WATCHING AGAINST TEMPTATION. 143
[1.] By the mortification of the heart unto the matter of tempta- tions. The prevalency of any temptation arises from hence, that the heart is ready to close with the matter of it. There are lusts within, suited to the proposals of the world or Satan without. Hence James resolves all temptations into our "own lusts," chap. i. 14 ; because either they proceed from or are made effectual by them, as hath been de- clared. Why doth terror or threats turn us aside from a due con- stancy in the performance of our duty? Is it not because there is unmortified, carnal fear abiding in us, that tumultuates in such a season ? Why is it that the allurements of the Avorld and compliances with men entangle us? Is it not because our affections are entangled with the things and considerations proposed unto us? Now, keep- ing the word of Christ's patience, in the manner declared, keeps the heart mortified to these things, and so it is not easily entangled by them. Saith the apostle. Gal. ii. 20, " I am cnicified with Christ." He that keeps close to Christ is crucified with him, and is dead to all the desires of the flesh and the world; as more fully, chap. vi. 14. Here the match is broken, and all love, entangling love, dissolved. The heart is crucified to the world and all things in it. Now the matter of all temptations almost is taken out of the world ; the men of it, or the things of it, make them up. " As to these things," says the apostle, " I am crucified to them," (and it is so with every one that keeps the word of Christ.) " My heart is mortified unto them. I have no desire after thenij nor affection to them, nor delight in them, and they are crucified unto me. The crowns, glories, thrones, pleasures, profits of the world, I see nothing desirable in them. The lusts, sensual pleasures, love, respects, honours of men, name and reputation among them, they are all as a thing of nought. I have no value nor estimation of them." This soul is safeguarded from assaults of manifold temptations. When Achan saw the "goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold," first he " coveted them," then he " took them," Josh. vii. 21. Temptation subtly spreads the Babylonish garment of favour, praise, peace, the silver of pleasure or profit, with the golden contentments of the flesh, before the eyes of men. If now there be that in them alive, unmortified, that will presently fall a-coveting ; let what fear of punish- ment will ensue, the heart or hand will be put forth unto iniquity.
Herein, then, lies the security of such a frame as that described : It is always accompanied with a mortified lieart, crucified unto the things that are the matter of our temptations; without which it is utterly impossible that we should be preserved one moment when any temptation doth befall us. If liking, and love of the things pro- posed, insinuated, commended in the temptation, be living and active in us, we shall not be able to resist and stand.
1-il OF TEMPTATION.
[2.] In this frame the heart is filled with better things and their excellency, so far as to be fortified against the matter of any temp- tation. »See what resolution this puts Paul upon, Phil. iii. 8; all is '* loss and dung " to him. Who would go out of his way to have his arms full of loss and dung? And whence is it that he hath this esti- mation of the most desirable things in the world? It is from that dear estimation he had of tbe excellency of Christ. So, verse 10, when the soul is exercised to communion with Christ, and to walking with him, he drinks new wine, and cannot desire the old things of the world, for he says " The new is better." He tastes every day how gra- cious the Lord is; and therefore longs not after the sweetness of for- bidden things, — which indeed have none. He that makes it his busi- ness to eat daily of the tree of life will have no appetite unto other fruit, though the tree that bear them seem to stand in the midst of paradise. This the spouse makes the means of her preservation; even the excellency which, by daily communion, she found in Christ and his graces above all other desirable things. Let a soul exercise itself to a communion with Christ in the good things of the gospel, — pardon of sin, fruits of holiness, hope of glory, peace with God, joy in the Holy Ghost, dominion over sin, — and he shall have a mighty preservative against all temptations. As the full soul loatheth the honey -comb, — as a soul filled with carnal, earthly, sensual content- ments finds no relish nor savour in the sweetest spiritual things; so he that is satisfied with the kindness of God, as with marrow and fatness, — that is, every day entertained at the banquet of wine, wine upon the lees, and well refined, — hath a holy contempt of the baits and allurements that lie in prevailing temptations, and is safe.