A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

Doct. That to be kept from the Evil of Temptation, is a greater Mercy than to be kept from the Trouble of Temptation.

Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil: That is, If we be led into Temptation, let us be kept from the Evil of it.

First, It's a more wonderful Providence to be kept from Evil than from Temptation; Esse bonum facile est, ubi quod vetat esse remo•um est. It is no great matter to be Chaste or Honest, when there's no Temptation to the contrary; Ay, but to keep our Integrity in the midst of Assaults and Temptations, there's the wonder: If a Garrison be never assaulted, 'tis no wonder that it standeth exempt from the Calamity of War: This is like the Bush that was burned, yet not consumed; exercised with Temptation from Day to Day, and yet kept from Evil. And in this Sense God's Power is more glorified, than in keeping the Angels; for the Angels are out of Gun-shot, and Harms-way, and not liable to Temptations: But to preserve a poor weak Creature in the midst of Temptation, O! how is the Power of God made perfect in Weakness? 2 Cor. 12. 9. Perfected, that is, gloriously discovered.

First, It's a more wonderful Providence to be kept from Evil than from Temptation; Esse bonum facile est, ubi quod vetat esse remo•um est. It is no great matter to be Chast or Honest, when there's no Temptation to the contrary; Ay, but to keep our Integrity in the midst of Assaults and Temptations, there's the wonder: If a Garrison be never assaulted, 'tis no wonder that it standeth exempt from the Calamity of War: This is like the Bush that was burned, yet not consumed; exercised with Temptation from Day to Day, and yet kept from Evil. And in this Sence God's Power is more glorified, than in keeping the Angels; for the Angels are out of Gun-shot, and Harms-way, and not liable to Temptations: But to preserve a poor weak Creature in the midst of Temptation, O! how is the Power of God made perfect in Weakness?