_Fourthly_, Whether beset with this or any other temptation, let all of us learn of our LORD to fight the devil with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD. Though he had the Spirit without measure, yet he always made use of this. We may say of it, as _David_ did of _Goliah_’s sword, “none like this,” none like this. And supposing Satan should be permitted to transform himself into an angel of light, and by false impressions, and delusive applications of misquoted texts, attempt to turn this weapon upon us against ourselves; let us not therefore be prevailed on to let go, but by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, as our LORD did, find out GOD’s mind and our duty. Had CHRIST’s children and ministers only observed this one lesson, how much strange fire would quickly have been extinguished? how much real enthusiasm been easily stopped? how many imaginary revelations have been detected? how many triumphs of Satan and his emissaries been prevented? and how much more would the comforts of CHRIST’s people and ministers been continued and increased, not only in this present, but also in every age of the christian church? But let us not be discouraged or think worse of CHRIST, his cause, or his word, because through Satan’s subtlety, any of us, or others, may have been drawn in to make some wrong applications of it; others have been thus tempted and mistaken before us. However, let us be humbled before GOD and man, and be excited by our past ignorance of Satan’s devices, to adhere more closely to the written word, and to pray more earnestly for GOD’s holy Spirit to give us direction by it. “Then will it still be a lanthorn unto our feet, and a light unto our paths;” we shall yet be enabled to behave more skilfully under all our future trials. Many we must yet expect; nay, perhaps our severest temptations are yet to come; Satan left our LORD, after his attacking him in the wilderness, “only for a season,” as St. _Luke_ has it, until the season of his death and passion. And thus he may be permitted to deal with us. We are not yet come to our compleat rest; the King of terrors is yet to be grappled with, and the valley of the shadow of death to be passed through; long before that, we may be called to endure many a fiery trial, and be beset with manifold temptations, under which we may be as ignorant how to behave, as under those with which we have already been visited. Alas! we know not what remaining corruptions are in our hearts, which time and temptation may draw out and discover. Perhaps Satan hath not yet attacked us on our weakest side; when he does, if left to ourselves, how weak shall we be? It is said of _Achilles_, that he was invulnerable, except in the heel, and by a wound in that, at last he died. “Let not him, therefore, that putteth on the harness, boast as though he had put it off.” Neither, on the other hand, let us be faint-hearted or dismayed. Satan may tempt, but cannot force; he may sift, but CHRIST will pray. He who hath helped us already, will help us to the end. He who conquered for us in the wilderness, will ere long make us also more than conquerors over all trials and temptations, inward and outward, and over death and hell itself, through his almighty, everlasting, and never-failing love. We now sow in tears; in a very little time, and we shall reap with joy: we may now go on our way weeping, by reason of the enemy oppressing us; but, ere long, angels shall be sent, not to minister to us in this wilderness, but to carry us to an heavenly _Canaan_, even to _Abraham_’s bosom. Then shall we see this accuser and tempter of our LORD, of our brethren, and of ourselves, cast out: this wicked one, as well as the wicked world, and wicked heart, will no more be permitted to vex, disturb or annoy us.
“But woe unto you that laugh now; for you shall then lament and weep.” Woe unto you, who either believe there is no devil, or never felt any of his temptations. Woe unto you that are at ease in _Zion_, and instead of staying to be tempted by the devil, by idleness, self-indulgence, and making continual provision for the flesh, even tempt the devil to tempt you. Woe unto you, who not content with sinning yourselves, turn factors for hell, and make a trade of tempting others to sin. Woe unto you, who either deny divine revelation, or never make use of it but to serve a bad turn. Woe unto you who sell your consciences, and pawn your souls for a little worldly wealth or honour. Woe unto you who climb up to high places, when in church or state, by corruption, bribery, extortion, cringing, flattery, or bowing down to, and soothing the vices of those by whom you expect to rise. Woe unto you! for whether you will own the relation or not, surely you are of your father the devil; for the works of your father you will do; I tremble for you. How can you escape the damnation of hell.