The Promises, 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 Deuill, may raise vp in his thoughts diuers contemplations, able to succour He may comfort him selfe from the consideration, Of the common condition of the godly.him in his distresses: as
1 First, if hee consider that this is the case of all the godly, to be tempted: 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. And the Apostle Peter hartens them to whom he writes, by this argument: The same afflictions are accomplished vponupon your brethren that are in the world, 1. Pet. 5. 9. This also the Apostle to the Ephesians affirmes, that those spiritual wickednesses are found euen in the most heauenly places on earth, Ephes. 6. 12. The Apostles themselues were not free from this combat, & therefore Paul saith, Wee wrestle with principalities and powers, &c.
2 Secondly, if we consider Of the measure.the 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 wil make his grace sufficient for him, 1. Cor. 10. 13. 2. Cor. 12. 9. Sathan is limited, hee can goe no further then his chaine will reach, and for that cause it is, that wee are taught to pray, that God would not lead vsus into temptation, as acknowledging that God doth dispose and order the measure of this kinde of affliction.
3 Thirdly, if hee consider Of the short continuance.the short cōtinuance of his temptations; They may be fierce, but they are not long: GOD will shortly tread downe Sathan vnderunder our feete, Rom. 16. 20. We shal suffer but a while, 1. Pet. 5. 9. 10.
4 Fourthly, if hee seriously Of diuers things in Christ: asmeditate of diuers things in Christ his Sauiour: as,
First, his example. It 1. His exampleshould bee lesse grieuous to bee tempted, because Christ himselfe was tempted in all things, as he is, sin sinne onelyonly excepted, Hebr. 4. 15.
Secondly, Christ hath 2 His victory ouer the Deuill.atchieued an admirable victory ouer these principalities and powers, and hath triumphed ouer them, and made a shew of them openly, Col. 2. 15.
Thirdly, there is in 3 His sympathie.Christ a sympathy and fellow-feeling. He is touched with our infirmities, and doth much compassionate our case, Heb. 4. 15.
Fourthly, he hath made intercession, and praied for 4 His Intercession.vsus, that our faith might not faile. For that which hee assured to Peter, hee performeth also for all the elect, Luk. 22. 31.
Fiftly, Christ is the true 5 His vertue for healing vsus.brazen Serpent, which is lift vp of God, that when we feele our selues stung with these fiery serpents, by looking vponupon Christ we are sure to be healed, Iohn 3. 15.
Lastly, we are sure to be helped and succoured by 6 His succour.Christ in the combat: Hee was tempted himselfe, that hee might succour them that are tempted, Heb. 2. 18.
5 Fiftly, if he consider Of the issue out of temptation.the issue that GOD will giuegive, He will giuegive issue out of the temptation, 1. Cor. 10. 13. He will tread down Sathan, Rom. 16. 20. He will stablish vsus, after wee hauehave suffered a while, 1. Pet. 5. 9, 10. If wee resist the Deuill, he shall flye from vsus, Iam. 4. 7. 8. If hee lead vsus into temptation, hee will deliuer vsus from euill, Math. 6. 13. The Lord will breake the head of the great Leuiathan, the crooked serpent, the Dragon of the Sea, Isay, 27. 1.
6 If he consider the effects of temptation, it is Of the effects.the schoole of Christ to traine vsus vp in spirituall souldierly, they cannot hurt vsus, they make vsus more humble, 2. Corin. 12. 8. 9. They are for our triall, 1. Pet. 1. 7. Sathan doth but winnow vsus, wee lose nothing but our chaffe, Luke 21. 31.
Ob. But it seemes, temptations are a grieuous euill, because we are taught to pray against them in a speciall manner in the Lords praier, which shews that my estate is miserable, in that I am ledde into temptation.
Ans. It is true, that wee How wee may pray against temptations.must 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; only we must pray absolutely to be deliuered from the euill of temptation, which latter words doe restraine or correct the former.
Quest. But when I am tempted, how may I know that I am not ouercome of the temptation?
An. Obserue thine own How wee may know that we are not ouercome of temptations.heart in the entertainment of those vilde iniections. If thou abhorthem as soon as they come in, and giuegive no manner of consent vntounto them, thou art free. For Christ himselfe was tempted by euill cogitations cast into his minde: (for Note.the Apostle saith) He was tempted in like manner as wee are, and yet he was not guilty of the euill of the temptation. It is true, that for the most part wee are infected in some degree or other by it: but yet it is not impossible for man to bee free from the euill of temptation, as that example shewes.
But secondly, thou maist Two signes.know whether thou be ouercome or no, by two signes. For first, if thou feele the temptation to be an affliction to thee, and account it an euil day, and art burthened vnderunder it, as if it were a very buffeting of thy body, thou art yet safe: The Deuill hath no victory, thou art not ledde captiue, all this while Paul was worse feared then hurt, 2. Cor. 12. 7. 8. 9. Secondly, all the while thou resistest by prayer, & wrastlest, with it, and keepest thy spirituall weapons in thy hands, thou art the conqueror, for thou art assured of God. If thou resist, the Deuill will flye from thee in due time. Thou art neuer ouercome, till the temptation please thee, & thou resoluest to make no resistance spiritually, Iam. 4. 8.
Quest. But what if I bee ouercome? am I not in a desperate condition, if the temptation hauehave preuailed ouer me?
An. 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 intercessiō for thee, and will heale thee, if thou make thy recourse vntounto him, and penitently plead for mercy before the throne of Grace.