A Soul-Searching Catechism, Catechism 1 · Part 6 – Part 7
Of Tentations.
Q. WHat is a Tentation?
A. As it is an act in the Creature, it is the moving of a man to ſome ſin, with ſome reaſon to inforce it, Prov. 7.18, 19. Gen. 3.5. Prov. 1.11, 12.
Q. Who are the tempters?
A. 1. The Devil, 1 Chron. 21.1. 2. The World, by which I mean the wicked of the World, Prov. 1.10. and the goods therein. 3. The fleſh within us, Rom. 7.18.
Q. What remedy againſt Satans tentations?
A. 1. Diſpute not with them things. Eve was foil'd, Gen. 3.1. He hath many methods which we cannot fathom.
2. Get faith to quench his fiery darts, Epheſ. 6.16. which is to be ſet a work in believing that Satan was ſpoiled and ſtript of his power over thy ſoul by Chriſt on the Croſs, Heb. 2.14. Col. 2.15.
3. Uſe the Ordinance of prayer, for ſtrength to reſiſt, Pſal. 4.6. and wiſdom to diſcern his tentations, Jam. 1.5. and long-ſuffering, that he may not tire us with the length of them. 2. Of the Word, Mat. 3.4. 2 Cor. 10.4. both in the Command, Exod. 20.13, and in the promiſe, Jam. 4.6. Rom. 16.20. ſet this againſt all his proffers; and in the threathing: God telling Eve, if ſhe eat of the tree ſhe ſhould die, and ſhe liſtening to Satan, minced of the matter to this, Leſt ye dye, Gen. 3.3. and ſo was overcome by Satan.
4. Avoid three-things, 1. Idleneſs. When perſons are idle, Satan hath an opportunity to tempt, 2 Sam. 11.2. 2. Solitarineſs, this breeds melancholy, Eccleſ. 4.9, 10. 3. Secreſie, this makes the wound of an afflicted Conſcience bleed inwardly, Jam. 5.16. But if thou canſt have eaſe from God, let no man know the matter; but if not open thy Conſcience to ſome grave and godly friend, and herein be ſure to diſcover that evil that turns the Conſcience out of its place.
5. O draw good out of Satans tentations, and ſo he will have no courage to tempt; as more ſtrongly to believe there is a God, becauſe Satan tempts us to doubt whether there be a God; ſo the more to aſſure our ſelves we are Gods people, becauſe he ſo tempts us now, being he little tempted us when we were in our natural ſtate; in a word, learn by tentations, how to comfort tempted perſons.
Q. What muſt I do when Satans temptation is paſt and gone?
A. As Mariners make their tacklings in a calme, firm againſt a ſtorme come: ſo when temptations are over, prepare for new a encounter, remembring Satan leaves us only for a ſeaſon, Luk 4.13. though Chriſt overcame Satan, yet he came again and again. Satan will try whether we have loſt our former ſtrength, care, and watchfulneſs; or whether God that would not ſuffer him then, will, for ſome ſins we have committed ſince, ſuffer him to have power over us now: Satan ſometimes politickly gives way for a ſeaſon, when yet his temptation is not overcome.
Q. What remedy againſt the temptations of the world?
A. If you mean by the World, the wicked of the Word; then conſent not to them: be you as importunate in reſiſting, as they ſhall be in tempting Gen. 39.10. Prov. 1.10. But if you mean by World, the pleaſures, profits, and honours of the World; conſider their uncertainty, their tranſitorineſs, their inability to fill the ſoul, 1 John 2.16. Let us love them onelyonly in reference to God and a good Conſcience.
Q. What remedy againſt the temptations of the fleſh?
A. 1. Take heed of ſpiritual pride; God ſuffers ſuch to fall, as appears in Adam and Hezekiah.
2. Look not diſdainfully upon any ſin in others, ſeeing thy nature is not free from the ſame, at leaſt in the ſeed of it, Gal. 6.1. God gives many men over to vile temptations, to cure their pride.
3. Watchfulneſs, Mark. 14. ult. Prov. 4.23.
4. Keep your ſelves from ſinful occaſions, Gen. 39.10. If thou wilt not keep thy ſelf from occaſions, God will not keep thee from the ſin; yea, if thou venture on occaſions, thou haſt a ſecret liking of ſin, whatſoever thy pretences be.
5. Set againſt the motions that come from the fleſh before Satans ſuggeſtions meet with them; when both forces are joyned, they are ſo much ſtronger.
6. Reſiſt the cauſing ſin, and ſo the effect will ceaſe: to cure paſſion, reſiſt pride.
Q. How is one ſin the cauſe of another?
A. 1. By effecting or making it: ſo covetouſneſs brings forth theft, as in Achan.
2. By deſerving it, when we deſerve to be caſt into ſome ſin by God; not that God doth infuſe the matter or form of a puniſhing ſin: but by letting luſt out, and ſetting Satan looſe upon us, we are corrected by one ſin for another, Rom. 1.24, 26, 28. When a ſin deſerves to have another ſin made the puniſhment of it, we muſt make our peace for the cauſing ſin, before the effect will ceaſe, Pſal. 81.12, 13. This forſaking, ſuffering, and delivering up the Creature, is an act of juſtice in God.
Q. What other remedies againſt fleſhly temptations?
A. 1. Apply the threatnings and Commandments againſt it, and the promiſes in caſe we do reſiſt and overcome, Revel. 2.17.
2. Be earneſt with God, to mortifie it by his Spirit, Rom. 8.13.
Make no proviſions for thy fleſh, Rom. 13.14.
4. Croſs thy fleſh, by endeavouring to do clean contrary to what it ſuggeſts.
5. Reſiſt the beginning of fleſhly ſuggeſtions, Jud. 23. Cain not repenting of envy, it came to murther. Judas not repenting of covetouſneſs, it came to murther: if a Serpent get in its head, it will ſoon get in its body.
6. Venture not upon any ſin, becauſe Satan tells you it is ſmall, Mat. 5.22. By liſtning to this ſuggeſtion, many exceedingly harden their hearts.
Q. When are temptations of luſts ſufficiently reſiſted?
A. 1. When we hate them, pray, ſigh, and groan againſt them; but ſin reigns where it is loved, Rom. 7.15.
2. When we do not practiſe at all groſs and preſumptuous evils for which God threatens out of heaven, 1 Cor. 6.10 11. Titus 3.3. 1 Pet. 4.3, 4. and when we weaken leſs evils; which appears we do, when the judgement commands the will, the will the affections, and the affections the actions.
Q. How may we know when temptations come from Satan, when from our luſts?
A. It is very hard, if poſſible to know, where the point of difference is; if we reject them, whether they come from Satan or us, they ſhall not be imputed, Rom. 7.20, 21. Come the temptation which way it will, no more is imputed by God then is ſeen and allowed.
Q. What remedy againſt unholy thoughts whether they come from Satan or corruption?
A. 1. Complain of them to Chriſt, who had ſuch inſpired and caſt into his mind by Satan, though not ariſing from himſelf; pray as David Pſal. 19.12, 14.
2. Waſh thy heart in Chriſt his blood, that it may be enabled to think good thoughts, Jer. 4.14.
3. Study good thoughts. Carnal men have many good thoughts caſt into their hearts, which they caſt out again as faſt; but their hearts have no good thoughts ariſing from them: contrarily Gods people, Act. 7.23. 2. Tim. 2.15.
Q. What means are there to govern our tongues?
A. 1. Pray to God to ſet a watch over them, Pſal. 141.3. Pſal. 19.14. Pſal. 51.15.
2. Get an holy frame of heart, Mat. 12.34, 35. Pſal. 37.30, 31. Prov. 16.23. A good man out of the good treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth good things.
3. Let the purpoſe of thy heart be ſet againſt unholy ſpeaking, Pſal. 17.3. Pſal. 39.1.
4. Suppreſs ſin when it is onelyonly in the motion, ſo will it not come forth of the tongue, Prov. 30.32. Mat. 15.19.
5. Be ſparing in thy words: men that ſpeak much, muſt needs laſh out, Eccleſ. 5.3, 7. Prov. 10.19. Prov. 17.27.
6. Firſt think, then ſpeak, Dan. 2.14. Prov. 16.23.
7. The ſad account that men who ſpeak idle words muſt give, Mat. 12.36. Jude 1 5. Pſal. 50. 19▪ 20, 21.
8. Conſider, a happy life depends much on the well-Government of the tongue, Pſal. 34.12. Prov. 21.33. And upon the miſ-government of it, comes much of our miſery, 2 Chron. 10.13, 14. Prov. 18.21. Jam. 3.6.
9. Inure your ſelves to gracious and ſavory words, Col. 4.6. powdered with ſalt; ſo that as ſalt draws out of meat putrifying humors, and makes it relliſhable for the palate, and fit for digeſtion: ſo ſhould a principle of grace in the heart purge rottenneſs out of the tongue.
Of Family-Duties.
Q. WHat is the duty of a Maſter of a Family?
A. To provide for their ſouls, Gen. 18.19. and bodies of his Family, 1 Tim. 5.8.
Q. What is the Husbands Duty?
A. To love his wife as himſelf, affording comforts to her as to himſelf, Epheſ. 5.28. and not to be bitter to her, Col. 3.19.
Q. What is the Wives Duty?
A. Submiſſion to their Husbands, Col. 3.18. and reverence towards them, inward in heart, and outward in carriage, Epheſ. 5.33.
Q. What are the Parents Duties towards their Children?
A. To train them up in Gods wayes, Prov. 22.6. Epheſ. 6.4. and to provide for them, 2 Cor. 12.14.
Q. What is the childs duty?
A. To honour their Parents, Epheſ. 6.2. and to obey them in all lawful things, Col. 3.20. and to requite their kindneſs, 1 Tim. 5.4.
Q. What is the Maſters duty to his Servant?
A. To give them what is juſt and equal, knowing they have a Maſter in heaven, Col. 4.1.
Q. What is the Servants duty?
A. To honour their Maſters, 1 Tim. 6.1. and ſincerely to do them ſervice, abhorring eye-ſervice, Col. 3.22. doing ſervice not onelyonly for the gaine of their wages, but principally out of Conſcience to the Lord, Epheſ. 6.5, 6, 7. Col. 3.23, 24.