Of Temptation, Chapter 6
CHAP. 6.
Of watching that we enter not into Temptation: the nature and efficacy of that duty. The firſt of it, as to the ſpeciall ſeaſons of Temptation. The firſt ſeaſon; in unuſuall proſperity. The ſecond; in a ſlumber of Grace 3. A ſeaſon of great ſpiritual enjoyments. 4. A ſeaſon of ſelfe confidence.
THE other part of our Saviours direction, namely to watch is more generall, and extends it ſelfe to many particulars; I ſhall fix on ſome things that are contained therein.
1. VVatch the Seaſons wherein men uſually doe enter into Temptation. There are ſundry ſeaſons, wherein an houre of Temptation is commonly at hand; and will unavoidably ſeize upon the ſoule, unleſſe it be delivered by mercy in the uſe of watchfulneſſe. When we are under ſuch a ſeaſon, then are we peculiarly to be upon our guard, that we enter not into, that we fall not under the power of Temptation. Some of thoſe ſeaſons may be named.
1. A ſeaſon of unuſuall outward proſperity is uſually accompanied with an houre of Temptation. Proſperity and temptation goe together; yea proſperity is a temptation; many temptations; and that becauſe without eminent ſupplies of Grace, it is apt to caſt a ſoule into a frame & temper expoſed to any Temptation, and provides it will fuell and food for all; it hath proviſion for luſt; and darts for Sathan.
The wiſe man tells us, that the proſperity of fooles deſtroys them, Prov. 1. 31. it hardens them in their way, makes them deſpiſe inſtruction, and put the evill day (whoſe terrour ſhould influence them into amendment) far from them. Without a ſpeciall aſſiſtance, it hath an inconceivably malignant influence on Believers themſelves. Hence Agur prayes againſt Riches, becauſe of the Temptation that attends them, leſt ſaith he, I be full and deny thee, and ſay, who is the Lord, Prov. 30. 8, 9. Leſt, being filled with them he ſhould forget the Lord; as God complaines that his people did, Hoſ. 13. 6. We know how David was miſtaken in this caſe, Pſal. 30. 6. I ſaid in my proſperity I ſhall never be moved: all is well, and will be well, but what was at hand, what lay at the doore, that David thought not of? verſ. 7. Thou diddeſt hide thy face, and I was troubled: God was ready to hide his face, and David to enter into a temptation of deſertion, and he knew it not.
As then unto a proſperous condition. I ſhall not run croſſe to Solomons counſell, in the day of proſperity rejoyce, Eccleſ. 7. 14. Rejoyce in the God of thy mercies, who doth thee good in his patience and forbearance, notvvithſtanding all thy unworthineſſe: Yet I may adde to it from the ſame fountaine of wiſdome, conſider alſo, leſt evill lye at the doore. A man in that ſtate is in the middeſt of ſnares; Satan hath many advantages againſt him, He forgeth darts out of all his enjoyments, and if he watch not, he will be entangled before he is aware.
Thou wanteſt that which ſhould poyſe and ballaſt thy heart. Formality in Religion will be apt to creep upon thee, and that layes the ſoule open to all Temptations in their full power and ſtrength. Satisfaction and delight in creature comforts, the poyſon of the ſoule will be apt to grow upon thee. In ſuch a time, be vigilant, be circumſpect, or thou wilt be ſurprized. Job ſayes, that in his Affliction God made his heart ſoft, Ch. 23. 16. There is an hardneſſe, an inſenſible want of ſpirituall ſenſe, gathered in proſperity, that if not watched againſt, will expoſe the heart to the deceits of ſin & baits of Sathan: Watch and pray in this ſeaſon: Many mens negligence in it, hath coſt them deare, their woefull experience cryes out, to take heed. Bleſſed is he that feareth alwaies; but eſpecially in a time of proſperity.
2. As in part was manifeſted before, A Time of the ſlumber of Grace, of neglect in Communion with God, of formality in duty is a ſeaſon to be watched in, as that which hath certainly ſome other temptation attending it. Let a ſoule in ſuch an eſtate awake, and looke about him; his enemy is at hand, and he is ready to fall into ſuch a condition as may coſt him deare all the dayes of his life: His preſent eſtate is bad enough in its ſelfe; but it is an indication of that which is worſe, that lyes at the doore.
The Diſciples that were with Chriſt; in the mount, had not only a bodily, but a ſpirituall drowzineſſe upon them.
What ſayes our Saviour to them? ariſe, watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation. We know, how neare one of them was to a bitter houre of temptation; and not watching as he ought, he immediately entred into it.
I mentioned before the caſe of the ſpouſe, Cant. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5. ſhe ſlept, and was drowſy, and unwilling to gird up her ſelfe to a vigorous performance of duties, in a way of quick active communion with Chriſt. Before ſhe is aware, ſhe hath loſt her beloved; then ſhe meanes, enquires, cryes, endures woundings, reproaches, and all, before ſhe obtaines him againe. Conſider then O poore ſoule, thy ſtate and condition! doth thy light burne dimme? or though it give to others as great a blaze, as formerly, yet thou ſeeſt not ſo clearly the face of God in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4. 6.by it as thou haſt done? is thy zeale cold? or if it doe the ſame workes as formerly, yet thy heart is not warmed with the Love of God, and to God, in them as formerly, but only thou proceedeſt in the courſe thou haſt been in? art thou negligent in duties of praying or hearing? or if thou doſt obſerve them, thou doeſt it not with that life and vigour as formerly? Doſt thou flagge in thy profeſſion? or if thou keep it up, yet thy wheeles are oyled by ſome ſiniſter reſpects from within or without? does thy delight in the people of God faint and grow cold? or is thy love to them changing from that which is purely ſpirituall, into that which is very carnall, upon the account of ſutableneſſe of principles, and naturall ſpirits, if not worſe foundations? if thou art drowſing in ſuch a condition as this; take heed! thou art falling into ſome wofull temptation, that will break all thy bones, and give thee wounds that ſhall ſtick by thee all the dayes of thy life. Yea when thou awakeſt thou wilt find, that it hath indeed laid hold of thee already, though thou perceivedſt it not; it hath ſmitten and wounded thee, though thou haſt not complained, nor ſought for reliefe or healing.
Such was the ſtate of the Church of Sardis, Rev. 3. 2. the things that remained were ready to dye: be watchfull ſayes our Saviour and ſtrengthen them, or a worſe thing will befall thee: if any that reads the word of this direction be in this condition, if he hath any regard of his poore ſoule, let him now awake, before he be entangled beyond recovery. Take this warning from God; deſpiſe it not.
3. A ſeaſon of great ſpirituall enjoyments, is often by the malice of Satan, and the weakneſſe of our hearts, turned into a ſeaſon of danger: as to this buſineſſe of Temptation.
We know how the caſe ſtood with Paul, 2 Cor. 12. 7. he had glorious ſpirituall Revelations of God, & Jeſus Chriſt; inſtantly Satan fals upon him; a meſſenger from him buffets him, ſo that he earneſtly begges its departure; but yet is left to ſtruggle with it. God is pleaſed ſometimes to give us eſpeciall diſcoveries of himſelfe and his love; to fill the heart with his kindneſſe: Chriſt takes us into the banqueting houſe, and gives our hearts their fills of love; and this by ſome ſignall worke of his ſpirit, overpowering us with a ſenſe of Love, in the unſpeakable priviledge of Adoption, and ſo fills our ſoules with joy unſpeakable and glorious; A man would thinke, this was the ſecureſt condition in the world: what ſoule does not cry with Peter in the mount; it is Good for me to be here, to abide here for ever: But yet very frequently, ſome bitter temptation is now at hand. Satan ſees, that being poſſeſt by the Joy before us, we quickly neglect many wayes of approach to our ſoules, wherein he ſeeks, and finds advantages againſt us. Is this then our ſtate and condition? does God at any time give us to drinke of the rivers of pleaſure, that are at his right hand, and ſatisfy our ſoules with his kindneſſe as with marrow and fatneſſe?
Let us not ſay, we ſhall never be moved; we know not how ſoone God may hide his face, or a meſſenger from Satan may buffet us.
Beſides, there lyes oftentimes a greater, and worſe deceit in this buſineſſe▪ men cheat their ſoules with their own fancies, in ſtead of a ſenſe of Gods love by the Holy Ghoſt; and when they are lifted up, with their imaginations, it is not expreſſible how fearfully they are expoſed to all manner of Temptations; and how they are able to find reliefe againſt their conſciences, from their own fooliſh fancies, and deceivings wherewith they ſport themſelves: may we not ſee ſuch every day? perſons walking in the vanities and wayes of this world, yet boaſting of their ſenſe of the love of God; ſhall we believe them? vve muſt not then believe truth its ſelfe; and hovv vvofull then, muſt their condition needs be?
4. A 4th ſeaſon, is a ſeaſon of ſelfe confidence; then uſually Temptation is at hand. The caſe of Peter is cleare unto this: I will not deny thee; though all men ſhould deny thee, I will not: though I vvere to dye for it, I vvould not doe it. This ſaid the poore man, vvhen he ſtood on the very brinke of that temptation, that coſt him in the iſſue, ſuch bitter teares. And this taught him ſo far to knovv himſelfe all his dayes, and gave him ſuch acquaintance with the ſtate of all Believers, that when he had received more of the ſpirit and of power, yet he had leſſe of confidence, and ſaw it was fit that others ſhould have ſo alſo; And therefore perſwades all men to paſſe the time of their ſojurning here in feare, 1 Pet. 1. 17. Not to be confident and high, as he was, leſt, as he did, they fall. At the firſt triall he compares himſelfe with others, & vaunts himſelfe above them; though all men ſhould forſake thee, yet I will not; he feares every man more than himſelfe: But when our Saviour afterwards comes to him & puts him directly upon the compariſon, Simon Peter loveſt thou me, more than theſe, Joh. 21. 15. he hath done comparing himſelfe with others, and only cryeth Lord thou knoweſt that I love thee: He will lift up himſelfe above others no more. Such a ſeaſon oftentimes falls out. Temptations are abroad in the world, falſe doctrines, with innumerable other allurements & provocations; we are ready every one to be very confident, that we ſhall not be ſurprized with them: though all men ſhould fall into theſe follies, yet we would not: ſurely we ſhall never goe off from our walking with God; it is impoſſible our hearts ſhould be ſo ſottiſh: But ſayes the Apoſtle, be not high minded but feare; let him that ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall. Wouldeſt thou thinke that Peter, who had walked on the ſea with Chriſt, confeſſed him to be the Sonne of God, been with him on the mount when he heard the voice from the excellent Glory, ſhould at the word of a ſervant girle, when there was no legall inquiſition after him, no proceſſe againſt him, nor any one in his condition, inſtantly fall a curſing and ſweareing that he knew him not, let them take heed of ſelfe-confidence who have any mind to take heed of ſinne. And this is the firſt thing in our watching, to conſider well the ſeaſons wherein temptation uſually makes its approaches to the ſoule, and be armed againſt them. And theſe are ſome of the ſeaſons, wherein Temptations are nigh at hand.