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130 OF TEMPTATION.
neglect many ways of approach to our souls, wherein he seeks and finds advantages against us. Is this, then, our state and condition? Does God at any time give us to drink of the rivers of pleasure that are at his right hand, and satisfy our souls with his kindness as with marrow and fatness? Let us not say, " We shall never be moved;" we know not how soon God may hide his face, or a messenger from Satan may buffet us.
Besides, there lies oftentimes a greater and worse deceit in this business. Men cheat their souls with their own fancies, instead of a sense of God's love by the Holy Ghost; and when they are Hfted up with their imaginations, it is not expressible how fearfully they are exposed to all manner of temptations ;: — and how, then, are they able to find relief against their consciences from their own foolish fancies and deceivings, wherewith they sport themselves? May we not see such every day, — persons walking in the vanities and ways of this world, yet boasting of their sense of the love of God? Shall we believe them? We must not, then, believe truth itself; and how woful, then, must their condition needs be !
(4.) A fourth season is a season of self-confidence ; then usually temptation is at hand.
The case of Peter is clear unto this : " I will not deny thee ; though all men should deny thee I will not ; though I were to die for it, I would not do it." This said the j^oor man when he stood on the very brink of that temptation that cost him in the issue such hitter tears. And this taught him so far to know hunself all his days, and gave him such acquaintance with the state of all believers, that when he had received more of the Sphit and of power, yet he had less of confidence, and saw it was fit that others should have so also, and therefore persuades all men to " pass the time of their sojourning here in fear," 1 Pet. i. 17; not to be confident and high as he was, lest, as he did, they fall. At the first trial he compares himself with others, and vaunts himself above them: "Though all men should forsake thee, yet I will not." He fears every man more than himself. But when om- Saviour afterward comes to him, and puts him directly upon the comparison, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovestthou me more than these?" John xxi. 15, he hath done comparing himself with others, and only crieth, " Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." He will lift up himself above others no more. Such a season oftentimes falls out. Temptations are abroad in the world, false doctrines, with innumer- able other allurements and provocations: we are ready every one to be very confident that we shall not be surprised with them: though all men should fall into these follies yet we would not: surely we shall never go off from our walking Avith God ; it is impos- sible our hearts should be so sottish. But says the apostle, " Be not
WATCHING AGAINST TEMPTATION. 131
high-minded, but fear; let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Wouldst thou think that Peter, who had walked on the sea with Clirist, confessed him to be the Son of God, been Avith him in the mount, when he heard the voice from the excellent glory, should, at the word of a servant-girl, when there was no legal inquisition after him, no process against him nor any one in his condition, instantly fall a-cursing and swearing that he knew him not? Let them take heed of self-confidence who have any mind to take heed of sin. And this is the first thing in our watching, to consider well the seasons wherein temptation usually makes its approaches to the soul, and be armed against them. And these are some of the seasons wherein temptations are uigh at hand.
CHAPTER VII.
Several acts of watchfulness against temptation proposed — Watch the heart — What it is to be watched in and about — Of the snares lying in men's natural tempers — Of peculiar lusts — Of occasions suited to them — Watching to lay in provision against temptation — Directions for watchfulness in the first ap- proaches of temptation — Directions after entering into temptation.
That part of watchfulness against temptation which we have con- sidered regards the outward means, occasions, and advantages of temptation; proceed we now to that which respects the heart itself, which is Avrought upon and entangled by temptation. Watching or keeping of the heart, which above all keepings we are obliged unto, comes within the compass of this duty also ; for the right perform- ance whereof take these ensuing du-ections : —
(1.) Let him that would not enter into temptation labour to know his own heart, to be acquainted with his own spirit, his natural frame and temper, his lusts and corruptions, his natural, sinful, or spiri- tual weaknesses, that, finding where his weakness lies, he may be careful to keep at a distance from all occasions of sin.
Our Saviour tells the disciples that " they knew not what spirit they were of;" which, under a pretence of zeal, betrayed them into ambition and desire of revenge. Had they known it they would have Avatched over themselves. David tells us, Ps. xviii. 23, that he con- sidered his ways, and " kept himself from his iniquity," which he was particularly prone unto.