CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Secondly, The Scripture speaks of it as a special favour, when God will be with us in our Afflictions, so that we shall not be left to Temptations; Therefore we are constantly to pray, Mat. 6.13. that God would deliver us from Temptation; Now although prosperity and outward mercies are a Temptation, yet the Scripture doth for the most part call Afflictions only Temptations, because we are so hardly able to keep our Integrity and holiness in them, We can hardly overcome flesh and blood, or conquer our selfish Inclinations so, as to lie humbly and with deep Resignation into Gods hand: Oh then what great thoughts of heart should there be that such a Condition, such a strait, such an Affliction be not a Temptation to thee, that God do not leave thee in it; It's a special mercy to be kept from a Temptation but a greater in it; This is miraculous like those that were in the fire, and yet not burnt. There is not a more comfortable evidence of Gods love when thou shall be bruised and broken with many afflictions, and yet they are not able to stir up corruptions in thy heart; Never forget to pray, That as Temptations and Afflictions shall come on thee, so Gods suitable Grace and tender Preservation may accompany thee; Though Christ prayed thus for the Apostles to be kept from the evil, yet Peter gradually though not totally or finally was left by God in his Temptation, when he was surprised with fear, how grievously doth he deny Christ with bitter curses and swearings? Here Peter was not quite from evil, though so far as Christ prayed for him, he was preserved, viz. that his faith might not fail; Oh by this sad instance we see if God withdraw his Arm from us how dreadful our Estate would be; That thou hast not blasphemed God and his Providence, and charged God foolishly in thy straits, bless and praise God for it, and remember that self confidence is the great sin to provoke God to leave thee to the evil of temptations, as we see in Peter and Hezekiah; Take heed of going out of Gods arms, of letting go his hand or provoking him any way.

Secondly, The Scripture speaks of it as a special favour, when God will be with us in our Afflictions, so that we shall not be left to Temptations; Therefore we are constantly to pray, Mat. 6.13. that God would deliver us from Temptation; Now although prosperity and outward mercies are a Temptation, yet the Scripture doth for the most part call Afflictions only Temptations, because we are so hardly able to keep our Integrity and holinesse in them, We can hardly overcome flesh and bloud, or conquer our selfish Inclinations so, as to lie humbly and with deep Resignation into Gods hand: Oh then what great thoughts of heart should there be that such a Condition, such a streight, such an Affliction be not a Temptation to thee, that God do not leave thee in it; It's a special mercy to be kept from a Temptation but a greater in it; This is miraculous like those that were in the fire, and yet not burnt. There is not a more comfortable evidence of Gods love when thou shalbe bruised and broken with many afflictions, and yet they are not able to stir up corruptions in thy heart; Never forget to pray, That as Temptations and Afflictions shall come on thee, so Gods sutable Grace and tender Preservation may accompany thee; Though Christ prayed thus for the Apostles to be kept from the evil, yet Peter gradually though not totally or finally was left by God in his Temptation, when he was surprised with fear, how grievously doth he deny Christ with bitter curses and swearings? Here Peter was not quite from evil, though so farre as Christ prai'd for him, he was preserved, viz. that his faith might not fail; Oh by this sad instance we see if God withdraw his Arm from us how dreadful our Estate would be; That thou hast not blasphemed God and his Providence, and charged God foolishly in thy streights, blesse and praise God for it, and remember that self confidence is the great sinne to provoke God to leave thee to the evil of temptations, as we see in Peter and Hezekiah; Take heed of going out of Gods arms, of letting go his hand or provoking him any way.