hath or can use to safeguard itself in the hour of temptation, and their iasufliciency to that purpose will quickly appear. I shall in- stance in some few only: —
I St. Love of honour in the world. Reputation and esteem in the church, obtained by former profession and walking, is one of the heart's own weapons to defend itself in the hour of temptation. " Shall such a one as 1 fly? I who have had such a reputation in the church of God, shall I now lose it by giving way to this lust, to this tempta- tion? by closing with this or that public evil?" This consideration hath such an influence on the spirits of some, that they think it will be a shield and buckler against any assaults that may befall them. They will die a thousand times before they will forfeit that repute they have in the church of God ! But, alas ! this is but a withe, or a new cord, to bind a giant temptation withal. What think you of the " third part of the stars of heaven?" Rev. xii. 4. Had they not shone in the firmament of the church? Were they not sensible, more than enough, of their own honour, height, usefulness, and reputation? But when the dragon comes with his temptations, he casts them down to the earth. Yea, great temptations will make men, who have not a better defence, insensibly fortify themselves against that dishonour and disreputation that their ways are attended withal. " Populus si- bilet, at milii plaudo." Do we not know instances yet living of some who have ventured on comjjliances with wicked men after the glory of a long and useful profession, and within a while, finding themselves cast down thereby from tlieir i^eputation with the saints, have bar-
MEANS OF SAFETY IN TEMPTATION. 107
dened themselves against it and ended in apostasy? as John xv. 6. This kept not Judas ; it kept not Hjniieneus nor Philetus ; it kept not the stars of heaven ; nor will it keep thee.
2dly. There is, on the other side, the consideration of shame, re- proach, loss, and the like. This also men may put their trust in as a defence against temptations, and do not fear but to be safeguarded and preserved by it. They would not for the world bring that shame and reproach upon themselves that such and such miscarriages are attended withal ! Noav, besides that this consideration extends itself only to open sins, such as the world takes notice of and abhors, and so is of no use at all in such -cases as wherein pretences and colours may be invented and used, nor in public temptations to loose and careless walking, like those of our days, nor in cases that may be dis- putable in themselves, though expressly sinful to the consciences of persons under temptations, nor in heart sins, — in all which and most other cases of temptation there are innumerable reliefs ready to be tendered unto the heart against this consideration; besides all this, I say, we see by experience how easily this cord is broken when once the heart begins to be entangled. Each corner of the land is full of examples to this purpose.
^dly. They have yet that which outweighs these lesser considera- tions,— namely, that they will not wound their own consciences, and disturb their peace, and bring themselves in danger of hell fire. This, surely, if any thing, will preserve men in the hour of tempta- tion. They will not lavish away their peace, nor venture their souls by running on God and the thick bosses of his buckler ! What can be of more efficacy and prevalency? I confess this is of great im- portance; and oh that it were more pondered than it is! that we laid more weight upon the preservation of our peace with God than we do ! yet I say that even this consideration in him who is other- where off from his watch, and doth not make it his work to follow the other rules insisted on, it will not preserve him ; for, —
{\st) The peace of such a one may be false peace or security, made up of presumption and false hopes; yea, though he be a be- liever, it may be so. Such was David's peace after his sin, before Nathan came to him; such was Laodicea's peace when ready to perish; and Sardisher peace when dying. What should secure a soul that it is otherwise, seeing, it is supposed, that it doth not univer- sally labour to keep the word of Christ's patience, and to be watch- ful in all things? Think you that the peace of many in these days will be found to be true peace at last ? Nothing less. They go alive down to hell, and death will have dominion over them in the morn- ing. Now, if a man's peace be such, do you think that can preserve him which cannot preserve itself? It will gi^'e way at the first vigor-
108 OF TEMPTATION.
ous assault of a temptation in its lioight and Lour. Like a broken reed, it will rini into the hand of him that leaneth on it. But, —