2. Every Man is haunted with special Temptations, from Temper, Sex, Age, Custom, Calling, Company, Course of Affairs; these things are often spoken of in Scripture. From Temper, God makes use of Temper. For though he plants all Grace in the Hearts of the Regenerate, yet there are certain Graces wherein they are eminent; as Timothy for Temperance, Moses for Meekness, &c. Thus Paul speaks of the Law in his Members, Rom. 7. 23. The Devil may find Forces from the Temper of the Body to destroy the Soul. So also from Sex, as he beguiled Eve, 2 Cor. 11. 3. And from Age, we read of youthful Lusts, 2 Tim. 2. 22. And how strong the Devil is about young Ones, 1 John 2. 13. I have written unto you young Men, because ye have overcome the wicked One. They are most assaulted with Pride, with youthful Lusts suitable to their Age. So from Custom and Education; Psal. 18. 23. I kept my self from mine Iniquity. Every Man hath his Iniquity; that is, such as his Education, and Custom hath wrought upon him, which makes the Sin prevail over other Sins. A Child of God hath a predominant Sin, not over Grace, (for that's inconsistent with sincerity) but some Master-Sin which prevails over the rest: according as the Channel is cut, so corrupt Nature runs, but some in this Channel, and some in that: Every Man hath his special Sin, and accordingly the Devil plies him. Then our Calling is a special Temptation; 1 Tim. 3. 6. the Apostle ⟨p. 423⟩speaks, that a Bishop should not be a Novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Pride, and Ostentation of Gifts, and vain-Glory in such public Service. Many other Sins follow every Calling: Therefore if you would be skilled in Satan's Enterprises, you must mind Temper, Age, Calling. So Company: As a Man's Company is, his Soul is insensibly tainted. As a Man that walks in the Sun is tanned before he is aware: so are the Souls of Men sullied and defiled by Carnal Company, before they be aware. A Man would think of all Sins, Passion is so uncomely, that it should not tempt another Man: Yet it is said, Prov. 22. 24, 25. Make no friendship with an angry Man; and with a furious Man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a Snare to thy Soul: for the more accustomed to them, the less odious they seem; so by little and little, our Spirits are shaped and fitted for such a Sin.
2. Every Man is haunted with special Temptations, from Temper, Sex, Age, Custom, Calling, Company, Course of Aflairs; these things are often spoken of in Scripture. From Temper, God makes use of Temper. For though he plants all Grace in the Hearts of the Regenerate, yet there are certain Graces wherein they are eminent; as Timothy for Temperance, Moses for Meekness, &c. Thus Paul speaks of the Law in his Members, Rom. 7. 23. The Devil may find Forces from the Temper of the Body to destroy the Soul. So also from Sex, as he beguiled Eve, 2 Cor. 11. 3. And from Age, we read of youthful Lusts, 2 Tim. 2. 22. And how strong the Devil is about young Ones, 1 Iohn 2. 13. I have written unto you young Men, because ye have overcome the wicked One. They are most assaulted with Pride, with youthful Lusts suitable to their Age. So from Custom and Education; Psal. 18. 23. I kept my self from mine Iniquity. Every Man hath his Iniquity; that is, such as his Education, and Custom hath wrought upon him, which makes the Sin prevail over other Sins. A Child of God hath a predominant Sin, not over Grace, (for that's inconsistent with sincerity) but some Master-Sin which prevails over the rest: according as the Channel is cut, so corrupt Nature runs, but some in this Channel, and some in that: Every Man hath his special Sin, and accordingly the Devil plies him. Then our Calling is a special Temptation; 1 Tim. 3. 6. the Apostle ⟨p. 423⟩speaks, that a Bishop should not be a Novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Pride, and Ostentation of Gifts, and vain-Glory in such publick Service. Many other Sins follow every Calling: Therefore if you would be skill'd in Satan's Enterprises, you must mind Temper, Age, Calling. So Company: As a Man's Company is, his Soul is insensibly tainted. As a Man that walks in the Sun is tann'd before he is aware: so are the Souls of Men sullied and defiled by Carnal Company, before they be aware. A Man would think of all Sins, Passion is so uncomely, that it should not tempt another Man: Yet it is said, Prov. 22. 24, 25. Make no friendship with an angry Man; and with a furious Man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a Snare to thy Soul: for the more accustomed to them, the less odious they seem; so by little and little, our Spirits are shaped and fitted for such a Sin.
