4. Weigh these things severally, and, first, take prayer into con- sideration. To pray that we enter not into temptation is a means to preserve us from it. Glorious things are, by all men that know- aught of those things, spoken of this duty; and yet the truth is, not one half of its excellency, power, and efficacy is known. It is not my business to speak of it in general ; but this I say as to my pre- sent purpose, — he that would be little in temptation, let him be much in prayer. This calls in the suitable help and succour that is laid up in Christ for us, Heb. iv. 1 6. This casteth our souls into a frame of opposition to every temptation. When Paul had given instruction for the taking to ourselves " the wliole armour of God," that we may resist and stand in the time of temptation, he adds this general close of the whole, Eph. vi. 18, " Praying always with all prayer and sup- plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication."
Without this all the rest will be of no efficacy for the end proposed. And therefore consider what weight he lays on it : " Praying always," — that is, at all times and seasons, or be always ready and prepared for the discharge of that duty, Luke xviii. 1, Eph. vi. 18; "with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit," — putting forth all kinds of de- sires unto God, that are suited to our condition, according to liis will, and which we are assisted in by the Spirit; "and watching thereunto," lest we be diverted by any thing Avhatever; and that not for a little while, but "with all perseverance," — continuance lengthened out to the utmost : so shall we stand. The soul so framed is in a sure pos- tui'C ; and this is one of the means without which this work will not be done. If wc do not abide in prayer, Ave shall abide in cursed temp- tations. Let this, then, be another direction: — Abide in prayer, and that expressly to this purpose, that we " enter not into temptation." Let this 1)0 one part of our daily contending with God, — that he would preserve our souls, and keep our hearts and our Avays, that Ave be not entangled ; that his good and wise providence will order our ways
• Mortification of Pin in F.clicvcrs, vol. vi. chap. xiv. p. 78.
WATCHING AGAINST TEMPTATION. 12 7
and affairs, that no pressing temptation befall us; that he Avould give us diligence, carefulness, and Avatchfulness over our own wa3^s. So shall we be delivered when others are held with the cords of their own folly.
CHAPTEE VI.
Of watching that we enter not into temptation — The nature and efficacy of that duty — The first part of it, as to the special seasons of temptation — The first season, in unusual prosperity — The second, in a slumber of grace — Third, a season of great spiritual enjoyment — The fourth, a season of self-confidence.
The other part of our Saviour's direction, — namely, to " watch," — is more general, and extends itself to many particulars. I shall fix on some things that are contained therein : —
8. Watch the seasons wherein men usually do " enter into tempta- tion."
There are sundry seasons wherein an hour of temptation is com- monly at hand, and will unavoidably seize upon the soul, unless it be delivered by mercy in the use of watchfulness. When we are under such a season, then are we peculiarly to be upon our guard that we enter not into, that we fall not under, the power of tempta- tion. Some of those seasons may be named : —
(1.) A season of unusual outward prosperity is usually accom- panied with an hour of temptation. Prosperity and temptation go together; yea, prosperity is a temptation, many temptations, and that because, Avithout eminent supplies of grace, it is apt to cast a soul into a frame and temper exposed to any temptation, and provides it with fuel and food for all. It hath provision for lust and darts for Satan.
The wise man tells us that the " prosperity of fools destroys them," Prov. i. 32. It hai'dens them in their way, makes them despise instruction, and put the evil day (whose terror should influence them into amendment) far from them. Without a special assistance, it hath an inconceivably malignant influence on believers themselves. Hence Agiir prays against riches, because of the temptation that attends them : " Lest," saitli he, "I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord?" Prov. xxx. 8, 9 ; — lest, being filled with them, he should forget the Lord ; as God complains that his people did, Hos. xiii. 6. We know how David was mistaken in this case : Ps. xxx. 6, " I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved." All is well, and will be well. But what was at hand, what lay at the door, that David thought not of? Verse 7, "Thou didst hide thy face, and I was
1 28 OF TEMPTATION.
troubled." God was ready to hide his face, and David to enter Into a temptation of de.sertion, and he knew it not.