Treatise of the Divine Promises, Book 3 · Chapter 1
CHAP. 1. 2. SPIRITVALL PROMISES. 1. In regard of evill, from Temptations
1. Of Satan in generall.
2. To uncleannesse.
Comforts against the temptations of Satan.
THE Faithfull have a promise to preserve them from such temptations as are incident to their lawfull callings, and which they cannot avoid unlesse they would forsake their calling, Psal. 91.11, 12. In all thy waies (seeme they never so dangerous and full of temptation) they shall beare thee up. Rev. 3.….The man whose heart is upright shall finde strength enough against every temptation, while he is in the LORDS way, Pro. 10.29. 2 Chron. 15.2.
There is much comfort to be drawne out of that one verse, 1 Cor. 10.13.
Et quam sortem patiuntur omnes, ferre nemo recusat. 1 Pet. 5.9. God will make his grace sufficient for us, 2 Cor. 12.9.1. It is the common condition of all the godly, to be tempted. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.
2. GOD will lay no more upon us, then wee shall be able to beare, GOD is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able.
3. GOD will give a happie issue out of temptation: Who will with the temptation also make away to escape, that yee may be able to beare it.
Another consolation against them, may be the short continuance of our temptations, Wee shall suffer but a while, 1 Pet. 5.10. The GOD of pe…ce shall bruise Satan under your feete shortly, Rom. 16.20.
We should consider, 1 That CHRIST was tempted as we are, Heb. 4.15.
2. That he is our Captaine in this warfare, Rev. 12 7. The Captaine of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings, Heb. 2.10.
3. That he overcame the Divell for all his members; so it was promised to Adam and prophesied of him, Gen. 3.15. so it was fulfilled by him, Mat. 4.1. And having spoiled principalities and powers (that is, the Divell and his Angels) He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them upon …he Crosse, Coloss. 2.15. He led captivity captive, Ephes. 4.8. By captivity is meant sinne and Satan, which did and doe leade men captive into perdition:Heb 2.14.1… …. Death and the grave which held him captive for the space of three daies. He leads them all captive: 1. In himselfe, triumphing over them. 2. In his members, aIdem hortatur ut pugnemus, adiuvat ut vincamus, deficientes sublevat & vincentes ceronat.subduing and weakening their power.
4. That CHRIST is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb. 4.15.
5. That hee hath made intercession and prayed for us, Luke 22.32. I have prayed that thy faith may not faile; that is generall for all beleevers as well as Peter, Ioh. 17.9, 10.
6. CHRIST succours and helpes those that are tempted, Heb. 2.18.
7. He assures them of bIf GOD leade them in…o temptation, he will deliver them from evill, Mat. 6.13.strength and victory; Resist the Divell, and he will flie from you, Iam. 4.7. He is like the Crocodile, whose property is, if one follow, it flieth away; if one flie, it pursueth him; cowardise incourageth the Divell, courage daunts him. See 1 Iohn 5.18. Esa. 27.1. Iohn 12.21. The cThe Divel is a Lyon, so is Christ, and that of the Tribe of Iudah, there is a Lyon for a Lyon, courage for courage: the Divell is a Serpent, so Christ called himselfe the brazen Serpent, the…e is a Serpent for a Serpent wisdome for wisedome.Divell is subtill, but GOD will teach wisdome to discerne and disappoint his stratagems, 2 Pet. 2.9. He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, Psal. 91.3 He is strong and powerfull; But GOD shall cover thee under his wings, thou shalt be dPsal …0 12 1 Pet. 1.5. kept with all care as a garrison is kept.safe under his feathers, his strength shall be thy Buckler. ver. 4. He dissolveth the workes of the Divell, 1 Iohn 3.8. He will tread Satan under our feet. Hee shall bruise his head, wherein lies all his subtilty and strength. eMat. 16.1… Portarum appellatime urbes & con silio & pro pugna…u… munitas intelligimus, i… quicquid vel consilio vel viribus potest Satan Beza in locum.The gates of Hell (that is, the power and pollicie of the Divell) shall not prevaile against the Church. For the gates were the places, where both their strength was and their counsell sate, Amos 5.15.
2. Promises against Temptations to uncleannesse.
He shall deliver thee from the strange woman, Prov. 2.16. Thy body shall be kept blamelesse untill the comming of CHRIST, 1 Thess. 5.24 Who so pleaseth GOD shall escape from her, Eccles. 7.26.
It is part of GODS Covenant to give us victory over all our enemies: this is the great promise that GOD hath made; That being delivered from the hands of all our enemies, we might serve him in Holinesse and Righteousnesse all the d…ies of our life, Luke 1.74. When a child of GOD is to wrestle with Satan, or any temptation or lust, hee may challenge the Covenant at GODS hands, and say, LORD hast not thou said that Thou wilt deliver me out of the hands of all mine enemies? Is it not a part of thy Covenant?