A Guide to Go to God, Petition 6 · Section 170 – Section 175
§. 170. Of Temptation, and Tempters.
Q. WHat is Temptation?
A. In generall it is a proofe or triall: as the aforeign in Piel probare. Inde foreign probatio, tentatio. foreign conatus. Inde foreign & foreign. Et inde foreign tentatio.notation of the word in both the originall languages doth ſhew. Dauid therefore ioyneth theſe two words together, bPſal. 95. 9. foreigntempted, proued: which thecHeb. 3. 9. foreign. Apoſtle tranſlateth by two diſtinct words, whereof one ſignifieth to tempt, the other to proue. And another Apoſtle applyeth the word commonly put for temptation to that proofe and triall which is made by fierie perſecution (1. Pet. 4. 12.) Thinke it not ſtrange (ſaith he) concerning the fierie triall, which befalleth you dforeign.for temptation: which is to trie you.
Temptation then generally or indefinitely conſidered is of an indifferent nature: nor ſimply good, nor ſimply euill: but good as it is well vſed: euill as it is ill vſed. It is therefore in Scripture attributed toeExod. 16. 4. God, from whom nothing but that which is good can come, and to thef1. Theſ. 3. 5. Diuell, from whom proceedeth nothing but that which is euill: and alſo to men who ſometimes are guidedgReu. 2. 2. by the Spirit of God, and ſometimeshMat. 22. 18. by the ſpirit of Satan.
Temptation, when it is attributed to God is to be taken in the beſt ſence: and that to proue, diſcouer, & make knowne what is in man: as Moſes ſaid to Iſrael,iDeut. 8. 2. foreign Thou ſhalt remember the way which the Lord thy God led thee to tempt thee (or to proue thee) to know what was in thine heart. Quod ſcriptum eſt, tentat vos dominus deus veſter, vt ſciat ſi diligatis cum, illa locutione poſitum eſt, vt ſciat, pro eo quod eſt vt ſcire vos faciat. Aug. de Serm. Dom. in monte. lib. 2.Not as if God were ignorant thereof (for he vnderſtands our thoughts afarre off. Pſal. 139. 2.) but that he might make knowne to them what indeed was in them. Now God by tempting men maketh known, ſometimes ſuch graces as are in them: (ſo hekGen. 22. 1, 12. tempted Abraham:) and ſometimes ſuch corruptions as lurk in them: ſo hel2. Chro. 32. 31. tempted Hezekiah. Neither of theſe temptations can be thought to be vniuſt, or any way euill.
Temptation when it is attributed to Satan is alwayes to bee taken in the worſt ſence that can bee: for his temptations in his intent are as bad as may be. The Diuels aremMa… 1. 2. vncleane, nLuke 8. 2.euill ſpirits. oEpheſ. 6. 12.Spirituall wickedneſſes: pMath. 1… 19.Satan is the wicked One. He euer tempteth men to ſinne: endeauouring by his temptations to draw men in to ſinne. And becauſe hee neuer ceaſeth ſo to tempt, by a kinde of property hee is calledqforeign. Math. 4 3. 1. Theſ. 3. 5. the Tempter. For he tempteth ſometimes immediately by himſelfe (ſorMath. 4. 3. he tempted Chriſt) ſometimes mediately by his Meſſengers (for aſ2 Cor. 12. 7. Meſſenger of Satan was ſent to tempt Paul) His Meſſengers are of ſeuerall ſorts. Some with Syren-Songs, and Dalilah delights lull men aſleepe (as Sampſon tIudg. 16. 19.was lulled) and bewitch them (as theuGal. 3. 1. Galatians were bewitched:) Others with thundring threats, and boiſterous buffets terrifie men, as xIoh. 3. 2.—9. 22.—19 38.many of the Iewes were kept from making open profeſſion of Chriſt by reaſon of the terrible Edicts that were made againſt ſuch: andy2. Tim 4. 16. Quocuaque me vertam nulla vſus quam ſecuritas eſt. & quae mulcent, & quae moleſtant limeo. Bern. Quadr. Serm. 6. Malleus caeleſtis opificis factus eſt, malleus vniuerſae ter…ae. Terit electos ad eorum vtilitatem: reprobos conterit in corumdomnationem: Bern. Serm. in Tranſ. S. Mal. many Chriſtians forſooke Paul by reaſon of the fierce perſecution raiſed againſt him. Hence hath riſen the diſtinction of temptations on the right hand, and on the left hand. All enticing allurements to wickedneſſe being counted temptations on the right hand: and all violent diſcouragements from goodneſſe being counted temptations on the left hand. Thus doth Satan, as he thinkes may moſt make for his aduantage, either inſencibly like a wily Serpent winde himſelfe into men, or violently like a roaring Lyon, beare all before him. Not vnfitly is he called the Creators maule: his maule for the whole earth. He knocketh the Elect for their profit, he knocketh downe the Reprobate vntounto their perdition.
Temptation attributed to men muſt bee examined according to their different kindes, and accordingly cenſured.
Men tempt God, Themſelues and other men: all which may be well or ill done.
They may tempt God well, by making proofe of his power and truth, for ſtrengthening of their faith, when they are called to an extraordinarie worke (as in this caſeaIudg. 6. 36, &c. Gideon did) or hauehave ſome extraordinarie promiſe made vntounto them (as in this caſeb2. King. 20 8, &c. Hezekiah did) or hauehave ſome ſpeciall warrant: in which caſe becauſecIſa, 7. 11, &c. Ahaz refuſed to tempt God, hee is blamed.
Men may euilly tempt God by preſuming too much, when they hauehave no good ground and ſufficient warrant for their preſumption (as thedMath. 4 6, 7. Diuel would hauehave had Chriſt to hauehave done: and as thee1. Sam. 4. 3. Iſraelites did when they carried the Arke into the Armie) or by an vndue doubting, and deſpairing of Gods helpe in time of need (as thefExod. 17. 2. Numb. 14. 22. Iſraelites oft did in the Wilderneſſe.) Both theſe wayes did the Iſraelites tempt God after the Spies returned from ſearching the Land of Canaan. For firſt thorow deſpaire theygNumb. 14. 1, &c. thought of returning backe againe to Egypt: and being blamed for that, they fell into another extreme, andh—44. preſumptuouſly would needs goe againſt the Canaanites without the Arke, and without Moſes their guide.
2. Men tempt themſelues well, when they ſearch and examine themſelues to finde out the ſecret corruptions of their ſoules, or the truth and ſtrength of grace in them.i2. Cor. 13. 5. foreign. Hereunto they are expreſſely exhorted. But they doe euilly tempt themſelues, when by preſuming too much vponupon their own ſtrength they caſt themſelues into vnneceſſary dangers (askMat. 26. 35, 58. Ioh. 18. 18. Peter did) or when by the inward corrupt motion of their own ſoule they are entiſed and drawne vntounto any euill,lIam. 1. 14. EueryEvery man is tempted, when hee is drawne away of his owne laſt, and entiſed.
3. One man tempteth another well, when on iuſt ground they aſſay to finde out ſome excellency in them (m1. King. 10. 1. foreign to which end the Queene of Sheba came to Salomon to tempt him) or elſe ſome hidden corruption in them; thus the Church of Epheſus nReu. 2. 2. foreign.tempted them which ſaid they were Apoſtles, but were not: and ſo found them lyars. But euilly doth one man tempt another, when he enticeth him to ſinne (oGen. 39. 7, 10. whereunto Ioſephs Miſtris tempted him) or when he aſſayeth to enſnare him, and to bring him into any danger.pLuk. 20. 20, 23 Thus the Miniſters of the Phariſies tempted Chriſt.
Theſe are the ſeuerall kinds of temptation mentioned in the Scripture.
§. 171. Of the kinde of temptation here meant.
Q. VVHat kinde of temptation is here meant?
A. Temptation vntounto ſinne, whether it ariſe from Satan, our ſelues, or other men.
Q. Is temptation to ſinne ſimply euill?
A. No: not in the party tempted, if he yeeld not thereto, but reſiſt it:Math. 4. 9. For Chriſt, who was free from all ſin,Petimus ne alicui tentationi vel conſentiamus decepti, vel cedamus afflicti. Aug. Epiſt. 121. was tempted vntounto ſinne.
Q. Why then are we taught to pray againſt it?
A. The principall thing againſt which wee are here taught to pray is the power of that temptation, as is euident by this Particle*173. into. Yet great cauſe there is why we ſhould alſo pray againſt the very act of temptation, that at all we be not tempted to any ſinne, both becauſe the act it ſelfe is euill in them that tempt to ſinne, and alſo becauſe by nature wee are as prone to yeeld to eueryevery euill whereunto we are tempted, as dry Tinder is apt to be ſet on fire by eueryevery ſparke that falleth vponupon it:Gen. 6. 5. For EueryEvery imagination of the thoughts of mans heart is onelyonly euill continually. Herein lyeth a maine difference betwixt the quality of Chriſts humane nature, and ours. His was ſo perfectly pure as no temptation could faſten vponupon it. It was to temptation as a ſea of water to ſparkes of fire, which ſoone extinguiſheth them. Ours is as dry Tinder, yea as dry Gunpowder.
§. 172. Of mans ſubi…ction to temptation.
Q. WHat obſeruation may bee gathered from the mention of temptation in this deprecation?
A. Men in this world are continually ſubiect to temptations. Rom. 7. 21.This complaint of the Apoſtle, (I finde a law that when I would doe good, euill is preſent with mee: and, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death?) verifieth as much: ſo alſo doth wofull experience in all men. If there bee a man that findes not this true in himſelfe, his caſe is deſperate: for either hee is depriued of all ſpirituall vnderſtanding and ſence, that he is not able to diſcerne a temptation: or his whole courſe of life is ſo full of temptations, and hee ſuch a ſlaue to them, they ſo frequent on him, and he ſo free towards them, as hee cannot ſee the wood for trees. He cannot tell when he is tempted, becauſe he is neuer but tempted. Temptations are not as enemies to him to be reſiſted: but as his beſt friends to hauehave the beſt entertainment that hee can afford vntounto them. Thus a man accounting temptations to be no temptations may in his owne imagination be free: but indeed no man is free.
aSee the whole Armour of God Treat, … part. 5. §. 13. on Epheſ. 6. 15.This is thus ordered partly bybMath. 10. 29. Gods wiſe prouidence (to c2. Cor. 12. 9.manifeſt his owne diuine properties, todIob 1. 8. make knowne the graces which are in his children, toeMat. 26. 34. diſcouer their weakeneſſes, tof2. Cor. 12. 7. preuent ſecret corruptions, and togReu. 14. 13. declare a difference betwixt this preſent life, and that which is to come) and partly by thehIob 1. 7. malice of Satan, both toiIob 1. 11. deface the image of God in men, and alſo tok1. Pet. 5. 8. bring them to eternall deſtruction. For he is a profeſſed enemy both of Gods glory, and alſo of mans ſaluation.
A due conſideration of this our condition in this world to be ſo ſubiect vntounto temptations may well moue vsus tolEpheſ. 6. 10, 11 See more of this direction in the whole Armour of God. be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and to put on the whole armour of God, that we may be alwayes well prepared to ſtand againſt all temptations. Yea alſo (mMat. 26. 41. according to Chriſts direction) to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation: and (n1. Pet. 5. 8. according to Saint Peters direction) to be ſober and vigilant: (for Satan taketh great aduantage both from intemperancie, and alſo from ſecuritie: witneſſeoGen. 19. 33. Lots Inceſt for the one: andp2. Sam. 11. 2, &c. Dauids Adultery and murther following thereupon, for the other) and becauſe of the continuall danger wherein we are by reaſon of the manifold temptations whereunto we are ſubiect while we are on earth, we ought to aſpire after heauen, and to ſay with the Apoſtle,Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man, that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from the body of this death?
This of Temptation. The Action deprecated is, Lead not into.
§. 173. Of leading into.
Q. WHat is meant by leading into?Non hac Sonat Ne nos inducas in tentationem, quaſi non permittat nos aliquando tentari, ſed ne permittat in tentatione poſitos ſuperari. Ab. Iſa. de Orat. Dom. c. 23.
A. Giuing of one ouer to the power of that whereunto he is brought. In this ſence the Pſalmiſt making by diuine inſtinct imprecation againſt a reprobate enemy, ſaith, Set a wicked man ouer him, to doe with him at his pleaſure. Our Engliſh maketh a manifeſt difference betwixt VNTOUNTO and INTO, which is worth the noting in this place. The latter implyeth a degree further then the former.Pſal. 109. 6. foreign Cyril. Catech. Myſt. 5. A man that canno… ſwimme, may be led vntounto a deepe poole & yet be ſafe enough; but if hee be led into it he is in great danger of drowning, except he be pulled out againe. They who tranſlate it, Caſt vsus not into temptation, doe well expreſſe the ſence.
§. 174. Of being in the power of temptation.
Q. WHen are men in the power of a Temptation?Ne…s … in tentationem. Aug. de … Dom. in mont. l. 2 Qui Orat, ne no… induc as in tentationem, Orat …t mon Peccet. Aug. Epiſt. 95.
A. When thereby they are brought into ſinne. For ſin is the downefall of the ſoule into the tempters pit. It is therefore in the Greeke ſtiledbforeign. a ſlip or a fall. The word moſt properly ſignifieth the very act of falling. The Apoſtle ſaith of couetous men, thatc1. Tim. 6. 9. foreign. they fall into temptation and a ſnare, and into many fooliſh and hurtfull luſts, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction. The firſt ſinne which Adam committed, whereby hee apparantly ſell into Satans ſnare, is oft termeddRom. 5. 15. foreign afall. In regard of this power which temptation hath ouer a man, Saint Iames ſaith,eIam. 1. 14. EueryEvery man is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne luſts.
The Action being declared.Quicunque tentatione vinciti… peccatum ipſe committit. Aug. hom. 42. … l. 50. Hom. The Perſon to whom it is directed is to be conſidered. The Perſon is hee to whom all the other Petitions are made.
§. 175. Of Gods leading into temptation.
Q. HOw can God be ſaid to lead into temptation?
A. Both in regard of them that tempt, and of them alſo that are tempted. In regard of them that tempt, by permiſſion and inſtigation. Nihil contra no… … poteſt niſt Deus ante permiſerit. Cypr. de Orat. Dom. §. 19.Nor Satan nor any other, be they neuer ſo mighty or malicious, can tempt a man, except God permit them (inſtance Iobs caſe: yea inſtance the caſe of the Swine into which vncleane Spirits entred, and forced them into the Sea.) And when they are permitted, they cannot go beyond thoſe limits which the Lord appointeth to them:Iob. 1. 12, &c. inſtance againe the caſe of the ſaid Iob. Mat. 5. 12, 13.This made much to the glory of Iob. Iob 1. 12.Beſides this permiſſion,—2. 6. the Lord doth alſo make them which tempt men,Po…eſtas Satanae dupliciter aduerſus nos datur. vel ad gloriam cum probamur, vel ad … cum delinquimus. Cypr. loc. citat. Executioners of his wrath and iuſtice: and in that reſpect may be ſaid toe1. Kin. 11. 14, 23 inſtigate and ſtirre them vp. For f1. King. 22. 19, &c.God dealeth with obſtinate ſinners as Iudges doe with conuicted Malefactors. They giuegive them ouer to the power of the Hang-man. Now God hath many executioners of his wrath. The chiefe of all is the Diuell. Among others may bee reckoned vp mans owne luſts. In this reſpect therefore it is ſaid of the Gentiles, thatgRom. 1. 24, 26 God gaue them vp to vncleanneſſe thorow the luſts of their owne heart: and againe, that God gaue them vp vntounto vile affections.
In regard of them that are tempted God may bee ſaid to leade them into temptation, partly by leauing them to themſelues,Homines ſine gratia nullum prorſus ſiue cogitan do, ſiue v… len… out a…ando ſiue agendo faciunt bonum, Aug. de Cor. & Gra. c, 2. and partly by withdrawing his grace from them. Man in regard of ſpirituall ſtrength is as weake as water which cannot vphold it ſelfe but runneth all about: without grace he can neither thinke, will, affect, nor doe any good. If therefore hee be left to himſelfe, how can hee ſtand againſt a temptation. h2. Ch…o. 32. 31God leauing Hezekiah, hee ſoone fell. Yet Gods grace is able to eſtabliſh vsus againſt all temptations, euen the moſt violent that can be.i2. Cor. 12. 9. My grace is ſufficient for thee, ſaith God to Saint Paul, when a Meſſenger of Satan was ſent to buffet him. Now in that God permitteth and inſtigateth Tempters to tempt men, and withdrawing his Grace which is ſufficient for them, leaueth them who are not able to ſtand of themſelues, he is ſaid to leade them into temptation