The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Why God ſuffereth his ſeruants to be exerciſed in the ſpirituall conflict of tentations.
BVt here it may be demaunded, why the Lord will ſuffer his ſeruants to be thus tempted and aſſaulted, whereas the wicked are free from ſuch conflicts. I anſwere, firſt for his owne glorie, for whereas our enemies are ſtrong and mighty and we weake and feeble, hereby is the Lords omnipotent power manifeſted to all the world, by whoſe aſſiſtance ſuch impotent wretches conquer and ſubdue ſuch furious and puiſſant enemies.
Secondly, God ſuffereth his children to be tempted, that ſo thoſe ſpirituall graces which he hath beſtowed vponupon them may the more cleerely ſhine to his glorie. For who can know whether they be Gods golden veſſels before they be brought to the touchſtone of temptation? Who could know the faith, patience and valour of Gods ſouldiers, if they alwaies lay quietly in garriſon and neuer came to the skirmiſh? Who could feele the odoriferous ſmell of theſe aromaticall ſpices, if they were not punned and bruſed in the morter of afflictions? For example, who would hauehave diſcerned Abrahams faith, Dauids pietie, Iobs patience, Pauls courage and conſtancie, if they had been neuer tempted, which now to the glorie of God ſhine to all the world?
And as the Lord ſuffereth Sathan and his impes to trie his children for his owne glorie, ſo alſo for their ſpirituall and euerlaſting good: for firſt hereby he chaſtizeth them for their ſinnes paſt, and recalleth them to their remembrance, that ſo they may truly repent of them. And this cauſe Iob ſpeaketh of:Iob. 13.26. Iob. 13.26. Thou writeſt (ſaith he) bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſſe the iniquities of my youth.
Secondly, hereby hee manifeſteth vntounto vsus our ſecret and hidden ſinnes, which the blind eyes of our iudgement would not diſcerne, if their ſight were not quickned with this ſharp water of temptation. For ſo long as wee liue in peace, our ſecure conſciences neuer ſummon vsus to the barre of Gods iudgement; but when wee are rouſed vp by temptation, wee enter into a more ſtraight examination of our ſelues, and ſearch what ſecret ſinnes lie lurking in the hidden corners of our hearts, that ſo wee may repent of them and make our peace with God, without whoſe aſſiſtance wee can hauehave no hope to ſtand in any temptation.
Thirdly, the Lord hereby preuenteth our ſinnes to come: for when we hauehave experience, that the moſt ſharp weapons, which Sathan vſeth to inflict deepe wounds in our conſciences, are our ſinnes; this will make vsus moſt carefull to abſtaine from them, leaſt thereby we ſtrengthen him for our owne ouerthrow. And as theſe temptations of Sathan are in this regard ſo many bridles to reſtraine vsus from ſinne; ſo alſo they are ſo many prickes to let out the winde of vaine glorie, wherewith like bladders we be puffed vp, as wee may ſee in the example of Paul, who leſt he ſhould be exalted out of meaſure through the abundance of reuelations, receiued a pricke in the fleſh, the meſſenger of Sathan to buffet him. 2. Cor. 12.7.
Fourthly,2. Cor▪ 12.7. the Lord ſuffereth Sathan to aſſault vsus, that wee may hereby come to the fight of our owne weakneſſe and infirmities, when wee hauehave receiued many foiles; and learne to relie vponupon his helpe and aſſiſtance in all our dangers; for ſo proud we are by nature, that before we come to the fight we think that we can repell the ſtrongeſt aſſaults, and ouercome all enemies which oppoſe themſelues againſt vsus by our owne power; but when wee ſee our ſelues vanquiſhed and foiled with eueryevery ſmall temptation, wee learne to hauehave a more humble conceit of our owne abilitie, and to depend wholy vponupon the Lord. And this end is ſet downe, Deut. 8.2. and 13.3.Deut. 8.2. and 13.3.
Fiftly, the Lord permitteth Sathan continually to aſſaile vsus with his temptations, to the end we may continually buckle vntounto vsus the whole armour of God, that we may be readie for the battaile. For as thoſe who hauehave no enemies to encounter them, caſt their armour aſide and let it ruſt, becauſe they are ſecure from daunger; but when the enemies are at hand and ſound the alarum, they both wake and ſleepe in their armour readie for the aſſault: ſo, if we ſhould not continually skirmiſh with our ſpirituall enemies, we would lay aſide the ſpirituall armour; but when wee hauehave continuall vſe of it, both day and night we keepe it faſt buckled vntounto vsus, that being armed at all points, we may be able to make reſiſtance that we be not ſurpriſed at vnawares.
Laſtly, by this conflict the Lord ſtrengthneth and increaſeth all his graces in vsus: for as by exerciſe the ſtrength of the body is preſerued and augmented, and in ſhort time decaieth through idleneſſe and ſloth; ſo the gifts of Gods ſpirit, faith, affiance, hope, patience and the reſt languiſh in vsus, if they bee not exerciſed with temptations.Rom. 5.3.4. For tribulation bringeth forth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not aſhamed, as it is Rom. 5.3, 4, 5. For when once wee hauehave been tempted and tried, and the Lord hath mercifullie deliuered vsus from the temptation, afterwards being ſo aſſaulted wee patiently endure it, hoping for the Lords aſſiſtance,1. Sam. 17.37. Pſal. 27.9. beleeuing and aſſuring our ſelues that the Lord who hath deliuered vsus will againe deliuer vsus, as it is Pſal. 27.9. Moreouer, when wee ſee the great neede of the graces of Gods ſpirit, this will be a ſtrong motiue to intice vsus to a carefull vſe of all good meanes whereby we may attaine vntounto them, whereas if we were free from this ſpirituall conflict, we ſhould not ſo cleerely ſee nor apprehend the vſe and neceſſitie of them.