A51845:1074
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer by ... Thomas Manton.
London: printed by J.D., 1684
AN EXPOSITION OF THE Lord's-Prayer. › And lead us not into Temptation.
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.
1. To be led into Temptation, is more than simply to be tempted. God's permitting us to be tempted, is not so much as God's leading us into Temptation; for these are two distinct Phrases. God may permit or suffer us to be tempted, as a Lord or Sovereign, which hath power over his own Creature, for the trial and exercise of Grace, and can absolutely dispose of it according to his own Will; but he leads us into Temptation, as a Judg. And therefore this is one of the Comforts which Job propounds to himself, when Satan had a liberty to molest him, Job 9. 12. He taketh away, who can hinder him? who shall say unto him, What dost thou? The General of an Army may, according to his discretion, lead which Band he pleaseth, and set them in the Forlorn-Hope, ⟨p. 462⟩in a place of the greatest Danger, and appoint for Reserves which part of the Army he pleaseth: So God may single out his Champions to Combat for his Glory, and may leave others in a more quiet Posture, according as he pleaseth. Thus, as a Sovereign Agent, God may suffer to be tempted. But now, to lead into Temptation, that's another thing, and implieth something of Punishment; or as it is expressed, Mat. 26. 41. Pray that ye enter not into Temptation: We enter into it by our own voluntary motion, as having forfeited his Protection. But then God leads us in as a Judg, puts the Malefactor into the Executioners or Officers hands: so doth God lead us into Temptation; it […] judicial Act, especially when left to perish under the weight of a Temptation.
1. To be led into Temptation, is more than simply to be tempted. God's permitting us to be tempted, is not so much as God's leading us into Temptation; for these are two distinct Phrases. God may permit or suffer us to be tempted, as a Lord or Soveraign, which hath power over his own Creature, for the trial and exercise of Grace, and can absolutely dispose of it according to his own Will; but he leads us into Temptation, as a Iudg. And therefore this is one of the Comforts which Iob propounds to himself, when Satan had a liberty to molest him, Iob 9. 12. He taketh away, who can hinder him? who shall say unto him, What dost thou? The General of an Army may, according to his discretion, lead which Band he pleaseth, and set them in the Forlorn-Hope,