Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 3 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The ſecond Circumſtance, Chriſts being led by the Spirit. What hand the Spirit of God hath in Temptations. And of running into Temptation when not led into it.
THe ſecond Circumſtance acquaints how Chriſt was carcarried to the Combate. In Solemn Combates and Duels, the Perſons undertaking the Fight, were uſually carried to the place with great Solemnity and Ceremony: Chriſt in this Spiritual Battel is deſcribed, as having the conduct of the Spirit, He was led up of the Spirit, &c. What this Spirit was, is (though by a needleſs and over-officious diligence) queſtioned by ſome: but we need not ſtay much upon it, if we conſider the phraſe of the Evangeliſts; who mention Spirit without any Note of Diſtinction: (which of neceſſity muſt have been added, if it had intended, either his proper Spirit as Man; or the wicked Spirit Satan) directing thereby, to underſtand it of him to whom the word Spirit is more peculiarly attributed; (viz.) the Holy Ghoſt. Or if we obſerve the cloſe connexion in Luke betwixt that Expreſſion of Chriſt's being full of the Holy Ghoſt, and his being led by the Spirit, it will be out of controverſy, that the Holy Spirit is here intended. Hence was it that Beza tranſlates it more fully; Jeſus being full of the Holy Ghoſt, was led, eodem Spiritu, of the ſame Spirit; and the Syriack in Matthew doubts not to expreſs it by the Holy Spirit: And what elſe can be imagined? When in this Text the Spirit that led him up, and the Devil that tempted, are mentioned in ſo direct an oppoſition. He was led of the Spirit into the Wilderneſs to be tempted of the Devil. The manner of his being carried thither is expreſſed by ſuch words as ſignify (though not an External rapture like that of Philip) a ſtrong inward Motion, foreignand Impulſe upon him. The Spirit driveth him, ſaith Mark. The Spirit led him,foreign. ſaith Luke, uſing the ſame word, by which the Scripture elſewhere expreſſeth the Power of the Spirit upon the Children of God; who are ſaid to be led by him.
Hence note;Obſ. 2. That the Spirit of God hath a hand in Temptations. Chriſt was led by the Spirit to be tempted. This muſt not be underſtood, as if God did properly tempt any to ſin; either by inticing their hearts to evil, or by moving and ſuggeſting wicked things to their minds, or by infuſing evil Inclinations, or by any proper compliance with Satan to undermine, and delude us by any treachery or deceit; none of theſe can be imagined without apparent derogation to the holineſs of God, who tempteth no man, neither can he be tempted with evil: But what we are to underſtand by the Holy Spirit's concerning himſelf in temptations, is included in theſe particulars.
Firſt, God gives Commiſſion to Satan; without which his hand would be ſealed up under an impoſſibility of reaching it out againſt any.
Secondly, Opportunities and occaſions do depend upon his Providence; without which nothing comes to paſs. Neither we nor any thing elſe, do or can move without him.
Thirdly, The Spirit overſees the Temptation as to Meaſure, and Continuance; The length and breadth of it is ordered by him.
Fourthly, The iſſue and conſequences of every Temptation are at his appointment; The ways of its working for our Exerciſe, Humiliation or Conviction, or for any other good and advantage whatſoever, they all belong to his determination.
So that it is not improper to aſſert, that God and Satan do concur in the ſame temptation; though the ways of proceeding, with the aims and intentions of both, be directly different and contrary. Hence is it, that the Temptation of David, 1 Sam. 24. 1. and 1 Chron. 21. 1. are upon ſeveral regards, attributed both to God and Satan.
This note is of uſe,Appl. 1. to remove thoſe harſh Interpretations which poor tempted Chriſtians meet withal, commonly, from ſuch as have not touched their burdens with the leaſt of their Fingers. Men are apt in theſe caſes to judg,
Firſt, The Ways of Religion, as being ways (at leaſt in the more ſerious and rigid practice of them) of intolerable hazard and perplexity; and only upon an Obſervation, That thoſe who moſt addict themſelves to a true and ſtrict obſervance of Duty and Command, uſually complain of Temptations; and expreſs ſometimes their fears and diſtreſs of heart about them. This is your Reading, your Praying and Hearing. Such Preaching (ſay they) leads men to diſpair, and perpetual diſquiet; And upon the whole, they conclude it dangerous to be religious above the common rate of thoſe that proſecute it in a ſlow and careleſs indifferency.
Secondly, The like Severity of Cenſure do they uſe in reference to the Spiritual State of the tempted; as if they were Veſſels of his hatred; and ſuch as were by him given up to the power of this Wild Boar of the Forreſt to devour and tear. All kind of diſtreſſes are obnoxious to the worſt of misjudgings from malevolent minds. The Sufferings of Chriſt produced this cenſorious Scoff, Let God deliver him, Pſal. 71. 11.if he will have him. Davids troubles eaſily induced his Adverſaries to conclude that God had forſaken him, and that there was none to deliver him. But in troubles of this nature (where eſpecially there are frightful complaining againſt themſelves) men are more eaſily drawn out to be peremptory in their uncharitable determinations concerning them. Becauſe the trouble it ſelf is ſomewhat rare, and apt to beget hideous Impreſſions: and withall the vent which the afflicted parties give by their bemoaning of their Eſtate, in hope to eaſe themſelves thereby, is but taken as a Teſtimony againſt themſelves, and the undoubted Ecchoes of their real feelings.
Thirdly, Their Sins are upon this Ground misjudged and heightned. Ʋnuſual Troubles with common Appreh…nſion argue unuſual Sins. Acts 28. 4.The Viper upon Paul's hand, made the Barbarians confident he was a Man of more than ordinary Guilt and Wickedneſs. David's Sickneſs was enough to give his Enemies occaſion to ſurmiſe that it was the puniſhment of ſome great Tranſgreſſion. An evil diſeaſe, Pſal. 41 8.(ſay they) cleaveth to him. Thoſe that were overwhelmed by the Fall of the Tower of Sileo, Luke 13. 4.and thoſe whoſe Blood Pilate mixed with their Sacrifices, were judged greateſt Sinners. But in inward Temptations, this misjudging confidence is every way more heightned; and thoſe that are moſt moleſted are ſuppoſed to have given more way to Satan.
Fourthly, Temptations are alſo misjudged to be worſe than they are. They are indeed things to be trembled at; but they are not properly of an aſtoniſhing, amazing or diſpairing conſideration: as men areapt to think that view the workings of them at a diſtance.
Againſt all thoſe unrighteous ſurmiſes, the poor afflicted Servants of Chriſt may have relief from this truth in hand, That the Holy Spirit of God hath a hand in Temptations: and therefore it is impoſſible, that every where they ſhould be of ſuch a Signification. Were they in themſelves no way ſerviceable to God's Glory in the Gracious Exerciſe of his Children, the Spirit of Wiſdom and Holineſs would not at all have a hand in them. If under Satan's Aſſaults you meet with thoſe that by ſuch a harſhneſs of Cenſure, would aggravate your troubles, and ſo grieve thoſe whom God hath ſadned; you may boldly appeal from them to him that judgeth righteouſly. And indeed if men would but conſider in the ſaddeſt caſe of this nature, either 1. The End of the Lord in permitting Temptations which (if ſeen) would give an high juſtification of his dealing; and force men to applaud and magnify his Wiſdom, rather than to cenſure it. Or, 2. If they could but ſee the ſecret ways of God's Support. How he acts his part, in holding them by the hand, in counterworking of Satan, and confounding him under the exerciſe of his higheſt malice; and alſo in the ways of his preſervation and deliverance. Or, 3. If the harmleſneſs of Temptations when their ſting is taken out were but weighted, men would change their minds as readily, as the Barbarians did, when they ſaw the Viper not effect that miſchief they ſuppoſed upon Paul; And would ſee cauſe to ſtand amazed at the contrivances of ſo much Power and Wiſdom, as can turn theſe to quite other ends and uſes, than what they of themſelves ſeem to threaten.
This Conſideration will further expreſs its uſefulneſs,Appl. 2. in comforting us under Temptations. It might have been Paul's great diſcouragement,2 Tim. 4. 16. that in his anſwer before Nero no man ſtood with him: But this was his ſupport, that God was with him. The like encouragement we have under all Aſſaults of Satan, that we are not left to our ſelves, but the Spirit of God is with us; and that he concerns himſelf on a deſign to over-ſee, and over-rule his work, and to put a check upon him when there is need. So that he cannot tempt as he will, nor when he will, nor in what he would, nor as long as he would; but that in all caſes, we may rely upon the great Maſter-contriver, for relief, help, mitigation, or deliverance; as there is need.
In that the Evangeliſts do not ſay that Chriſt caſt himſelf upon a Temptation, Obſ. 3.neither did go to undertake it, till he was led to it, we note, That whatever may be the advantage of a Temptation by the Spirits ordering of it; or what ſecurity from danger we may promiſe to our ſelves upon that account, yet muſt we not run upon Temptations; though we muſt ſubmit when we are fairly led into them. The reaſons of this truth are theſe:
Firſt, There is ſo much of the nature of evil in Temptations that they are to be avoided if poſſible. Good they may accidentally be, (that is beyond their proper nature and tendency) by the overruling hand of God; but being in their own natural conſtitution evil, 'tis inconſiſtent with humane nature to deſire them as ſuch.
Secondly, To run upon them would be a dangerous tempting of God, (that is) making a bold and preſumptuous trial (without call) whether he will put forth his power to reſcue us or not. Now he that runs upon a Temptation hath no promiſe to be delivered out of it. And beſides, runs upon ſo deſperate a provocation, that in all probability he ſhall miſcarry in it, as a juſt puniſhment of his raſhneſs.
But Enquiry may be made,Queſt. When do men run (uncalled and) unwarrantably upon Temptation? I Anſwer, many ways. As
Firſt,Anſw. 1. When men engage themſelves in Sin and apparent Wickedneſs in the Works of the Fleſh. For it can never be imagined that the Holy God ſhould ever by his Spirit call any to ſuch things as his Soul abhors.
Secondly, When men run upon the viſible and apparent occaſions and cauſes of Sin. This is like a man's going to the Peſt-houſe, thus do they, that though they deſign not to be actors in evil, yet will give their Company and Countenance to Perſons actually engagaged in evil.
Thirdly, When men unneceſſarily (without the conduct either of command, or urging an unavoidable Providence) do put themſelves (though not upon viſible and certain opportunities, yet) upon dangerous and hazardous occaſions and ſnares. Peter had no errand in the High-Prieſt's Hall; his curioſity led him thither; he might eaſily have foreſeen a probable Snare; but confidently putting himſelf forward, where his danger was more than his buſineſs, he ran upon the Temptation, and accordingly fell. The like did Dinah, Gen. 34. 1.when ſhe made a needleſs Vagary to ſee the Daughters of the Land; where ſhe met with her Sin and Shame. Neither do they otherwiſe, who dare adventure themſelves in Families (whilſt yet they are free and may otherwiſe diſpoſe of themſelves) where they ſee Snares and Temptations will be laid before them. The Caſe indeed is otherwiſe to thoſe that are under the neceſſary engagement of relation, natural, or voluntary, (if it be antecedent to the hazard) to live in ſuch places or callings,Pſal. 91. 11. they have a greater promiſe of preſervation than others can lay claim to.Prov. 10. 29.
Fourthly, Thoſe run upon Temptation, that adventure apparently beyond their ſtrength, and put themſelves upon actions good or harmleſs, diſproportionably to their abilities. The Apoſtle gives the inſtance in Marriage-Abſtinence, 1 Cor. 7. 5. which he cautions may not be undertaken at a careleſs adventure, for fear of a Temptation: and by this may we judg other things of like nature.
Fifthly, They are alſo guilty, that deſign an adventure unto the utmoſt bounds of lawful Liberty. Thoſe that have a mind to try concluſions, how near they may make their approaches to Sin, and yet keep off from the defilement; ſuch as would divide a hair betwixt good and evil, have at beſt but a hair's breadth betwixt them and Sin; But how eaſily are they brought over that. Like a man that walks upon the utmoſt Verge of a River's brink, ofttimes meets with hollow ground, and a dangerous ſlip before he is aware.
Sixthly, Thoſe alſo may be reckoned in the number of ſuch as ruſh upon their danger, who go abroad without their weapons, and forget in the midſt of dayly dangers, the means of preſervation. Thomas by his neglect ſlid into a greater unbelief than the reſt of the Apoſtles. David's unwatchful heart was eaſily ſmitten by the Intelligence which his Eyes brought him. They that would plead their Innocency againſt Temptation, had need to carry their arms, and preſervatives ſtill with them.
This truth is a ſufficient caution againſt the raſh adventurouſneſs of thoſe who forwardly engage themſelves in matters of Temptation. Applic.As the former obſervation told us, Temptations are not to be feared; So this alſo tells, they are not to be ſlighted. The carriage of the Philiſtines when the Ark came among them, is matter of Imitation to us. We may tremble juſtly when we hear of their approach; but our Hazard ſhould be the Whet-Stone of our Courage; and our danger ſhould bring us to reſolves of a more ſtout reſiſtance, that we may quit our ſelves like men.
The Apoſtle, Gal. 6. 1. ſeems to imply (when he tell thoſe that were more ſevere and careleſs of others, that they may alſo be tempted) that the beſt of men do little know what a change a Temptation may make upon them; a ſmall Temptation may be too ſtrong for them, and may carry them to what they never thought of, nay, may break down the ſtrongeſt of their reſolves, and ſnap their purpoſes as a Thread in a flame. It did ſo with Peter, who was quickly overcome by that which he had with ſo much confidence undervalued.