The Generation of Seekers, Treatise 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
VI. PETITION.
And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from evil.
THe former Petition, was for Juſtification, this for Sanctification and Conſervation; both together include the Compleat Means in order to Salvation. The words would require a more copious handling, than the limits of an hours Diſcourſe will admit. I ſhall be as conciſe as I can, ſingling out what I conceive moſt neceſſary to be ſpoken, and moſt tending to my propoſed end.
Some make two Petitions of this, and ſo reckon ſeven in the whole; but I ſhall follow thoſe who make it one Petition in two Branches:
1. Negative, Lead us not—
2. Poſitive, But, deliver us from evil.
Explic. [Temptation] The word foreign, and the Latine Tentatio, properly ſignifie a tryal or probation: So the Hebrew word M…ſſa…, Exod. 17. 7. from foreign, which ſignifies to tempt, try, or prove, Deut. 8. 2. 16. But the E…ymologie of the word will not afford us light… enough to underſtand its meaning: Let us therefore conſider the thing it ſelf: We may diſtinguiſh of Temptations two wayes.
1. From the Author, and ſo they are either,
1. Divine, Such as God is Author of, Gen. 22. 1.
2. Humane, ſuch as are managed by men whether toward God, Exod. 17. 7. or men, Luke 10 25. Or,
3. Diabolical, whereof the Devil is Author, 1 Chron. 21. 1. who is called▪ foreign. The Tempter, Matth. 4. 3. 1. Theſſ. 3. 5. Sometimes there may be a concurrence, as 2 Sam. 24. 1. with 1 Chron. 21. 1.
2. From the End; and ſo they are either,
1. Of Tryal or Probation, Deut. 8. 2, 16. Gen. 22. 1. 2 Chron. 32 31. Thus ſometimes our faith and other graces, ſometimes our corruptions are tryed.
2. Of Puniſhment or Correction: ſuch was David's, 2 Sam. 24. 1. and Hezechiah… 2 Chron. 32. 25. with 31.
3. Of Seduction, to draw into ſin: thus properly Sathan tempts: it is his deſign to draw us into ſin; he by the falſe Prophets perſwaded Ahab to run upon his own ruine, 1 Kings 22. 20. and David to number the people, 1 Chron. 21. 1. So he endeavoured to draw our bleſſed Saviour to Unbelief and Covetouſneſs, and unwarrantable attempts, Matth. 4. he is the grand Fowler, layes ſnares, ſtudies the tempers and diſpoſitions of men, that he may fit his baits to their Palats, 1 Pet. 5. 8, 9. In the two former kinds, God hath a hand, but never in the laſt, Jam. 1. 13. God tempteth no man. Which of theſe is here meant, will appear in the Explication of the next words.
[Lead us not] foreign: We are not to underſtand it of any active force or violence; not, as if God conſtrained or compelled us; nor, on the other hand, doth it imply a bare permiſſion; but, according to the three forts of Temptations, it admits a threefold ſenſe.
1. As to the Temptations of tryal or probation: Lead us not—is not, that we ſhould pray ſimply and abſolutely to be kept from them. We may not ſo pray: becauſe ſuch temptations may be, and often are for the great good of thoſe that are ſo tempted, Deut. 8. 16. That he might prove thee to do 1 Pet. 1. 7 Job 23. 10.thee good at thy latter end. How much did Abraham's tryal tend to his advantage, as tending to the improvement of his faith and experience, &c. But the ſenſe (as to thoſe temptations) may be this, Lord, if thou doſt try me by thy Commands or Providences, or any other way; let me not miſcarry under the tryal: let not my corruptions break out, but let my Graces ſhine forth: let the tryal of my faith (or other Graces) though by fire, be found to praiſe and glory and honour at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt: and when I am tryed, let me come forth as Gold. The Reaſon of th… ſenſe is obvious in the connexion of th… parts of the Petition: The l…tter part is limitation or exegetical intimation how … we pray againſt Temptation; viz. not … lutely, but ſo far as it is an evil. Now try als are only evil, ſo far as they draw … corruption, or are occaſions of ſin; an… therefore only ſo far to be prayed againſt.
2. As to the ſecond fort, viz. Tempta… ons of puniſhment or correction, the … may be this: Do not for the puniſhment one ſin, leave us to be tempted to fall … another: It is God's way often to … ſin thus even in his own people; as it apparent in the caſes of David's … the people, and of H…zekiah in the … of the Embaſſedors of the Princes of Babyl… Hoſ. 8. 11. Ephraim made many Altars ſin, and Altars ſhall be unto him to ſin, … I will give him his fill of what he lo… foreign (ſaith the Septuagint) they … be loved by him (a dreadfull judgment … for the puniſhment of ſin God gives us … to love it and delight in it) or as … Verſions read it [erunt ei in delictum] … ſhall be a charge ſtanding againſt him, [in ruinam] for his falling or ſtumblin… that is, They ſhall be ſnares to intrap hi… and draw him into ſin, and ſo into deſt… ction: The ſenſe of the Text ſeems to… this, that as Ephraim had ſinned by Alta… ſo hee ſhould have his fill of them, … would give him up to an inſatiable greedin… after them: This we may and ſhould earneſt… pray againſt, as being the worſt of temp…tions: and this ſenſe fairly correſponds with the former Petition, q. d. Forgive us …ur ſins, and do not puniſh for one ſin by …iving us up to the ſame, or to any other ….
3. As to the third ſort: viz. thoſe of Se…ction, Lead us not—implies more …an a bare permiſſion: for though it is moſt …ertain that God neither ſeduces nor intends … ſeduce any into ſin Jam. 1. 13. yet God … preſent thoſe occaſions (good in them…elves) which may draw out our corrup…ons, and may be ſtones of ſtumbling to us: …o that (as to theſe temptations) the ſenſe … be thus much: O Lord, I beſeech thee either to deliver me over to Sathan and his …nſtruments or my owne heart, to be tempt…d and overcome by them, nor to preſent … my corruptions thoſe things and occaſions which thou knoweſt will draw me into ſin, which will be as ſparks to the tinder, or …tch to the powder, eſpecially when we … in a poſture fit to take fire at them. 'Tis … of Auguſtin, that he uſed to bleſs God …at when he had a heart to ſin, he had no …mptation or occaſion, and when he had a …mptation he had no heart: ſo, we are to … that the fire and Sulphur may be kept …under, left all be in a flame. Add this more … reference to all the kinds of Temptation, …at we are not abſolutely to pray againſt … very temptation, that we may be kept from it; but that we may not be hurt o… overcome by it: To be without Temptation, while on earth, is impoſſible; never to be overcome by temptations is to be deſired, but can ſcarcely be expected; but though we be often tempted, and ſometimes foiled by it, yet that we may finally overcome, that we may not ſo fall by or under a temptation, but that we may riſe again, and recover our ſelves; is, and ſhould be, the requeſt and carneſt Petition of every pious ſoul, in compliance with this: more will be ſaid to this in the Application.
[But deliver us from evill] foreign, Pull or pluck us from it, the word imports ſtrength and violence: 2 Tim. 4. 17. foreign, I was delivered, (violently pulled) out of the mouth of the Lyon: the word may intimate both a forcible holding of us, by ſome external power, and an unwillingneſs in us to come out of temptation without pulling▪ like that Jude 23. foreign pulling them out of the fire with haſte and violence, as being of themſelves unable or unwilling to come out:
[From evil] foreign. Its not worth the enquiring whether it be meant of the1 John 5. 18. Evil one, who is called ſome where foreign to▪ wit the Divel▪ or the evil thing, Sin: both may well be underſtood. Auguſtin underſtands it [de omni malo praeſenti & future] of all evill preſent and future. And in ſo ſhort and comprehenſive a prayer 'tis rational to take the words in their greateſt latitude: yet the evill of puniſhment being deprecated in the former Petition, we may moſt properly underſtand here the evill of ſin, to which …he evill one, Sathan, doth tempt and en…ice us, and eſpecially the malignity of temp…tion, and the poyſon and tincture of it. Now for the Doctrine.
Doctr. 11. To be kept from or delivered out of temptation, and preſerved from the evill of it, is a mercy to be earneſtly beg'd of God by prayer. To enlarge in proof is unneceſſary, we have our Saviour's precept, Matth. 26. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter …ot into temptation, and David's pr…ct…ſe Pſal. 19 13. Keep back thy ſervant from preſump…uous ſins, let them not have dominion over me. A Reaſon or two, will be ſufficient.
1. Reaſ. This is therefore to be prayed for, … having reſpect to, and influence upon, all the foregoing Petitions. Can we ſanctify Gods name while we are under the power of Sathan? Or what more ordinary temptations, doth Sathan manage againſt us, than to diſhonour, blaſpheme, or ſome way or other blemiſh the Name and honour of God? or what greater occaſion have we of hallowing Gods name than when we are kept from, or enabled to withſtand Sathan's temptations? How did God glorify himſelf, by ſupporting and delivering Job, when the Divel was let looſe upon him? Again, When doth Gods Kingdom come, but when we are delivered from Sathans power, who exerts his power mainly by temptations? So that in praying for deliverance from Temptations we pray in effect for the coming of Gods Kingdom. Moreover as to the doing of Gods will, how can it be done while we are led captive by Sathan at his Will? Luk. 1. 75. When we are delivered from the hands of our enemies, then ſhall we ſerve God in righteouſneſs and holyneſs. And as to our dayly bread, and all outward comforts and enjoyments, having beg'd them, what need have we to ſubjoin [and lead us not into temptation?] ſince we find by ſad experience that our corrupt hearts are apt to make them fuel for luſt, and that the D…vel often lies in ambuſh behind our lawful enjoyments, making our Table a ſnare; and that which ſhould be our welfare a trap? Each condition hath its temptations, Prov. 30. 8, 9. we have need therefore to fear and pray againſt them; David and Salomon, and Hezekiah were enſnar'd by proſperity &c. Then, how ſuitably this is ſubjoyned to the foregoing Petition, is eaſily diſcernable; for what good will pardon of ſin paſt do us, without power againſt it for the future? how ſoon ſhall we run upon a new ſcore? when God hath ſaid to the pardoned ſoul (as to the impotent man John 5. 14. when cured) Go thy way, ſin no more leſt a worſe thing come unto thee, what need have we to pray for grace that we may not return to our vomit, that we may be kept back from preſumptuous ſins?
Thus we ſee how neceſſary this Petition is as a ſupplement to all the former.
2. We are therefore to ſeek this mercy at Gods hand by prayer, becauſe, who ever the Inſtrument be, whether man, or Divel, or our own hearts that manage the temptation againſt us, God is the ſuprem orderer of it: he lets out or reſtrains, he enables us to conquer or ſuffers us to be conquered, no temptation befals us, but for the kind, manner, time, and all other circumſtances it is diſpoſed by God: The Divel could not tempt Job, David or Judas without Gods permiſſion or commiſſion, not could he overcome any if God did not in Juſtice leave them in his power. To whom therefore ſhould we addreſs our ſelves in this caſe but to that God who is both able and merciful and faithful? He hath the key of mans heart, and can ſo ſhut and fortify it, that the Divel with all his batteries or flatteries, can make no entrie or impreſſion: Nothing in this caſe can be done without his permiſſion and ordination.
Ʋſe. Pray according to this pattern: Be humbly importunate to be kept, if not from temptations yet, from the evil of them: make this as well as the former Petitions, your earneſt ſuit to God.
Mot. 1. Temptations will certainly and unavoidably come, 'tis impoſſible to be in the world, and not be tempted: he that thinks (if any be ſo ſottiſh to think ſo) that he never was, nor ſhall be tempted, is under the ſaddeſt temptation: Such a ſoul (like the men of Laiſh Judg. 18. 7.) dwels careleſs, quiet, and ſecure, and lies open to invaſion and deſtruction. To pray againſt temptations is not to pray againſt a thing that poſſibly or probably may come, but certainly will come; nay, if thou art an experienced watchful Chriſtian, I doubt not but thou wilt acknowledg that thou art attempted with dayly and hourly temptations; What need then, conſidering thy weakneſs, and corrupt inclinations, dayly to pray this Petition?
2. Then thy temptations become thy ſins when they are not heartily and earneſtly prayed againſt. He that will not open his mouth to call for help, 'tis preſumed is willing to be overcome: Deut. 22. 23, 24. The betrothed D…mſel that is forced in the City, muſt be ſtoned; becauſe it is ſuppoſed ſhee cryed not out for help; and therefore there was, on her part, ſome kind of willingneſs or yielding. We are alwayes, as it were, in the City, that is, within the reach of God; He is alwayes within hearing, Who is our City of refuge; therefore, our not crying for help will be an interpretative willingneſs to be overcome by the Temptation: Nor only when we are actually tempted, but at all times it is needful to pray this Petition; we are never out of harmes way, and commonly never nearer a temptation, than when we think our ſelves furtheſt from it. There is no time when our enemies are at reſt, and therefore we ſhould give God no reſt, but be dayly committing our ſelves to his care and cuſtody: That temptation is either not at all thy ſin▪ or, if thine, nothing ſo hainous, againſt which thou haſt importuned Gods aſſiſtance.
3. Fervent and faithful prayer againſt temptations will either keep them from thee, or thee from the evil of them; 'twill turn that into Phyſick which was intended as poyſon: When a temptation is upon thee, it will either procure a removal of it, or ſufficiency of grace to withſtand and improve it, 2 Cor. 12. 7, 9. How often have the ſaddeſt temptations, when prayed againſt, made way for the ſweeteſt comforts? Even temptations are ſanctified by prayer, and thoſe waters of Marah made wholſome: God never was, never will be, wanting to come in ſeaſonably to their reſſue, who in a deep ſenſe of their own danger and impo…e…cy do inportunately call upon him.
Direct. 1. Underſtand what is included and implyed in this Petition: And here,
1. For acknowledgments; there are implyed eſpecially theſe four things.
1. That we are ſubject to dayly and continual temptations, beſet with ſnares and enemies. The Divel like a roaring Lyon—1 Pet. 5. 8, 9. the world with its fawning flatteries, frowning threats and injuries, entangling cares, and perplexities Luk 21. 34. and our own corruptions Jam. 1. 14. are continually aſſault…ng and enſnaring us. Here we may take up David's words Pſal. 40. 12. Innumerable evils compaſs me about: and many of thoſe paſſages which he uſes in reference to his enemies, we may ſpiritually apply hither. 'Tis eaſy to amplify, in reckoning up the ſeveral ſorts of temptations wherewith our ſelves and others have been aſſaulted, or lie open to, and the great danger we are continually expoſed to; and if Chriſt himſelf was aſſaulted we have no reaſon to expect freedom from them.
2. That God may juſtly leave us to be overcome by them, to fall into, and fall by them: that we have that in us for which God may juſtly give us up, as he did David and H…zekiah. Here again is matter to amplify upon, in confeſſing how often we have given Sathan advantage, by coming upon his ground, by letting down our watch, and laying open our naked breaſts to receive his fiery darts; by quenching Gods Spirit, and yielding to Sathan's injections, by being adventurous and preſumptuous in our own ſtrength: that it might be juſt with God to give us up to one ſin, as a juſt puniſhment for another.
3. That, of our ſelves, we are both unable and unwilling to reſiſt temptation: we may ſay as Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 12. We have no power againſt this great multitude: that our hearts are like tinder, flax, or powder, very fit and combuſtible matter for Sathan's fiery temptations to take hold on; that our earnal minds are ſo ſtrongly inelined, our wills ſo violent and headſtrong, that the leaſt ſpark is enough to ſet on fire the whole courſe of nature: how infinitely may we enlarge here! bewayling that we are ſo wiſe to do evil, ſo eaſily drawn by Sathan, our hearts ſo receptive of his impreſſions; and that when we have once ſuffered our ſelves to be captivated, and our eyes put out, we are ſo far from being able to deliver our ſelves, that we are not willing to be delivered; but rather chooſe to have our eare boared and nayled to Sathans dore, and continue his vaſſails.
4. That the ordering of all Temptations is in Gods hand; that it is in his power to deliver us from, ſupport us under, and carry us thorow, every temptation: which we may alluſively expreſs in the words of Aſa 2 Chron. 14. 11. acknowledging him the God of Salvations, to whom belong the iſſues from Death, Pſal. 68. 20. He having promiſed to tread Sathan under our feet Rom. 16. 20. So that though we have not only fleſh and blood to encounter, but principalities, and powers, the rulers of the darkneſs of this world, and ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places, yet he is far above them in power, having the Divels in a chain, at his beck &c. That though none can deliver out of his hand, yet he can deliver us out of any other's hand whatſoever.
2. The Petitions included (at leaſt the principal of them) take in theſe particulars.
1 In conformity to this Petition, we may pray that (ſo far as it may conſiſt with the will and wiſdom of God, and with our ſpiritual and eternal good) he will keep us from temptations, eſpecially of Puniſhment and Seduction: this we may pray with ſubmiſſion▪ This is the import of that (ſo often mentioned) Petition of Agur, Prov. 30. 8, 9. And what he prayes as to the extreams of riches and poverty, we may apply to other like caſes: as for inſtance: Let me neither have that fulneſs of joy, that may make me wanton, or neglective of duty; nor let me want thoſe neceſſary ſupports and comforts, which may carry me through the many difficulties and diſcouragements, which I am to encounter in my paſſage through the world. We may pray that God will ſo order his providences, ſo diſpenſe or withdraw his bleſſings, as may leaſt tend to draw out our corruptions. This is much of that which is meant by leading into Temptations, viz. ſo ordering his diſpoſals of us, and diſpenſations to us, as that thereby fuel is adminiſtred to our corruptions; this therefore we may pray againſt.
2. That he will tie and limit S…than, if not wholly, yet ſo far, that the precious promiſe 1 Cor. 10. 13. may be made good, viz. that he will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that you are able; And ſo for inward corruptions, and the bait and ſnares of the world, that you may have Intereſt in that ſweet interceſſory Petition of our bleſſed Saviour, John 17. 15. I pray not that thou ſhouldſt take them out of the world, but that thou wouldſt keep them from the evil… that he will ſo reſtrain our enemies, and ſo ſtrengthen and ſortify us, that we may have cauſe to take up that gratulatory Pſalm viz. 124th. that, though Sathan or his Inſtruments may be permitted to make attempts upon us, as Senacherib againſt Judah; and the Syrians againſt Samaria; yet they may have a hook put in their noſthrils, and return with ſhame and diſappointment: in a word; That the wicked one may not touch us in the ſenſe of that Text 1 John 5. 18. that is Letaliter, with a deadly touch, or as ſome [tactu qualitativo] with ſuch a touch as may leave an impreſſion of his owne diveliſh Spirit upon us; ſuch a touch as the needle hath from the Loadſtone.
3. That he will not withdraw from us in our tryals and conflicts; that, if he call us to fight, he will ſtand by and encourage us: To be led into temptation is no great matter, if we be not left in it; and indeed we are never to purpoſe led into it, t…ll we be left in it: till Gód deal with us as with Judas and Saul, ſuffer Sathan to fill our hearts: this therefore we have need to be earneſt for, that, if Sathan muſt winnow us, our Saviour may ſo intercede for us that ourLuk. 22. 31, 32. 2 Cor. 12 9 faith may not fail; if the meſſenger of Sathan muſt buffer us, the grace of God may be ſufficient for us: Though we cannot peremptorily and abſolutely pray for Victory over every temptation, ſince we neither know what God hath decreed, nor how far, a foil for a time may advantage us afterwards.
4. That he will keep us from running our ſelves into temptations: this is both neceſſary in it ſelf, and doubtleſs implyed in this Petition: though there were no outward Tempter, no World or Devil, yet our owne hearts would be, and indeed are, our worſt Tempters, in many caſes our temptations are home-born, though nurſed by Sathan: for Inſtance, when troubles ariſe for the profeſſion of the Truth, and we cannot owne ſome Truth of God but we muſt expoſe our ſelves to hardſhips and ſufferings; how do men act the part of the Tempter upon themſelves? how do our carnal hearts beſpeak us in the language of Peter to our Saviour, Maſter, ſpare thy ſelf, this ſhall not be unto thee? What diſtinctions and evaſions do we ſtudy, to eſcape ſuffering? While we ſhould be ſtudying duty and preparing for danger, we are ſtudying to eſcape the latter, by declining and ſhaking off the former; Like Jonah, when he foreſaw that he was ſent upon a troubleſome and dangerous embaſſy, he out-runs the work to avoid the trouble: Pray then that we may not be left to our ſelves as the Jews Pſam. 81. 11. Then we ſhall be ſure to be our owne Tempters.
5. That in thoſe temptations of probation which himſelf pleaſes to excerciſe us withal, he will enable us to carry as Chriſtians: ſhewing forth our graces, that we may (like Abraham) if tryed, by faith offer up our Iſaacs Hebr. 11. 15. that our patience may ſhine as Job's did through the clouds of temptation and affliction; that we may not ſin with our mouths or charge God fooliſhly. How ſhamefully do we miſcarry when God leaves us, as David and Hezekiah? how ſhall we diſhonour God, blemiſh the Goſpel, cauſe the enemy to blaſpheme through our miſdemeanors; if the Lord, who layes the tryal upon us, do not ſtand by us in it, and teach us how to carry under it? Therefore pray, Lord if thou will prove us, help us that we may approve our ſelves: If thou wilt excerciſe us with Temptations, fortify us with grace, that the iſſue of the tryal may be thy glory, and our comfort: If thou try us by proſperity, keep us humble, and obedient; if by adverſity, keep us from deſpondency, indirect actings, theft, maligning others, &c.
6. That, if in his infinite wiſdom he ſee it good at any time to ſuffer us to be foyled, and leave us to our owne weakneſs for our humiliation, or for other good and gracious ends; he will not leave us wholly and finally, that it may be with us as is propheſyed of Gad Gen. 49. 19. A troop ſhall overcome him, but he ſhall overcome at laſt: That though he chaſten us, he will not give us over to death, but at laſt reſtore to us the joy of his Salvation, and ſtabliſh us with his free Spirit: That, with Sampſon, we may at laſt be avenged of our enemies: that though we fall yet we may not be utterly caſt down, but may be at laſt more then conquerours through him that loved us, and gave himſelf for us.
7. That in ſtead of thoſe things which may proove ſnares and temptations to us, hee would ſo order all his diſpenſations to us as they may incite us to holyneſs, this is the contrary implyed in this Petition: q. d. Lord, in ſtead of Sathan ſtanding at my right hand to tempt me, let me have thy good Spirit alwayes egging and urging me to that which is good; in ſtead of the wicked enticeing or diſcouraging me, let me have thy Saints, by their friendly reproofs, counſels, exhortations and examples, provoking me to holyneſs, let the righteous ſmite me, it ſhall be a kindneſs, and let him reproove me, it ſhall be an excellent oyl which ſhall not break my head Pſal. 141. 5. In ſtead of that meaſure of outwards which may be a ſnare, let me have that which ſhall be a ſpur to piety: In a word, Let me have ſuch Ordinances, ſuch providences, let me be in ſuch company, in ſuch a condition, ſo order all things about me, that thy work within me may go on with power, and all things may concurre and (according to that great promiſe Rom. 8. 28.) work together for my good.
8. That he will appoint a good iſſue of all temptations that befal us according to that promiſe 1 Cor. 10. 13. that he will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that we way be able to bear it, that he will ſo limit our temptations, as to meaſure and continuance, that we be not tempted more or longer than is for our good, and ſo iſſue them at laſt that we may come out as Job, and we may have double at our latter end (as to grace and comfort) to what we had at the beginning; and that at laſt he will ſo deliver us from them, as that we may be ſet out of the reach of them, being tranſlated into that ſtate where Sathan ſhall not be able to tempt us any more: this is the higheſt round of this ladder, and then both parts of the Petition ſhall be fulfilled; then ſhall we be fully delivered from all evil, and ſhall ſoon forget all our ſad conflicts, all our tears, and ſighs, and earneſt cries in the dayes of our fears and temptations, when we have once the Crown of glory ſet upon our heads, and the Palms of Victory put into our hands.
Direct. 2. But then that we may prevailingly pray this Petition our Spirits muſt be ſuited thereunto; we muſt (in this ſenſe) pray with the Spirit, as well as with our Underſtanding: therefore,
1. Come to God under a deep ſenſe, and thorow conviction of our own inability to reſiſt, and propenſity to run into Temptation: as alſo of our ſins for which God might in juſtice leave us, and give us up to it: Oh labour to ſee and feel your ſlavery,Epectet. Enchirid. Cap. 65. how prone you are upon all occaſions, emergencies and providences, to run upon that which tends to your everlaſting ruin; how apt to take every thing (that I may allude to that of the S…o…ck) by the worſe handle, and rather abaſe it toyou… hurt, than improve it for your good: Till our hearts be thus affected, we ſhall never to purpoſe pray this Petition: 'tis not only a ſenſe of miſery, but of our utter inability to help our ſelves, that will open our mouths wide in prayer: Till we ſee our ſelves, as the Iſralites at the Red ſea, ſo ſurrounded, that there is no hope of eſcaping, ſo entangled and fettred that we cannot poſſibly extricate our ſelves, we ſhall never heartily and earneſtly pray. Lead us not into temptation &c.
2. Get your hearts under a perſwaſion of the goodneſs, power, and faithfulneſs of God, and under a firm belief of thoſe many gracious promiſes which hold forth ſuccour, relief and comfort to the tempted: be fully perſwaded, that God both can and will help, ſince he never fayled one way or other to reſcue the ſoul that ſincerely ſought him: That the weakeſt unworthieſt Chriſtian betaking himſelf under his power and protection, ſhall have ſeaſonable ſuccour, and deliverance; to which purpoſe that Pſal. 91. is ſweet and ſuitable both to meditate upon, and to plead with God: This perſwaſion is neceſſary in asking any thing at Gods hand Jam. 1. 6. But I the rather propoſe it here, becauſe under ſome kind of temptations we are ſo averſe to beleeve; ready to ſay, There is no hope, that (as the Eunuchs Iſa. 56. 3.) we are a drie tree, and (as the Iſralites Ezek. 37. 11.) our bones are dried, and our hopes is loſt, and we are cut off for our parts. Which of the Saints have not flag'd and fainted under ſome kind of temptations? read Pſal. 73. 77, 88. 'Tis no eaſy matter to act faith upon the promiſes, when we ſee a contrary ſeries of providences, how hardly was Moſes credited that deliverance was ſo nigh when the bricks were doubled? And at the Red-ſea, how little impreſſion did that word, Stand ſtill and ſee the Salvation of the Lord, probably make upon many of their hearts, when they ſaw nothing but imminent deſtruction before their eyes? But that we may rightly pray for deliverance, when under temptation, we muſt labour to hope againſt hope, and to beleeve light ſhall ariſe when we ſee nothing but darkneſs: Faith in the promiſes exerciſed in prayer is a ſingular means to engage Gods power on our behalfe for our ſupport and deliverance under and from temptations.
3. Get a frame of heart full of holy jealouſy and ſelf-ſuſpicion, fearing and declining occaſions and temptations which lead us into ſin: 'tis a flat contradiction to this Petition duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page when we pray Lead us not—and yet wilfully throw our ſelves into temptation: neither have we a promiſe, or ſcarce a preſident of any preſerved from temptations, which through their own negligence or wilfulneſs they have run upon: 'Tis a good obſervation of one upon that Act. 2. 40. Save our ſelves—That God will not ſave thoſe, that do not endeavour to ſave themſelves. Practiſe up therefore to this Petition; never think or expect that God will give you ſuch a preſervative that ſhall ſecure you from the poyſon of temptation, though you run into any infected and infecting Aire or Company: the precept is, Watch, as well as Pray that you enter not into temptation, Luk. 22. 40. 'Tis in vain to disjoin theſe duties which God hath united: prayer without watching is preſumption, and watching without prayer is ſelf-confidence. Happy and ſafe is that ſoul that ſincerely practiſeth them in conjunction; we muſt as cautelouſly ſhun occaſions, as if all lay upon our care, and yet as earneſtly pray for preſervation, as if all our endeavours were (as indeed they are) nothing at all: Then may we hopefully conclude we ſhall he kept from temptation, when in our utmoſt endeavours to keep our ſelves we intruſt our ſelves in Gods hand, and commit our ſelves to his keeping: With ſuch a frame therefore, muſt we come to God.
4. And (which is common to all the reſt of the Petitions, and therefore I would have you ſubjoin it to each, though I only name it here) with a frame of ſpirit full of hearty deſires towards others: As we ſhould go to God as a common Father, ſo our prayers ſhould be common prayers; others as well as our ſelves ſhould be intereſſed in what we pray for, according to their neceſſities; but of this the Preface gave us occaſion to ſpeak. Thus I have done with the body of this compleat pattern of prayer: there remains only the concluſion, which I ſhall briefly touch upon as having already performed what I mainly intended.