The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
How the godly may comfort themselues in their temptations.
THE consolations against temptations follow.
A Christian, that feeles himselfe assaulted by the Diuell, may rayse vp in his thoughts diuers contemplations, able to succou him in his distresses: as,
First, If he consider that this is the case of all the godly, to bee Hee may comfort himselfe from the consideration, 1. Of the common condition of the godly.tēpted. It is no new thing which hath befallen him. Thus Paul comforts the Corinthians, No temptation hath befallen you, but what accompanies the nature of man, 1 Cor. 10. 13. The Apostle Peter hartens them to whom hee writes, by this argumet: The same afflictions are accomplished vponupon your brethren that are in the world, 1 Pet. 5. This also the Apostle to the Ephesias …ffirmes, that those spiritual wick…dnesse are found euen in the most ho… …nly places on earth, Eph 6. 12. Il. Apostles théselues were not free …rom this comba…, & therefore Paul …; We wrastle with principalities and powers, &c.
Secondly, If hee consider the 2. Of the measure.measure of them: God will not lay any more vponupon him, then he is able to beare, he may feare his owne strength, as Paul did, but God will make his grace sufficient for vsus, 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Satan is limited, hee can goe no further then his chain wil reach, and for that cause it is, that we are taught to pray, that God would not lead vsus into temptation, as acknowledging that God doth dispose and order the measure of this kind of affliction.1 Of the short continuance.
Thirdly, If hee consider the short continuance of his temptations; they may be fierce, but they are not long: God will shortly tread downe Satan vnderunder feet, Rom. 16. 20. Wee shall suffer but a while, 1 Peter 5. 9, 10.
Fourthly, If hee seriously meditate 4 Of diuers things in Christ: as,of diuers things in Christ his Sauiour: as,
First, His example. It should be 1 His example,lesse grieuous to be tempted, because Christ himselfe was tempted in all things, as hee is, sinne onelyonly excepted, Heb. 4. 15.
Secondly, Christ hath atchiued an admirable victorie ouer … His victory ouer the diuel.these principalities and powers, and hath triumphed ouer them, and made a shew of them openly, Col. 2. 15.
Thirdly, There is in Christa sympathy and fellow feeling. Hee … His sympathy.is touched with our infirmities, and doth much compassionate our case, Hebr. 4. 15.
Fourthly, He hath made intercession, 4 His in tercession.and prayer for vsus, that our faith might not faile. For that which he assured to Peter, he performeth also for all the elect.
Fiftly, Christ is the true brazen Serpent, which is lift vp of God, 5 His vertu… for he. ling vsus.that when wee feele our selues stung with these fiery Serpents, by looking vponupon Christ, wee are sure to be healed, Iohn 3. 14.
Lastly, We are sure to be helped and succoured by Christ in the 6 His suc courcombat: He was tempted himselfe that hee might succour them that are tempted, Hebr. 2. 18.
Fiftly, If he consider the issue 5 Of the …sue out of temptatiō.that God will giuegive: He will giuegive issue out of temptation, 1 Cor. 10. 18. Hee will cread downe Satan, Rom. 6. 20. Hee will …stablish vsus, after wee hauehave suffered a while, 1 Pet. 3. 9, …0. If we resist the Diuell, he shall flie from vsus I am. 4. 7, 8 If he leade vsus into temptations, he will deliuer vsus from euill, Math. 6. 13. The Lord will breake the head of the great Loui…han, the crooked Serpent, the Dragon of the Sea, Esay 27. 1.
6. If he consider the effects of 6. Of the effects.temptation; it is the Schoole of Christ, to traine vsus vp in spiritual souldierie; they cannot hurt vsus, they make vsus more humble, 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. They are for our tryall, 1 Pet. 1. 7. Satan doth but win…ow vsus, we lose nothing but our chasse, Luke 22. 31.
Ob. But it seemes, temptations Ob.ar… a grieuous euill, because wee are taught to pray against them in a speciall manner in the Lords Prayer, which shewes that my estate is miserable, in that I am led into temptation.
Answ. It is true, that we must pray against temptations, and How wee m…y pray against temptations.that it is a iudgement; but yet no other, then sicknesse, pouerty, or the like: and therefore we are not to pray against them simply, but with submission to Gods will; onelyonly wee must pray absolutely to be deliuered from the euill of temptation, which latter words do restraine or correct the former.
Quest. But when I am tempted, how may I know that I am not ouercome of the temptation?
Answ. Obserue thine owne heart in the entertainment of How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptationsthose vile iniections. If thou abhorre them as soone as they come in, and giuegive no … of consent vntounto them, thou art free. For Christ himselfe was tempted by euill cogitations cast into his mind: (for the Apostle saith) He was tempted in like manner as we Note.are, and yet he was not guilty of the euill of the temptation. It is true, that for the most part we are infected in some degree or other by it: But yet it is not impossible for man to be free from the euill of temptation, as that example shewes.
But secondly, thou maist know Two signeswhether thou bee ouercome or no, by two signes. For first, If thou feele the temptation to bee an affliction to thee, and account it an euill day, and art burthened vnderunder it, as if it were a verie buffeting of thy body, thou art yet safe: The Diuell hath no victory, thou art not led captiue, all this while Paul was worse feared then hurt, 2 Corinthians 12. 7, 8, 9. Secondly, All the while thou resistest by prayer, and wrastlest with it, and keepest thy spiritual weapons in thy hands, thou art the conquerour; for thou art assured of God, If thou resist, the Diuell will slye from thee in due time. Thou art neuer ouercome, till the temptation please thee, and thou resoluest to make no resistance spiritually, Iames 4. 8.
Quest. But what if I be ouercome? Am I not in a desperate cnodition, if the temptatiōs hauehave preuailed ouer me?
Answ. Thy case is mournfull, but not desperate: For Peter and Dauid were ouercome of the temptation; and though it cost them many teares, yet they were recouered. Christ hath made intercession for thee, and will heale thee, if thou make thy recourse vntounto him, and penitently plead for mercy before the Throne of Grace.