Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 1 · Part 22 – Part 23
Now to the matter of Deprecation, things wee pray against in this petition, Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill.
Quest. What are the things we pray against in this petition, Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill?
Answ. Foure things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; Satans temptations, actions, and inticements to euill and sin: That God would not suffer Satan to assaile vsus by any temptation to sin, but would of his mercy keepe vsus from knowing temptations to sin. Mat. 26.41. 2 Cor. 12.8. The Apostle prayed not only to bee vpheld in temptation, but that the buffetings of Satan might depart from him.
Quest. Are we to pray against Satans temptations and inticements to sinne, and that God would keepe vsus from knowing temptations to sin absolutely, or no?
Answ. No, we may not; but from knowing of them only so farre as may stand with Gods will and pleasure, and so far as may stand with his glory and our good: as Christ prayed that the Cup might passe from him. Mat. 26.39. and God hath promised that hee will giuegive the issue with the temptation, that we may be able to beare it. 1 Cor. 10.13.
Obiection. Satans temptations, motions, and inticements to euill and sinne, are in Gods purpose to our good, we being Gods children: and they are also directed by God to our good, and through them God worketh much good vntounto vsus, & effecteth grace vponupon sin, as Rom 8.28. All thinges worke together for the best, to them that louelove God. Therefore it seemes we may not pray against Satans temptations at all.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Satans temptations to euill and sinne, are to be considered, not only as they are in Gods purpose, and in the effect that he produceth by them, who is able to bring good out of euill: but they are also to be considered, as Satan intendeth hurt in them, and by them produceth sinne: & so we may and ought to pray against them, according to the Deuills intent & worke; and to intreat God to turne the Deuills effect produced by them to our good, as God himselfe intendeth and wo…keth so that we may say as Dauid doth, It is good for me that I hauehave beene afflicted. Psal. 119.71. So of Satans temptations: it is good for me that I hauehave beene tempted.
Quest. What is the second thing we pray against in this Petition, Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill?
Ans. This: such things as being either simply euill, or in themselues indifferent, may be meanes or occasions of sinne to vsus that God would auert and turne away, and keepe from vsus, such things as being either simply euill, or in themselues indifferent, may bee meanes and occasions to vsus, through our corruption, to draw vsus to sinne. Dauid held it a merciemercy of God, that he was kept from that sin, to which he was occasioned by Nabals churlish answer. Gen. 25.32.33. Pro. 30.8.9. Agar prayed that God would keepe from him extreame pouertie and abundance, which might be occasions of sinne to him, as of denying God, of stealing, and taking that which was not his.
Obiection Some of Gods seruants hauehave beene exceeding poore, as Lazarus and Paul, and some hauehave beene very rich; as Abraham, Dauid, and Joseph of Aremathea, and yet hauehave walked holily and vprightly: it seemes therefore not lawfull to pray against either extreame pouertie, or abundance of wealth: but rather we are to pray for Pauls gift, to know how to want, and how to abound. Phil. 4.12.
Quest. How is this to be answered.
Answ. Thus: extreame pouertie or abundance of wealth are not simply and absolutely to be prayed against: but only for the danger of sinning, which they often bring men vntounto: riches in themselues moue not men, nor bring them to forget or blaspheme God; but when vanitie is not remoued from the possessors of them, such effects do alwaies follow, & rich persons wanting grace, cōmonly giuegive themselues to trust in riches, to ease and to brauery, to surfetting, and to a thousand vices. Deut. 32.15. And so extreame pouertie many times driues men through their owne corruptions to impatiency, to take Gods name in vaine, to vnlawfull shifts and such like
Obiection. 67 If such things as may be occasions of sinne to vsus, are to be prayed against; then good things as prayer, giuing of almes, and such like, which are sometimes occasions of pride, and of vaine-glory, are to be prayed against.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; occasions of euill are either giuen to our corruption, as from things either simply euill or indifferent; or not giuen, but only taken by our corruption, as they are from good things and good duties which wee are commanded to performe: and these are not to bee prayed against, because of the occasion of euill meerely taken from them.
Quest. What is the third thing we pray against in this Petition, Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill?
Answer. This; spirituall desertion, Gods forsaking of vsus, by withdrawing his grace, and the assistance of his holy spirit from vsus, and by leauing vsus for a time, and giuing vsus ouer to the power of the Deuill, and of our owne lusts, that God would not withdraw his grace and assistance of his holy spirit from vsus, and leaue vsus to our selues, and giuegive vsus ouer to the power of Satan, and of our owne lusts, and so let vsus fall into sinne which euer followeth on Gods forsaking of vsus, and is commonly a punishment or correction for some former sinne. Thus it was with Hezekiah. 2 Chro. 32.31. Psa. 119.8.
Quest. What are the sinnes for which God doth commonly withdraw his grace from men, and leaue them to themselues, and giuegive them ouer in this speciall manner to themselues?
Answ. Fiue especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This: a refusing, or a slight and formall receiuing of the truth, when men receiue not the truth of the Word of Go…, and especially of the Gospell, with a liking of it, and with a true louelove to it:Iohn 3.19. 2 Thess. 2.10.11. 2 Tim. 4.34. it is iust with God to depriue them of it, and withdraw his grace from them, and leaue them to themselues.
Quest. What is the second sin for which God doth commonly withdrawe his grace from men and leaue them to themselues, and giuegive them ouer in speciall manner?
Ans. Abusing and not making a right vse of that knowledge that men hauehave:Rom. 1.21.22.23.24. 1 Cor. 8.1. when men doe abuse their knowledge to a lifting vp of themselues aboue others, or to maintaine some errour or sinne: it is iust with God to withdraw his grace from them, and to leaue them to themselues.
Question. What is the third sinne for which God doth commonly withdrawe his grace from men, and leaue them to themselues, and giuegive them ouer in speciall manner?
Answ. This; a willingnesse to be ignorant of the truth, and a wilfulnesse in the practise of euill and sinne:Psal. 81.8.9.10 11.12. Ier. 44.25.26. Ezech. 14.45. 2 Thess. 2.12. when men are willingly ignorant, and will not receiue knowledge, though meanes of knowledge be offered to them and vsed, or are wilfull and obstinate in the practise of euil and sinne: it is iust with God to withdraw his grace from them, and leaue them to themselues.
Question. What is the fourth sinne for which God doth commonly withdraw his grace from men, and leaue them to themselues and giuegive them ouer in speciall manner?
Answ. This; idlenesse, when men liue either without a lawfull calling, or negligently in their honest and lawfull calling: it is iust with God to withdraw his grace from them, and to leaue them to themselues. Thus it was with Dauid. 2 Sam. 11.1.2. and for this, God gaue Sodome ouer to vncleannesse. Ezech. 16.49.
Question. What is the fift sinne for which God doth commonly withdrawe his grace from men, and leaue them to themselues, and giuegive them ouer in speciall manner?
Math. 26 8.9. Iohn 13.4.5. Math. 26.14.15.16.Answ. This: an allowance of some secret and close sinne: when men allow themselues in some secret and close sinne, not knowne to the world, it is iust with God to giuegive them ouer to some open grosse sinne, as Judas allowing himselfe in the sinne of couetousnesse, God gaue him ouer to Treason to betray his Master.
Quest. What is the fourth thing we pray against in this petition, Lead vsus not into temptation, but deliuer vsus from euill?
Answ. This: Satanicall practises, such practices wherein Satan hath a speciall hand and worke, and wherein wee ioyne with Satan if we vse them: as Magicke, Sorcerie, Charmes,2 Tim. 4.18. Witch-craft, and the like: that God would keepe vsus from all such Deuilish practises: for it is grosse hypocrisie to pray to be deliuered from euill, and especially from the euill one, Satan, and yet to giuegive our selues to the practice of those things wherein Satan hath a speciall hand and worke.
Now to the conclusion for confirmation of prayer, deliuered by Christ himselfe in these words, For thine is the Kingdome, Power, and Glory, for euer. Amen.
These words are not found in the Euangelist Luke, but in Mat. 6.13. they are expressed, and it is sufficient that one Euangelist hath recorded them.
Quest. What are the generall things contained in these words, For thine is the Kingdome, the Power and the Glory, for euer, Amen?
Answ. These: first, a reason why we aske all those things that are contained vnderunder these sixe Petitions a foregoing at Gods hands, because his is Kingdome, Power, and Glory for euer: in these words, For thine is the Kingdome, the Power, and the Glory, for euer.
Secondly, a shutting vp of our requests in the word Amen.