The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV. Fear of Temptations.
NEXT We are to Consider the Conscience afflicted with Fear of Temptations, and a defection through them, enclining it to a despair of Grace sufficient to resist them; by this means the Soul is immerst with heaviness, through manifold Temptations, 1 Pet. 1.6. In which case it is necessary to consider, That first, A Temptation is a Tryal, or taking an Experiment of something or other: The Devil who cannot compel, tryeth men whether he can allure them to Sin; and this is apprehensively Temptation.
2. THERE is a Temptation of Tryal, which you see, Acts 20.19. 1 Cor. 10.13. Rev. 3.20. and St. James saith, My Brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers Temptations: And Blessed is the man that endureth Temptation. For when he is tryed, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that Love him. St. James 1.2, 12. God is said to tempt no man, (that is, to Evil: Evidently implying, as there is no Sin in him, so neither is there any occasioned by him) yet tried Abraham (to manifest him openly to others and himself: For no man knoweth himself, which is untried) which denominates tempting, or proving: As you will find in Exod. 15.25. and Ch. 16.4. Deut. 8.16. and Chap. 13.3. Psal. 26.2. 1 Pet. 1.7. And there is a Temptation of seducement, which is a Solicitation to defection and falling from God, by sinning, and committing evil, 1 Tim. 6.9. 1 Thes. 3.5. So that God tempteth, that he may Discipline us, but the Devil that he may destroy us.
3. SOME Temptations spring from the Corruption and Sin Inherent in the Flesh, St. James 1.14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lusts; such as are mentioned, Gal. 5.19, 20. Some are suggested by the Tempter, who being a Spirit hath power to insinuate and convey his impious notions into our minds: Suggestion between Spirits, are as Contiguity and touching of Bodies; for whereas he cannot discover the unuttered secrets of the heart, (it being the Almighties peculiar Prerogative) but he observes mens natural inclinations and habits, by their Words and Actions, and so prepares Baits accordingly; thus he fishes in these depths, till he perceives his Suggestions are swallowed, and the Sinner taken: And by this means he presenteth such Thoughts, as he conjectureth will take, by that which is obvious to the Senses of men: As he fitted an opportunity of Treason to impious Judas, by the malice of the high Priests: Of Lust to Amnon; of venturing on the cursed thing to Achan; of the Revenge to Cain; of Idolatry to Ahaz, by the Altar of Damascus, 2 Kin. 16.10. &c.
4. OF Temptations, there are four degrees, by which it ariseth to full Maturity: First, Suggestion. Secondly, Delight therein. Thirdly, Consenting. Fourthly, Acting the same: As St. James tells ye, Chap. 1.14, 15. Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lusts, and enticed; then when Lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin, and Sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. The first of these (a bare Suggestion) is not our Sin, if there be no delight, or consenting to it: For Christ was tempted, Mat. 4.1. Luke 4.2. in all points as we are, yet without sin, Heb. 4.15. The Sin is Satans, when ever he Suggesteth evil: The Second (as the Third and Fourth) is Sin in its degree; for every delight in evil, declares a Mans inclination to be such: A declining from Good, and a proneness to consent and act evil.
5. A tryal of Temptation to the Just, is but as Fire to Gold; it purifieth, and createth a valuation in God's Esteem; as the Psalmist tells ye, Psal 116.15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints; and the Apostle informs ye, 1 Pet. 1.7. That the tryal of your Faith being much more precious than of Gold which perisheth, though it be tryed with Fire, might be found unto praise, &c. And that mirror of Patience is Comforted, Job 23.10. When he hath tryed me I shall come forth as Gold. Temptation therefore burneth out the dross, and is as a Winnowing Wind; For Satan by a Temptation winnowed St. Peter: Now Consider with thy self, can the Refiner of Gold take that Care, that he will not lose it in the Furnace? Can the Husbandman, so opportune the Wind, that he will not lose the Corn, but cleanse it from the Chaff? And canst thou think that the Almighty will suffer thee to be lost, by permitting thee to Temptations? No, assure thy self he cannot err: He measureth all, Is Faithful, and will not suffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able, 1 Cor. 10.13. He knoweth how to deliver his out of Temptations, 2 Pet. 2.9. Therefore God commands us not to fear any of these things, which they should suffer, whom Satan should cast into Prison, Rev. 2.10.
6. THERE can be no Conquest gained without an Enemy, nor no Crown without a Conflict: No Faith without Troubles, nor no Combate without some Adversary: When the Almighty puts thee to Tryals, he stedfastly beholds how thou entertainest the Enemy, and as thou standest the Shock, he supplieth thee with fresh aids, as necessity requireth, and in the mean time prepareth the Crown: Many by a long and secure peace grow Impotent; and for want of Experience unable to resist an enemy when he invadeth, perhaps their own Pride (born out of self-ignorance) overcometh them; or fulness may debauch them; whereas Exercise makes them Vigorous, and Temptations humble: Lest I should be Exalted above measure, saith Saint Paul, There was given to me a Thorn in the Flesh, the Messengers of Satan to buffet me, 2 Cor. 12.7. And indeed Conscience of a Sin, and fear of punishment, makes the Regenerate more Religious; and is much the firmer Faith, which Repentance storeth up, That ye Sorrowed after a Godly sort, what Carefulness it wrought in you, 2 Cor. 7.11.
7. THE Spiritual Pharoah most eagerly pursueth those who are departing out of his Kingdom: He passeth by his own, as Captives: And chaseth those in whom he perceiveth Christ liveth: When he must be cast out, then he teareth most furiously, Luke 9.42. So that his rage against thee is no Argument of Despair, but rather of great Affiance, that Satan himself, finds thou art none of his Disciple; were he secure of thee, he would let thee go unmolested to destruction, and never disquiet thee, lest any agitation should bring thee to Repentance, and him to loss: This Lesson our Saviour taught, When a strong Man armed keepeth his Palace, his Goods are in peace, Luke 11.21.
8. CONSIDER well that the best have been, and the best that live are tempted: The Jebusites were left in Jerusalem, for an Exercise of Vertue, 2 Sam. 5.6. The Apostle wrapt up into the third Heaven, was buffetted by Satans Messengers, 2 Cor. 12. 12. EVERY day dedicate thy first and last 2, 7. Once for all, Christ in whom was no sin, was tempted, Heb. 4.15. That thou are tempted, is no inference of Despair: It seems a Paradox, how Heaven and Earth are here so annexed; we being partly Spirit, and partly Flesh; that we cannot appear as we would, Gal. 5.17. We find an irksome Law in our selves, opposing us: Our Reparation is something, and Supernatural, but so short of that which shall be, that our selves (like the Israelites in Ezra's time) sound a discordious Concord of sharps and flats, joy and sorrow, Ezra 3.13. We must expect perfection in Heaven, for our present freedom from sin, is rather a desire to be free, than our being so.
9. NEXT let us consider that God's Grace (who at his pleasure chaineth up the Tempter) is sufficient for thee, Rev. 20.1. 2 Cor. 12.9. He restraineth him so much, that he cannot be a lying Spirit in the Mouths of Ahab's Prophets, untill he have leave (to tempt him out to his destruction) from him who justly permitteth to strong Delusions, that they should perish in believing Lies, who receive not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved: Omnipotence knows best how far he will suffer thee to be tempted, and accordingly measureth out a sufficiency of Grace to all the Regenerate: Why he suffered David so dangerously to fall, or St. Peter, and St. Paul is dubious, except to humble them, and leave us motives to Repentance; and as for his Judgments be assured they are ever just.
10. WHEN thou art under any Temptation examine thy self whether thou delightest in it? If thou takest no pleasure in it, nor consentest to it, but rather startlest at it, as a thing which thy Soul detests, and abhorrs, it shall not prejudice thee: Now consider whether the Temptation which commonly assaulteth thee is such as probably ariseth from the Corruption of thine own heart, which is usually inferred by the Thoughts Parley from one thing to another, by direct or natural mediums: But if it be a Temptation of Satan's cast into thy Soul, it is vulgarly abrupt, and such as thou didst not think of, Incongruous, Sudden, Unnatural, and such as thou tremblest at, as Blasphemous, Sanguine, or Desperate: Though in some Temptations he takes the opportunity of deluding our sight and hearing, joyning himself with our natural inclination to sin: And these are his Messengers the Apostle mentions, 1 Cor. 12.21, 22. Gal. 5.20. Who are like Traytors Corrupted by some Foreign State, against their native Country: Now if a Temptation arise of Corrupted nature, the Remedy must be the depression of carnal Reason and Affections: For if it be Satan's Instigations, the very discovery will infer a Detestation whereby thou mayest gain the Conquest; for if we yield not to his allurements, he is utterly vanquished.
11. WHEN any motion excites thee, either Internally, by Suggestion, or Externally by persuasions of Men, observe the Apostles Rule, 1 Job. 4.1. Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they are of God: because many false Prophets are gone out into the World; and by this thou art proved, whether thou lovest the Lord thy God with all thy Heart: And St. Paul tells ye there must be also Heresies among you, 1 Cor. 11.19. Therefore Examine whether they bring any Propositions against Faith, the substance of the Gospel, Sanctimony commanded in God's Law, Peace, Order, Charity, and Unity: To this end, that if we discern any thing in Mens perswasions or any internal Suggestions, contrary to our great Law-Giver, we may conclude them Carnal, Earthly, Sensual and Devilish, and so use our utmost endeavour to resist them, which may be perform'd by the practice of these Rules following.
Thoughts to the Almighty in Sincere and Fervent Prayer, to preserve thee from Temptations, and to guide all thy Thoughts, Words and Actions, so that waking thou mayst walk sincerely in his presence, and sleeping rest assuredly in his Protection: Prepare and fortifie thy self against these encounters of Temptations with the whole Armour of God, Eph. 6.12. Thou must expect Tryals, for thy Adversaries are Formidable, such as Flesh and Blood, Principalities and Spiritual Wickednesses: It is a Conflict the more terrible, by being Abstruse, and with an invisible, puissant, indefatigable, and restless Antagonist, with whom thou canst not Truce safely: Therefore contrive before-hand, like the Wise Master-Builder, to fix the Basis upon a Rock; against which no Winds, Storms, or Floods can prevail, Mat. 7.24, 25.
13. THE Mariner doth not design his Ship only for a Calm, but also against furious Storms and rough Seas: Prepare thy self with the Anchor of the Soul, Heb. 6.19. Hope to lay hold on Christ, who therefore suffered, and was tempted, that he might deliver thee from, and in Temptations: Next, Fraught thy self with Patience, and all things necessary for Tryals, which thou must in reason expect, before thou canst arrive at thy desired Haven: It were great Incogitancy to think that Satan, who could not abstain from tempting the Lord Jesus, in whom was found no sin, will ever give thee a Cessation from Temptations, in whom he conceives some hopes of prevailing; for he will endeavour to perplex thee, though he cannot attain to vanquish thee.
14. BE vigilant, lest ye enter into Temptation: Because your Adversary the Devil, as a roaring Lyon, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. And be not less vigilant for your own Salvation. Some have not observed whether a mischievous Temptation hath hurried them, but hath been surprized and led into some desperate sins, which upon true Opticks have abhorred and trembled at: Thou must expect many assaults, for Satan leaves them sometimes, to return with seven worse Spirits, Luke 11.26. That security may destroy thee, when no other means are prevalent. Be not Precipitated into any sudden undertaking, but consult first the Oracles of God, and there receive direction: Let them be as the Cloudy Pillar to Israel, and where that directeth, Steer thy Course accordingly.
15. FOLLOW the Apostle's advice, St. James 4.7. Resist the Devil, and he will flie from you: If thou Surrendrest, or givest him the least advantage, he is Tyrannical: Next observe St. Paul's Exhortation to his Son Timothy, to flie youthful lusts, 2 Tim. 2.22. For they are like Serpents, and there's no safe debate with them, except by fasting and Prayer: Therefore the exquisitest way is flight: Stop thy Ears to the Enchanting Syrens; and with the Patientest of Men, make a Covenant with thine Eyes, not to behold that which shall prejudice thee, Job 31.1. Take heed of all Incentives, and Inauspicious motives; beware of Tamar's ways, and Dalilah's Embraces; Solomon's Curtisans Invitations, and presented Opportunities, Suspected Company, Lascivious Entertainments, Betraying Gifts, and whatsoever may lead thee to the paths of Death.
16. AS the subtile Enemy fixes his Gins, according as he finds the assaulted inclinable to be ensnared; so be thou careful most to fortifie thy self where thou findest him placing his main Batteries: And most carefully watch over thy self, where he most frequently assaileth thee: In this use Perseverance, which will prove an Antidote against that Malice which else would destroy thee. To reckon up all the Artifices of this Tempter would be Voluminous; I shall only instance some few: And first he represents himself in the shape of a Serpent, with his destructive Commentaries on the forbidden fruit. Secondly, He appears like a holy Prophet, with lying Visions to Bewitch the foolish and impotent: Next he comes like a Court like Sophister with ample promises of Wealth, Honour and Pleasure; another time he Acts the Pander, and produces a Bathsheba, bathing her self. And lastly, He hellishly studies the secret Conspirator, and assists Judas in the betraying of his Lord and Master; and for revenge of so horrid a Fact, makes him become his own Executioner; therefore search into his Gifts, and whatever they are fear the Enemy: As Saul said of David, 1 Sam. 23.22. See his place where his haunt is, for he dealeth very subtily: He never pretends the least shadow of Goodness, but there's some mischief in the end of it; he is studious of Men, and where a Gentle disposition is evident, he tempts to Luxury; an Ambitious, to some lofty and impious designs; and the Angry to Revenge: In this so important Affair, thou canst not be too Politick; therefore where thou art most weak, let thy Fortifications and Guards be strongest.
17. FLY Idleness, that lazy Matron of all Evil, and Basis of Mischief. Ever employ thy self about acts of Vertue, and then there will be no space or room for the Tempter. What advantage did he reap upon the Royal Prophet, by staining so glorious a Life, which was produc'd by his few hours Vacancy? Dally not with Temptations; for happy shall he be who parleys not with them, but is Careful and Vigilant, and is ready to say as Elisha said of Jehoram's Messenger, 2 Kings, 6.32. When he cometh, shut the Door, and hold him fast there: Is not the sound of his Master's Feet behind him? The same Remedy we must use to Satan's Messengers, who are sent to Destroy us: We must crush the Cocatrice Eggs, lest breaking out into a fiery Serpent, we cannot Conquer it, but say too late, as the Turk mention'd of Scanderberg, This Enemy should have been Subdued in his Minority; for a Attemptation is Nourished that Hour it is not Mastered.
18. INVOKE the Almighty constantly and fervently; use his own Words, Lead us not into Temptation. In many Instances, these are a Divine Revenge on some precedent unrepented Sin; against which the Sanctimonious frequently make their Supplications: And if, as often as Satan assaileth, we could address our selves to earnest and zealous Prayers, we should worst him at his own Weapon, & receive frequenter Allarms to awaken us to a stronger Guard; even the shadow of the Almighty. The first Enemy that assailed Israel in his way to Canaan, was vanquish'd by Prayer. When Moses held up his Hands, Israel prevailed, Exod. 17. The same repulse we must use to our grandest Enemy.
The Prayer.
O LOD God Almighty, the Examiner of all Hearts, and the Tryer of the Reins, who knowest before we ask, what our Necessities are, and by thy Holy Spirit helpest our Infirmities; Lord, I acknowledge my Ignorance in not Praying unto thee as I ought; but thou alone canst make request for me, according to thy blessed Will, with unutterable Groans, which thou only understandest: Help, I beseech thee, my Infirmities, regulate my Devotion, and restrain the busie Malice of the Tempter: Direct and accept my Prayers as Incense in thy sight, and let them enter thy Presence, through Jesus Christ, my only Redeemer and Advocate.
2. THOU, who art Truth it self hast promised, that all things shall work together for good, to them that love thee, and keep thy Commandments: Lord, I put all my trust and confidence in thee, and do stedfastly believe that it is good for me that I have been afflicted; for I am assured that after the tryal of my Faith, and exercise of my Patience, I shall receive of thee, (the only giver of all good things) the quiet Fruits of Righteousness: But, O Lord, how shall frail dust and ashes appear before thee, which is full of Infirmities, Fears, Doubtings and Failings; for mine Iniquities have taken such hold upon me that l am not able to look up: Nay, they are more in number than the hairs on my head, and my heart hath failed me: Neither have I to deal, O Lord, with Flesh and Blood only; but with Invisible Powers of Darkness, which with restless encounters assault my Soul to destroy it.
3. BUT, O Lord God, of my Salvation, be not thou far from me: Shew thy Power, and deliver me from the Messengers of Satan, which are too mighty for me: O rescue me, and bridle their Insolent Malice; bind the Strong man, and deliver thy Vessel from his Usurping Tyranny, that I may in every faculty of my Soul, serve and please thee. Pardon all my sins for thy Blessed Son's sake, who died for me: Heal my wounded Soul, which hath to the anguish of my heart, so often sinned against thee: Hide not thy face from me in time of my trouble, forget not my bitter affliction, which makes me go mourning all the day long, while the insulting Enemy heavily oppresseth me: Thou art my King, O God, and canst Command deliverances: Lord, I am poor, needy and destitute of help and strength to resist the Fiery Darts of Satan.
4. PUT thy whole Armour upon me, I beseech thee, that I may be able to stand. Arise for my aid, O thou preserver of all Men; redeem me from the devouring Lyons Mouth, and for thy Infinite Mercies sake think upon me; make hast to help me, and make no long tarrying, O my God: O suffer me not for any tryals to fall from thee: Lay no more upon me, than thou wilt be pleased to give me Strength, Pat…ince and Perseverance to bear Cheerfully: Confirm me unto the end, that I may be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus: Give me a blessed Effect and Issue out of every tryal; that the more thou permittest me to suffer, the more Experience I may acquire of thy Mercy, and the greater assurance that thou wilt never fail me, nor forsake me: That I may through him, who hath by suffering vanquished death, hell, and him who hath the power of death, overcome all these Spiritual wickednesses, which war against my Soul.
5. LORD, I have trusted only in thy Mercy; thou hast ordained Strength in the Mouths of Babes and Infants: O strengthen me unto the end, that my heart may rejoice in thy Salvation: Lord, spare me, that I may recover my strength: Put thou a new song into my mouth, that I may praise thee for my deliverance, and declare unto afflicted Sinners, what thou hast done for my Soul: Lord hear me, and have mercy upon me. Thou who art ever readier to give, than poor Mortals are to ask, deny not the Humble and Earnest Requests of me the vilest and worst of Sinners: This I beg, O Lord, through the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer,
Amen.