Few or none are tempted, but the upshot of the temptation is to beget big apprehensions of the temptation: never was man in the condition I am in: Christ answereth the Devils when they cry, he will not give me one look, one cast of his eye, not one half word: The temptation must represent Christ, as a non-such for rough dealing, and the tempted a non-such for misery: Elijah must say,1 1 Kin. 18.20. I, even I only, am left alone, and they seek my life, Ps. 22.4. Our fathers trusted is thee, they trusted in thee, and were delivered, vers. 6. But I am no body: But I am a worm and no man, Lam. 1.12. O passers by, hear behold, and see if there be any sorrow, like unto my sorrow! &c. 1 Cor. 4.9. We are made a theatre, a spectacle to men and Angels: The temptation must put on the face of Hell to drive at this, to cause the child of God put himself out of the Calendar and society of Gods children: hence, that (no there was never a soul since the world was, like me, I am my alone. 1. Christ once, first or last, must be no Christ,2 and God not God to the tempted, Hath he forgotten to be gracious? Psal. 77. A forgetting God, a changed God is not God; stick by this principle, Yet he is Christ, and my Christ too. 2. Its said, ⟨p. 112⟩§2he answered her not a word: but its not said, he heard not one word: these two differ much: Christ often heareth when he doth not answer, his not answering is an Answer, and speaks this, pray on, go on, and cry) for the Lord holdeth his door fast bolted, not to keep out, but that you may knock and knock: prayer is to God, worship: to us, often, its but a servant upon mere necessity sent on a business: The father will cause his child say over again, what he once heard him say, because he delighteth to hear him speak: so God heareth and layeth by him an answer for Ephraim, Jer. 31.18. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself; but Ephraim heard not, knew not that God told all Ephraims prayer over again behind his back: 3. No answer from Christ is Hell to a Believer: §3but to kiss and embrace hell, because its Christs Hell, is a work of much acceptance: when you say, He pray, and die praying, though I be never heard, because praying is my duty, and Gods glory: let me die in a duty that glorifieth him. 4. Wrestling addeth strength to arms §4and body, praying and praying again strengtheneth Faith: customary running, lengtheneth the breath:
Few or none are tempted, but the upshot of the temptation is to beget big apprehensions of the temptation: never was man in the condition I am in: Christ answereth the Divels when they cry, he wil not give me one look, one cast of his eye, not one halfe word: The temptation must represent Christ, as a non-such for rough dealing, and the tempted a non-such for misery: Elias must say,1 1 Kin. 18.20. I, even I only, am left alone, and they seek my life, Ps. 22.4. Our fathers trusted is thee, they trusted in thee, and were delivered, vers. 6. But I am no body: But I am a worm and no man, Lam. 1.12. O passers by, hear behold, and see if there be any sorrow, like unto my sorrow! &c. 1 Cor. 4.9. We are made a theator, a spectacle to men and Angels: The temptation must put on the face of Hell to drive at this, to cause the childe of God put himself out of the Kalender and society of Gods children: hence, that (no there was never a soul since the world was, like me, I am my alone. 1. Christ once, first or last, must be no Christ,2 and God not God to the tempted, Hath he forgotten to be gracious? Psal. 77. A forgetting God, a changed God is not God; stick by this principle, Yet he is Christ, and my Christ too. 2. Its said, ⟨p. 112⟩§2he answered her not a word: but its not said, he heard not one word: these two differ much: Christ often heareth when he doth not answer, his not answering is an Answer, and speaks this, pray on, go on, and cry) for the Lord holdeth his door fast bolted, not to keep out, but that you may knock and knock: prayer is to God, worship: to us, often, its but a servant upon meer necessity sent on a businesse: The father will cause his childe say over again, what he once heard him say, because he delighteth to hear him speak: so God heareth and layeth by him an answer for Ephraim, Jer. 31.18. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself; but Ephraim heard not, knew not that God told all Ephraims prayer over again behinde his back: 3. No answer from Christ is Hell to a Believer: §3
- 1Temptations scope is to make the tempted believe there is none like him.Temptations scop is to mak the tempted believe there is none like him.
- 21. The non-answering of Christ is an answer.
