A godly and learned exposition of Christs Sermon in the Mount

4. Use. Here also we are let to see, how great our weakness is, even when we be Gods children, and have true grace; for we must daily pray, that God would not lead us into temptation: whereby we import, that of our selves we are so far from withstanding a temptation, that if God should leave us, we would give up our selves as slaves unto the devil. Here then behold thine estate and condition whosoever thou art, considered in thy self; if God leave thee, thou canst not stand in any temptation, but must needs fall into the bondage of Satan: yea, so exceeding great is our weakness in our selves, that in temptation there doth scarce appear any difference between the child of God, and a wicked one; for both are subject to the temptations of Satan: nay, the child of God is usually more assaulted then the wicked: when the evil motion ariseth, or is suggested into the mind, the wicked receive it, and delight therein: so did David, and so do we all: the wicked give consent of will, so do the godly, if God leave them: the wicked fall to practise sin, and so do the godly, if God keep back his grace from them: the wicked lie in sin, and so do the godly, till the Lord by grace do raise¹ them up. Where then is the difference? Surely the persons themselves do differ in temptation, for the wicked is carried with violence into sin, and without resistance in temptation; but the godly hath some resistance in himself, when he gives consent to sin, the evil that he doth, he would not do: Romans 7. 19. But the main difference, is Gods grace and mercy, vouchsafed to the child of God, but denied to the wicked; for if we escape temptation, it is of grace and mercy; if we stand in temptation, and yield not to evil suggestion, if we deny consent of will, or be kept from the practise of sin, it is all of grace: and if we be fallen into sin, and rise again by true repentance, that also is Gods special grace, without which undoubtedly we should run on with the wicked unto destruction. Here therefore we must learn to renounce all confidence in our selves, and to walk in all humility before God, relying wholly upon his grace and mercy in Jesus Christ: we must make his arm our strength, and ⟨p. 308⟩his grace our shield, to defend us from temptation.

4. Vse. Here also we are let to see, how great our weakenesse is, euen when wee bee Gods children, and haue true grace; for wee must daiely pray, that God would not lead vs into temptation: whereby wee import, that of our selues wee are so farre from withstanding a temptation, that if God should leaue vs, wee would giue vp our selues as slaues vnto the deuill. Here then behold thine estate and condition whosoeuer thou art, considered in thy selfe; if God leaue thee, thou canst not stand in any temptation, but must needes fall into the bondage of Satan: yea, so exceeding great is our weakenesse in our selues, that in temptation there doth scarce appeare any difference betweene the childe of God, and a wicked one; for both are subiect to the temptations of Satan: nay, the child of God is vsually more assaulted then the wicked: when the euill motion ariseth, or is suggested into the minde, the wicked receiue it, and delight therein: so did Dauid, and so doe wee all: the wicked giue consent of will, so doe the godly, if God leaue them: the wicked fall to practise sinne, and so doe the godly, if God keepe backe his grace from them: the wicked lie in sinne, and so doe the godly, till the Lord by grace doe raise