1I grant, that through the suspension of divine grace, and the •ury of a tentation, a Saint may be overcome; yet this foiling by a tentation shall wo•k for good. 1. By this foil God makes way for the augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to self-confidence, he presumed upon his own strength; and when he would needs stand alone, Christ let him fall; but thi• wrought for his good, it cost him many a tear, he went out, and wept bitterly; and now he grows mo•e modest, he durst not say he loved Christ more than the other Apostles, John 21.15. Lovest thou me more than these? He durst not say so, his •all broke the neck of his pride. 2. •he foiling by a temptation, causeth more circumspection and watchfulness in a child of God: Though Satan did before decoy him into sin, yet for the future he will be the more cautious, he will have a care of coming within the Lyons chain any more, he is more shy and fearful of the occasions of sin; he never •oes ab•oad without his spiritual Armour, and he girds on his A•mour by p•ayer; he knows he walks on slippery ground, therefore looks warily to his steps; he keeps close Sentinel in his •oul, and when he spies the Devil coming, he stands to his A•mes, and displays the shield of Faith, Eph. 6.16. This is ⟨p. 43⟩all the hurt the Devil doth; when he foils a Saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect, he makes him watch and pray more. When wild Beasts get over the hedge, and hurt the Co•n, a man will make his fence the stronger: So when the Devil gets over the hedge by a temptation, a Christian will be sure to mend his sense; he is more fearful of sin, and careful of •uty. Thus the being worsted by temptation works for good.
1I grant, that through the suspension of divine grace, and the •ury of a tentation, a Saint may be overcome; yet this foyling by a tentation shall wo•k for good. 1. By this foyl God makes way for the augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to self-confidence, he presumed upon his own strength; and when he would needs stand alone, Christ let him fall; but thi• wrought for his good, it cost him many a tear, he went out, and wept bitterly; and now he grows mo•e modest, he durst not say he loved Christ more than the other Apostles, Iohn 21.15. Lovest thou me more than these? He durst not say so, his •all broke the neck of his pride. 2. •he foyling by a temptation, causeth more ci•cumspection and watchfulnesse in a child of God: Though Satan did before decoy him into sin, yet for the future he will be the more cautious, he will have a care of coming wi•hin the Lyons chain any more, he is more shy and fearful of the occasions of sin; he never •oes ab•oad without his spiritual Armour, and he girds on his A•mour by p•ayer; he knows he walks on slippe•y ground, therefo•e looks wa•ily to his steps; he keeps close Centinel in his •oul, and when he spyes the Devil coming, he stands to his A•mes, and displayes the shiel• of Faith, Eph. 6.16. This is ⟨p. 43⟩all the hurt the Devil doth; when he foils a Saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect, he makes him wa•ch and pray more. When wilde Beasts get over the hedge, and hurt the Co•n, a man will make his fence the stronger: So when the Devil gets over the hedge by a temptation, a Christian will be sure to mend his sence; he is more fearful of sin, and careful of uty. Thus the being worsted by temptation works for good.
- 1Answ.
