Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 14

Scripture Light the Most Sure Light · Sermon 14

p. 132A LIFTING UP In caſe of TEMPTATION.

Sermon VIII.

PSALM, 42.11.

Stepney, May, 28. 1648.Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? &c.

Inſtance 5.SOmetimes the Diſcouragements of the Saints, are drawn, From their Temptations.

And thus they Argue with themſelves: I am a poor Creature, that hath labored under many Temptations, never any ſo tempted as I have been: Theſe two, three, four, five, ſix, or many yeers, that I have lyen under theſe Temptations, and no relief comes, no help comes; have I not reaſon then to be diſcouraged, and caſt down?

Anſw. No; No reaſon yet: I grant, That the leaſt Temptations are great Afflictions; for the more a man is unfitted by Affliction for Gods Service, either in doing good, or receiving good, the worſer, p. 133and more heavy is that Affliction to a gracious Spirit. Now, though God doth ſo over-rule the Temptations of his People, that they receive good thereby, (as appeareth afterward) yet the Temptation in it ſelf, doth indiſpoſe a man unto what is good. The more a man is tempted unto what is evil, the more a man is hindred from what is good: It is an Affliction to a gracious heart, to be conflicting, fighting, and combating with a man; but in Temptations, we do combate and conflict immediately with Satan, who is the Prince of the Air; with Principalities, and Powers; with that evil One, who for his devouring Nature, is called, a Lyon; for his Cruelty, is called, a Dragon; and for his ſubtilty, an old Serpent: and in every Temptation, a poor ſoul goes into the field with Satan, and fights a Duel with him. Satan hath (ſaith Chriſt to Peter) deſired you; in which Duel, and Combat, a man doth not miſcarry for this preſent Life barely; but if he miſcarry, he miſcarries to all Eternity, he dies, is killed, and ſlain to all Eternity: O! what a mighty hazard doth a poor ſoul …un in every Temptation! The Chaſt, and good Woman, counts it an Affliction to her, ſo long as ſhe lives, if ſhe be but once violenced; if a filthy perſon meet her in the field, and violence her, though ſhe do not conſent unto him; ſhe wrings her hands, and ſaith, I am undone for ever. Now, theſe Temptations, are the Solicitations of an unclean Spirit, and what though a man do not conſent unto them, yet thereby his ſoul ſuffers violence; O! ſaith a gracious ſoul, what though I do not conſent, yet what an infinite miſery is it to be thus abuſed, defiled, and violenced by theſe Temptations! The more any affliction doth ſeize on ſoul and body, the greater it is: it is Comfort in a Family, that the Wife is well, when the Husband is ſick; or that the Husband is well, when the Wife is down: where both are down at once, it is a ſad Family indeed. So, though the Soul be afflicted, yet if the Body be well, although the Body be afflicted, yet if the Spirit be well, it is ſome comfort; but where both are down, the Condition is ſad: and ſeldom doth any great Temptation befall a man, but Soul and Body are both down at once; though at firſt it falls upon the Spirit, yet it deſcends into, and fires the Body. And therefore ſaith Paul, I received a Meſſenger of Satan, a thorn in my fleſh, buffeting of me: As in the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, though the Comforts be powred out upon the Soul and Spirit, yet they run down upon the Body: So, in the troubles of Temptation, though they ſeize firſt upon the inward man, yet they …un upon the skirts of the outward man alſo. And thus you find it with Job, Chap. 7.1. God had put Job into Satans hand, only with this reſerve, See that thou spare his life. The Devil having the power; firſt he loads him with outward Afflictions, and then with inward Temptations; while he was under his p. 134outward Afflictions, how ſweetly did he carry it! Bleſſing the Lord, ſaying, The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, bleſſed be his Name; but when the Volly of Temptations came, then ſee what a ſad Condition the good man was in, how he was all on fire, as if Job could not be found in Job: while he was under theſe Afflictions, he rebuked his Wife, for ſaying, Curſe God, and die; but now being under Temptations himſelf, he wiſheth to die, and curſeth the day of his Birth: In Job, 7.15. My Soul chuſeth ſtrangling, and death, rather than my life: but had this Temptation any influence upon his Body too? It ſeems his heart, and ſoul, and ſpirit, was much diſquieted; for he ſaith, Why haſt thou ſet me as a mark againſt thee? ver. 20. But was his Body fired with it too? yes, verſe 13, 14. When I ſaid, my Bed ſhall comſort me, my Couch ſhall eaſe my complaint; then thou skareſt me with Dreams, and terrifieſt me with viſions: As now we find by Experience, many poor ſouls cannot ſleep while they are under their Temptations; and if you will ſee the Sum and up-ſhot of all, read what he ſaies at verſe 20. I am a burden to my ſelf: and ſo many now, Why ſhould I live any longer? I am a burden to my Family, I am a burden to mine Acquaintance, a burden to all my Friends, I am a burden to my ſelf; who knows the burden of a poor tempted ſoul, but he that bears it? Heb. 11.37. Temptations are ranked among the greateſt Afflictions; They were ſtoned, ſawn aſunder, were tempted: and in Heb. 2. it is ſaid of our Savior, That himſelf ſuffered being tempted, yet he ſinned not under his Temptation. So that there is ſomwhat of a ſuffering in every Temptation, although one be free from Sin. And in Revel. 12.12. it is ſaid, Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth, and of the Sea, for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath. And wherein is his wrath more ſeen, than in his Temptations? O! what a ſad, and woful condition is it then, to lie under Temptations! Yet, let me tel you, though there be ſome ſuffering in every Temptation, and the leaſt temptation is a great Affliction, yet the Saints and People of God, have no reaſon to be diſcouraged or caſt down, whatever their Temptations be.

Queſt. How may that appear?

Anſw. 1 Four Demonſtrations of it.

Firſt: If Satan do therefore tempt the People of God, that he may diſcourage them; then have they no reaſon to be diſcouraged becauſe they are tempted by Satan; I ſay, if Satans great deſign, end, and aim, in all the Temptations of the Saints, be to diſcourage them; then they have no reaſon to be diſcouraged, becauſe they are tempted; for then they ſhould gratifie Satan, and give him his end. Now, Satan doth tempt that he may tempt; he tempts unto one ſin, that he may tempt unto another; he tempteth a man to p. 135ſin againſt the Law, that he may make him ſin againſt the Goſpel; and what greater ſin againſt the Goſpel, than unbeleeving diſcouragements? He knows, or thinks, ſuch and ſuch a perſon is gone from his Kingdom, and he ſaith, though I cannot hinder his Salvation, but he will be ſaved do what I can, yet I will hinder his Comfort, and make him draw heavily; and if I can but diſcourage him in his Duty, I ſhall in time make him to caſt it off. His great deſign is to diſcourage, and therefore whenever any Godly man is tempted, he ſhould ſay, well, through the Grace of Chriſt, ſeeing Satans deſign is to diſcourage, my deſign ſhall be to bear up my heart and ſpirit againſt all diſcouragements.

Anſw. 2 Secondly: If God our Father, doth pity his Children under their Temptations; and the more they are tempted by Satan, the more they are pitied by God; then have they no reaſon to be diſcouraged, whatever their Temptatio… …e. How is it with your own Bowels? If you had two Childre…, one that is in your houſe with you at home; and another that is i…. Spain, or Italy, abroad,Quo gravior incumbit tentatio, eo ſolet indulgentius agere cum ſuis Deus. Brightm. Apoc. 2.49.Rev 2:49 expoſed to gr…at Temp…tions; is not your pity moſt towards that Child that is ab…o…d, and expoſed to moſt Temptations? Your Love may be expreſſed to him that is at home, as much anoth… … but your pitying love is moſt to him that is abroad. As in the time of a Storm, great Rain, or Hail, if you have one Child lie in you… bo…om, or ſitting upon your knee; and another that is abroad in the op…n fields; though your love in one kind, may run out to him th…t is upon your knee; yet, doth not your pitying Love run ou… more to him that is abroad in the open fields? Thus it is with God; he hath two ſorts of Children; Some that are expoſed to more temptations, and ſome that are expoſ…d to leſs; though his Grace, and Love, may run out more in one kind to them that are leſs tempted, yet his pitying Love, runs out moſt unto thoſe that are moſt tempted. And upon this account you will find in Scripture, that when God ſaw any of his Children were to go into any Sad Temptation, he did either immediately before, in, or after, more than ordinarily reveal himſel… unto them; the more you are tempted by Satan, the more you are pitied by God: it matters not whether your Temptation be great, or ſmal; if leſs, you have the leſs pity; if more, you have the more pity: why then ſhould you be diſcouraged, although your temptations be never ſo great?

Anſw. 3 Thirdly: If all the Temptations of Gods People, be overcome, and broken, before they do fall on them; then have they no reaſon to be diſcouraged, or caſt down, becauſe they are tempted. Now ſo it is, Chriſt was a common Perſon, not only in his death, but in his life; he did act, and work, and bear as a common perſon, as our Second Adam all along; Chriſtus non meruit ſibi; Chriſt p. 136did not die for himſelf, nor obey for himſelf; but he did die for us, and obey for us, and all his Seed were in him▪ as in a common perſon; look whatever evils Chriſt did bear, thoſe he did bear for us, and we did bear in him, as in our Second Adam; and therefore, when he was tempted, he ſtood as a common perſon in his Temptations, and in him all the Saints and People of God, who are his Seed, were tempted, and in his overcoming, they did overcome; for as when the firſt Adam was tempted, he being a Common Perſon, we al were tempted in him; and when he yielded to Satan, we did all yield in him; when he was overcome, we were overcome in him; and when he did eat the forbidden fruit, all his Seed did eat in him; and every Child of Adam may now ſay, I did then eat the forbidden Fruit: So when Chriſt was tempted, all his Seed were tempted in him; and when he overcame, all his Seed overcame in him. And therefore when you read the Story of Chriſts Temptations, ye are not barely to ſay, thus, and thus, Chriſt reſiſted for my Example; but in his reſiſting, I did reſiſt; in his overcoming, I did overcome: for, as I did eat in the Firſt Adams eating, and yield in the Firſt Adams yielding; ſo I did refuſe, and reſiſt, and overcome in Chriſt, the Second Adams refuſing, reſiſting, and overcoming: Thus with all the Saints, and People of God, who are the Seed of the ſecond Adam, Chriſt hath not only overcome their Temptations for them, but in Chriſt their ſecond Adam, th…y have overcome Satan, and made a ſpoil of Principalities and Powers: and therefore, why ſhould they be diſcouraged, whatever their Temptations be?

Anſw. 4 Fourthly: If God hath ſuch an over-ruling hand of Grace, upon all the Temptations of the Saints, as that they ſhall turn to their good; then they have no reaſon to be caſt down, or to be diſcouraged, becauſe of them. Now, God would never ſuffer his People to be tempted, but that he intendeth to deſtroy their Temptations, by their Temptations; look what is the end, and iſſue, of an evil, that was Gods deſign in ſuffering that evil to come to paſs: and this is the end, and iſſue of all the Saints Temptations, that thereby they are more enlightened: Tentatio dat intellectum; Temptation gives underſtanding; tempting times, are teaching times.

Thereby they are more humbled; For this cauſe (ſaith Paul) I received a Meſſenger of Satan (he ſpeaks it twice) that I might not be exalted.

Thereby they are the more occaſioned to live in God, and depend on him. Watch and pray (ſaith our Savior) leſt ye fall into Temptation: Watching doth note our diligence; Praying doth note our dependance: And why Watch, and Pray? but, leſt ye enter into Temptation.

p. 137Thereby the Grace, and Power, and Might of God in Chriſt, is the more diſcovered, and revealed to them; My Grace is ſufficient for thee, ſaith God to Paul, in the time of his Temptation; a word which he had not heard before.

Thereby their Graces are more encreaſed, as the Iſraelites were multiplied by being oppreſſed. Ʋnus Chriſtianus tentatus mille Chriſtiani; O…e tempted Chriſtian, is worth a thouſand, ſaith Luther; for as the wind, and breath of the Bellows (though contrary to the fire) blows up the fire, and encreaſeth the flame thereof; So, though the breath of Temptation be contrary to Grace, yet thereby Grace is more encreaſed, and raiſed to a higher flame. When Satan curſeth, God bleſſeth; and when God bleſſeth, he ſaith, Encreaſe, and multiply.

Thereby all the Saints are made to triumph over Satan: It is a Chriſtians Duty, not only to triumph over the World, but over Satan; therefore, ſaith the Apoſtle, The God of Peace tread down Satan under your Feet; thoſe are words of triumph: and Paul in the name of other Chriſtians, triumphs over Principalities and Powers; How ſhal a man triumph, if he never have Victory? and how ſhall he have the Victory, if he never fights? Therefore God leads his People into the Field, that they may ſight; but in all this Fight, God ſtands by, Chriſt ſtands by, Love ſtands by; and God hath no deſign, but of Love, upon his Children in their Temptations.

Yea, Upon this account our Savior ſaith, That he doth appoint unto his Diſciples a Kingdom, becauſe they continued with him in his Temptations, Luke, 22. and ſhall his Diſciples then lie down, and be diſcouraged, or complain, becauſe they are with him in his Temptations? Surely they have no cau…e, they have no reaſon for their Diſcouragements, whatever their Temptations be.

Object. 1 But I have been tempted long, and long, and long aſſaulted; yet I have no deliverance.

Anſw. How long? as long as Chriſt himſelf? He was in all points tempted as we are, ſin excepted, Heb. 4. Indeed Satan found nothing in him, no tinder to receive the ſparks of his Temptations; but do but abate the ſin of his Temptations, and then, in all points he was tempted as we are, even as much, and as long; for if you look into Luke, cap. 4. ver. 2. you ſhal find that he was at one time tempted forty daies; and then when Satan left him, the Text tels us, He left him for a ſeaſon, for he was dayly tempting of him; and though you have been long aſſaulted, hath not Satan left you for a ſeaſon? have you not had ſome intermiſſions, ſome revives, ſome breathing times? Job complained, that he was not ſuffered to ſwallow his ſpittle, he had no breathing time, as he p. 138thought: But though your Temptations have been long, and very long, yet you have had revives, Satan hath leſt you for a ſeaſon: And if that be true, That God hath ſuch an over-ruling hand of Grace upon your Temptations; that your very Temptations ſhal turn to your Good; that thereby you are more enlightened, humbled, and your Grace encreaſed; then the longer you are in this School, the better Scholler you ſhall be; the more enlightened, and the more humbled, and the more gracious; why ſhould you then be diſcouraged, though your Temptations be very long?

Object. 2 But I am tempted many times to doubt of my Child-ſhip, Whether I be the Child of God or no.

Anſw. And was not Chriſt our Savior tempted ſo? There is but three particular Temptations mentioned in all the forty daies of Chriſts Temptation; and two of them run ſo; If thou be the Son of God? wherein Satan labors to draw a cloud upon Chriſts Aſſurance, and to write an IF, upon his Child-ſhip, or Son-ſhip. Do you think to march through your Enemies Countrey to Heaven, and never be at a ſtand about your Condition? Suppoſe a man ſhould travel through a ſtrange Countrey which were very long, wherein he never was before, and wherein are many croſs waies; would you not wonder that …e ſhould …ravel all the way, and never be at a ſtand about …, …ever queſtion his way, whether right, or wrong? If you be the Child of God, you are now from home, and travelling … a ſtrange Countrey; and do you think it is poſſible, … …ould it not be a wonder, that meeting with ſo many croſs wai…s, you ſhould never be at a ſtand about your Condition, or queſtion your way, whether you be right or no? Give me leave to propound you a Parable: Suppoſe two men, one goes very brave, fares deliciouſly, is very merry, and full of money; yet hath no Lands, no Calling, nothing left him, no friends to maintain him, nor no honeſt way known to bring him in money, and yet he is full of it: The other works hard, fares meanly, goes plainly, and he is oft complaining, I fear I ſhal want, and miſcarry, yet he hath a Calling, ſome Land, good Friends, and ſome Money: Which of theſe two think you, doth come moſt honeſtly by his Money? Will you not all ſay, the latter? For, though he hath but little, yet he works, hath a Lawful Calling, waies known for to bring it in. But as for the other, though fine brave, and looks high, yet he hath nothing to bring it in; I ſear he comes not well by it. So Spiritually: there are two ſorts of People in the world, One that is very confident of his Salvation, and full of Comfort, yet he prayeth not in private, reads not, meditates not, examineth not his own heart, takes no pains about his ſoul, but is often ſpending, keeping ill company, will be ſomtimes drunk, ſwear, and be unclean, yet he is very confident p. 139he ſhall go to Heaven: The other praies, hears, reads, meditates, walketh with all ſtrictneſs in his life, and converſation, yet he is alwaies doubting, and fearing; but through Grace he hath ſome Comfort: Which of theſe two, think you, is in the beſt condition, and comes moſt honeſtly by his Comfort? Will you not ſay, ſurely, the latter? for though he fears, yet he is alwaies doing, working Heaven-ward: The other, though confident, and ful of Comforts, hath no good way for to bring them in, and therefore ſurely his Evidence for Heaven is ſtolen, his Comforts are all ſtolen: But as for the other, though he hath but little Comfort, yet he comes truly by it. Thus it may be with you; whilſt others ſwaggering it, and braving it out with their Comfort, and falſe Confidence, go to Hell, and periſh everlaſtingly. It is a ſure Rule, That Gods Promiſe of Mercy, doth ſuppoſe our Miſery; if he promiſe health, he ſuppoſeth our ſickneſs; if he promiſe Grace, it ſuppoſeth our ſin. Now, though in the times of the old Teſtament, God promiſed much outward Bleſſing, yet in the times of the new Teſtament, the Mercy promiſed, is, To ſend the Comforter; the Spirit who ſhall bear witneſs unto our Spirits, that we are the Children of God: often our Savior ſaith; I wil ſend the Comfor… ▪ Why? but to ſhow, that in the times of the Goſpel, the People of God ſhall labor under doubtings, and be full of fears about their Spiritual eſtate; and therefore, though you do doubt of your Child-ſhip (which is your evil) yet your ſtate herein, is no other than what may be the ſtate, and condition of Gods own People in theſe Goſpel times; why therefore ſhould you be diſcouraged in this reſpect?

Object. 3 But I do not only doubt of my Child-ſhip, I am not only tempted to doubt whether I be the Child of God or no; but I labor under ſad and ſearful temptations, I am tempted to ſtrange, and horrid things, ſuch as I fear to name; I am even tempted to make away my ſelf; tempted with blasphemous thoughts, to doubt whether there be a God or no; whether the Scripture be true; and to ſay, that I have ſinned againſt the holy Ghoſt; ſuch, and ſuch things I am tempted to, as my very ſoul and fleſh doth tremble at; and have I not juſt cauſe, and reaſon now, to be diſcouraged, and caſt down?

Anſw. I confeſs this is ſad indeed: I do not read in Scripture (though I read of many ſins of the Godly) that ever any Godly man did make away himſelf. It is a good Speech of Auſtin: Sibi auferendo preſentem v…tam, abnegant futuram; Men by taking away their preſent life, de… themſelves their future life: But becauſe (ſaith Mr. Perkins) … …one this, whoſe lives have been counted honeſt, … …ly; therefore my Sentence is thus: I dare not … damned, becauſe of their former p. 140life; and I dare not ſay they are ſaved, becauſe of their ſinful death; yet for the Temptation it ſelf, I ſay, if it do not come to act; as there is no Duty which a Godly man doth perform, but a wicked man may do the ſame, yet remain wicked; ſo, there is no Temptation which a wicked man may yield unto, but a godly man may be tempted unto, yet remain godly: was not Chriſt himſelf tempted by Satan, to throw himſelf down from the Pinacle of the Temple? yet he did it not: Only my Counſel and Advice from the Lord is; If any be troubled with ſuch a Temptation, be ſure you reveal it, and diſcover it preſently; and as for thoſe horrid, blaſphemous ſuggeſtions which lie ſo heavy upon your ſouls, which make your heart and fleſh to tremble at the riſing of them. Ye have read how it was with the King of Moab, when he could not break through the Hoaſt of Iſrael, nor make them ceaſe from following the Victory, he preſented unto their view, a horrible Spectacle, ſacrificing on the walls, his own dear Son, and Heir to the Crown, that ſo the Iſraelites being not able to endure the view of that inhumane ſight, might give over the Victory. Thus doth Satan do; when he cannot drive a gracious ſoul out of the field, any other way, then he preſenteth ſuch horrid, inhumane ſuggeſtions to him, that he may ſcare him from the good waies of God: it is not in our power to hinder Satan from preſenting theſe things to our thoughts. When you come into wicked, ungodly, and prophane Company, if they wil ſwear, and curſe, and blaſpheme, you cannot hinder them from ſpeaking, nor your ſelf from hearing; you may ſit down, and mourn, ſaying, O! what Blaſphemy is here! what Curſing is here! but do what you can, they will fill your Ears with theſe things: Now Satan being a Spirit, he is able to preſent theſe Blaſphemies to your Spirits, and you cannot hinder it: you may cry out and ſay, O! what Blaſphemy is here! O! what a burden is this to my ſoul! But he can preſent them to you whether you wil or not: and did he not preſent theſe things unto Chriſt himſelf? All theſe things will I give thee (ſaith he) if thou wilt fall down, and worſhip me; what greater Blaſphemy can be imagined, than that the God of Heaven and Earth (as Chriſt was) ſhould worſhip Satan; yet hereunto he did tempt our Lord and Savior: And if our God doth ſo order the Temptations of his Children, as that thereby they are kept from ſin, have they any reaſon to be diſcouraged now by theſe horrid Temptations? Many a man is kept from other ſins: Jerom, Luther, Magdeburgenſis, and oth…rs, relate a Story of a certain Martyr, That when the Enemies could not threaten him out of his Religion; they ſent a very handſom, fair, and beautiful Woman to entice him to folly; and he finding himſelf to be moved, and his luſt begin to work, did bite off his Tongue, and ſpit it in her face, thinking that the pain p. 141thereof, would keep him from that fleſhly luſt,Difficilius eſt pugnare cum libidine quam cum cruce. counting it more eaſe to combat with pain, than with luſt, as Auſtin ſpeaks, and hereby he was preſerved. I do not ſpeak of this fact to commend it, but only to ſhow, that God doth ſomtimes keep his Children from luſt, by pain. Now in theſe blaſphemous ſuggeſtions, you find a great deal of pain, and if you were not in theſe pains, you would be luſting after other evils: God ſeeth what filthy, vile, luſting hearts you have, and therfore ſuffers theſe pains for to come upon you, and ſo you are kept from luſt: Did you never know a man kept from luſt by theſe Temptations? yea, did you never know a man converted to God by occaſion of theſe Temptations? I have, and I think many, many poor ſouls that have lived in an ignorant Condition a long time, then it pleaſed God to ſuffer Satan to throw in theſe Temptations, theſe horrid Temptations, whereby they were ſo amazed, & ſtartled, that thereupon, they looking into their own condition, were converted unto Jeſus Chriſt. The more delights, & complacencies a man takes in ſin, the more ſinful is the ſin: the more a mans fleſh trembleth, & his ſoul is burdened under Temptation, the leſs ſinful. Now, cannot you ſay in truth, Lord, though theſe be my greateſt burdens, yet they are my leaſt delights? Yes: Well then, be of good Comfort, the Lord doth but hereby keep you from other ſins, and therefore why ſhould you be diſcouraged whatever theſe Temptations be? As for the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt; He never ſins againſt the Holy Ghoſt, that fears he hath ſinned againſt the Holy Ghoſt.

Object. 4 But theſe are not my Temptations, I praiſe God, I am free from ſuch: but I have other great, and ſtrong Temptations, and have no ſtrength to reſiſt them: I am a poor weak perſon, a weak yong man, or a weak yong woman, and I fear I ſhall yield unto my Temptations; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged, have I not juſt cauſe and reaſon now?

Anſw. No: For out of weakneſs we are made ſtrong, and when we are weak, then are we ſtrong in the Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul. Poſſibly a man may be weak in regard of years, and yet may be ſtrong in regard of Grace, and overcome his Temptations. In 1 John, 2.12, 13, 14. I write unto you little Children, ſaith the Apoſtle John. Children he doth call them all, for he was their Father in Chriſt; and at verſe 13. I write unto you Fathers (ſaith he) becauſe ye have known him that is from the Beginning: I write unto you yong Men, becauſe you have overcome the wicked One: I write unto you little Children, (ſaith he) becauſe you have known the Father: which becauſe it is matter of conce…nment, he repeats again at verſe 14. I have written unto you Fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the Beginning: I have written unto you yong Men, becauſe you are ſtrong, and p. 142you have overcome the wicked One. There are three ſorts of Peo-in the world; ſome that are old, and aged; ſome that are Children; ſome that are middle aged, and are called yong Men, or yong Women. The Aged think that they have no need to learn, they know as much as the Miniſter can tell them; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle here, I write unto you Fathers. Children think that they are not yet to learn, and they have time enough before them; therefore ſaith he, I write unto you Children. Yong perſons think they ſhould mind their Buſineſs, Trades, and Callings; therefore ſaith he, I write unto you yong Men; and I pray mark what he ſpeaks, words ſutable to all theſe conditions: Old men love Antiquities, and therefore ſaith he, I write unto you Fathers, becauſe you have known him that is from the Beginning: Children love to have the Fathers and Mothers Name in their Mouth; and therefore ſaith he, I write unto you Children, becauſe ye have Known the Father. Yong men are ſtrong, and are fit for fighting, and therefore ſaith he, I write unto you Yong Men, becauſe you have Overcome the Evil One: What evil one is that, but Satan the Tempter? and of all others, yong Men are here ſaid to overcome the evil One; of all Men, and Women, yong Perſons do overcome: This time of yong Men, is the overcoming time. And I pray tell me, was David an old Man when he overcame Goliah? Nay, not thirty yeers old. Was Joſeph an old Man, when he refuſed, and overcame the Temptation of his Miſtriſs? Was Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego, old perſons when they reſiſted, and overcame the Temptation of the King, chuſing rather to go into the fiery Furnace than to yield? Nay, but they are called the three Children; and hath not God ſaid, The yong Child ſhall play upon the hole of the Aſp? What is the hole of the Aſp, if Temptation be not? And if you conſider that Story of the Iſraelites Victory, which God gave them againſt the Amalekites, ye ſhall find, that they never had a more glorious Victory; ſo great, that they ſet up an Altar, and called the name of it, Jehovah Niſſi, The Lord my Shield. Yet if you look into Deut. you wil find, that the Amalekites fell upon them when they were weak, and weary, at Rephidim, and in this weak, and weary time, they had this glorious Victory. What therefore though you be weak, and weary, and now are in the Valley of Rephidim; yet thou mayeſt overcome, and have ſo glorious a Victory, that thou ſhalt ſet up an Altar, and call the name of it, Jehovah Niſſi; The Lord my Shield.

Object. 5 O but, I have yielded, and been overcome already in my Temptation.

Anſw. Well, But know you not, that it is one thing to be overcome in Praelio, in the Skirmiſh; and another thing to be overcome p. 143in Bello, in the Battel; thoſe that are overcome in the Skirmiſh, may overcome in the Battel: and let me tell you this, That you are never quite overcome, ſo long as you keep your weapon in you hand: when a man lieth down before his Enemy, and gives up his weapon, then he is overcome indeed; and when you lie down, and are diſcouraged, and give all up, ſaying, I will pray no more, and hear no more, and read no more, all is to no purpoſe; then are you overcome: but til that be, though you be overcome in the Skirmiſh, you may overcome in the main Battel; will you then lie down, and be diſcouraged? or is there any reaſon why a Godly man ſhould be diſcouraged? No. Surely if this be true, That a man is never quite overcome till he lie down; then through Grace (every Godly man ſhould ſay) I wil never give up my weapon: Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? Still wait on God.

Object. 6 But yet all this reacheth not my Caſe, or Condition; for I fear, that Temptations are not ſuch Temptations as are incident unto Gods People; as my ſin, and ſpot, is not the ſpot of Gods People; ſo that my Temptations are not, that they are not ſuch as Gods own Children do meet withal; and I rather fear it, becauſe that ſince the time that I have ſet my face towards Heaven, I have met with ſuch Temptations, as I did never feel before: Surely therefore all is not right with me; have I not cauſe then to be diſcouraged, and caſt down?

Anſw. No: For I pray, what are the Temptations of Gods People, and how do they take them?

1Firſt: When a Godly man is tempted to any ſin; if he fal into it, then he is tempted again with Unbelief, to think that all is naught, even all that ever he had done before, tempted to aggravate his ſin, and to deſpair. When a wicked man is tempted to what is evil, if he fall into it, then he is tempted to preſume, tempted to excuſe his ſin, and to think, and ſay, This is but a ſlip, or you…hful carriage, God is merciful, and the like; and ſo he is tempted to preſume. This uſually is the way and manner of Satan, with the Godly, and Ungodly.

2Secondly: When a Godly man is tempted to what is evil; if he fal into it, the Devil then tempteth him to think, it was no Temptation, and to lay all upon himſelf, ſaying, I have done fooliſhly, I will go out and weep bitterly; the Devil had no hand here in it, it was al mine own. When a wicked man is tempted to what is evil, if he fal into it, he is then tempted afreſh, to think it is but a temptation, and I was drawn into it by others, it was not my ſelf, Satan tempted me, or ſuch a one tempted me, the Woman that thou gaveſt me, or the Friend that was with me; and ſo he doth lay it on others. This is uſually the way and manner p. 144of Satan with the Godly, and Ungodly.

3Thirdly: When a Godly man is tempted to what is evil, he rather ſtartles at the Sin, than at the burden of it. When a wicked man is tempted to what is evil, he rather ſtartles at the Burden, and at the Puniſhment, than at the Evil, and ſin of it. And this we ſee cleerly in Matth. 26. our Savior tels the Diſciples, at verſe 21. that one of them ſhould betray him; whereupon, they were all of them aſtoniſhed, and ſaid every one, one by one, Lord, is it I? Theſe were good Diſciples. Judas yet ſtirs not: But at verſe 25. it is ſaid, Then Judas which betrayed him, Anſwered, and ſaid, Maſter, is it I? Then, When? Look to verſe 24. and you ſhal read, that our Savior ſpeaks of the burden, and puniſhment of his ſin; The Son of man goes, as it is written of him; but wo unto that man, by whom the Son of man is betrayed; it had been good for that man, if he had not been born. Then Judas anſwered, Is it I, Lord? Then he ſtartled. The true, and gracious Diſciples of Chriſt, ſtartled at the ſin, when Chriſt did but name the ſin; but Then, not a word from Judas: but when Chriſt ſpeaks of the puniſhment, and burden of his ſin, then Judas ſtartleth, and not a word from them: So that plainly, a gracious ſoul ſtartleth at the Evil of a Temptation, more than the Burden of it; a wicked man, more at the burden, than at the Evil of it. This is the way of the Godly, and Ungodly, in their Temptations.

And as for you poor, tempted, doubting Souls, that labor under ſad Temptations, and think it hath not been with you, as with others; have you not even found it thus? Can you not ſay of a Truth, Lord, My Soul hath found it thus? For after I have ſinned, I have been tempted again, to doubt of my Child-ſhip, and to ſad deſpair; when I have been tempted to ſin, and have fallen into it, I have laid all upon my ſelf, and ſaid, it is no Temptation, but this is my own corruption; yea Lord, thou knoweſt, my ſoul hath been more ſtartled at the Evil of the Temptation, than at the Burden; as for the Burden of my Temptation, I leave that to thee, take it off when thou wilt; but O that my ſoul were freed from the evil of it: Then be of good Comfort, it is no otherwiſe with you, than what may be with Gods deareſt Children; your ſpot is no other, than what may be the ſpot of Gods own People.

And whereas you ſay, I fear that al is not right, becauſe I find ſuch Temptations now, ſince I have looked towards Heaven, which I did never feel before.

1Do you think that Peter ever did deny Chriſt before he was converted to Jeſus Chriſt? Did David ever number the People whilſt he was in the ſtate of Nature? Do you read that the Children p. 145of Iſrael wanted Water, and Bread, while they were in Egypt, or that they met with ſo many Temptations there, as they did after God had appeared mightily to them? Was not Chriſt tempted, after baptized, and heard a voyce from Heaven, ſaying, This is my well beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed; Did he ever meet with ſuch Temptations, before he was ſo declared to be the beloved Son of God from Heaven?

2And if God do not meaſure a godly man by any one Action, under any preſent Temptation, nor caſt his everlaſting condition thereby; then what reaſon is there, why he ſhould be diſcouraged in this reſpect? Look into the Scripture, and you ſhall find, That though God doth chaſtiſe his People for their miſcarriage, and change of their behavior, under their Temptation; yet he doth never meaſure a godly man, or caſt his everlaſting Condition by that. You wil not meaſure Milk when it ſeeths, and wallops, but when it is cool: And God wil not meaſure his Children by what they are, when they wallop in ſome Temptation; but by what they are, when they are cool, and moſt themſelves. So he did deal with Job, Jeremiah, and Moſes, and al his Children: indeed he doth not deal ſo by the wicked, he meaſures them ſomtimes by one carriage, and they are caſt thereby, that even everlaſtingly they are caſt thereby. Ananias, and Saphira, lyed but once to the Holy Ghoſt, that we read of, and Satan had a hand therein; for ſaith the Apoſtle, Why hath Satan filled your heart, that you ſhould lie unto the Holy Ghoſt? yet they were caſt thereby. It was but one Act that Saul did when he ſpared Agag, and the Fatlings, yet he was caſt thereby. It was but one act that Adam did, and Eve did, when they did eat the forbidden Fruit, and Satan tempted them to it, yet they were caſt thereby, and al Man-kind loſt thereby, Why? Becauſe they were upon a Covenant of Works. So, when men are under a Covenant of Works, if they miſcarry but in one action, though tempted thereto by Satan, yet God may caſt them thereby. Now al the wicked ſtil, are under the Covenant of Works; and therefore though it be but one act wherein they miſcarry, and they be drawn thereunto by Satan, yet God ſomtimes doth, and juſtly may caſt them thereby unto al Eternity. But as for the Saints and People of God, they are not under a Covenant of Works, but of Grace, al of them are ſo; and therefore God deals graciouſly with them, not meaſuring them by any one carriage, under one Temptation; No, ſaith the Lord, it is but the time of their Temptation, I wil not meaſure this man or woman, by what they are now; but as they are, when they are cool, moſt themſelves, and out of Temptation: O! what a Gracious Priviledg is this! Who would not labor to get into Chriſt, to become Godly, to be in this Covenant of Grace! And as for p. 146you that are Godly, tel me upon al this accompt; Have you any juſt cauſe, and reaſon for your diſcouragements under your Temptations? Surely, No; whatever your Temptations be, yet you have no reaſon for diſcouragement.

Queſt. But, what then? What ſhall I do that I may bear up my heart againſt all diſcouragements in this kind, that I may not be caſt down, or diſcouraged by reaſon of my Temptations? I confeſs indeed, that there is no reaſon why a godly man ſhould be diſcouraged in this respect; but yet it is a hard thing, to bear up againſt all Diſcouragements in time of Temptation: What ſhall I do in this caſe, that I may not be diſcouraged, whatever my Temptations be?

Anſw. I will ſay nothing to your Natural Temper: If Temptations ariſe from Natural Cauſes, then Natural Means (as Phyſick) are to be uſed, and applied, and People ſhould do well to be perſwaded thereunto. But ſomwhat by way of Direction Spiritually.

1Firſt: If you would not be diſcouraged under your Temptations; Take heed that when you are in Temptation, you do not expect too much from any one means of help; over expectation breeds diſcouragement; diſappointment, doth breed Diſcouragement: it is not the ſadneſs of your Condition, but Diſappointment, that doth cauſe Diſcouragement. If a man be in debt, and under an Arreſt; ſo long as he thinks he hath friends to bail him, or ſome Goods and Commodities to make ſale of, he is not diſcouraged; but if he expect much from his friends, and all fail him, and his goods be ſeized, that he cannot have help come in at that door, nor from any other means, which he expected from, then he is quite diſcouraged. If a man be in the Water, wherein there is danger of drowning; ſo long as he can get hold of ſomthing that wil bear him up, he is not diſcouraged; but if he lay hold of ſome tuft of Graſs on the Bank ſide, and that breaks, he falls back again, and is more plunged into the Water; and if he be not ſcared out of al thoughts, he is more diſcouraged than ever. So here, In Temptation, we are as in the Water, and in fear of drowning, crying out, We ſink, we ſink; then we fly to ſome tuft of Graſs, ſome means or other, and if that break, or fail, then we are quite diſcouraged: Would you not therefore be dejected, or caſt down in time of Temptation; take heed that you do not lay all your ſtrength upon one tuft of Graſs; this, or that mans Counſel; this, or that particular means; but ſay rather, I am now indeed in the deep, and in fear of drowning, ſee no means of deliverance; but Gods waies are in the deep, and he is infinite, he hath waies and means that I know not of; therefore though I uſe the means, yet I will not reſt on them, and though all tufts of Graſs break, and p. 147Anchors come home; yet I wil wait on God.

2Secondly: If you would not be diſcouraged in time of Temptation, Take heed that you do not ſay of your Temptation, This is no Temptation. Satan tempts, firſt unto what is evil, and then he tempts Gods People to think, that their Temptation is no Temptation: as long as a man thinks it is but a Temptation, he thinks, it wil not laſt long, it is but a Temptation, it wil not hold alwaies, and ſo his heart is in ſome meaſure upheld with hope: But when Satan can perſwade, that the Temptation is no Temptation, but a worſer matter, then the heart ſinks and dies: take heed therefore that ye do not ſay, that your Temptation, is no Temptation.

3Thirdly: Conſider what infinite Engagements are upon Jeſus Chriſt, to ſuccor and relieve poor tempted ſouls; you can never be diſcouraged under Temptation, ſo long as you think, how mightily Chriſt is engaged to help thoſe that are tempted▪ and engaged he is, many waies; Engaged by his own Temptations; for h… was therefore tempted, that he might be able experimentally to ſuccor thoſe that are tempted: Engaged he is, by Promiſe; for he hath ſaid, he will not quench the ſmoaking flax, yea, though it hath more ſmoak than fire: Engaged he is, by his Intereſt in you, and his Name upon you: Engaged he is, by his own Gracious Diſpoſition; when he was upon Earth, he cured thoſe that were vexed by Satan: Art thou now tempted? thou art now vexed by Satan; Chriſt is as gracious in Heaven, as he was on Earth: Engaged he is, by Office; for ſaith the Apoſtle, We have not ſuch an High-Prieſt, as cannot be touched with our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, that he might ſuccor thoſe that are tempted; he is our great High-Prieſt. When the man-ſlayer was purſued by the Avenger of Blood, if the man-ſlayer fled unto a City of Refuge, he was ſafe there; where he was to ſtay til the death of the High-Prieſt; and when the High-Prieſt died, then he was ſet at liberty. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is our High-Prieſt; by whoſe Death we are ſet at liberty; and by whoſe Life we are al preſerved: it is his Office to ſuccor poor tempted ſouls, purſued by Avengers of blood: and if a good man be faithful in his Office, much more wil Chriſt, by whom al other men are faithful. Yea, God our Father, hath erected an Office for the ſuccoring of poor tempted ſouls, and Jeſus Chriſt hath this Office; whenever therfore you are tempted, & fear you ſhal miſcarry under your Temptation, then remember Chriſt, and ſay, O! but the Lord Jeſus is in Office, he is bound by Office to ſuccor poor tempted ſouls; and ſuch a one am I; he is engaged by his own Temptation; he is engaged by Promiſe; he is engaged by his Intereſt in me, and his Name upon me; he is engaged by his own D…ſpoſition; he is engaged by h… p. 148Office; and therefore though I be tempted unto what is evil, yet, avoid Satan, for I ſhal be delivered; I am tempted, but I ſhall be delivered, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is engaged for my deliverance: Do but think of Chriſts Engagement, and you wil never be diſcouraged, whatever your Temptations be.

4Fourthly: Think not to comfort or relieve your ſelf in Temptation, with meer Phyloſophical, or Moral Reaſons; for the Diſeaſe of Temptation, is ſtronger than that Phyſick; Temptations anſwered by Reaſon, wil return again; but Temptations dipt in the Blood of Chriſt, wil return no more, or not with ſuch violence and ſucceſs. Ye ſee how it is with a Candle that is blown out, it is eaſily lighted again; but if you put it into Water, then it is more hard to light: So, Temptations blown out with Reſolutions, and Moral Reaſons, do eaſily return; but quenched in Chriſts Blood, do not ſo. Chriſt is an Univerſal good; Reaſon can hold forth but a particular good: Now there is that in an Univerſal Good, which wil anſwer unto al your Ills; but as for Moral Reaſons, the Tempter wil ſay to them, Chriſt we know, and the Promiſe we know; but who are ye? It is God himſelf, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 1. Who comforteth us in all our Tribulations. Are we in the dark? Chriſt only can light the Candle.

5Fifthly: Be not unwilling to adviſe with thoſe that have trodden the way of Temptation, though they be weaker than your ſelf: Chriſt was ſtronger than any Angel, yet in the time of his Agony, the Angels came and comforted him: Poſſibly a ſtronger may be comforted and ſtrengthened by a weak hand in the time of an Agony; and Temptation-time, is Agony-time: Are you therefore tempted, and in the dark? Speak with thoſe Children of Light, that have gone through this dark Entry of Temptation; Who knows, but that God may ſpeak that comfort to you by a weaker hand, which you could never obtain by a ſtronger.

6Sixtly: But eſpecially ſpeak and converſe with the Promiſe, hear what the Promiſe ſpeaketh: The Lord by it ſaith, That no Temptation ſhal overtake you,1 Cor. 10.13.1 Cor 10:13 but what is common to men. O! ſay you, never any one was troubled with ſuch Temptations as I am; but ſaith the Apoſtle, ſay not ſo, For no Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common to men. You think that your Temptation is extraordinary, and the truth is, that is a ſecond Temptation at the back of the firſt; it is a Temptation to think, that my Temptation is extraordinary; yet ſay you, O! my Condition is extraordinary, my Affliction extraordinary, and my Temptation extraordinary; but ſaies the Apoſtle, No Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common &c. You think that you ſhal never be able to bear your Temptation. O ſay you, I am a poor weak Creature, my Temptation is ſtrong and great; p. 149therefore I ſhal never be able to bear it. But ſaies the Apoſtle, God is faithful, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. Again, you think that you ſhal never be rid of this Temptation; O ſay you, I have been tempted thus and thus long, and no deliverance comes, nor no likelyhood of deliverance; ſurely therefore I ſhal never be delivered: But the Apoſtle ſaith, God is faithful, who wil with the Temptation, make a way for eſcape. He will give an out-let, open a door, and window, that this ſmoak may go out. It may be you ſee not this door, it may be out of ſight: ſo the door of the Ark was, in the time of the Flood; but when the Ark was built, the door was built: So when Satan built this Temptation, God did build a door in the ſides thereof, and in due time you ſhal ſee it. But may I be ſure of that, you'l ſay? Yes, as ſure as God is Faithful; for he hath pawned his Faithfulneſs for the truth of this Promiſe: But God is faithful, ſaies the Apoſtle, who wil with the Temptation, make a way for eſcape. O! that men would mind the Promiſe more, and all the words thereof: They are ſo hurried ſomtimes with the Temptation, that they cannot hear the Promiſe. But is all this true? O! then attend the Promiſe; hear what the Promiſe ſpeaketh.

7Seventhly, and Laſtly: Conſider alſo what Comforts lie behind your Temptations; as Temptations ſomtimes, lie in ambuſh behind your Performances; ſo Comforts lie in ambuſh behind your Temptations: and as the greateſt Temptations, do ſomtimes follow the higheſt manifeſtations of Gods Love; witneſs the 3d and 4th Chapters of Matthew; ſo the greateſt Conſolations, do ſomtimes follow the worſt Temptations. When did the Angels miniſter unto Chriſt, but when he had made a good diſpatch of Temptations? So it ſhal be with you alſo; for Chriſt was tempted, that by his Example, and iſſue of Temptation, he might ſuccor you under your Temptation. Ye have heard of the Patience of Job, and what end the Lord made with him, he had twice as much after the Temptation was over, as he had before; and if you ride out this ſtorm, aſſuredly the good Angels wil come and miniſter to you, and your Conſolations ſhal be doubled unto what ye had before: Wherefore my Brethren, take unto you, the whol Armor of God, that ye may be able to withſtand in this evil day, and having done al, to ſtand.

And ſo much for the Fift Inſtance.