The Silent Soul, Objections · Objection 7
Object. 7. I would bee ſilent, but my outward affliction is attended with ſore temptations; God hath not onelyonly outwardly afflicted mee, but Satan is let looſe to buffet mee; and therefore how can I bee ſilent? how can I hold my peace, now I am fallen under manifold temptations. To this I anſwer.
Firſt, No man is the leſs beloved, becauſe hee is tempted, nay, thoſe that God loves beſt, are uſuallyEph. 6. 12 tempted moſt; witneſs David, Job, Joſhua, Peter, Paul, yea Chriſt himſelf,Matth. 4 who as hee was beloved above all others, ſo hee was tempted above all others; hee was tempted to queſtion his ſonſhip, hee was tempted to the worſt Idolatry, even to worſhip the Devil himſelf; to the greateſt infidelity, to diſtruſt his Fathers providence, and to uſe unlawful means for neceſſary ſupplies; and to ſelf-murder, caſt thy ſelf down, &c. Thoſe that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in Heaven, have been ſorely tempted and aſſaulted; it is as natural and common for the choiceſt Saints to bee tempted, as it is for the Sun to ſhine, the Bird to flye, the Fire to burn. The Eagle complains not of her wings, norI am without ſet upon by all the world, and within, by the Devil and all his Angels, ſaith Luther. the Peacock of his train, nor the Nightingale of h…r voice, becauſe theſe are natural to them; no more ſhould Saints of their temptations, becauſe they are natural to them. Our whole life, ſaith Auſtin, is nothing but a tentation; the beſt men have been worſt tempted; therefore hold thy peace.
Secondly, Temptations reſiſted & bewailed, will never hurt you, nor harm you; diſtaſted temptations ſeldome or never prevail, ſo long as the ſoul diſtaſtes them, and the will remains firmly averſe againſt them, they can do no hurt; ſo long as the language of the ſoul is, Get thee behinde mee Satan, Mat. 16. the ſoul is ſafe; it is not Satans tempting, but my aſſenting, it isHee that can ſay, when hee is tempted as that young convert, ego non ſum ego, is happy enough under all his temptations not his enticing, but my yeelding that miſchiefs mee; temptations may bee troubles to my mind, but they are not ſins upon my ſoul whilſt I am in arms againſt them; if thy heart trembles, and thy fleſh quakes when Satan tempts, thy condition is good enough; if Satans temptations bee thy greateſt afflictions, his temptations ſhall never worſen thee, nor harm thee; and therefore if this bee thy caſe, hold thy peace.
Thirdly, Temptations are rather hopeful evidences that thy eſtate is good, that thou art dear to God, and that it ſhall go well with thee for ever, than otherwiſe. God had but one Son without corruption,Heb. 2. 17, 18 but hee had none without temptation. Pirats make the fierceſt aſſaults upon thoſe veſſels that are moſt richly laden: So doth Satan upon thoſe ſouls that are moſt richly laden with the treaſures of grace, with the riches of glory. Pirats let empty veſſels paſs and repaſs, without aſſaulting them: ſo doth Satan let ſouls that are empty of God, of Chriſt, of the Spirit, of Grace, paſs and repaſs without tempting or aſſaulting of them. When nothing will ſatisfie the ſoul but a full departure out of Egypt, from the bondage and ſlaveryExod. 14. 9 of ſin and that the ſoul is firmly reſolved upon a march for Canaan, then Satan Pharaoh-like, will furiouſly purſue after the ſoul with Horſes and Chariots, that is, with a whole Army of Temptations. Well, a tempted ſoul, whenIſrael going into Egypt, had no oppoſition, but travelling into Canaan, they were never free. it is at worſt with him, may ſafely argue thus, if God were not my friend, Satan would not bee ſo much my enemy; if there were not ſomething of God within mee, Satan would never make ſuch attempts to ſtorm mee; if the love of God were not ſet upon mee, Satan would never ſhoot ſo many fiery darts to wound mee; if the heart of God were not towards mee, the hand of Satan would not bee ſo ſtrong againſt mec. When Beza was tempted, hee made this anſwer, Whatſoever I was, Satan, I am now in Chriſt a new Creature, and that is it which troubles thee; I might have ſo continued long enough ere thou wouldeſt have vexed at it, but now I ſee thou doſt envy mee the grace of my Saviour. Satans malice to tempt is no ſufficient ground for a Chriſtian to diſpute Gods love upon, if it were, there is no Saint on earth that ſhould quietly poſſeſs divine favour, a week, a day, an hour. The Jaylor is quiet, when his priſoner is in bolts, but if hee b…e eſcaped, then hee purſues him with hue and cry; you know how to apply it. Men hate not the picture of a Toad, the Wolf flies not upon a painted Sheep; no more doth Satan upon thoſe he hath in chains; therefore hold thy peace, though thou art inwardly tempted, as well as outwardly afflicted.
Fourthly, Whilſt Satan is temptingRom. 8. 34 1 John 2. 1, 2 Zach. 3. 1, 2, 3 of thee, Chriſt in the Court of glory is interceding for thee, Luk. 22. 31, 32. And the Lord ſaid, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath deſired to have you, that hee may ſift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: Satan would fain have been ſhaking of him up and down, as wheat is ſhaken in a fan, but Chriſts interceſſion fruſtrates Satans deſigned temptations: when ever Satan ſtands at our elbows to tempt us, Chriſt ſtands at his Fathers to intercede for us, Heb. 7. 25. Hee ever lives to make interceſſion. Some of the learned think, that Chriſt intercedes onelyonly by virtue of his merits, others think that it is done onelyonly with his mouth, probably it may bee done both waies, the rather becauſe hee hath a tongue (as alſo a whole glorified body) in Heaven, and is it likely that that mouth which pleaded ſo much for us on earth, ſhould beJoh. 17. altogether ſilent for us in Heaven? Chriſt is a perſon of higheſt honour, hee is the greateſt favourite in the Court of Heaven, hee alwaies ſtands betwixt us and danger, if there bee any evil plotted or deſigned againſt us by Satan (the great accuſer of the brethren) hee foreſees it, and by his interceſſion prevents it. When Satan puts in his pleas, and commences ſute upon ſute againſt us, Chriſt ſtill undertakes our cauſe, hee anſwers all his pleas, and non-ſutes Satan at every turn, and in deſpite of Hell hee keep us up in divine favour; when Satan pleads, Lord here are ſuch and ſuch ſins that thy children have committed, and here are ſuch and ſuch duties that they have omitted, and here are ſuch and ſuch mercies that they have not improved, and here are ſuch and ſuch ordinances that they have ſlighted, and here are ſuch and ſuch motions of the Spirit, that they have quenched: divine Juſtice, anſwers, All this is true; but Chriſt hath appeared on their behalf, hee hath pleaded theirSaith Chriſt, Lord, here is wiſdome for their folly, humility for their pride, heavenlineſs for their earthlineſs, holineſs for their wickedneſs, &c. cauſe, hee hath fully and fairly anſwered whatever hath been objected, and given compleat ſatisfaction to the utmoſt farthing: So that there is no accuſation nor condemnation that can ſtand in force againſt them; upon which account the Apoſtle triumphs in that, Rom. 8. 34. Who is hee that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died, yea rather, that is riſen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſſion for us. Chriſts interceſſion ſhould bee the ſouls Anchor-hold in time of temptation; in the day of thy temptation thou needeſt not be diſturbed nor diſquieted, but in peace and patience poſſeſs thine own ſoul, conſidering what a friend thou haſt in the Court of glory, and how hee is moſt active for thee, when Satan is moſt buſie in tempting of thee.
Fifthly and Laſtly, All temptations that the Saints meet with, ſhall work much for their good, they ſhall bee much for their gain, the profit and advantage that will redound to tempted ſouls by all their temptations, is very great; now this will appear to bee a moſtRom. 8. 28 Jam. 1. 12. certain truth, by an induction of particulars, thus:
Firſt, By temptations God multiplies and encreaſes his childrens ſpiritual experiences; the encreaſe of which is better than the encreaſeRom 5. 3, 4 Frequent engagements add to the ſouldiers skill, and much encreaſe his experiences. of gold; in the ſchool of temptation God gives his children the greateſt experience of his power ſupporting them, of his word comforting of them, of his mercy warming of them, of his wiſdome counſelling of them, of his faithfulneſs joying of them, and of his grace ſtrengthening of them, 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace ſhall bee ſufficient for thee. Paul never experienced ſo deeply what Almighty power was, what the everlaſting arms of mercy were, and what infinite grace and goodneſs, as when hee was under the buffetings of Satan.
Secondly, All their temptations ſhall bee phyſical, their temptations ſhall bee happy preventions of great abominations, 2 Cor. 12. 7. Leſt I ſhould bee exalted, lest I Thoſe ſouldiers that are moſt in fighting, are leaſt in ſinning, and moſt free from diſeaſes.ſhould bee exalted, it is twice in that one verſe, hee begins with it, and hee ends with it; if hee had not been buffeted, hee might have been more highly exalted in his own conceit, than hee was before in his exſtacie. Ah tempted ſouls! you ſay you are naught, very naught, but had it not been for the ſchool of temptation, you might have been ſtark naught before this time; you ſay you are ſick, you are even ſick to death, why your ſickneſſe had before this time killed you, had not temptations been phyſical to you; you are bad under temptation, but doubtleſs you would have been much worſe, had not God made temptation a diet-drink to you.
Thirdly, Temptations ſhall much promote the exerciſe of grace, as the ſpring in the watch ſets all the wheels a going; and as Solomons virtuous woman ſet all herProv. 30. 10,—ult. 1 Pet. 1. 6, 7 maidens to work: So temptation ſets faith on work, and love on work, and repentance on work, and hope on work, and holy fear on work, and godly ſorrow on work.Tapers burn cleareſt in the dark. As the wind ſets the Mill at work, ſo the wind of temptation ſets the graces of the Saints a going; now faith runs to Chriſt, now it hugs a promiſe, now it pleads the blood of Chriſt, now it looks to the recompence of reward, now it takes the ſword of the Spirit, &c. nowCant. 3. 6, 7 love cleaves to Chriſt, now love hangs upon Chriſt, now love will fight it out to the death for Chriſt, now hope flies to the horns of the Sanctuary, now hope puts on her helmet, now hope caſts her anchor upon that within the veil, &c.Heb. 6. 19 Grace is never more acted, than when a Chriſtian is moſt tempted. Satan made a bow of Jobs wife (of his Rib, as Chryſoſtome ſpeaks) and ſhot a tentation by her at Job, thinking to have ſhot him to the heart, curſe God and dye, but the activity of Jobs graces was a breaſtplate that made him temptationproof; the Devil tempting Bonaventure, told him hee was a reprobate, and therefore perſwaded him to drink in the preſent pleaſures of this life (for ſaith hee) thou art excluded from the future joyes with God in Heaven (Bonaventures graces being active) hee anſwers, no, not ſo Satan, if I muſt not enjoy God after this life, let mee enjoy him as much as I can in this life.
Fourthly, By temptations the Lord will make you the more ſerviceable and uſefu to others; none ſo fit and able to relieve temptedThe skilfuleſt commanders and leaders are of greateſt ſervice and uſe to the ſouldiers. ſouls, to ſympathize with tempted ſouls, to ſuccour tempted ſouls, to counſel tempted ſouls, to pitty tempted ſouls, to ſupport tempted ſouls, to bear with tempted ſouls, and to comfort tempted ſouls, as thoſe who have been in the ſchool of temptations, 2 Cor. 1. 3, 4. Bleſſed bee God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith wee our ſelves are comforted of God. By temptations God trains up his ſervants, and fits and capacitates them to ſuccour and ſhelter their fellow brethren. One tempted Chriſtian, ſaith Luther, isLuther in Gen. 27. Rev. 2. 24 more profitable and uſeful to other Chriſtians, than a hundred (I may add, than a thouſand) that have not known the depths of Satan, that have not been in the ſchool of temptation; hee that is Maſter of Arts in the ſchool of temptation, hath learned an Art to comfort, to ſuccour, and gently to handle tempted and diſtreſſed ſouls, infinitely beyond what all humane Arts can reach unto; no Doctor to him that hath been a Doctor in the ſchool of temptation, all other Doctors are but illiterate dunces to him.
Fifthly, It is an honour to the Saints to bee tempted, and in the iſſue to have an honourable conqueſt ever the tempter; it was a great honour to David, that hee ſhould be put to fight hand to hand1 Sam. 17. with Goliah, and in the iſſue to overcome him; but it was a far …ter honour to Job and Paul, Job 1. 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9, 10that they ſhould bee put to combate in the open field with Satan himſelf, and in the cloſe to gain a famous conqueſt over him, as they did; it was a very great honour to2 Sam. 23. 13,—18. Davids three mighty men▪ that in jeopardy of their lives they brake thorow the hoſt of the Philiſtines, to bring water to David out of the well of Beth-lehem, and did effect it in ſpite of all the ſtrength and power of their enemies, though it were to the extreameſt hazard of their blood and lives; but it is a far greater honour to the Saints to bee furniſhed with a ſpirit ofRom. 8. 35,—ult. 1 John 1. 3, 4 ſtrength, courage, and valour, to break thorow an army of temptations, and in the cloſe … triumph over them, and yet this honour have all the Saints, 1 Cor. 10. 13. But God is faithful, who will not ſuffer you to bee tempted above that yee are able; but will, with the temptation, alſo make a way to eſcape, that yee may bee able to bear it. Rom. 16. 20. And the God of peace ſhall tread Satan under your feet ſhortly. 1 John 2. 13, 14. I write unto you Fathers, becauſe yee have known him that is from the beginning; I write unto young men, becauſe you have overcome the wicked one; I write unto you children, becauſe yee have known the Father; I have written unto you Fathers, becauſe yee have known him that is from the beginning; I have written unto you young men, becauſe yee are ſtrong, and the word of God abideth in you, and yee have overcome the wicked one, 1 John 5. 18. Wee know that whoſoever is born of God ſinneth not (that is, that ſin that is unto death, verſ. 16. nor hee ſinneth not as other men do, delightfully, greedily, cuſtomarily, reſolvedly, impenitently, &c.) but hee that is begotten of God keepeth himſelf, and that wicked one toucheth him not. The gloriousExod. 14. victory that the people of God had over Pharaoh, and his great Hoſt, was a figure of the glorious victory that the Saints ſhall obtain over Satan and his inſtruments, which is clear from that, Rev. 15. 3. Where wee have the ſong of Moſes, and of the Lamb; but why the ſong of Moſes, and of the Lamb? but to hint this to us, that the overthrow of Pharaoh was a figure of the overthrow of Satan, and the triumphal ſong of Moſes was a figure of that ſong which the Saints ſhall ſing for their overthrow of Satan. As certainly as Iſrael overcame Pharaoh, ſo certainly ſhall every true Iſraelite overcome Satan. The Romans were worſted in many fights, but were never overcome in a ſet war, at the long run they overcame all their enemies; though a Chriſtian may bee worſted by Satan in ſome particular skirmiſhes, yet at the long run hee is ſure of an honourable conqueſt. God puts a great deal of honour upon a poor ſoul, when hee brings him into the open field to ſight it ou… with Satan▪ by fighting hee overcomes, hee gains the victory, hee triumphs over Satan, and leads captivity captive. Auguſtine gives this reaſon why God permitted Adam at firſt to be tempted, viz. that hee might have had the more glory in reſiſting and withſtanding Satans temptation; it is the glory of a Chriſtian to bee made ſtrong to reſiſt, and to have his reſiſtance crowned with a happy conqueſt.
Sixthly, By temptations the Lord will make his people more frequent and more abundant in the work of prayer; every temptation proves a ſtrong alarm to prayer. When Paul was in the ſchool of temptation, hee prayed2 Cor. 12. 8, 9 thrice, that is, often; daies of temptation, are daies of great ſupplication. Chriſtians uſually pray moſt, when they are tempted moſt; they are moſt buſie with God, when Satan is moſt buſie with them; a Chriſtian is moſt upon his knees, when Satan ſtands moſt at his elbow.
Auguſtine was a man much tempted,So Bernard, Baſil, G…rgonia, Trucilla, James, Jacob, Daniel. and a man much in prayer; holy prayer, ſaith hee, is a ſhelter to the ſoul, a ſacrifice to God, and a ſcourge to the Devil.
Luther was a man under manifold temptations, and a man much in prayer; hee is ſaid to have ſpent three hours every day in prayer, hee uſed to ſay, that prayer was the beſt book in his ſtudy.
Chryſoſtome was much in the ſchool of temptation, and delighted much in prayer; Oh! ſaith hee, it is more bitter than death to bee ſpoiled of prayer, and hereupon (as hee obſerves) Daniel choſe rather to run the hazard of his life, than to loſe his prayer. But
Seventhly, By temptations the Lord will make his people more and more conformable to the Image of his Son. Chriſt was muchLuk. 4, tempted, hee was often in the ſchool of temptation; and the more a Chriſtian is tempted, the more into the likeneſs of Chriſt hee will bee transformed▪ of all men in the world; tem…ted ſouls do moſt reſemble Chriſt to the life, in meekneſs, low lineſs, holineſs, heavenlineſs, &c. The Image of Chriſt is moſt fairly ſtampt upon temptedHeb. 12. 1, 2 2 Cor. 3. 18. Heb. 2. 17, 18 ſouls; tempted ſouls are much in looking up to Jeſus, and every gracious look upon Chriſt changes the ſoul more and more into the Image of Chriſt; tempted ſouls experience much of the ſuccourings of Chriſt, and the more they experience the ſweet of the ſuccourings of Chriſt, the more they grow up into the likeneſs of Chriſt; temptations are the tools by which the Father of ſpirits doth more and more carve, form and faſhion his precious Saints into the ſimilitude and likeneſs of his deareſt Son.
Eighthly and laſtly, (Take many things in one) God by temptations makes ſin more hateful, and the world leſs delightful, and relations leſs hurtful: by temptations God diſcovers to us our own weakneſs, and the creatures inſufficiency1 Pet. 5. 8 in the hour of temptation to help us, or ſuccour us; by temptations God will brighten our ChriſtianEpheſ. 6. 10,—18 Armour, and make us ſtand more upon our Chriſtian watch, and keep us cloſer to a ſuccouring Chriſt; by temptations the Lord will make his ordinances to bee more highly prized, and Heaven to be more earneſtly deſired. Now, ſeeing2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3. that temptations ſhall work ſo eminently for the Saints good, why ſhould not Chriſtians bee mute and ſilent? why ſhould they not hold their peace, and lay their hands upon their mouths, though their afflictions are attended with great temptations?