The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Of the wayes how Satan tempts vsus, and the occasion of temptation.
HItherto of outward afflictions, and the comforts against them. The inward afflictions follow; and here in the first place come temptations to bee considered of, euen those conflicts which men hauehave in their soules euen with euill angels.
Three things must be granted 2. Things taken for granted.concerning temptations.
First, that the doctrine of temptations is obscure, because the disease lies inward in the soule, and is such as the vnregenerate world h…th little care of, or iudgement in.
Secondly, that when God leaues his children to be tried by this affliction, and softens their hearts to feele this combate with diuels, it doth wonderfully amaze and disquiet them, and therefore this is a point needfull to bee handled.
Thirdly, that there is sure remedie in the Word of God, euen for this affliction also.
Now, because this doctrine of temptation is somewhat obscure, I would, before I intreate of comforts against them, consider of three things.
1. How many wayes Satan tempts men.
2. To what things he tempts.
3. What are vsually the occasions he takes of tempting.
For the first, Satan tempts Satan tempts vsus fiue waies.diuers wayes.
1. One is, when hee tempts God against vsus, labouring to bring God out of liking with vsus. Thus he insinuated the dispraises of Iob to God, Iob Chap. 1. & 2. And thus Satan stood at the right hand of Ioshua the high Priest, to resist him before the Angell of the Couenant, Z…hary 3. 1.
2. Another way is, when he appeares in some shape, and by voyce, or otherwayes terrifies men.
3. When he brings distresses vponupon mens bodies, o… other heauy calamities: and thus also he tempted Iob by Gods permission.
4. When he stirres vp other men to tempt vsus: thus hee stirred vp Peter to tempt Christ, and disswaded him from… his suffering, Mat. 16. And thus he tempted the woman by meanes of the Serpent. And thus also hee imployeth wicked men, daily to tempt by euill counsell and enticements.
5. The last and most vsuall way is, by iniecting, exciting, or suggesting euill internally within our spirit. This is that kind of temptation I heere especially meane.
For the second, that wee may finde out the nature of temp…ations, and the things wh…reabout Satan workes, wee may referreall the temptations to three …. Sorts of temptations by suggestion. 1 T…mptations to blasphemysorts.
The first sort of temptations, are temptation… to b…sphemie▪ and thus he … when he suggests monstrous things against God, or the Word of God, or the prouidence of GOD, or the like.
The second sort are, temptations …. Temptations to particular sinnes.to particular sinnes, as when hee tempts to the denyall of Christ, as he did Peter, and so hee tempts to lusts of all sorts. And so the Diuell is the father of lust, Iohn 8. 44. and euill angels are spirituall wickednesses, Eph. 6. 2…. And thus also he tempts to rage or reuenge; and therefore the Apostle implies in his speech about anger, that to giuegive place to wrath, is to giuegive place to the diu…ll, who vsually excites those …olent passions, Ephes. 4. …7. And thus also hee tempts to couetousnesse, in respect of which sinne, the deuill is said to enter into Iudas: And thus also he tempts to lying, as in the case of Ananias and Saphira, Acts 5. And so hee tempts men to murther, either of themselues of others.Temptations to despaire.
The third kinde of temptation is, temptation of despaire, which is, when hee perswades with men to despaire of all merciemercy in God. Thus hee made Iudas despaire: and in some degree of despaire for the time was Dauid himselfe entred, Psalme 77.
Thus of the sorts of temptations.
3. Now it is wonderfull necessarie in the third place to 9 Occasions of temptations.take notice of the occasions of temptations. Satan vsually tempts not, but vponupon some aduantage giuen him, and so there are many things, which as it were, tempt the diuell to tempt men, as
First, solitarinesse: the Diuell Solitarines.watched to finde the woman alone from her husband, and then set vponupon her. Such persons as louelove solitarinesse, louelove not their owne soules; for they giuegive great aduantage to Satan to assault them and circumuent them, and therefore wee should take heede of it.
The second occasion is securitie: Security.when the diuell spies that men be carelesse, and keepe no watch ouer their owne hearts, & are wretchlesse in their courses, and goe from day to day, and feare not euill, then he lyes in waite to assault, by iniecting some vile or base temptation to sinne.
The third occasion is Pride: Pride.when Paul is somewhat lifted vp with the consideration of his reuelations, then doth Satan take his aduantage, and set vponupon him with his messenger, euen some vile temptation. When we take liberty to make our selues great in our owne eyes, and nourish the pleasing thoughts of high opinion, and selfe conceit, if God do not greatly guard vsus, wee are neere some desperate assault of Satan.
The fourth occasion is anger. Anger.The diuell seldome forbeares to enter into the heart of the wrathfull person, when anger hath set open the doore, as was noted before out of Ephes. 4. 26.
The fifth occasion is dalliance Dalliance with euill thoughts.with euill thoughts, when the diuell sees vsus play with contemplatiue wickednesse, and be well content to …et our thoughts runne vponupon sinfull proiects or imaginations of sinnes, which perhaps wee intended not euer to commit: this tempts him to employ his skill to put fire to those thoughts, so long till the whole heart bee e…nared by them, to draw vsus into mischiefe. These lusts will draw away, and Satan engendring with them can make them conceiue, &c. Iames 1. 14.
The sixth occasion is, The 6 Intemperate vse of outward things.intemperate vse of outward things. For the Diuell walketh about as a roaring Lyon, seeking whom hee may deuoure. And when he finds a man excessiuely bent to the things of this world, as meat, drinke, apparel, riches, pleasures, honours, &c. He sets vponupon him by some of his methods, to carry him away captiue at his will. Therefore the Apostle Peter wils vsus to be s…en, if we would preuent him; implying, that the Diuell will … the …, when he finds vsus intemperate, (1) Peter 5. 8.
The seuenth occasion is, Vnsetlednesse 7 Vnsetled…es in faithin the assu… of Gods fauour, and our owne saluation. We cannot resist the Diuel, if we bee not stedfast in the faith, and wee giuegive him wonderfull aduantage, if wee be tossed about like the waues of the Sea, and are vnconstant or carelesse in manner of our faith; we neuer barre out the Diuel soundly, till …ve be stedfast in our assurance, 1 Pet. 5. 8, 9.
The eighth occasion is, when 8. Triall of faith.sometimes the Lord will hauehave vsus tempted, only for the triall of our faith, and the grace which he hath giuen vntounto vsus.
Lastly, The ninth occasion is, a relapse into some grosse sinne after 9. Relapse into some grosse sin.calling, which is scourged with hideous temptations, through a secret depth of Iustice in God, who thereby can shew how fearfull a thing it is so to offend.