A Divine Cordial

¹But sometimes Satan foils a Child of God; how doth this work for good?

1. 1Quest.

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 Ames, and displays the shield of Faith,