Sixthly: But especially speak and converse with the Promise, hear what the Promise speaketh: The Lord by it saith, That no Temptation shall overtake you,1 but what is common to men. O! say you, never any one was troubled with such Temptations as I am; but saith the Apostle, say not so, For no Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common to men. You think that your Temptation is extraordinary, and the truth is, that is a second Temptation at the back of the first; it is a Temptation to think, that my Temptation is extraordinary; yet say you, O! my Condition is extraordinary, my Affliction extraordinary, and my Temptation extraordinary; but says the Apostle, No Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common &c. You think that you shall never be able to bear your Temptation. O say you, I am a poor weak Creature, my Temptation is strong and great; ⟨p. 149⟩therefore I shall never be able to bear it. But says the Apostle, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. Again, you think that you shall never be rid of this Temptation; O say you, I have been tempted thus and thus long, and no deliverance comes, nor no likelihood of deliverance; surely therefore I shall never be delivered: But the Apostle saith, God is faithful, who will with the Temptation, make a way for escape. He will give an out-let, open a door, and window, that this smoke may go out. It may be you see not this door, it may be out of sight: so the door of the Ark was, in the time of the Flood; but when the Ark was built, the door was built: So when Satan built this Temptation, God did build a door in the sides thereof, and in due time you shall see it. But may I be sure of that, you'll say? Yes, as sure as God is Faithful; for he hath pawned his Faithfulness for the truth of this Promise: But God is faithful, says the Apostle, who will with the Temptation, make a way for escape. O! that men would mind the Promise more, and all the words thereof: They are so hurried sometimes with the Temptation, that they cannot hear the Promise. But is all this true? O! then attend the Promise; hear what the Promise speaketh.
Sixtly: But especially speak and converse with the Promise, hear what the Promise speaketh: The Lord by it saith, That no Temptation shal overtake you,1 but what is common to men. O! say you, never any one was troubled with such Temptations as I am; but saith the Apostle, say not so, For no Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common to men. You think that your Temptation is extraordinary, and the truth is, that is a second Temptation at the back of the first; it is a Temptation to think, that my Temptation is extraordinary; yet say you, O! my Condition is extraordinary, my Affliction extraordinary, and my Temptation extraordinary; but saies the Apostle, No Temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common &c. You think that you shal never be able to bear your Temptation. O say you, I am a poor weak Creature, my Temptation is strong and great; ⟨p. 149⟩therefore I shal never be able to bear it. But saies the Apostle, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able. Again, you think that you shal never be rid of this Temptation; O say you, I have been tempted thus and thus long, and no deliverance comes, nor no likelyhood of deliverance; surely therefore I shal never be delivered: But the Apostle saith, God is faithful, who wil with the Temptation, make a way for escape. He will give an out-let, open a door, and window, that this smoak may go out. It may be you see not this door, it may be out of sight: so the door of the Ark was, in the time of the Flood; but when the Ark was built, the door was built: So when Satan built this Temptation, God did build a door in the sides thereof, and in due time you shal see it. But may I be sure of that, you'l say? Yes, as sure as God is Faithful; for he hath pawned his Faithfulness for the truth of this Promise: But God is faithful, saies the Apostle, who wil with the Temptation, make a way for escape. O! that men would mind the Promise more, and all the words thereof: They are so hurried somtimes with the Temptation, that they cannot hear the Promise. But is all this true? O! then attend the Promise; hear what the Promise speaketh.
- 11 Cor. 10.13.
