Matt. vi. 13. ^nd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil.
THE obtaining of pardon would satisfy a person who was merely alarmed by the terrors of hell : but a truly regenerate person will desire deliverance from sin as much as from hell itself. He knows that he could not be happy even in heaven, if sin retained in any respect dominion over him. Hence, having implored pardon for his past sins, he will, with equal earnest- ness, desire victory over his remaining corruptions. But how is this victory to be gained, seeing that we are encompassed with temptations, and assaulted by all the powers of darkness ? It must be gained by committing ourselves to the care of our heavenly Father, and by seeking from him,
I. The guidance of his providence —
Continually are we endangered by the temptations
that surround us —
[Temptations present themselves to us on every side. Every thing that is agreeable to our senses or flattering to our minds, has a tendency to draw us from God. Even the things which are the most innocent when moderately enjoyed, often become snares to us. Our food, our raiment, our com- forts of every kind, and even our dearest relatives, are apt to engross our affections too much, and to become the objects of
an idolatrous regard The cares and troubles of life
also are frequently sources of unbelieving anxiety, or murmur- ing discontent Moreover, the contempt too generally
poured upon religion has not unfrequently a fatal influence on our minds, to keep us from inquiring after God at all, or from
confessing him openly before an ungodly world
To these temptations incalculable force is given by the cor- ruptions of our own hearts. We are of our own selves prone to evil. The heart is ready to catch fire from every spark ; and all the appetites and passions are quickly brought into activity in the service of sin. In vain does reason remonstrate with us : " the law of sin that is in our members, wars against the law of our minds, and brings us into captivity^:" yea, even when the spiritual principle lusteth and striveth against the corruptions of the flesh, so strong is the corrupt principle within us, we cannot do the things that we would''.]
Well therefore may we pray to be kept from their power —
[We are not to suppose that God is active in tempting us to sin: St. James expressly says, that it is our own lust, and not God, that is the occasion of sin^ But God may in his providence give scope for the exercise of our corruptions, as he did, when he raised up Pharaoh to the throne of Egypt, and opened the Red Sea before him for the purpose of making him a more signal monument of his displeasure*^. On the other hand, he will often put an obstacle in the way of his people, so as to keep them from executing the evil suggestions of their hearts : he will plant a " hedge ;" and, if that will not suffice, " he will build up a wall against them, that they may not find their former ways''." This he can do in ten thousand ways, without at all infringing upon the liberty of the human will. Thus he diverted the patriarchs from destroying Joseph, and David from wreaking his vengeance upon NabaF.
Moreover, he has jJromised to do this in answer to our prayers. He will either make a way for us to escape from the temptations that assault us ; or will moderate them, so that they may not be too powerful for us ; or increase our strength, that we may be able to overcome them^. In a word, he will " order our goings," and " direct our paths." If we were to depend on our own wisdom, we should only increase the dif- ficulties which we designed to avoid'': but if we make God our refuge, we shall be preserved. He has bidden us " watch and pray that we enter not into temptation';" and he will never suffer us to use these means in vain"^.]