The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, As God permitted it, and withheld usual aid from them; so the efficacy of that Temptation was great, yea, much greater than ordinary. As they were weaker than they were used to be, so the temptation was stronger than any they had yet met withal. It's called, Luk. 22.53. Their hour, and the power of darkness. A sifting winnowing hour, vers. 46. O it was a black and cloudy day. Never had the Disciples met with such a whirlwind, such a furious storm before. The Devil desired but to have the winnowing of them in that day, and so would have sifted and winnowed them, that their faith had utterly failed, had not Christ secured it by his Prayer for them. So that it was an extraordinary trial that was upon them.

Secondly, As God permitted it, and withheld usual aid from them; so the efficacy of that Temptation was great, yea, much greater than ordinary. As they were weaker than they were used to be, so the temptation was stronger than any they had yet met withal. It's call'd, Luk. 22.53. Their hour, and the power of darkness. A sisting winnowing hour, vers. 46. O it was a black and cloudy day. Never had the Disciples met with such a whirlewind, such a furious storm before. The Devil desired but to have the winnowing of them in that day, and so would have sifted and winnowed them, that their faith had utterly failed, had not Christ secured it by his Prayer for them. So that it was an extraordinary tryal that was upon them.

Thirdly, And lastly, that which concurred to their shameful relapse, as a special cause of it was the remaining corruptions that were in their hearts yet unmortified. Their knowledge was but little. And their faith not much. Upon the account of their weakness in grace, they were called little ones in the Text. And as their graces were weak, so their corruptions were strong. Their Unbelief and carnal fears grew powerfully upon them.