Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 3 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Firſt circumſtance of the Combate. The time when it happened. The two Solemn Seaſons of Temptation. The Reaſons thereof.
I Shall here conſider the great Temptation which it pleaſed our Lord Chriſt to ſubmit unto, as a moſt famous Inſtance for confirmation, and illuſtration of the Doctrine of Temptations already handled.
The firſt Verſe ſets down ſeveral remarkable circumſtances of this Combate; all of them matter of weight and worth. As
Firſt, The Time when this fell out; not as a looſe and accidental Emergency, but as particularly made choice of both by God and Satan, being moſt fit and proper for the deſign which each of them were carrying on. This is expreſly noted in Mat. 4. 1. Then was Jeſus led up: but more fully in Mark 1. 12. Immediately the Spirit driveth him into the Wilderneſs; Manifeſtly directing us to expect ſomething worthy of our Obſervation in that circumſtance: Neither can we miſs of it, when the things unto which this directs us, are ſo fully related immediately before. For we find in both theſe Evangeliſts, (which ſpeak ſo exactly of the time of theſe Temptations) that Chriſt was baptized of John; this was in order to the fulfilling the Righteouſneſs of his Office. As the Prieſts under the Law when they came to be thirty years old, Numb. 4. 3.entred upon their Function, Vid. Lightfoot Temple-Service and Harmony.by Waſhings (or Baptizings) and Anointings; So Chriſt (that he might anſwer his Type) beginning to be about thirty years of Age, Levit. 8. 6. 12.was ſolemnly inaugurated into the great Office of the Mediatorſhip by Baptiſm, Luk. 3. 23.and the extraordinary deſcending of the Holy Ghoſt; by which he was anointed with the Oyl of gladneſs above his Fellows. To this ſolemn Inſtalment the Father adds an honourable Teſtimony concerning him; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. Immediately after this was he carried to the place of Combate. Hence we may infer,
That our entring upon a ſpecial Service for God, Obſ. 1.or receiving a ſpecial Favour from God; are two Solemn Seaſons which Satan makes uſe of for Temptation. Often theſe two Seaſons meet together in the ſame Perſon, at the ſame time. Paul after his rapture into the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 2, 7.which (as ſome conceive) was alſo upon his entrance upon the Miniſtry, was buffeted by the Meſſenger of Satan.
Sometime theſe two Seaſons are ſevered; yet ſtill it may be obſerved, that the Devil watcheth them. When any Servant of God is to engage in any particular employment, he will be upon him. He Aſſaulted Moſes by perſecution, when he was firſt called to deliver Iſrael. As ſoon as David was Anointed, immediately doth he enrage the Minds of Saul and his Courtiers againſt him. It was ſo ordinary with Luther, that he at laſt came to this, that before any Eminent Service, he conſtantly expected either a fit of Sickneſs, or the buffetings of Satan. He is no leſs ſedulous in giving his Aſſaults when any Child of God hath been under peculiar Favours, or Enjoyments: The Church after an high entertainment with Chriſt, Cant. 5. 1, 2.is preſently overcome by a careleſs ſleepy indiſpoſition.
Though this may ſeem ſtrange, yet the harſhneſs of ſuch a Providence on God's part, and the boldneſs of the attempt on Satan's part, may be much taken off by the conſideration of the reaſons hereof.
Firſt, On Satan's part: It is no great wonder to ſee ſuch an undertaking, when we conſider his Fury, and Malice. The more we receive from God, and the more we are to do for him, the more doth he malign us. So much the more as God is Good, by ſo much is his Eye Evil.
Secondly, There are (in ſuch caſes as theſe) ſeveral advantages, which (through our weakneſs and imperfection) we are too apt to give him; and for theſe he lieth at the catch.
As firſt, Security. We are apt to grow proud, careleſs, and confident after, or upon ſuch Employments and Favours; even as men are apt to ſleep or ſurfeit upon a full Meal, or to forget themſelves,Job 29. 18. when they are advanced to Honour. Job's great Peace and Plenty made him (as he confeſſeth) ſo confident, that he concluded he ſhould die in his Neſt. David enjoying the Favour of God in a more than ordinary meaſure, (though he was more acquainted with viciſſitudes and changes than moſt of men) grows ſecure in this apprehenſion,Pſal. 30. 6. that he ſhould never be moved: but he acknowledgeth his miſtake, and leaves it upon Record as an Experience neceſſary for others to take warning by, that when he became warm under the Beams of God's Countenance, then he was apt to fall into Security. And (this it ſeems was uſual with him in all ſuch caſes) when he was moſt ſecure, he was neareſt ſome trouble, or diſquiet: Thou didſt hide thy Face, (and then to be ſure the Devil will ſhew his) and I was troubled. Enjoyments beget Confidence; Confidence brings forth Careleſneſs; Careleſneſs makes God withdraw, and gives opportunity to Satan to work unſeen. And thus as Armies after Victory growing ſecure, are oft ſurprized; So are we oft after our Spiritual Advancements thrown down.
Secondly, Diſcouragement, and tergiverſation is another thing the Devil watcheth for. By his Aſſaults he repreſents the Duty difficult, tedious, dangerous, or impoſſible, on purpoſe to diſcourage us, and to make us fall back. No ſooner doth Paul engage in the Goſpel, than the Devil is upon him, ſuggeſting ſuch hazards as he knew were moſt prevalent with our frail natures; if he had not been aware of him,Gal. 1. 16. and refuſed to hearken to what Fleſh and Blood would have ſaid in the Caſe. When God honoured Moſes with the high Employment of delivering Iſrael; the hazard and danger of the work was ſo ſtrongly fixed upon his thoughts, that he makes many excuſes; one while pleading his Inability and Inſufficiency;Exod. 3. 11. Who am I, that I ſhould go to Pharaoh? Another while he urgeth Iſraels unbelief, and a ſeeming Impoſſibility to ſatisfy them of his Commiſſion;Exod. 4. 1. After that he deviſeth another ſhift, I am not Eloquent, in the 10th verſe. And when all theſe ſubterfuges were removed, (Satan had ſo affrighted him with the trouble and difficulty of this undertaking,) that he attempts to break away from his duty;ver. 13. ver. 13. Send by the hand of him whom thou wilt ſend; That is, ſpare me and ſend another: and till the anger and diſpleaſure of God was manifeſted againſt him, he ſubmitted not. In Jonah the Temptation went higher. He (upon the apprehenſions mentioned) ran away from his Service, and puts God to convince him by an extraordinary puniſhment. And when Satan prevails not ſo far, as wholly to deter men by ſuch onſets; yet at leaſt he doth diſhearten and diſcourage them: So that the work loſeth much of that Glory, Excellency, and Exactneſs, which a ready and chearful undertaking would put upon it.
Thirdly; The Fall or miſcarriage of the Saints at ſuch times is of more than ordinary diſadvantage; not only to others, (for if they can be prevailed with to lay aſide their work, or to neglect the Improvement of their Favours, others are deprived of the benefit and help that might be expected from them) but alſo to themſelves. A prevailing Temptation doth more than ordinarily prejudice them at ſuch times. The greatneſs of the diſappointment under ſpecial Service, the unworthy neglect, and unanſwerableneſs to ſpecial Favours are Extraordinary Provocations, and produce more than ordinary Chaſtiſments; as we ſee in Jonah's Affliction, and the Spouſes deſertion.
Secondly; As we have ſeen the reaſon of Satan's Keenneſs in taking thoſe Opportunities; So may we conſider the reaſons of God's Permiſſion, which are theſe.
Firſt, Temptations at ſuch Seaſons are permitted for more eminent tryal of the upright. On this account was Job tempted.
Secondly, For an increaſe of diligence, humility and watchfulneſs. If theſe Priviledges and Mercies will not diſcourage Satan, what will? And if Satan ſo openly malign ſuch Enjoyments, we may be awakened to hold them faſter; and ſet a double Guard upon them.
Thirdly, For a plentiful Furniture of Experience. Temptation is the Shop of Experience. Luther was ſo great a gainer by this, that he became able ſo to ſpeak to the Conſciences and Conditions of his hearers, that the thoughts of their hearts were manifeſted by his ſpeaking; as if he had had an Intilligencer in their own Boſoms. Hence did he commend Prayer, Meditation, and Temptation, as neceſſary requiſites for the accompliſhment of a Miniſter.
This may adminiſter matter of Counſel to us in both caſes aforementioned. Applic.If we be put upon eminent Employments, or receive eminent Favours.
Firſt, We muſt not be ſo ſecure as to think Satan will be aſleep that while, or that we are beyond danger. While we are receiving Kindneſſes, he is deviſing Plots, and laying Snares. With Priviledges and Mercies expect Exerciſes and Hazards.
Secondly, in particular; We may receive ſomething of advice from this conſideration, in reference to both Caſes. 1. If God is about to employ us in any Service, (1.) We have little need to be confident of our abilities, or performance, when we know that Temptations wait for us. (2.) We muſt not only be ſenſible of our weakneſs, that we be not confident; but we muſt be apprehenſive of the Strength and Power of God to carry us through, that we be not diſcouraged. (3.) We muſt ſee our Oppoſition, that we may be watchful; and yet muſt we refuſe to give it the leaſt place of conſideration in our debates of Duty; leſt it ſway us againſt Duty, or diſhearten us in it. 2. If God be pleaſed to Honour us with peculiar Favours. Then (1.) Though we muſt improve them to the full, yet muſt we not feed on them without fear. (2.) We muſt not ſtay in the Enjoyment, or play with the Token; but look to the tendency of ſuch Favours, and improve them to duty, as to their proper end.