Spiritual Wisdom Improved Against Temptation, Sermon
EPHES. 5.15, 16.
See then that ye walk circumſpectly, not as fools but as wiſe: Redeeming the time becauſe the days are evill.
TO be good at all times is a Chriſtians duty, but to be good in bad times is a Chriſtians glory; to be a Lot in Sodom, a Job in the land of Ʋz, a Saint in Nero's houſe;Phil. 2.15. To be blameleſs and harmleſs, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe nation, this is the credit of a Chriſtian profeſſion. Bad times and bad manners too often corrupt good men. Peter was very zealous for Chriſt among the Diſciples, but when he had been a but while in the High Prieſts hall, how doth he then deny Chriſt!
Joſeph had been but a while at Court, and he had learned the Court-oath, to ſwear by the life of Pharoah: The Iſraelites were no ſooner mingled with the Heathen, but they forthwith bow and ſacrifice to their gods: They were mingled among the Heathen, and learned their works, and they ſerved their Idols, pſal. 106.35.36.
— Grex totus in agris
Ʋnius ſcabie cadit,Iuvenal. & porrigine porci.
The Apoſtle Engliſhes it, 1 Cor. 15.33. Evill communications corrupt good manners. Sin is of a very leavening nature, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, Deut. 7.…, …, ….Gal. 5.9. And therefore it is that God commands Iſrael at their entring into Canaan, utterly to deſtroy all the Nations, to make no covenant, nor to marry with them; why? leſt they ſhould learn their manners and their cuſtoms.
And this was the reaſon of this Apoſtolical Suada, or Exhortation in the Text to the Church of Epheſus, to walk circumſpectly.
This Epheſus was the Metropolis and cheif City in Aſia minor: A City much given to ſuperſtition and Idolatry;Acts 15.27. there was the Temple of the great Goddeſs Diana: A City where the preaching and profeſſing the Goſpel was much perſecuted;1 Cor. 1….32. and therefore the Apoſtle Paul ſaith, He fought with beaſts at Epheſus.
Now what with ſuperſtition among them, and perſecution upon them, the days were very evil, and hence he gives them this counſel in the Text; See then that ye walk circumſpectly, not as fools but as wiſe; redeeming the time becauſe the days are evil.
The words have in them four parts.
Firſt, A great duty enjoyned, See that ye walk circumſpectly.
Secondly, The injunction explained, Not as fools, but as wiſe.
Thirdly, The explanation amplified, Redeeming the time.
Fourthly, The reaſon of all urged, Becauſe the days are evill.
The firſt general, viz. the injunction of a duty, we have already ſpoken to, and are come to the ſecond General, viz.
The explanation of the injunction, which ſets out to us the manner of this circumſpect walling, and that both negatively and affirmatively.
Negatively, not as fools.
Affirmatively, but as wiſe.
This negative caution which the Apoſtle gives Chriſtians, not to walk as fools, doth imply in it this affirmative concluſion.
That there are many Profeſſors of Religion are fools in their profeſſion. Doctr.
This I have ſpoken too at large; and am now upon the explanation of the injunction, as wiſe; from whence we laid down this aſſertion,
That it is the Chriſtians duty to walk wiſely. Doctr.
I have explained the term, what it is to walk wiſely.
I have confirmed the point, that it is the Chriſtians duty.
I have given you the properties of this ſpiritual wiſdom.
The fourth thing is to ſhew you when this ſpiritual wiſdom is in ſeaſon.
Anſw. At all times, ſpiritual wiſdom is never out of ſeaſon;Eccleſ. 3.1. Solomon ſays, There is a ſeaſon to every thing, and a time to every purpoſe under heaven.
Yet there are two things he allots no time for, for ſin and for holineſs: He doth not ſay There is a time to ſin, becauſe there is no time for that; he doth not ſay There is a time to ſerve God, and be holy, and wiſe to ſalvation, becauſe all …me is for that. Holineſs and ſpiritual wiſdom is always in ſeaſon.
But yet there are four peculiar ſeaſons of this walking wiſely.
In times of outward proſperity.
In times of outward trouble and affliction.
In times of temptation.
In times of ſpiritual deſertion.
Where the wiſdom of walking in proſperity lieth, I have ſhewed you already in five things. Where the wiſdom of walking in affliction lieth, I have ſhewed you in Twelve things.
Now in the third place, I ſhall ſhew you that it is the Chriſtians duty to walk wiſely in times of temptation. And then ſhew you wherein the wiſdom of walking in temptation lieth.
That it is the Chriſtians duty to walk wiſely in time of temptation: Chriſtian wiſdom is never more neceſſary then when we are aſſaulted by that cunning adverſary.
To clear this, I ſhall lay down ſeven gradual concluſions.
1. That the Saints of God are very incident to temptations from Satan; theſe are the Butts the Devil ſhoots the arrows of his rage againſt; the pyrate doth not aſſault the empty ſhip, nor the theif break open the poor mans cottage; but where the prize is, there the onſet is.
Grace will keep us from ſinning in temptation, but it will not keep us from ſufferings under temptation. Chriſt was made like to us that he might be tempted, and we are tempted that we may be made like to Chriſt.
The more a man is renewed and ſanctified, the more is he tryed and buffetted; the more God hath done for him, the more will Satan do againſt him; The more God encreaſeth his grace, the more Satan diſturbeth his peace.
Nay immediately upon the greateſt diſcovery from God, the Saints have the ſoareſt batteries from Satan; When God diſcovers moſt of his love to us, Satan will then diſcover moſt of his rage againſt ns; if Chriſt doth but take us into the banquetting-houſe, Cant. 2.4.Satan will preſently lead us into the wilderneſs.
Paul was no ſooner come down out of the higheſt heaven, but he is ſtraight way ſet upon by an enemy from the loweſt hell. He had no ſooner received abundance of revelations to comfort him,Cor. 12.…, 7. but the next news is a Meſſenger of Satan to buffet him. After that glorious revelation he falleth into a grievous temptation, inſomuch that the joy of his ſpirit was much abated by the thorn in the fleſh.
Thus it was with the Lord Chriſt himſelf; he no ſooner heareth the voyce of God from Heaven, ſaying This is my belóved ſon, but immediately the ſpirit from hell cometh and queſtioneth his Sonſhip;Matth. 3. 16. c…mp. with Mat. 401. he was no ſooner gone up out of the water where he was baptized, but he is forthwith lead up into the wilderneſs to be tempted.
And if he did thus to the green tree, what will he not do to the dry? So that it is clear, that the Saints of God are very incident to temptations from Satan.
Secondly,Pſ. 119.117. and 17.5 Man is very weak at beſt to withſtand temptation when it is leaſt. So long as God holdeth us up we cannot fall; but if God giveth us up, we cannot ſtand. It is mans weakneſs to preſume upon his own ſtrength, when as his beſt ſtrength is but weakneſs.
Peter promiſes not to leave Chriſt; but when the temptation cometh then he leaveth his promiſe. To perſiſt in duties of ſanctification, and to reſiſt in caſes of temptation, both theſe are mans work to do, but we muſt have Gods ſtrength to do them. How vain is man to think himſelf any thing, when without Chriſt he can do nothing!Ioh. 15.….
Thirdly, We have in our natures much for temptation to work upon: Our corrupt hearts are like tinder, apt to take when the Devil ſtriketh fire. He that promiſeth himſelf that the frame of his heart will be the ſame under a temptation as it was before, may as well promiſe himſelf that though he fall into the water, he ſhall be dry, becauſe whilſt he was upon the ſhoar he was not wet.
It is not with Chriſtians as it was with Chriſt; when Satan came to tempt him, he found nothing in him, no carnal principles, no ſecret luſt, no corrupt matter to faſten his temptations upon. The Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me, Joh. 14.30.
But it is otherwiſe with Chriſtians: Satan hath for the compaſſing his ends a ſure party in our own boſom: When Satan beleagureth us without, ſin is ready to betray us within. A mans enemies are they of his own houſe.
Chriſt had onelyonly the ſuffering part of temptation when he entred into it, but we have alſo the finning part of it. Though when Satan came to Chriſt, he found nothing in him; yet when he comes to Chriſtians, he findes much in them.
Though Beleevers are not in ſin, yet there is ſin in Beleevers; much luſt remaineth in the Beſt. Where grace is, it deſtroyeth ſins power, but it doth not deſtroy its preſence. Though we are ſanctified in every part,Cor. 13.1…. yet we are ſanctified but in part. Though Regeneration taketh much ſin out of us, yet Temptation findeth much ſin ſtill in us. There is much for temptation to work upon, and therefore we have need to walk wiſely in temptation.
Fourthly, Satan with great cunning ſuiteth his temptations to mans nature and diſpoſition; as he hath great malice, as being a Devil, ſo he hath great knowledge, as being an Angel; and as his knowledge is great by intelligence, ſo it is heightned by experience. For he hath been trading with ſouls well nigh Six thouſand years. He doth not love to ſail againſt the wind, nor row againſt the tide; he ſuits the temptation without us to the luſts and corruption within us, and ſo hath winde and tide with him. If he meet vvith Peter, he dealeth vvith his carnal fear, vvith Davids luſt, vvith Jonahs paſſion, vvith Diotrephes his ambition.
Oh hovv vviſely doth it behove us to vvalk in temptations!
Fifthly, As all Saints are tempted to commit ſin, ſo many commit the ſin to which they are tempted: As Satan is alvvays very treacherous, ſo he is often very proſperous. He cannot make us fail finally, but yet he maketh us fall free-quently: He doth often bruiſe our heel, though he cannot break our head. He blovveth the coals of luſt in David, and hovv quickly doth it flame in Adultery and Murder! Though Satan cannot break our backs, yet he may break our bones, and ſend us halting to our graves; and therefore vve had need vvalk vviſely in temptation.
Sixthly, A man may withſtand a temptation at one-time, and yet fall under the ſame temptation at another: For the influences of grace may be more at one time, and leſs at another; a mans own heart may be in a watchful frame at one time, and in a ſleepy, carnal frame at another; and Satan then cometh ſooneſt when the heart is ſecureſt.Mark. 13.37. It is the beleevers duty to watch always, but the beleever is not always in that duty.
Now if Satan cometh once and findeth him watching, he will go and come again when he may find him ſleeping.
Satan is not for ever conquered, becauſe he is once reſiſted; What he faileth in at one time, he attempteth at another. When he left Chriſt, it was with an intent to come again, Luk. 4.13. when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him, for how long? for a ſeaſon; foreign, untill another opportunity; for he ſet upon him again, Joh. 14.30.
We ſhall never be out of Satans reach, till we come into the boſom of Jeſus Chriſt.
As Chriſt ſometimes leaveth us, and then returneth again; ſo doth Satan. Chriſt leaveth us to make us act grace, and walk more ſtrictly; Satan leaveth us to make us lay aſide grace and walk more remiſly.
When Chriſt departs, we are apt to be caſt down, and to ſay We ſhall never ſee comfort; When Satan departs, we are apt to be lifted up and to ſay, We ſhall never ſee trouble. When as both withdraw, to return again; Chriſt withdraws that he may return with the greater mercy, and Satan withdraws that he may return with the greater fury.
7. In every temptation the ſoul runs a great hazard of eternal deſtruction: The deſign of the Tempter is the ruine of the Beleever: As the deſign of Chriſt in regeneration is to ſave the ſoul: ſo the deſign of Satan in temptation is to deſtroy it. Our bleſſed Redeemer would fane make us as happy as himſelf in heaven; and this curſed Tempter ſhould fain make us as miſerable as himſelf in hell. He that kept not his own ſtation, Iude v. 6.grudgeth us ours; it is matter of his envy that we ſhould poſſeſs that habitation which he ſo ſinfully left; and therefore his work on earth is to hinder vsus in our working for heaven. He envieth us everlaſting crowns of Righteouſneſs, when he himſelf lieth in everlaſting chains of darkneſs; and therefore he would fane defile us here, that ſo he might deſtroy us for ever.
Surely therefore if at all times a Chriſtian ſhould walk wiſely, then in time of temptation more oſpecially.
Query, But you will ſay, Where lieth the wiſdom of walking in a time of temptation? Suppoſe I am much exerciſed with temptations of ſeveral kinds, wherein doth the wiſdom of walking conſiſt at ſuch a time?
I ſhall anſwer the Queſtion in thirteen particulars.
1. In ſubmitting to the will of God in temptation. There is no tempration befalleth us but it is according to the will of God: God willeth our trials, that he may try our wills, whether they will how to his will or no: A Chriſtian ſhould ſay the will of the Lord be done, Act. 21.14.though he be undone; much more he ſhould be contented when it is the will of God he ſhould be tried.
God ordereth, and diſpoſeth, and timeth all our temptations: Satan cannot do what he pleaſeth, but what God pleaſeth.
He had not power to touch Job till God gave him leave;Iob. 1.12. and when he had power he could go no further then the wiſe God gave him order. In temptation it is not what Satan will, but what God will.
Yet how frowardly do many of the children of God carry themſelves in temptation, ſpeaking hardly of God, as if he had forſook them, becauſe he ſuffers Satan to buffet them?
Now then, if I ſubmit to the will of God in temptation, and ſay, Although I could rejoyce to be rid of this temptation, yet it is not fit I ſhould chuſe my condition, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
2. In diſclaiming ſelf-confidence, and not truſting to our own ſtrength: Self-confidence uſually meeteth with ſome ſad miſcarriage for its recompence. Satan deſires no greater advantage againſt us, then to find us in our own ſtrength when he cometh to aſſault us. Solomon ſaith, He that truſts in his own heart, is a fool; Why a fool?Pro. 28.26 becauſe he is ſure to be deceived. So fooliſh was Peter; Though all men forſake thee, Mat. 26.33.yet will not I. What? deny my Maſter the Son of God, my Redeemer! What deny the bleſſed Jeſus? Thou art Chriſt the Son of the living God; and therefore though I die, though I ſhould die with thee, & 16.16.yet will I not deny thee; and yet who forſook Chriſt ſo ſadly as Peter? & 26.35.he doth only forſake him, but forſwear him.
The ſtrength of a Beleever lieth not in himſelf but in his Saviour; God can overcome Satan without our hands, but we cannot ſo much as defend our ſelves without his arm: He can do all things without us, we can do nothing without him.18 am. 15.29. He is the ſtrength of Iſrael.
And therefore when the Apoſtle layeth down directions for the withſtanding temptations, he giveth this as his firſt counſel, Be strong in the Lord, Eph. 6.10.and in the power of his might; Gods power is greater to help us, then Satans is to hurt us: As without Gods leave he cannot tempt us; ſo when he doth tempt, God vvill not leave us; vvhen Satan doth his vvorſt to throvv us dovvn, God vvill do his beſt to make us ſtand: As we are kept by the power of God to ſalvation; 1 Pet. 1.5.ſo vve are kept by the povver of God from temptation.
Novv then, if in temptation I diſclaim ſelf-confidence, and reſt upon divine omnipotence, if I ceaſe from my own ſtrength, and rely upon the ſtrength of God, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
3. In diſtinguiſhing between temptations from God and Satan. Sometimes God tempteth, and ſometimes Satan; God tempteth for good ends, Satan for evil ends. God tempteth to try grace, Deut. 13.3. The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart.
Thus it is ſaid, God tempted Abraham, Gen. 22.1. It was to try his faith and obedience.
Thus he tempted Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32.31. God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
But Satan tempteth to deſtroy grace, not to try it.
As the deſign of temptation is the ruine of grace, ſo God is ſaid to tempt no man.Ian. 1.13.
But as the deſign of temptation is the tryal of grace, ſo God tempteth every man.1 Pet. 1.97
God tempteth for probation, Satan for reprobation; God when he tempteth, cometh with his fan, to fan out the chaff and the rubbiſh,Mat. 1.12. but to keep in and preſerve the wheat; but Satan when he tempteth, cometh with his ſieve, Luc. 22.31to let out the wheat, but to keep in the rubbiſh: The fan caſteth out the worſt and keepeth in the beſt; but the ſieve keepeth in the worſt, and caſteth out the beſt. So God by his temptations purgeth corruption out of us, and nouriſheth grace in us: But Satan by his temptations laboureth to confirm ſin, and weaken grace.
God tempteth becauſe he would have us ſtand, Satan tempteth to make us fall: God tempteth to purge out ſin, that when Satan tempteth he may not take advantage againſtus by our ſin; God tempteth to cleanſe corruption out of us,Ioh. 14.10 that ſo when Satan cometh he may finde nothing in us; God tempteth us becauſe he loveth us; Satan tempteth becauſe he hateth us: God tempteth to make us like Chriſt; Satan tempteth to make us leave Chriſt.
Now then, if I diſtinguiſh aright between temptations from God, and temptations from Satan; between thoſe that are only to try grace, and thoſe that are to deſtroy grace; that I may improve the former, and reſiſt the latter, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
4. It is wiſdom not to bring our own reaſon to the temptation, but to bring the temptation to the blood of Chriſt. Vain man thinketh in the ſtrength of his own reaſon to out-argue the Tempter; this is to ſhoot with Satan in his own bow. To argue with him is as the proverb hath it, To light a candle to the Devil.
Yet how ready are we to parly with him! when he knocks at the door, how apt are we to look out at the window!
Eve ventureth to treat with him about the forbidden fruit, and from treating ſhe falls to eating,Pro. 6.27.28. to the ruine of a whole world at once. Can a man take fire in his boſom, and his cloaths not be burnt? Can he go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned?
Reaſon is but a carnal weapon, but our enemy is ſpiritual;Eph 6.12 and therefore the weapons of our warfare muſt not be carnal; 2 Cor. 10.4he muſt be ſpiritually ſubdued: The blood of Chriſt can quench temptation, Reaſon cannot. Satan ſaith to carnal Reaſon, as the evil ſpirit did to Sceva's ſons, Jeſus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? and it leaped upon them and overcame them.Act. 19.14; 15, 16.
Bring Reaſon to a temptation, and it beareth down that; but bring a temptation to the blood of Chriſt, and it cannot ſtand before that.
Now then if I oppoſe not temptations by my own Reaſon, but bring them to the blood of Chriſt to extinguiſh them, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
5. It is wiſdom to lay in proviſion in time of temptation; To ſtore the heart with ſomewhat that may keep temptation out. There is Goſpel proviſion, which if laid up in the heart, will keep our all temptation from entring to hurt;Mat. 26.… and that is the ſence of the love of God in Chriſt. Though we be under temptation, yet this will keep us from entring into temptation.
senſe of the love of God in Chriſt doth conſtrain grace, and reſtrain ſin; it ſtrengthens the new man, and weakens the old; and there temptation never proſpereth, where grace flouriſheth, and ſin withereth.
Now then, If I lay in ſuitable proviſion in time of temptation, that may be a help to preſerve me when Satan doth aſſault me, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
6. The wiſdom of walking in temptation lieth in fighting Satan with Scripture weapons. There is not a temptation of Satan which the word doth not arm you againſt.
It is ſtoried that a certain Jew ſhould have poyſoned Luther, but was prevented by his picture which was ſent to Luther with a warning from a faithful friend, that he ſhould take heed of ſuch a man when he ſaw him; by which means Luther knew the murderer, and prevented the deſign.
The Scripture doth not only warn us, and ſhew us the face of thoſe luſts, which Satan worketh by to deſtroy us, but it armeth us againſt them: Satan is never ſo worſted as when Scripture weapons are uſed: Thoſe ſhafts ſtrike Satan to the quick that are taken out of Gods quiver.1 Sam. 17.40, 9. David with ſtones out of the Brook ſlays Goliah, that enemy of Iſrael; ſo with ſtones out of the Brook of Scripture may we conquer this enemy of God and ſouls.
When the Lord Chriſt was forty days together combating with Satan,Luk. …. he uſeth onelyonly Scripture arguments.
When he tempts him to turn ſtones into bread, Chriſt anſwers him with Scripture, It is written, Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, Mat. 4.4.
When he tempts him to caſt himſelf down from the pinacle of the Temple, Chriſt urgeth Scripture again, It is written, Thon ſhalt not tempt the Lord thy God, verſ. 7.
And ſo when he tempteth him to worſhip him, ſtill Chriſt oppoſeth Scripture to the Tempter. It is written, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerve, verſ. 10.
Thus the Lord Chriſt fetcheth arguments out of Scripture, and with theſe puts to flight the Tempter.
The word of God hath a power in it to quaſh all Satans temptations; do but oppoſe his aſſaults with Scripture commands, and he will never be able to ſtand. And therefore the Apoſtle giveth good advice in this very caſe of oppoſing Satan, Epheſ. 6.17. Take the ſword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
So that if in temptation I oppoſe Satan with scripture weapons, if I urge scripture injunctions againſt the ſerpents ſuggeſtions, and ſo ſet Gods wiſdom againſt Satans cunning, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
7. It is wiſdom to look upon temptation as broken and overcome in Chriſt, and to conſider Satan as a conquered enemy: This will not make us the leſs careful, but the leſs fearful: All the temptations that befal the people of God, are already overcome in Chriſt; For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.5.
The Lord Chriſt was a common perſon, and that not only in his death, but in his life; Chriſt was not born for himſelf, but for us;Iſa. 9.6. To us a child is born, to us a ſon is given. Rom. 5.19. Gal. 3.13.He did not obey for himſelf but for us; By the obedience of one ſhall many be made righteous. He did not dye and ſuffer for himſelf but for us; He was made a curſe for us.
Whatever evil Chriſt did undergo, he underwent it for us; he was tempted for us, he broke Satans head for us. As when Adam was tempted, he being a common perſon, we were all tempted in him, and he falling in the temptation, we fell in him. Omnes er amus ille unus homo. So when the Lord Chriſt lived in the world, and was tempted by Satan, we were tempted in him, and when he conquered, we conquered in him; ſo that we are more then conquerors through him that loved us, Rom. 8.37. Satan now through the victory of the croſs is a conquered enemy: He fights againſt the members of Chriſt with broken weapons; for the Captain of our ſalvation hath ſpoiled Principalities and powers.Col 2.15.
So that if I look upon temptation as broken, and Satans power as ſpoiled and overcome by the death and croſs of Chriſt, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
8. If the temptation travel with a dilemma or difficulty on each hand, and the Chriſtian chuſeth that part of the dilemma that is for the glory of God, though grievous to the fleſh, rather then that part that is profitable and gratifying to the fleſh, but tending to the diſhonor of God, then he walks wiſely.
Sometimes the people of God are brought to ſuch ſtraights by temptation, that either they muſt ſin much to avoid ſuffering, or ſuffer much to avoid ſinning: Their own carnal advantage and outward ſafety lieth through ſin, but the glory of God lieth through ſuffering.
Such a dilemma was that which the three children were brought into by their temptation, Dan. 3.11. they muſt either turn or burn; either they muſt bow to the image the King had ſet up, or burn in the furnace he had cauſed to be heat.
If they worſhipped the Image, they ſhould obey the Kings command, but then they broke the command of God; if they did not worſhip, they ſhould provoke the Kings diſpleaſure, but then they kept in Gods favour: If they did worſhip, they diſhonoured the God of Sion; if they did not worſhip they provoked the King of Babylon.
Here is the dilemma; now ſee how wiſely they chuſe, verſ. 17, 18. If it be ſo, our God whom we ſerve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King: But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, we will not ſerve thy gods, nor worſhip the Image which thou haſt ſet up.
What a choyce ſpirit is this? not found in every houſe where the profeſſion of Religion is hanged out at the door. How many in this hour of temptation are caught in this enſnaring trial? what ſay ſome? Come let us rather conform to the ceremonies, then loſe our liberties; rather let us bow at the name of Jeſus, then loſe all for the ſake of Jeſus; it is better to baptize with the croſs, then to bear the croſs; and to wear a Surplice, then to pinch our carkaſs.
Thus many (it is to be feared) deſtroy their conſciences, to keep their places; and conform againſt their judgements, to preſerve their profits; this is as if a man to ſave his hat ſhould loſe his head, or as if a man ſhould ſink the ſhip to avoid the ſtorm. Alas poor ſouls, how are they fallen in the hour of temptation!
Suppoſe a man were put to this, either he muſt ſwear canonical obedience, or he muſt be put to ſilence; either he muſt proſtitute the ſeals to all, or he muſt preach to none; Either he muſt take up the ceremonies, or lay down his Miniſtry; This would be a great temptation, which part ought a man to chuſe in this caſe?
Why, you will ſay, It is pitty but ſuch a man ſhould preach; I but it is greater pitty that he ſhould ſin; you will ſay, He may do much good in his Miniſtry would he but conform. I but he muſt not do evil that good may come on it. Rom. 3.8.If I ſuffer for conſcience ſake, God is honoured; but if I ſin for Gods ſake, he is diſhonoured; for my lye cannot advance his glory; and 3.7.and therefore the reſolution of the three children is a good pattern, we will not worſhip the image thou haſt ſet up.
So that if when temptation brings me under a dilemma, I chuſe that part of the dilemma which is for Gods glory, though to my loſs, rather then that part which is for Gods diſhonour and my gain, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
9. Wiſdom lies in a diligent endeavour to improve grace by temptation. As the Iſraelites were multiplied by being oppreſſed;Exod. 1.12 it is ſaid, The more they were afflicted, the more they grew; ſo a true Iſraelite, the more he is tempted, the more is his grace encreaſed; as trees are the deeper rooted by the wind that moſt ſhakes them, ſo beleevers are moſt ſtrengthned by the temptations that moſt try them.
Temptation is the Devils bellows which he brings to blow out the ſpark of that heavenly fire that is in us; but as the breath of the bellows makes the fire flame the more, ſo the blaſts of temptation make grace increaſe the more. God hath an over-ruling hand over temptation, and he turns them to good when Satan intends them for hurt, and makes grace proſper by that very means whereby Satan hopes to make it wither. Thus can God out-ſhoot Satan in his own bow.
So then, if I labour to grow in grace in time of temptation, if I turn a tempting ſeaſon into a growing ſeaſon, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
10. It is wiſdom in temptation to uſe no indirect means for riddance, but to reſt upon the promiſe for deliverance. There is no temptation that can befalus, but God hath made a ſuitable promiſe to releive us; that ſo we might not ſinfully deliver our ſelves, but patiently reſt on him for deliverance.
He hath promiſed to tread Satan under our feet, to bind the ſtrong man, Rom. 16.20.not to ſuffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but to make a way for us to eſcape, Cor. 10.that we may be able to bear it. O that Chriſtians would ſtudy the promiſe, and converſe much with the promiſe in time of temptation.Heb. 13.5. God hath promiſed never to for ſake us, and therefore neyer let us forſake the promiſe.
There are three things very remarkable in every promiſe.
The faithfulneſs of the Father who gives it.Owen.
The grace of the Son which is the matter of it.
The power of the Spirit which accompliſheth it.
The faithfulneſs of the Father makes the promiſe good to us. The grace of the Son makes the promiſe ſweet to us. The efficacy of the Spirit make the promiſe good in us.
So that the promiſe is a ſure reſting place for a tempted ſoul.
Now then, if in temptation I uſe no indirect means for riddance, but reſt upon the promiſe for deliverance, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
11. The wiſdom of walking in temptation lieth in not yielding to temptation. Temptation from Satan is our ſuffering, but it is from our ſelves if it becomes our ſin: The Devil may flatter us, but he cannot force us; He may provoke, but without our conſent he cannot prevail: He may tempt us unto ſin, but he cannot tempt us into ſin: He could never come into the houſe if we did not open the door:Iam 1.…. Every man is tempted; when? when he is aſſaulted? no, but when he is drawn away of his own luſt and onticed. The true procreating cauſe of ſin is in every mans ſoul; Satan is the Father of temptation, but the heart is the Mother of ſin. Suggeſtion without could do nothing, were it not for corruption within; it is not calliditas diaboli decipientis, Aug. de …ec.orig l 2 ap 37.but voluntas hominis conſentientis; outward craſt could do nothing without inward luſt; Satan woes our wills, but we will our own woes.
foreign, the fire is in our wood, though it be the Devils flame; we may do the Devil wrong (as bad as he is) to lay all our ſins at his door, as though we were innocent; For though the Baſtard be gotten by him, it is conceived and brought forth by us.
This is an old trick, as old as Adam: when God asketh him,Go…. 3.11, 12. Haſt thou eaten of the tree I forbad thee? mark how he ſhifteth it off; The woman which thou gaveſt to be with me, ſhe gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat. And when God comes to the woman and asketh, What is this that thou haſt done? ſaith ſhe, the Serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Adam ſhifteth the fault from himſelf to the woman, and ſhe from her ſelf to the Serpent.
But had not they been willing, what could the Serpent have done? if we are tempted, it is Satans fault; but if we yeild, it is our guilt.
Sceva at the ſiege of Dyrrachium ſo long alone reſiſted Pompeys Army, that he had two hundred and twenty darts ſticking in his ſhield, and loſt one of his eyes, and yet gave not over till Caeſar came in to his reſcue.Deut. 22.23, to 2…. Under the Law if a man met a Damſel and lay with her, if ſhe conſented ſhe dyed, but if ſhe cryed out ſhe was innocent and acquitted. So if when Satan aſſaults us, he obtaines conſent from us, we die; for fin when it is finiſhed, brings forth death; Iam. 1.15.But if we conſent not, but cry out to Chriſt for help againſt temptation, we ſhall be delivered.
So that, if I ſtand out and yeild not when temptation comes, if I conſent not to the ſin the temptation leads to, if though Satan perſwades, yet he prevailes not, then I walk wiſely in temptation.
12. The wiſdom of walking in temptation lyeth in praying much, when we are tempted much; this is the Lord Chriſts own counſell, Watch and pray, Mat. 16.41.that ye enter not into temptation.
Prayer is faiths recourſe to the fountain of ſtrength, to fetch help and ſuccour againſt the Tempter; in praying much, when we are tempted much, we counter work Satan in his deſign; for one of his great deſigns in temptation, is, to ſtop the ſtream of prayer.
Chriſt ſhould be moſt ſought when we are moſt aſſaulted. Paul had a ſtrong temptation, and he made ſtrong ſupplication; The thorn in his fleſh cauſed the groans of his Spirit: The Meſſenger of Satan comming to buffet him, made him ſend many a Meſſage to Chriſt to come and ſupport him. For this I beſought the Lord thrice, 2 Cor. 12.7, 8.(that is often) that it might depart from me. When Satan doth his worſt in tempting, a Chriſtian ſhould do his beſt in praying.
There are four things eſpecially which ſhould be the matter of our Prayer in Temptation.
Pray that our grace may be above our tryal.
Pray that Temptation may be firſt Sanctified to us, then removed from us.
Pray that though we ſuffer by temptation, yet we may not ſin in temptation, deliver us from evil.
Pray that Chriſt would not be ſo far from us, when Satan is ſo neer to us; that when we are under the greatneſs of Satans malice, we may be under the experience of Chriſts promiſe; who hath ſaid, my grace is ſufficient for thee.2 Cor 12.
Faiths diligence for preparation, in the hour of the ſouls temptation, lies much in ſupplication; Satan may tempt us, but if he find a praying frame of heart, he cannot hurt us.
I have heard of a malicious woman who gave her ſelf to the Devil, provided that he would do a miſcheif to ſuch a Neighbour whom ſhe mortally hated; the Devil went once and again to do his errand, but at laſt returns and tells her he could do no hurt to that man; for when ever he came, he found him either reading the Scriptures or praying. There is no voice God loves better, or that Satan likes worſe then the voice of prayer. One of the fathers calls it Diaboli Flagellum, the Devils whip to torment him; The Apoſtle when he would teach us to ſtand againſt Satan, bids us, pray always. Eph. 6.18.He that prayeth much is ſeldome taken in ſin, but he is never taken with ſin; he ſeldome acts it, but he never likes it.
Now then if temptation doth not make me lay aſide duty, if I turn times of temptation, into times of ſupplication, if when I am in greateſt danger I run to Chriſt for help and ſuccour, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
13. It is wiſdom when Satan is tempting, for us to be believing; all the Chriſtians ſtrength and comfort is fetched without doors, and he hath none to ſend of his errand but Faith.
In temptation thy work is to believe, and then God will do the reſt. Therefore ſaith David, At what time I am affraid, Pſa. 56.I will truſt in thee, he tells God he will make bold to ſtep into his houſe, when taken in a ſtorm, and doth not queſtion his welcome.
It is one means of preſervation to believe that God will preſerve us; As the duty that Satan hates moſt, is the duty of praying; ſo the grace that Satan oppoſes moſt is the grace of believing; all his temptations are levelled at the ruine of Faith.
He may tempt thee to ſins againſt the Law, to uncleanneſs, unjuſtice, &c. but this is not his ultimate end, his great deſign lieth againſt thy intereſt in the Goſpel; what ever ſin he tempts thee to, his aim is not onelyonly to draw thee to commit that ſin, but to ruine thy faith, and ſo rob thee of all good and benefit by Jeſus Chriſt. This was his deſign in ſifting Peter; and this the Lord Chriſt foreſaw, and therefore tells Peter, I have prayed for thee, Luk. 22 32that thy faith fail not. And hence it is that the Apoſtle exhorteth us, Above all to take the ſhield of faith, Eph. 6.16.wherewith we ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Every grace is of uſe in this combate, but faith is above all.1 Iob. 5.4. This is the victory that overcomes, even our Faith.
Faith hath two hands, a receiving hand and a working hand, and the receiving, hand releiueth the working hand; the receiving hand fetcheth in from Chriſt, the working hand improveth it for Chriſt; in temptation the receiving hand fetcheth in ſtrength and ſuccour, and the working hand uſeth this ſtrength whereby we conquer; could we but believe, Satan could never hurt us; for then in our greateſt conflicts the Lord Chriſt would help us.
There are eight things we ſhould exerciſe our Faith upon in temptations.
1. Believe the great efficacy of the blood and Croſs of Chriſt to quench temptations.
2. Believe that thou haſt intereſt in all the fullneſs and merits of Chriſt, and ſay when thou art in temptation, Chriſt is my wiſdome, right couſneſs, 1 Cor. 1.10ſanctification and redemption.
3. Believe that when thou art in Satans hands, Satan is then in Gods hands.
4. Believe that the promiſes run with the ſweeteſt ſtreams, when Satan raiſeth the greateſt ſtormes.
5. Believe what ſpiritual aſſiſtances there are at hand, to help and incourage us in the combate; the love of God, the grace of Chriſt, the power of the ſpirit, and beſides all this,Pſal. 4.7. Heb. 1.14. The good Angels guard us by Gods commiſſion, when the bad Angels moleſt us by Gods permiſſion.
6. Believe that the Lord Chriſt hath learned to have compaſſion,Heb. 1.19. and 6.5. by his own tryal in the day of his humiliation.
7.Luk. 17.32 Ioh. 17.15 Believe that while we are conflicting on earth with the tempter; Chriſt is interceding for us in heaven with the Father.
8. Believe the glorious recompences that are appointed for all ſuch as overcome when they are tempted;Rev. 2.26. and ….12. to him that overcomes will I give to ſit with me on my threne, as I alſo overcame and am ſet down with my Father on his throne. Rev. 3.21. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life, Rev. 2.10.
Now then if when I am tempted much, I truſt much; if I turn times of temptation into times of believing, then do I walk wiſely in temptation.
And thus I have done with this third ſeaſon of walking wiſely, and that is in time of temptation.
Now the Lord help you and me to pray for,Iam. 1.…. and ſeek after this ſpiritual wiſdom, that we may be fortified againſt temptation,2 Tim. 3.15. and ſo made wiſe to Salvation.
FINIS.
End of the text · Matthew Mead, Spiritual Wisdom Improved Against Temptation (1660)