Of Temptation, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
A Generall exhortation to the Duty preſcribed.
HAving thus paſſed through the Conſideration of the duty of watching, that we enter not into temptation, I ſuppoſe I need not adde motives to the obſervance of it. Thoſe who are not moved by their own ſad experiences, nor the importance of the duty, as laid down in the entrance of this diſcourſe, muſt be left by me to the farther patience of God. I ſhall only ſhut up the whole with a generall Exhortation to them, who are in any meaſure prepared for it, by the Conſideration of what hath been ſpoken. Should you go into an hoſpitall, and ſee many perſons lying ſick and weak, ſore and wounded, with many filthy diſeaſes and diſtempers, and ſhould enquire of them, how they fell into this condition, and they ſhould all agree to tell you, ſuch, or ſuch a thing was the occaſion of it; by that I got my wound ſaies one, and my diſeaſe ſaies another; would it not make you a little carefull how, or what you had to do with that thing or place? ſurely it would. Should you go to a dungeon, and ſee many miſerable creatures bound in chaines for an approaching day of execution, and inquire the way and means whereby they were brought into that condition, and they ſhould all fix on one and the ſame thing, would you not take care to avoid it? The caſe is ſo with entring into temptation: ah! how many poor, miſerably, ſpiritually, wounded ſoules have we every where? one wounded by one ſin, another by another; one falling into filthineſse of the fleſh, another of the ſpirit: aske them nowhow they cameinto this ſtate and condition; they muſt all anſwer, alas! we entred into temptation, we fell into curſed ſnares and intanglements, and that hath brought us into the woefull condition you ſee. Nay if a man could look into the dungeons of hell, and ſee the poor damned ſoules that lie bound in chaines of darkneſſe, and hear their cries: what would he be taught? what do they ſay? are they not curſing their Tempters, and the Temptations that they entred in? and ſhall we be negligent in this thing? Salomon tells us, that the ſimple one that followes the ſtrange woman, knows not that the dead are there, that her houſe inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead: (which he repeats 3 times) and that is the reaſon, that he ventures on her ſnares. If you knew what hath been done by entring into temptation, perhaps you would be more watchfull and carefull. Men may think that they ſhall do well enough notwithſtanding; but can a man take fire in his boſome, and his cloathes not be burnt, can one goe upon hot coales, and his feet not be burnt, Prov. 7. 27. 28. No ſuch thing: men come not off their temptation without wounds, burnings, and ſcars. I know not any place in the world where there is more need of preſsing this exhortation than in this place: Go to our ſeverall Colledges, enquire for ſuch and ſuch young men; what is the anſwer in reſpect of many? ah! ſuch an one was very hopefull for a ſeaſon, but he fell into ill company & he is quite loſt. Such an one had ſome good beginning of Religion, we were in great expectation of him, but he is fallen into temptation: And ſo in other places; ſuch an one was uſefull and humble, adorned the Goſpell, but now he is ſo wofully intangled with the world, that he is growne all ſelfe, hath no ſap nor favour; ſuch an one was humble and zelous, but he is advanced and hath loſt his firſt love and wayes: oh how full is the world, how full is this place, of theſe wofull examples: to ſay nothing of thoſe innumerable poore creatures who are fallen into temptation by deluſions in Religion. And is it not time for us to awake, before it be too late; to watch againſt the firſt riſings of ſin, the firſt attempts of Satan, and all wayes whereby he hath made his approaches to us, be they never ſo harmeleſſe in thēſelves.
Have we not experience of our weakneſſe, our folly, the invincible power of temptation when once it is gotten within us. As for this duty that I have inſiſted on, take theſe conſiderations:
1. If you neglect it, it being the only means preſcribed by our Saviour, you will certainly enter into temptation, and as certainly fall into ſinne: flatter not your ſelves; ſome of you are old Diſciples, have a great abhorrency of ſinne; you thinke it impoſſible you ſhould ever be ſeduced ſo, and ſo: but, let him (who ever he be) that ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall: it is not any grace received, it is not any experience obtained, it is not any reſolution improved, that will preſerve you from any evill, unleſſe you ſtand upon your watch: what I ſay to you, ſayes Chriſt, I ſay to all; watch. Perhaps you may have had ſome good ſucceſſe for a time, in your careleſſe frame: but awake, admire God's tenderneſſe and patience, or evill lyes at the doore. If you will not performe this duty, who ever you are, one way or other, in one thing or other, ſpiritual or carnall wickedneſſe, you will be tempted, you will be defiled, and what will be the end thereof? Remember Peter.
2. Conſider that you are alwayes under the eye of Chriſt, the great Captaine of our ſalvation, who hath enjoyned us to watch thus, & pray that we enter not. What thinke you are the thoughts, & what the heart of Chriſt, when he ſees a Temptation haſtening towards us, a ſtorme riſing about us, and we are faſt aſleep? doth it not grieve him, to ſee us expoſe our ſelves ſo to danger, after he hath given us warning upon warning? Whileſt he was in the dayes of his fleſh, he conſidered his temptation whileſt it was yet coming and armed himſelfe againſt it: the Prince of this world cometh, ſayes he, but he hath no part in me. And ſhall we be negligent under his eye? do but think that thou ſeeſt him coming to thee, as he did to Peter when he was aſleep in the garden, with the ſame reproof, what! canſt thou not watch one houre? would it not be a grief to thee to be ſo reproved, or to heare him thundring againſt thy neglect from heaven, as againſt the Church of Sardis, Revel. 3. 2.
3. Conſider that if thou neglect this duty, and ſo fall into temptation, which aſſuredly thou wilt do, that when thou art intangled, God may withall bring ſome heavy affliction or judgment upon thee, which by reaſon of thy intanglement, thou ſhalt not be able to look on any otherwiſe, than as an evidence of his anger & hatred: & than what wilt thou do with thy temptation and affliction together? All thy bones will be broken, and thy peace and ſtrength will be gone in a moment. This may ſeeme but as a noyſe of words for the preſent, but if ever it be thy condition, thou wilt find it to be full of woe and bitterneſſe. Oh then let us ſtrive to keep our ſpirits unintangled, avoiding all appearance of evill, and all wayes leading thereunto: eſpecially all waies, buſineſſes, ſocieties, and imployments that we have already found diſadvantageous to us.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Owen, Of Temptation (1658)