Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

2. The cause of Christs going into the Wilderness was the Spirits leading. Then was ⟨p. 175⟩Jesus led of the Spirit into the Wilderness; Christ was led by the good Spirit, to be tempted by the evil Spirit: O wonder! that same Spirit which was one with the Father and the Son; that same Spirit whereby Christ was conceived, now drives him or leads him into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil: The manner of Christ's leading is a question; some think he was led or catched away from Jordan in some visible rapture towards the wilderness: But to leave that, and to come to Truths more necessary; Christ taught us to Pray unto his Father, Lead us not into temptation; and yet he himself is now led into the same temptation which we must pray against; surely this is for our instruction: we are not to thrust our selves upon temptation; Christ himself would not go into the Combat uncalled, unwarranted, how then should we poor weaklings presume upon any abilities of our own? who dares grapple with the Devil in his own strength? O take heed! if we are to pray not to be led into temptation, much more are we to pray not to run into temptation before we are led; and yet for the comfort of God's people, if it be so that we are led; if by divine permission, or by an inspiration of the holy Spirit, we are engaged in an action, or in a course of life that is full of temptations, and empty of comforts, let us look upon it as an issue of divine Providence in which we must Glorify God; but no argument of disfavour or dislove of God: and why? because Christ himself who could have driven the Devil away by the breath of his mouth, yet was, by the Spirit of his Father, led to a Trial by the Spirits of Darkness. My Brethren, count it all joy (saith James¹) when ye enter into divers temptations, knowing that the trial of your Faith worketh Patience.

2. The cause of Christs going into the Wilderness was the Spirits leading. Then was ⟨p. 175⟩Jesus led of the Spirit into the Wilderness; Christ was led by the good Spirit, to be tempted by the evil Spirit: O wonder! that same Spirit which was one with the Father and the Son; that same Spirit whereby Christ was conceived, now drives him or leads him into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil: The manner of Christ's leading is a question; some think he was led or catcht away from Jordan in some visible rapture towards the wilderness: But to leave that, and to come to Truths more necessary; Christ taught us to Pray unto his Father, Lead us not into temptation; and yet he himself is now led into the same temptation which we must pray against; surely this is for our instruction: we are not to thrust our selves upon temptation; Christ himself would not go into the Combat uncalled, unwarranted, how then should we poor weaklings presume upon any abilities of our own? who dares grapple with the Devil in his own strength? O take heed! if we are to pray not to be led into temptation, much more are we to pray not to run into temptation before we are led; and yet for the comfort of God's people, if it be so that we are led; if by divine permission, or by an inspiration of the holy Spirit, we are engaged in an action, or in a course of life that is full of temptations, and empty of comforts, let us look upon it as an issue of divine Providence in which we must Glorifie God; but no argument of disfavour or dislove of God: and why? because Christ himself who could have driven the Devil away by the breath of his mouth, yet was, by the Spirit of his Father, led to a Tryal by the Spirits of Darkness. My Brethren, count it all joy (saith James