Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The sum and substance of…Grace: the truth and growth and different degrees thereof. The summe and substance of…

2. When they are frequent and continued. Small temptations often suggested become strong. Small drops of water by frequent falling make hollow the hard stone; which a few great and forcible blows will not do: so temptations, though but to small sins, if they be continued, may have greater entrance into the heart then a violent assault may.

2. When they are frequent and continued. Small temptations often suggested become strong. Small drops of water by frequent falling make hollow the hard stone; which a few great and forcible blows wil not doe: so temptations, though but to small sins, if they be continued, may have greater entrance into the heart then a violent assault may.

3. When they are suited by the devil to a mans disposition or present condition; so was that temptation by which the devil set upon Christ, after he had fasted forty days and forty nights: Command, says he, that these ⟨p. 94⟩stones be made bread. ¹It was suited to his present condition, meat for his hunger. If you offer meat to a naked man, he values it not, or clothes to a hungry man, because it is not suited to his present exigence: but if the gift you offer be suited to the mans necessity, clothes to him that is naked, and meat to him that is hungry, then it becomes acceptable. The devil doth not cast temptations at random, he is more subtle then to row against wind and tide, he knows which way the stream of our affections and dispositions runs, and he suits his baits accordingly.² Every man (says the Apostle) is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. ³It is a metaphor taken from Fishermen, who have this skill, that according to the nature of the fish, so they will suit their bait, whereby they lie in wait to deceive either the sight or the taste of the poor fish. The devil is the great fisher of souls, and makes use of such temptations which are most likely to take; he observes to what sins a mans Relations, Calling or opportunities lay him most open & obnoxious, and accordingly he lays his snare, and spreads his net. Though its true, that every man hath a principle within him suiting to every sin; yet it is as true that every man is not equally active for, or disposed unto every sin. The devil sees what sin is most predominant in man, and so he frameth a temptation suitable; He sets a wedge of Gold before a covetous Achan; Cozby an