power to keep and preserve our selves from entring into temptation Therefore are we to pray that we may be preserved from it because we cannot save our selves This is another meanes of preservation As we have no strength to resist a Temptation when it doth come when we are entred into it but shall fall under it without a supply of sufficiency of Grace from God so to reckon that we have no power or wisdome to keep our selves from entring into temptation but must be kept by the power and wisdome of God is a preserving principle 1 Pet. 1. 5. We are in all things kept by the power of God This our Saviour instructs us in not only by directing us to pray that we be not lead into temptation but also by his owne praying for us that we may be kept from it Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evill That is the Temptations of the world unto evill unto sinne {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} out of the evill that is in the world that is Temptation which is all that is evill in the world or from the evill one who in the world makes use of the world unto Temptation Christ prays his Father to keep us and instructs us to pray that we be so kept it is not then a thing in our owne power The waies of our entring into temptation are so many various and imperceptible the meanes of it so efficacious and powerfull the entrances of it so deceitfull subtile insensible and plausible our weaknesse our unwatchfulnesse so unspeakable that we cannot in the least keep or preserve our selves from it we faile both in wisdome and power for this work Let the heart then commune with its selfe and say I am poore and weake Satan is subtile cunning powerfull watching constantly for Advantages against my soule the world earnest pressing and full of specious pleas innumerable pretences and waies of deceit my owne corruption violent and tumultuating enticing entangling conceiving sinne and warring in me against me Occasions and advantages of Temptation innumerable in all things I have done or suffer in all businesses and persons with whom I converse The first beginnings of Temptation insensible and plausible so that left unto my selfe I shall not know that I am ensnared untill my bonds be made strong and sinne hath got ground in my heart therefore on God alone will I rely for preservation and continually will I look up to him on that account This will make the soule be alwaies committing its selfe to the care of God resting its selfe on him and to do nothing undertake nothing c without asking counsell of him So that a double Advantage will arise from the Observation of this direction both of singular use for the soules preservation from the evill feared First The engagement of the grace and compassion of God who hath called the Fatherlesse and helplesse to rest upon him nor did ever soule faile of supplys who in a sense of want rolled its selfe on him on the account of his gratious invitation Secondly the keeping of it in such a frame as on various accounts is usefull for its preservation He that looks to God for assistance in a due manner is both sensible of his danger and conscientiously carefull in the use of meanes to preserve himselfe which tvvo of vvhat importance they are in this case may easily be apprehended by them vvho have their hearts exercised in these things 3. This also is in it Act Faith on the promise of God for preservation To believe that he vvill preserve us is a meanes of preservation For this God vvill certainly doe or make avvay for us to escape out of Temptation if vve fall into it under such a believing frame We are to pray for vvhat God hath promised Our requests are to be regulated by his promises and commands vvhich are of the same extent faith closes vvith the promises and so finds reliefe in this case This James instructs us in Ch. 1. 5 7. What we vvant vve must aske of God but vve must aske it in faith for othervvise vve must not think that we shall receive any thing of the Lord This then also is in this direction of our Saviour that vve act Faith on the promises of God for our preservation out of Temptation He hath promised that he will keep us in all our wayes that we shall be directed in a way that though we are fooles we shall not erre in it Isa. 55. 8. that he will lead us guide us and deliver us from the evill one Set faith on worke on these promises of God and expect a good and comfortable issue It is not easily conceived what a traine of Graces faith is attended withall when it goes forth to meet Christ in the promises nor what a power for the preservation of the soul lyes in this thing But I have spoken to this elsevvhere 4. Weigh these things severally and 1. take prayer into consideration to pray that we enter not into Temptation is a meanes to preserve us from it Glorious things are by all men that know ought of those things spoken of this duty yet the truth is not one halfe of its Excellency power and efficacy is knowne It is not my businesse to speake of it in Generall but this I say as to my present purpose he that would be little in temptation let him be much in prayer This calls in the sutable help succour that is laid up in Christ for us Heb. 4. 16. This casteth our soules into a frame of opposition to every Temptation When Paul had given instruction for the taking to our selves the whole armour of God that we may resist and stand in a time of Temptation he addes this generall close of the whole Ep. 6. 18. praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication Without this all the rest will be of no efficacy for the end proposed And therefore consider what weight he layes on it praying alwaies that is at all times and seasons or be alwaies ready and prepared for the discharge of that duty Luk. 18. 1. 1 Thes. 5. 14. with all prayer and supplications in the spirit putting forth all kindes of desires unto God that are suited to our condition according to his will and which we are assisted in by the Spirit and watching thereunto lest we be diverted by any thing what ever and that not for a little while but with all perseverance continuance lengthned out to the utmost so shall we stand The soule so framed is in a sure posture and this is one of the meanes without which this worke will not be done If we doe not abide in prayer we shall abide in cursed Temptations Let this then be another direction Abide in prayer and that expressly to this purpose that we enter
Temptation unto sinne yet it shall not escape a great temptation by desertion The spouse cries I sleepe Cant. 5. 2. and that she had put off her coat and could not put it on had an indisposition to duties and Communion with Christ What is the next newes you have of her vers 6. her beloved had withdrawne himselfe Christ was gone and shee seeks him long and finds him not There is such a suitablenesse between the new nature that is wrought and created in believers and the duties of the worship of God that they will not be parted nor kept asunder unlesse it be by the interposition of some disturbing distēper The new creature feeds upon them is strengthened and increased by them finds sweetnesse in them yea meets in them with its God and Father so that it cannot but of its selfe unlesse made sick by some temptation but delight in them and desire to be in the exercise of them This frame is described in the 119th Psalme throughout It is not I say cast out of this frame and temper unlesse it be oppressed and disorder'd by one secret Temptation or other Sundry other evidences there are of a soules entring into temptation which upon enquiry it may discover I propose this to take off the security that we are apt to fall into and to manifest what is the peculiar duty that we are to apply our selves unto in the speciall seasons of Temptation For he that is already entred into temptation is to apply himselfe unto meanes for disintanglement not to labour to prevent his entering in How this may be done I shall afterwards declare CHAP. V. The second case proposed or enquiries resolved What are the best directions to prevent entering into temptation Those directions laid downe The directions given by our Saviour Watch and Pray What is included therein 1. Sense of the danger of Temptation 2. That it is not in our power to keep our selves 3. faith in promises of preservation Of Prayer in particular Of Watching HAving seene the danger of entring into temptation and also discovered the waies and seasons whereby and wherein men usually do so Our second enquiry is what generall directions may be given to preserve a soule from that condition that hath been spoken of And we see our Saviours direction in the place spoken of before Matth. 26. 41. He sums up all in these two words Watch and Pray I shall a little labour to unfold them and shew what is enwrapped and contained in them and that both jointly and severally 1. There is included in them a cleare abiding Apprehension of the great evill that there is in entering into Temptation That which a man watches and prayes against He looks upon as evill to him and by all meanes to be avoided This then is the first direction Alwaies beare in mind the great danger that it is for any soule to enter into Temptation It is a woefull thing to consider what slight thoughts the most have of this thing so men can keep themselves from sinne it selfe in open action they are content they scarce aime at more on any Temptation in the world all sorts of men will venture at any time How will young men put themselves on any company any society at first being delighted with evill company then with the evill of the company How vaine are all Admonitions and Exhortations to them to take heed of such or such persons debauched in themselves corrupters of others destroyers of soules at first they will venture on the company abhorring the thoughts of practising their lewdnesse but what is the issue unlesse it be here or there one whom God snatches with a mighty hand from the jawes of destruction they are all lost and become after a while in love with the evill which at first they abhorred This open doore to the ruine of soules is too evident and woefull experience makes it no lesse evident that it is almost impossible to fasten upon many poore creatures any feare or dread of Temptation who yet will professe a feare and abhorrency of sin Would it were only thus with young men such as are unaccustomed to the yoke of the Lord What sort of man is free from this folly in one thing or other How many professors have I known that would plead for their Liberty as they called it They could heare any thing all things all sorts of men all men they would try all things whither they come to them in the way of God or no and on that account would runne to heare and to attend to every broacher of false and abominable opinions every seducer though stigmatized by the generality of the Saints for such a one they had their liberty they could do it but the opinions they hated as much as any what hath been the issue I scarce ever knew any come off without a wound the most have had their faith overthrowne Let no man then pretend to feare sinne that doth not feare temptation to it They are too nearely ally'd to be seperated Satan hath put them so together that it is very hard for any man to put them asunder He hates not the fruit who delights in the root When men see that such waies such companies such courses such businesses such studdies and aymes do entangle them make them cold carelesse are quenchcoles to them indispose them to even universall and constant obedience if they adventure on them sinne lies at the doore It is a tender frame of spirit sensible of its owne weaknesse and corruption of the craft of Satan of the evill of sin of the efficacy of Temptation that can performe this duty And yet untill we bring our hearts to this frame upon the considerations before mentioned or the like that may be proposed we shall never free our selves from sinnefull intanglements Boldnesse upon temptation springing from severall pretences hath as is knowne ruined innumerable professors in those daies and still continues to cast many downe from their Excellency nor have I the least hope of a more fruitfull profession amongst us untill I see more feare of Temptation Sin will not long seeme great or heavy unto any to whom temptations seeme light or small This is the first thing enwrapped in this Generall direction The daily exercise of our thoughts with an apprehension of the great danger that lyes in entring into Temptation is required of us Griefe of the spirit of God disquietment of our owne soules losse of peace Hazard of eternall welfare lyes at the doore If the soule be not prevailed withall to the observation of this direction all that ensues will be of no value Temptation despised will conquer and if the heart be made tender and watchfull here halfe the work of securing a Good Conversation is over And let not him go any farther who resolves not to improve this direction in a daily Conscientious observation of it 2. There is this in it also That it is not a thing in our owne
my selfe to give a description of the generall nature of that which we are to watch against which will make way for what I ayme at Temptation then in Generall is any Thing state way condition that upon any account whatever hath a force or efficacy to seduce to draw the mind and heart of a man from that obedience which God requires of him into any sinne in any degree of it whatever In particular that is a Temptation to any man which causes or occasions him to sinne or in any thing to goe off from his dutie either by bringing evill into his heart or drawing out that evill that is in his heart or any other way diverting him from communion with God and that constant equall universall obedience in matter and manner that is required of him For the clearing of this description I shall only observe that Though temptation seemes to be of a more active importance and so to denote only the power of seduction to sinne it selfe yet in the Scripture it is commonly taken in a neuter sense and denotes the matter of the Temptation or the thing whereby we are tempted And this is a Ground of the description I have given of it be it how it will that from any thing whatever within us or without us hath advantage to hinder in duty or to provoke unto or in any way to occasion sinne that is a Temptation and so to be looked on Be it businesse imployment course of life company Affections nature or corrupt designe coyne Relations delights name Reputation Esteeme Abilities parts or excellencies of body or mind place dignity art so farre as they further or occasion the promotion of the Ends before mentioned they are all of them no lesse truely Temptations than the most violent solicitations of Sathan or allurements of the world and that soule lyes at the brink of ruine who discernes it not and this will be farther discovered in our processe CHAP. 2. What it is to enter into temptation Not barely being tempted Not to be conquered by it To fall into it The force of that Expression Things required unto entring into temptation Satan or lust more than ordinarily importunate The soules entanglement Seasons of such entanglements discovered Of the houre of Temptation Rev. 3. 18. what it is How any Temptation comes to its houre How it may be knowne when it is so come The meanes of Prevention prescribed by our Saviour Of watching and what is intended thereby Of Prayer HAving shewed what Temptation is I come in the next place to manifest what it is to enter into Temptation 1. This is not merely to be tempted It is impossible that we should be so freed from temptation as not to be at all tempted Whilest Satan continues in his power and malice whilest the world and lust are in being we shall be tempted Christ sayes one was made like unto us that he might be tempted and we are tempted that we may be made like unto Christ Temptation in generall is comprehensive of our whole warfare as our Saviour calls the time of his ministry the time of his Temptation Luk. 22. 28. We have no promise that we shall not be tempted at all nor are to pray for an absolute freedome from temptations because we have no such promise of being heard therein The direction we have for our prayers is lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 9. it is entering into temptation that we are to pray against We may be tempted and yet not enter into temptation so that 2. Something more is intended by this expression then the ordinary work of Satan and our own lusts which will be sure to tempt us every day There is something signall in this entring into Temptation that is not the Saints every dayes worke It is something that befals them peculiarly in reference to seduction unto sinne on one account or other by the way of allurement or affrightment 3. It is not to be conquered by a temptation to fall downe under it to commit the sinne or evill that we are tempted to or to omit the duties that are opposed A man may enter into temptation and yet not fall under Temptation God can make a way for a man to escape when he is in he can breake the snare tread downe Satan and make the soule more than a Conquerour though it have entered into temptation Christ entered into it but was not in the least foyled by it but 4. It is as the Apostle expresseth it 1 Tim. 6. 9. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to fall into Temptation as a man falls into a pit or a deep place where are gins and snares wherewith he is intangled The man is not presently kill'd and destroyed but he is intangled and detained He knowes not how to get free or be at liberty so it is expressed againe to the same purpose 1 Cor. 10. 13. no temptation hath taken you it is to be taken by a temptation and to be intangled with it held in its cords not finding at present a way to escape Thence saith Peter 2 Ep. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations They are entangled with them God knowes how to deliver them out of them When we suffer a temptation to enter into us then we enter into temptation Whilest it knocks at the doore we are at liberty but when any Temptation comes in and parlies with the heart Reasons with the mind entices and allures the affections be it a long or a short time doe it thus insensibly and imperceptibly or do the soule take notice of it we enter into Temptation So then unto our entring into Temptation is required 1 That by some Advantage or on some Occasion Satan be more earnest than ordinary in his solicitations to sinne by affrightments or allurements by persecutions or seductions by himselfe or others or that some lust or corruption by his instigation and advantages of outward objects provoking as in prosperity or terrifying as in trouble do tumultuate more than ordinary within us There is a speciall acting of the Authour and principles of Temptation required thereunto 2. That the heart be so farre entangled with it as to be put to dispute and argue in its owne defence and yet not to be able wholy to eject or cast out the poyson and leaven that hath been injected but is surprized if it be never so little off its watch into an intanglement not easy to be avoided so that the soule may cry and pray and cry againe and yet not be delivered as Paul sought the Lord thrise for the departure of his temptation and prevailed not The entanglement continues And this usually fals out in one of these two seasons 1. When Satan by the permission of God for ends best knowne to himselfe hath got some peculiar Advantage against the soule As in the case of Peter he sought to winnow him and prevailed 2. When a mans lusts and corruptions meet