There are advantages for temptations lying oftentimes in men's natural tempers and constitutions. Some are naturally gentle, facile, easy to be entreated, pliable; Avhich, though it be the noblest temper of nature, and the best and choicest ground, Avhen Avell
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broken up and fallowed for grace to grow in, yet, if not watched over, will be a means of innumerable surprisals and entanglements in temptation. Otliers are earthy, froward, morose ; so that envy, malice, selfishness, peevishness, harsh thoughts of others, repinings, lie at the very door of their natures, and they can scarce step out but they are in the snare of one or other of them. Others are passionate, and the like. Now, he that would watch that he enter not into temptation, had need be acquainted with his own natural temper, that he may watch over the treacheries that lie in it continually. Take heed lest you have a Jehu in you, that shall make you drive furiously ; or a Jonah in you, that will make you ready to repine ; or a David, that will make you hasty in your determinations, as he was often, in the warmth and goodness of his natural temper. He who watches not this thoroughly, who is not exactly skilled in the know- ledge of himself, will never be disentangled from one temptation or another all his days.
Again : as men have peculiar natural tempers, which, according as they are attended or managed, prove a great fomes of sin, or advan- tage to the exercise of grace ; so men may have jjeculiar lusts or cor- ruptions, which, either by their natural constitution or education, and other prejudices, have got deep rooting and strength in them. This, also, is to be found out by him who would not enter into tempta- tion. Unless he know it, unless his eyes be always on it, unless he observes its actings, motions, advantages, it will continually be en- tangling and ensnarmg of him. This, then, is our sixth direction in this kind: — Labour to know thine oivn frame and temper; what spirit thou art of ; what associates in thy heart Satan hath ; where corrup- tion is strong, where grace is weak; what stronghold lust hath in thy natural constitution, and the like. How many have all their comforts blasted and peace disturbed by their natural passion and peevishness ! How many are rendered useless in the world by their frowardness and discontent! How many are disquieted even by their own gentleness and facility! Be acquainted, then, with thine own heart: though it be deep, search it; though it be dark, inquire into it ; though it give all its distempers other names than what are their due, believe it not. Were not men utter strangers to themselves, ■ — did they not give flattering titles to their natural distempers, — did they not strive rather to justify, palliate, or excuse the evils of their licarts, that are suited to their natural tempers and constitutions, than to destroy them, and by these means keep themselves off from taking a clear and distinct view of them, — it were impossible that they should all their days hang in the same briers without attempt for deliver- ance. Uselessness and scandal in professors are branches growing constantly on this root of unacquaintedness with their own frame
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and temper ; and how few are there who will either study them them- selves or bear with those who would acquaint them with them !
(2.) When thou knowest the state and condition of thy heart as to the particulars mentioned, watch against all such occasions and op- portunities, employments, societies, retirements, businesses, as are apt to entangle thy natural temper or provoke thy corruption.
It may be there are some ways, some societies, some businesses, that thou never in thy life escapedst them, but sufferedst by them more or less, through their suitableness to entice or provoke thy cor- ruption; it may be thou art in a state and condition of life that weary thee day by day, on the account of thy ambition, passion, dis- content, or the like : if thou hast any love to thy soul, it is time for thee to awake and to deliver thyself as a bird from the evil snare. Peter will not come again in haste to the high priest's hall ; nor would David walk again on the top of his house, when he should have been on the high places of the field. But the particulars of this instance are so various, and of such several natures in respect of several per- sons, that it is impossible to enumerate them. Pro v. iv. 14, 15. Herein lies no small part of that wisdom which consists in our ordering our conversation aright. Seeing we have so little power over our hearts when once they meet with suitable provocations, we are to keep them asunder, as a man would do fire and the combustible parts of the house wherein he dwells.
(3.) Be sure to lay in provision in store against the approaching of any temptation.
This also belongs to our watchfulness over our hearts. You will say, " What provision is intended, and where is it to be laid up ? " Our hearts, as our Saviour speaks, are our treasury. There we lay up whatever we have, good or bad ; and thence do we draw it for our use. Matt. xii. 35. It is the heart, then, wherein provision is to be laid up against temptation. When an enemy draws nigh to a fort or castle to besiege and take it, oftentimes, if he find it Avell manned and furnished with provision for a siege, and so able to hold out, he withdraws and assaults it not. If Satan, the prince of this world, come and find our hearts fortified against his batteries, and provided to hold out, he not only departs, but, as James says, he flees : "He will flee from us," James iv. 7. For the provision to be laid up, it is that which is provided in the gospel for us. Gospel provisions will do this work; that is, keep the heart full of a sense of the love of God in Christ. This is the greatest preservative against the power of temptation in the world Joseph had this ; and therefore, on the first appearance of temptation, he cries out, " How can I do this great evil, and sin against God?" and there is an end of the temptation as to him ; it lays no hold on him, but departs. He was furnished with such a ready sense of the love