The Sacred Diary, Section 31
SECT. XXXI. Of Holy Watchfulneſs againſt Temptations.
MAN is the only Creature whom Satan hunts and purſues, of all Creatures: It concerns us then every day to have an eye unto Satan, that although he purſue us, he do not make a Prey of us. Ye will think it ſtrange perhaps, that ſeeing God would redeem his People from the hands of Satan, he would notwithſtanding give ſo much liberty to Satan, in the purſuing and tempting of them. But let no Chriſtian think ſtrange of it. He did not only permit it for the exerciſe of his Children, that with the more Conflicts they might have the greater Glory, and Satan the greater Foil.
Our condition in the World, is much like the condition of the Iſraelites. When they came firſt into Canaan, it is ſaid, When God had brought them thither, he ſuffered divers of the Jebuſites to remain ſtill in the Land, and would not drive them out all at once, becauſe he would keep his People in Exerciſe, and not have them live there Slaviſhly and Slothfully. And it is certain, that they were often Prickles in their Eyes, and Thorns in their Sides. God deales ſo by us. He hath redeemed his Iſrael out of Satan's hands, brought them out of a ſtate of Sin, into a ſtate of Grace, as out of the Land of Egypt, into the Land of Canaan; yet ſtill he ſuffereth the Jebuſite to dwell in our Coaſts: He ſuffers Satan, the enemy of our Peace, by his aſſaults and temptations to vex and trouble us, becauſe he would have us held in Exerciſe, and be ever careful to do as they did, to keep our Weapons by our Sides, that when we meet with any Affronts, we may be prepared for reſiſtance.
How much doth it concern every Chriſtian, with all the Policy and Prudence that he can, to avoid the Oppugnations of Satan, and to get reſcue from the danger of his Aſſaults. He is in a deſperate Eſtate, that knoweth he hath an Enemy, yet is careleſs to prepare for him.
It concerns you then to be at no time ſecure, but to be very watchful over your ſelves in all Places, in all Companies, at all Times. Ye are in the midſt of Devils, that watch all opportunities to draw you to Sin, that endeavour your Deſtruction. When Sampſon was lull'd aſleep in the lap of Dalilah, then the Philiſtines came upon him. Whilſt Men ſlept, the envious Man ſowed Tares. Watch and pray (ſaith out Saviour) that ye enter not into Temptation. Whilſt we are praying, we had need to be watching, for whilſt we are praying we may be tempted. I may ſay too, Watch, and hear the Word of God; watch, and Meditate; watch in thy Study and Cloſet, watch and work in thy Shop, watch and walk in the Field: keep a Watch when thou art alone, watch over thy ſelf in all Companies, Times, Places, Duties; expect Temptations, be watchful that ye ſtumble not, and fall.
The Devil is watchful to tempt, diligent in tempting, ſubtil in his Temptations; thy Corruptions are ſtrong, thy Heart prone to be enſnared with the Charm of the Charmer; and thou knoweſt not at what time he will come to tempt thee. Be watchful over theſe four things:
1. Over thy Thoughts. In all keeping, keep thy Heart, Prov. 4.23. Sin moſt of all begins with Thoughts: Cleanſe thy Heart from evil Thoughts: kill theſe Conceptions, before thy Thoughts bring delight: And then delight brings in deſire to commit, and thy deſires will put thee upon the practice of Sin.
2. Watch moſt where thy greateſt Weakneſs is. The greateſt Watch is kept, where the Enemy is moſt likely to make Invaſion. The ſtrongeſt Watch muſt be ſet at the weakeſt part of the Walls of a beſieged City. Be ye watchful over that Luſt to which you are prone, whether Pride, Paſſion, Revenge, &c. ſet your Watch there. Remember that Satan is moſt of all buſie with your beloved Corruptions; he loveth to caſt his Angle into ſuch waters where the Fiſh bite moſt.
3. Be watchful over your ſelves after the vanquiſhing of Temptations, for then thou art apt to grow ſecure. Although ye may by reſiſting put the Devil to flight, yet he returns again, and will as violently aſſault you as before. The Lord will ſhortly tread Satan under your feet, but he ſtands his ground for the preſent.
4. Be watchful after thy Falls, leſt a worſe Temptation than a former befal thee. If Satan ſeeth a Man ſtumble and fall, he will keep him down if he can. When he had drawn David to commit Adultery, he put him upon Murder. When he had made Peter to deny Chriſt once, he proceeded in his Temptations.
Here let me propound divers Preſervations againſt Temptations, that ye may not be overcome by them.
1. Preſerve in thy Heart ſettled thoughts of God's Omnipreſence. Seneca would have Men to think upon grave Cato, that he was always beholding them, to keep them from Looſeneſs. If the preſence of a Man, then much more the Preſence of God will keep a Man from Sin. Wicked Men take liberty to Sin, becauſe they ſay, Tuſh, Thou God ſeeſt us not. But God looks upon you, not only when you are Faſting, but Feaſting; not only when you are Praying, but Playing; not only in the Fields, but in the Houſe; not only in the Parlour, but in the Bed-chamber, yea, in the Cloſet. Were this Conſideration ſtill in you, God ſeeth us; what Temptation could prevail againſt us? It is ſaid of an holy and reverend Man, that he had this written before his Eyes in his Study, Sin not thou, though never ſo ſecret: God ſeeth thee, and the Angels ſtand by thee; the Devil is ready to accuſe thee; thine own Conſcience to give evidence againſt thee, and Hell-fire to torment thee. Be thou in the fear of God all the day long, Prov. 23.17.
2. Maintain in your Hearts thoughts of the ſtrict account which ye ſhall one Day make of every Sin: Anſwer all Temptations thus; Oh, I cannot anſwer for the Sins I have committed already! And ſhall I now make work for the great Day? Is not mine account great enough already? Oh! How can I anſwer God for one of a thouſand Sins that I have already committed?
3. Let the Word of God dwell plenteouſly in your Hearts. To hide the Word in your Hearts, is the way to be kept from Sin, Pſal. 119.9. Chriſt by Scripture vanquiſhed the Devil, Avoid Satan: It is written, Thou ſhalt not do thus or thus. Set home the Commands of God, the Threatnings of God, the Curſe of the Law upon thy Soul, whenſoever thou art tempted to Sin.
4. Oppoſe Eternity of Torment to thy ſinful Pleaſures, and ſay, What advantage is it to win the whole World, and loſe my Soul for ever? What! ſhall I adventure to lie under the Wrath of Almighty God for ever, for a few momentany Pleaſures? Profits and Pleaſures are the guilded Baits of all Temptations.
5. Lodg holy thoughts in your Hearts, and obey all motions of God's Spirit. A Mind fraught with holy thoughts, will not admit vain thoughts. Intus exiſtens prohibit alienum.When Satan finds the heart void and ſwept of good thoughts, then he enters with evil Suggeſtions: So whilſt thou art following the motions of God's Spirit, this will quench diabolical motions.
6. Pray fervently and frequently, that God will be thy Guard: Complain often to God, that thou art in the midſt of Enemies, always vexing and enticing thee. Thou canſt go no where, but the Devil is at thy right Hand: Beſeech the Lord that he will rebuke Satan: If God be thy Shepherd, he will reſcue thee out of the Paw of the Bear, and out of the Paw of the roaring Lion.
Finally, Let me adviſe you, to take heed of throwing your ſelves into the Lion's Mouth, and into the Paws of the Bear: It is a provoking tempting of God to give us over. If Children will be medling with Fire, it is wiſdom in the Parent to let them burn their Fingers, to prevent greater miſchief. No Man hath need to tempt the Devil to tempt him to Sin, He is watchful enough to devour; when a Man ruſheth upon Temptations, he tempts the Devil to tempt him; when a Man will adventure upon keeping company with the Wicked, he tempteth the Devil to tempt him.