A90277:169
Of Temptation
Of temptation the nature and power of it. The danger of entering into it. And the means of preventing the danger. With a resolution of sundry cases thereunto belonging, / by John Owen, D.D.Of temptation the nature and povver of it. The danger of entring into it. And the meanes of preventing the danger. With a resolution of sundry cases thereunto belonging, / by John Owen, D.D.
Oxford: printed by H. Hall for T. Robinson, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hezekiah had the root of pride in him always, yet it did not make him run up and down to show his treasure, and his riches, until he fell into Temptation, by the Ambassadors of the King off Babylon; so had David! yet could he keep of from numbering the people, until Satan stood up and provoked him, and solicited him to do it. Judas was covetous from the beginning, yet he did not contrive to satisfy it, by selling of his Master, until the Devil entered into him, and he thereby into Temptation. The like may be said of Abraham, Jonah, ⟨p. 86⟩Peter and the rest. So that when any lust or corruption whatever, tumultuates and disquieteth the soul, puts it with violence on sin; lest the soul know that it hath got the advantage of some outward temptation, though as yet, it perceiveth not wherein, or at least is become its self a peculiar temptation, by some incitation or provocation that hath befallen it and is to be looked to, more then ordinarily.
Hezekiah had the roote of pride in him alwayes, yet it did not make him runne up and downe to show his treasure, and his riches, untill he fell into Temptation, by the Ambassadours of the King off Babylon; so had David! yet could he keep of from numbering the people, untill Satan stood up and provoked him, and solicited him to doe it. Judas was covetous from the beginning, yet he did not contrive to satisfie it, by selling of his Master, untill the Devill entered into him, and he thereby into Temptation. The like may be said of Abraham, Jonah, ⟨p. 86⟩Peter and the rest. So that when any lust or corruption whatever, tumultuates and disquieteth the soule, puts it with violence on sinne; lest the soule know that it hath got the advantage of some outward temptation, though as yet, it perceiveth not wherein, or at least is become its selfe a peculiar temptation, by some incitation or provocation that hath befallen it and is to be looked to, more then ordinarily.
3. Entering into temptation may be seen in the lest degrees of it. As for instance when the heart begins secretly to like the matter of the temptation, and is content to feed it, and increase it by any ways that it may, without downright sin.