The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 52
The fifty second Lords day. On the sixth petition of the Lords prayer.
… u… not into temptation, &c.
IN this petition the business is about the evill of sin in respect of its dominion, which it uses to have over men; concerning which, we have first the petition; and secondly, its declaration, or opposition. In the petition we pray against this evill in its twofold cause; whereof the first is, the proper cause of sin, intending it; which is the temptation of the Devill, or the Devill tempting us to sin. Now temptation is nothing else but an argument propos…d to us, whereby we are induced to be perswaded, and drawne into sin. The other cause, that is looked at in this petition, is not properly the cause of the sin, nor any efficient or author of it, but a governour and orderer as well of the sin it self, as of the tempting to sin, and of the effects of both; but the true cause of the evill of punishment, that followes sin: And this is Gods effectual and powerfull way of working about sin, or exercising of his providence, which usually is called Gods permission, although it be more than a bare and an idle permitting. The explication of this petition is in praying for the contrary to this evill, that we prayed against in the words going before; which is prayed against from Gods gracious acting towards us, contrary to that, which before was called a leading into temptation. For it is called a delivering or plucking of us out of temptation.
Doct. 1. The guilt of former sins committed, deserveth altogether at gods hands, that we should be quite given over to temptations and sins.
This is gathered from the connexion; wherein first forgivenesse of sins is sought, and then deliverance from temptations, and evill for sin.
Reas. 1. Because sin being an aversion, or turning away from God, therefore it deserves, that he should turne away himself, and his grace from us.
Reas. 2. Because for sin, we both give our selves up as it were servants to sin, and to him that tempts to sin; We deserve therefore directly, and very rightly, that we should be given to such masters, as we our selves have chosen.
Reas. 3 When we rush into sin, we neglect that grace of God, by which we might have been preserved from sin; and therefore we deserve to be deserted by him.
Use 1. Of Admonition▪ that we so much the more take care to keep our selves from sin.
Use 2. Of Direction, that we daily seek from God, the forgivenesse of our sins, even for this end, that we be not further given up to sin, and to temptation, but that we may be preserved from both.
Doct. 2. Whosoever have forgivenesse of sins, or seriously se…k after it, they have a desire, and true purpose to abstain and keep themselves from sinning in time to come.
This is also clear from the connexion of these two petitions.
Reas. 1. Because otherwayes they would not truly abhor sin, and so would shew themselves altogegether indisposed, and not qualified for remission of sins.
Reas. 2. Because else they would not be thankfull to God, that forgave them their sins.
Reas. 3. Because else that forgivenesse would be in vain, if they should again purpose to themselves to returne to the like condition, wherein they were before.
Use, Of Reproof, of such as seem to wish for forgivenesse of sin, but in the mean time have no care to fly from sin.
Doct. 3. Who so desires to keep himself from sin, ought also to keep himself from all temptations and occasions that lead into sin.
It is clear from the petition, which prayes against temptations to sins
Reas. 1. Because the end of such temptations is sin, and the misery that followes upon sin.
Reas. 2. Temptations are so many, so subtile, and so powerfull, that unless with great care we take heed to our selves, it cannot be, but they lead us into sin.
Reas. 3. Because of our selves we are carried that way, and incline unto this, that by giving place to temptations we may betray our owne soules to the tempter.
Use, Of Admonition, to such as from too much security and boldness, rashly expose themselves to the danger of diverse temptations and inticements to sin, for temptation is not to be desired and sought after, but as wisely as we can to be shunn'd; and where that cannot be, stoutly and couragiously to be repulsed.
Doct. 4. Our Father that is in Heaven, disposeth also of our temptations according to his owne good pleasure.
For thus it is here held out to us, that it is he, that either leads us into temptation, or causes us not to be brought into it; but kept from it.
Reas. 1. Because he exercises his providence in guiding and measuring of every temptation.
Reas▪ 2. From him depends the strengthening of our soules against such temptations, as we are vexed with.
Reas▪ 3▪ From him depends the issue of the temptation it self, together with its effects, which follow on it, either of their owne nature, or by accident.
Use Of Comfort, because from hence we may have comfort against all temptations, that we be never fully led into them, as 1 Cor. 10. 13. No other temptation hath overtaken you, but as useth to befall men; but God is faithfull, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Use 2. Of Exhortation to thanksgiving, that we are not led unto this and that temptation; because this should not be attributed to our owne strength and wisedome, but to the grace of God.
Use 3. Of Admonition, that with horrour, fear and trembling, we pray chiefly against this judgement of God▪ which he exercises upon many sinners, when he leads them into manifold temptations.
Doct. 5. It is a great benefit of God towards his owne, that he thus delivers them from evill, that they be not delivered into temptation.
This is hence gathered, in that this is sought from God by a doubling of the same petition in a man… lead us not into, but deliver us from.
Reas. 1. Because a mischief to man lies in the prevaleuey of temptations, when he is not onelyonly tempted, and led somewhither unto temptation, but also led into it, so as he is inwrapped in it, and held intangled therein, after the will of the tempter Sathan, and so is kept captive in the slavery of sin.
Reas. 2. Because so great is the force of temptations, and such is our natures slipperinesse, and deceitfulnesse, that from this evill of temptation we cannot be delivered, but by God.
Reas 3. Because God delivers not all, but of his just judgement suffers many to be led into temptation, of whom a great part (for ought we know) were no worse than we our selves, who yet are delivered from them.
Use, Of Direction, 1. What evill it is, that we should chiefly pray against at Gods hands to be delivered from; to wit, not against outward afflictions, which are also temptations; nor yet against all other temptations absolutely, but against that deadly evill of sin in them, that is intended to us by Sathan, both by afflictions, and all other his temptations, which in truth are often times no less dangerously couched in prosperity, than in adversity. 2. How we should wholly depend upon God for deliverance from this evill, and so give him the glory.