The Power of Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Discovering the several Inference, or Conclusions that may be drawn from this Petition.
Question: WHat Conclusions may be drawn from hence?
A. 1. In this life the godly are subject to manifold and great temptations. Spots in a garment seem to spread, when they are washed: the chanell will stink when it is cleansed. Corruption will stirre when we endeavour to cast it forth. The Scriptures and Christian experience witness, that Satan ceaseth not to pursue the faithfull with temptations of every kind, that he might destroy them. No sooner do we give our selves to Jesus Christ, but the Devil by force or fraud doth labour to pervert us. The ungodly feel none assaults, because they are wholly in his power, and runne willingly whithersoever he doth allure: but with the godly, who fight under the Banner of Christ, and bear arms against the Kingdom of darkness, it is farre otherwise, he leaveth no plot unattempted to destroy them. The Devil goeth about like a roaring Lyon, 1 Pet. 5.8.seeking whom he may devoure. Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy fail not. Moreover, the world is an enemy to all them that Christ hath called out of the world to the participation of life through him. The world favoureth her own, but hateth them whom God hath chosen as a peculiar people unto himself. And all this cometh to pass by the wise providence of God, that the regenerate might try their watchfulness over themselves, be kept from being exalted above measure, and that the power of God in preserving them from sinne, and delivering them out of it, may be seen in their weakness.
2. God doth lead us into all our temptations. It is said.Mat. 4.1. Christ was carried of the Spirit to be tempted. It is God only, who when he seeth it meet, doth bring his Champions forth, and letteth the powers of darkness encounter them. Neither can the Devil stirre, neither we bid battell of our selves. Can the Lyons stirre till the Keeper bring them out? Can a Dog run till he that hath him in a lease loose him? So it is, God he hath them chained up in his Almighty power, yea thrown down to the prison of Hell: farther then he doth loose them, and bring them into the earth, where this shew is represented, and battell to be seen, they are not able to do any thing. Again, we cannot on the other side, being set upon, buckle with the adversary power till God doth lead us to it. The Kings Champion is not to play at his own pleasure, no more are we farther then God designeth it. But how can God lead us into those temptations which he seeth will certainly bring us into sinne? Answer, Because sin it self is not absolutely evil, but only in respect of man sinning, who would in so doing pervert the divine order, though he be unable; as who accomplisheth Gods will, when he doth contrary it, for ought he knoweth. Again, as Vipers are evil substances or natures, which yet are good to that art which maketh antidotes of them; or any poyson which is evil, as it is poyson in it self considered; yet is good as it is poyson, to a skilfull Physician: and as a blister on the flesh is a natural evil, as a blister, yet a blister as a blister is good when a cunning Physician doth draw it, and may see it for good use: so is sin to God. God hath an holy, over-ruling and disposing hand in the temptations and evils to which men are subject.1 King 22.23. 2 Sam. 16.10. Joh. 12.40. The putting of a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahabs Prophets; Shimeis cursing of David; the blinding of the eyes, and hardening the hearts of the Pharisees: the giving up of the Gentiles to vile affections: All these, saith the Scripture, were of God,Rom. 1.26. 1 King. 12.14. or from the Lord, as it was of him, that Rehoboam hearkened not to the people. But cause in that place, doth not signifie the proper effecting of a thing causally, but a disposing of the proper causes so as they did produce this effect. And from this Doctrine we are admonished not to cast our selves into temptations. He that loveth danger shall perish. We must not make our selves poor as those Hereticks that renounce all their substance, that in voluntary poverty they may commend themselves to God. No man should choose his dwelling among those of a sinfull profession, as a chast man among stews, a temperate man among drunkards, belly-gods, &c. Christ offered himself into temptation: but herein we must not follow his example: for he was carried extraordinarily by the power of his God-head into the desart to be tempted for our sakes, that in his Victory we might overcome. Again, this must teach us contentment in all our temptations: not that we must prevent repentance by this consideration; but we must when we are truly humbled by this meanes, keep our selves from being swallowed up of sorrow. For Gods will, and Gods turning all to good; the Devil will whisper them so as to make us pass by all exercise of a broken spirit in those things wherein we have offended. Moreover, from this consideration we must walk in fear before our God, who as a Shepherd setteth his Dog on a stray Sheep, so can he set the Devil on us to hound us home if we stray from him. Lastly, we see from this to our comfort, that the Devil cannot come against us at his pleasure: for we are in the hands of our heavenly Father, who hath an over-ruling hand in the temptations and the sins of all men. Satan therefore cannot winnow us, nor buffet; no he cannot touch us, but as he hath leave of our heavenly Father, the Lord of Hosts. This we understand further by the case of Job, Peter, and Paul; Satan could not assail them untill God did permit him: and when he had leave to do his worst, the grace of God was sufficient to preserve them, that either they did not fall, or it did recover them out of their fals, and in the end caused them to die Conquer ours over Satan, over their own lusts, and over whatsoever opposed it self to the obedience of Christ in them. Moreover, If Gods Children do sinne, he can order and dispose of their sinne to their good and to his own glory, for many of Gods Children have gained more benefit by falling into some sinne, which through Gods mercy hath humbled them, than they have by doing some good duties, whereby they have grown exceeding high-minded. Have we not cause therefore to rejoyce that we are under the safe conduct of such a leader? But let no man abuse this comfort, and pervert it to his harm, by taking liberty to sinne, because God can work his own glory, and good to man out of it. What though the skilfull Physician can make triacle of poyson, and can tell how to apply poyson to his Patient for his recovery; yet if the Patient hereupon be too busie with these poysons, they will prove his death. Let us be glad our God can draw good out of evll, but let us not be doers of that which is evil.
1 Cor. 10.13.3. Gods sufferance is not to be understood without his action: he is a voluntary Agent in these things which he suffereth. We must not think his permission is a pure permission, either without his will, or working in the thing permitted, as often mans is; for man may be said partly to suffer this, not to do it, because other causes have their activity without him, and dependancy on him; but it is otherwise with God.
4. All our strength against temptation is in God only; He only dissolveth the works of the Devil, trampleth Satan under feet, keepeth him that he cannot so much as be disturbant to us; when it pleaseth him, we are down with the least blast. Were we in state of innocency, we would not stand a moment. Let us therefore trust perfectly on his grace, put on the Shield of Faith only. Our fore-fathers acknowledged that God, not their strength, gave them all salvation against corporal enemies; How much more must we confess it against spiritual? Who knoweth the power of Satan, or the infirmity of their own flesh, that will not confess this most intirely? But what serveth the Armour for? Answer. OnelyOnly to this end, that we may be able to get and hold God with us, fighting for us.
5. It is the duty of all Christians to pray, that they be not led into temptations; that they be not inticed or drawn into evil. For of our selves we are unsufficient to think a good thought, much more to resist the powers of Hell when they assault. before conversion we are dead, and in the very power of sinne and Satan, who taketh us captive at his pleasure. Psal. 103.14. Joh. 15.5. Jer. 10.23.After conversion we are frail, and disposed of our selves to return to our former evil conversation, if the Lord do not support and excite us with his grace. The way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. If a man cannot order himself in the smaller things which concern the outward man, much less can he dispose himself in the greatest which concern the inward, in the matters of sanctification. God is the only giver of grace, and upholder in temptations. This gift is so Divine and so excellent, that God hath in his wisdom reserved it to himself, as a part of his Divine Prerogative, to bestow it with his own hands. For he knew well that if man could conferre grace, or could attain it by any means with him, all the praise thereof would be given to man, and God should have none: and man would grow so proud, that he would claim Heaven by merit; and flesh would glory in his presence, if God were not his strength and sanctification, as well as his redemption. The Adversaries unto holiness are most subtile and mighty, they are principalites, powers, 1 Chro. 21.1. Job 1.13. & 2.7.and spiritual wickednesses, that if they be not resisted by a stronger, even by the power of Gods might, they will prevail unto ungodliness. Nor doth their power and craft exceed their vigilance to take all advantages that may be gotten, either from a mans natural disposition, or from his sex,1 Pet. 5.8. Mat. 26.70. or from his different condition of life and calling; from his estate in the world, be he rich or poor, noble or base; or from his estate in grace, be he a babe or strong man in Christ; or from observation in what thing a man is least armed; or from observation what a man doth esteem or disesteem most, also from place, time, solitariness, company, and whatsoever particular circumstance shall fall out, it shall be taken to the greatest advantage to further the temptation, making use of the infinite varieties of evil unto which, and of the manifold varieties of meanes by which a man may be tempted. Great is the power and efficacy of Prayer; by it we keep Satan at the bay, that he cannot come nigh to annoy and trouble us. Pray, that ye enter not into temptation: Mat. 26.4.By it we obtain help and aid from Heaven, when he setteth upon as. Wherefore we must crave the aid of God generally in all temptations,Psal. 86.11. Psal. 5.8. & 25.4, 5. Psal. 119.29, 35, 133. Psal. 119.5. Vers. 18. Vers. 36. Psal. 141.3, 4. and specially in every affliction or assault we must runne unto him: as David did in every kind of temptation. O that my waies were directed to keep thy Statutes. Open mine eyes, that I may behold wonderous things out of thy Law. Incline mine heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. Incline not mine heart to any evil thing. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and grant me graciously thy grace.
6. Whosoever would be preserved from sinne, he must resist temptations. The Devil did deceive Eve through his temptations, and Adam was likewise drawn into the transgression by the inticement of Eve. Temptations and motions to sinne are the very seed and kernels of sinne, which if they may be entertained, so as to receive any warmth in a mans heart, there is presently a conception of sinne, which will cause him to be in labour and travell of it,Jam. 1.14, 15. untill he have brought it forth into act. There are no creatures so apt to bear issue, nor ground so rank to bearweeds; no Tinder or Gunpowder so ready to take fire, as the heart of man is to conceive sin, and be inflamed with lust by evil motions and temptations: wherefore all that would avoid sinne, have cause to resist it in the temptation. To resist beginnings of the evil of sinne, is a rule as needfull to be observed against diseases of the soul, as to withstand evils of pain in the beginning, is needfull in diseases of the body. Now that we may withstand temptations. First, We must look to our own heart, for that is the hold and fort of the soul; if that be not true to us, we are sure to be foyled in every temptation: wherefore we must have it in an holy suspicion, so far as to cause us to examine and search it daily to find out those trecherous and deceiveable lusts that lurke there; and when by the light of the Word we have found any, let us not stay till they assault us, but let us assault them by the power of Christ, and use martiall Law presently to condemn and crucifie them. And let us never leave purging the heart, untill we can say, it is not set upon any earthly thing,1 Tim. 6.9. either to love it, or fear it; or if it be, as he that will be rich, so he that will have pleasure, and will have glory of men, shall fall into temptation. Nothing will bring the heart to a firm resolution to will in all things to live honestly, so soon as this course. Secondly, The understanding, which is the watch-man and intelligencer of the soul, must be well informed. For no resolution can avail, if judgment be wanting to discern betwixt good and evil. It must be able to discern between good and evil, between things not sinfull and sinfull: and of good things to discern which are good but in part, which every way good; and what things are good only to sense and appearance, and what is good in truth: and so on the contrary: that the baits to draw unto sinne, taken from the gain, pleasure, and glory of this world may not move us, because they be but uncertain, van and transitory. Thirdly, We must alwaies set the true danger of sinning, and the true good and glory of well doing before our eyes:Heb. 11.25, 26 and it will cause the heart to choose the good and refuse the evil. If we can but judg aright of the joy that is set before us in the course of holiness,Heb. 12.2. it will make us with our Saviour Christ endure the Cross, and despise the shame which in this world doth accompany Christianity; and we shall with speed runne the race that is set before us, notwithstanding the impediments that we shall meet withall. 4. There must be a continual watch set, and faithfully kept; wherefore the eye of the mind must be alwaies awake, to see and observe what particular temptations do arise against us,1 Pet. 5.8. 1 Cor. 16.13. Mar. 13.17. either from within or without. Be sober, be vigilant; Watch and pray. Fifthly, When by watchfulness the temptation is discovered, then we must buckle all the Christian Armour about us. Sixthly, being thus armed, we must animate and fill the heart with courage and resolution to resist even unto the death. For which cause, we must make an Oration unto it, such as wise and valiant leaders will make to encourage their Souldiers; we must mind our hearts of the odiousness and hurtfulness of that thing to which we are tempted; how that it is a lust of the flesh and of the Devil; how it is enmity to our God, and a deadly enemy unto us; how that we must kill it, or it will kill us. Let us mind our hearts with this; that it will be to the dishonour of our King and Countrey to be overcome; that to yeeld to any temptation is contrary to our vow of allegiance, which we entred into when we first professed to fight under Christs Banner. Let us tell our selves of the equity of our cause, how that our warre is just; think also of the wisdom and valour of our Captain Christ, assuring our selves, that how hard soever our conflict may be, yet if we do not yeeld, in the end we shall overcome, and be more then Conquerours.
7. We must stand fast in the faith, quit our selves like men, and be strong. In the Conflict two evils must be avoided. First, We must not trust to our own wisdom: for then sinne will be too crafty for us. Secondly, We must not resist in the power of our own might, for then the Principalities and powers will be too strong for us. We must therefore resist by the wisdom of the Word, and power of God, so shall we put Satan to flight.Iam. 4.7.