A51838:354
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons /
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
A51838:354
Christs temptation and transfiguration practically explained and improved in several sermons / by the late Reverend Tho. Manton ...
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As here, when the adversary was put to the foil he went his way. Therefore this is often pressed upon us in Scripture, James 4. 7. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. If you resist his suggestions to malice, envy, and strife, he is discouraged. So 1 Pet. 5. 9. Whom resist steadfast in the Faith. We must not fly nor yield to him in the least, but stoutly and peremptorily resist him in all his temptations. If you stand your ground satan falleth. In this spiritual conflict satan hath only weapons offensive, cunning wiles, and fiery darts, none defensive; a believer hath weapons both offensive and defensive, sword and shield, &c. therefore our safety lieth in resisting.
As here, when the adversary was put to the foil he went his way. Therefore this is often pressed upon us in Scripture, Iames 4. 7. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. If you resist his suggestions to malice, envy, and strife, he is discouraged. So 1 Pet. 5. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith. We must not fly nor yeild to him in the least, but stoutly and peremptorily resist him in all his temptations. If you stand your ground satan falleth. In this spiritual conflict satan hath only weapons offensive, cunning wiles, and fiery darts, none defensive; a believer hath weapons both offensive and defensive, sword and shield, &c. therefore our safety lyeth in resisting.
About which is to be considered, 1. What kind of Resistance this must be. 2. Arguments to persuade and enforce it. ⟨p. 203⟩3. What Graces enable us in this Resistance.
About which is to be considered, 1. What kind of Resistance this must be. 2. Arguments to perswade and enforce it. ⟨p. 203⟩3. What Graces enable us in this Resistance.
1. For the kind of Resistance.
1. It must not be faint and cold. Some kind of Resistance may be made by general and common Graces; the light of nature will rise up in defiance of many sins, especially at first before men have sinned away natural light, or else the Resistance at least is in some cold way. But it must be earnest and vehement as against the enemy of God, and our Souls. Pauls Resistance in his conflicts was with serious dislikes, and deep groans, Rom. 7. 19. The good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do, and verse 24. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! In apparent cases a detestation, and vehement indignation is enough, get thee behind me Satan! In other cases there need strong Arguments and Considerations, that the temptation may not stick, when the tempter is gone; as the smutch remaineth of a candle stuck against a stone wall. When Eve speaketh faintly and coldly, the devil reneweth the assault with the more violence, Gen. 3. 3. Ye shall not eat of it, ⟨p. 204⟩neither shall ye touch it, lest ye dye. As to the restraint she speaketh warmly, and with some impatience of resentment, not eat, nor touch: in the Commination too coldly, lest ye dye, when God had said, ye shall surely dye. A faint denial is a kind of grant: therefore slight Satan's assaults with indignation. Though the dog barketh the Traveller passeth on. Satan cannot endure contempt. At other times argue for God stoutly; thy Soul and eternal concernments are in danger. No worldly concernment ought to go so near to us as that which concerneth our eternal good, and the Salvation of our souls. What would the devil have from thee but thy soul, and its precious enjoyments, Peace of Conscience, Hope of Everlasting Life? What doth he bid? worldly vanities. As the Merchant putteth up his wares with indignation, when the chapman biddeth an unworthy price.
2. It must be a through resistance of all sin, take the little Foxes, dash Babylons brats against the stones. Lesser sticks set the great ones on fire. The devil cannot hope to prevail for great things presently: at first it is, hath God said? and then, ye ⟨p. 205⟩shall not surely dye. The approaches of Satan to the Soul are gradual, he asketh a little, it is no great matter. Consider the evil of a temptation is better kept out than gotten out. Many think to stop after they have yielded a little; but when the stone at the top of an Hill begins to role downward, it is hard to stay it, and you cannot say, how far you shall go. I'll yield but once saith a deceived heart; I'll yield but a little, and never yield again. The devil will carry thee further and further, till he hath not left any tenderness in thy Conscience. Some that thought to venture but a shilling, by the witchery of Gaming have played away all: so some have sinned away all principles of Conscience.
2. It must be a through resistance of all sin, take the little Foxes, dash Babylons brats against the stones. Lesser sticks set the great ones on fire. The devil cannot hope to prevail for great things presently: at first it is, hath God said? and then, ye ⟨p. 205⟩shall not surely dye. The approaches of Satan to the Soul are gradual, he asketh a little, it is no great matter. Consider the evil of a temptation is better kept out than gotten out. Many think to stop after they have yielded a little; but when the stone at the top of an Hill begins to role downward, it is hard to stay it, and you cannot say, how far you shall go. I'le yeild but once saith a deceived heart; i'le yield but a little, and never yield again. The devil will carry thee further and further, till he hath not left any tenderness in thy Conscience. Some that thought to venture but a shilling, by the witchery of Gaming have played away all: so some have sinned away all principles of Conscience.
3. It must not be for a while but continued; not only to stand out against the first assault, but a long siege. What Satan cannot gain by Argument, he seeketh to gain by importunity; but resist him steadfast in the Faith: as his instrument spake to Joseph, day by day, Gen. 39. 10. Our thoughts by time are more reconciled to evil. Now we must keep up our zeal to the last. To yield at last is to lose the Glory of the conflict. ⟨p. 206⟩Therefore rate away the importunate suitor, as Christ doth.
3. It must not be for a while but continued; not only to stand out against the first assault, but a long siege. What Satan cannot gain by Argument, he seeketh to gain by importunity; but resist him stedfast in the Faith: as his instrument spake to Ioseph, day by day, Gen. 39. 10. Our thoughts by time are more reconciled to evil. Now we must keep up our zeal to the last. To yield at last is to lose the Glory of the conflict. ⟨p. 206⟩Therefore rate away the importunate futor, as Christ doth.
II. Arguments to persuade it.
II. Arguments to perswade it.
1. Because he cannot overcome you without your own consent. The wicked are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure, 2 Tim. 2. 26. because they yield themselves to his temptations, like the young man, Prov. 7. 22. He goeth after her straightway, as an Ox goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the stocks. There is a Consent or at least there is not a powerful Dissent. Satan's power lieth not in a constraining efficacy, but persuasive allurement.
1. Because he cannot overcome you without your own consent. The wicked are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure, 2 Tim. 2. 26. because they yeild themselves to his temptations, like the young man, Prov. 7. 22. He goeth after her straightway, as an Ox goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the stocks. There is a Consent or at least there is not a powerful Dissent. Satan's power lyeth not in a constraining efficacy, but perswasive allurement.
2. The sweetness of victory will recompense the trouble of Resistance, it is much more pleasing to deny a temptation, than to yield to it; the pleasure of sin is short-lived, but the pleasure of self-denial is Eternal.
2. The sweetness of victory will recompence the trouble of Resistance, it is much more pleasing to deny a temptation, than to yield to it; the pleasure of sin is shortlived, but the pleasure of self-denyal is Eternal.
3. Grace the more it is tried and exercised, the more it is evidenced to be right and sincere, Rom. 5. 3, 4, 5. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience ⟨p. 207⟩experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us. It is a comfortable thing to know that we are of the Truth, and to be able to assure our hearts before God.
3. Grace the more it is tryed and exercised, the more it is evidenced to be right and sincere, Rom. 5. 3, 4, 5. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience ⟨p. 207⟩experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us. It is a comfortable thing to know that we are of the Truth, and to be able to assure our hearts before God.
4. Grace is strengthened when it hath stood out against a Trial. As a Tree shaken with fierce Winds is more fruitful, its Roots being loosened. Satan is a loser and you a gainer by temptations, wherein you have approved your fidelity to God: as a man holdeth a stick the faster when another seeketh to wrest it out of his hands.
4. Grace is strengthned when it hath stood out against a Tryal. As a Tree shaken with fierce Winds is more fruitful, its Roots being loosned. Satan is a loser and you a gainer by temptations, wherein you have approved your fidelity to God: as a man holdeth a stick the faster when another seeketh to wrest it out of his hands.
5. The more we resist Satan the greater will our reward be 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness. The danger of the battle will increase the joy of the victory; as the dangers of the way make home the sweeter. There will a time come, when he that is now a Soldier will be a Conqueror, Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
5. The more we resist Satan the greater will our reward be 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness. The danger of the battle will encrease the joy of the victory; as the dangers of the way make home the sweeter. There will a time come, when he that is now a Souldier will be a Conqueror, Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
6. Where Satan gets possession, after he seemeth to be cast out, he returneth with the more violence and tyrannizeth the more, Matth. 12. 45. Then goeth he and taketh with himself, seven other spirits more wicked then himself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
7. The Lords Grace is promised to him that resisteth. God keepeth us from the evil one, but it is by our watchfulness and resistance; his power maketh it effectual. We are to strive against sin and keep our selves, and God keepeth us by making our keeping effectual.
III. What are the Graces, that enable us in this Resistance? I Answer, the three fundamental Graces, Faith, Hope, and Love, so the spiritual Armour is represented, 1 Thess. 5. 8. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love, and for an helmet the hope of Salvation.
1. A strong Faith, 1 Pet. 5. 9. Whom resist, steadfast in the Faith. This is in the general a sound belief of Eternity, or a deep ⟨p. 209⟩sense of the World to come. When we believe the Gospel with an assent so strong, as constantly to adhere to the duties prescribed, and to venture all upon the hopes offered therein.
1. A strong Faith, 1 Pet. 5. 9. Whom resist, stedfast in the Faith. This is in the general a sound belief of Eternity, or a deep ⟨p. 209⟩sense of the World to come. When we believe the Gospel with an assent so strong, as constantly to adhere to the duties prescribed, and to venture all upon the hopes offered therein.
1. It must not be faint and cold. Some kind of Resistance may be made by general and common Graces; the light of nature will rise up in defyance of many sins, especially at first before men have sinned away natural light, or else the Resistance at least is in some cold way. But it must be earnest and vehement as against the enemy of God, and our Souls. Pauls Resistance in his conflicts was with serious dislikes, and deep groans, Rom. 7. 19. The good that I would I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do, and verse 24. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! In apparent cases a detestation, and vehement indignation is enough, get thee behind me Satan! In other cases there need strong Arguments and Considerations, that the temptation may not stick, when the tempter is gone; as the smutch remaineth of a candle stuck against a stone wall. When Eve speaketh faintly and coldly, the devil reneweth the assault with the more violence, Gen. 3. 3. Ye shall not eat of it, ⟨p. 204⟩neither shall ye touch it, lest ye dye. As to the restraint she speaketh warmly, and with some impatiency of resentment, not eat, nor touch: in the Commination too coldly, lest ye dye, when God had said, ye shall surely dye. A faint denial is a kind of grant: therefore slight Satans assaults with indignation. Though the dog barketh the Traveller passeth on. Satan cannot endure contempt. At other times argue for God stoutly; thy Soul and eternal concernments are in danger. No worldly concernment ought to go so near to us as that which concerneth our eternal good, and the Salvation of our souls. What would the devil have from thee but thy soul, and its pretious enjoyments, Peace of Conscience, Hope of Everlasting Life? What doth he bid? worldly vanities. As the Merchant putteth up his wares with indignation, when the chapman biddeth an unworthy price.