3. It is evident,1 that the temptations of the devil are always ordinarily most strong, after Gods people have discharged some extraordinary duties to God, or have received most discoveries of grace from God. In both these Cases the devils temptations are usually great. You find that immediately after the Celebration of the Lords Supper the devil desired to winnow the disciples; 2after they had performed that extraordinary service to God, the devil was desirous presently to set upon them. So you find that after Christ had in an extraordinary manner,3 fasted forty days and forty nights, he was immediately after tempted of the devil;4 and so also after his baptism, no sooner was he out of the water of Baptism, but he was in the fire of temptation. The Israel of God can be no sooner out of Egypt, but this hellish Pharaoh pursues them. And Hezekiah had no sooner kept the solemn ⟨p. 92⟩Passover, but Sennacherib comes up against him. All this is to show us, that after we have put forth most grace in a duty, then the devil will labour to play his aftergame with us, if he miss of his fore-game; if Satan cannot keep us from duty and from enlargement in duty, he will fly-blow our duties by pride and so mar them. And then after we have received the most especial manifestations from Gods love and favour in Christ, then may we expect to be assaulted by the devil: Thus Paul, after he had those heavenly raptures, 5and abundance of Revelations; the devil set upon him with vile temptations; he had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, a thorn in the flesh; which is not to be meant of any disease, but of some sharp temptation from the devil. So you find that immediately after that voice to Christ,6 This is my well beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, that then the Tempter came to him. Hence you may gather from that connection between those two Petitions in the Lord Prayer, Forgive us our trespasses, and lead us not into temptation: to note to us, that no sooner can we get the evidence of our pardon, but we may expect to be tempted of the devil.
3. It is evident,1 that the temptations of the devil are alwayes ordinarily most strong, after Gods people have discharged some extraordinary duties to God, or have received most discoveries of grace from God. In both these Cases the devils temptations are usually great. You finde that immediately after the Celebration of the Lords Supper the devil desired to winnow the disciples; 2after they had performed that extraordinary service to God, the devil was desirous presently to set upon them. So you finde that after Christ had in an extraordinary manner,3 fasted forty dayes and forty nights, he was immediately after tempted of the devil;4 and so also after his baptisme, no sooner was he out of the water of Baptisme, but he was in the fire of temptation. The Israel of God can be no sooner out of Egypt, but this hellish Pharoah pursues them. And Hezekiah had no sooner kept the solemn ⟨p. 92⟩Passeover, but Senacherib comes up against him. All this is to shew us, that after we have put forth most grace in a duty, then the devil will labour to play his aftergame with us, if he misse of his fore-game; if Satan cannot keep us from duty and from inlargment in duty, he will flie-blow our duties by pride and so marre them. And then after we have received the most especial manifestations from Gods love and favour in Christ, then may we expect to be assaulted by the devil: Thus Paul, after he had those heavenly raptures, 5and abundance of Revelations; the devil set upon him with vile temptations; he had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, a thorn in the flesh; which is not to be meant of any disease, but of some sharp temptation from the devil. So you finde that immediately after that voice to Christ,6 This is my well beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, that then the Tempter came to him. Hence you may gather from that connexion between those two Petitions in the Lord Prayer, Forgive us our trespasses, and lead us not into temptation: to note to us, that no sooner can we get the evidence of our pardon, but we may expect to be tempted of the devil.
- 1Posit. 3.
- 2Luke 22. 31.
- 3Mat. 4. 2, 3
- 4Dr. Halls observations.
- 52 Cor. 12. 7.
- 6Mat. 3. 17.
