A90277:172
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.
It is true! God oftentimes brings light out of this darkness; and turns things to a better issue. After it may be a man hath studied sundry years, with an eye upon his lusts; his ambition, pride, and vain glory; rising early, and going to bed late to give them satisfaction; God comes in with his Grace; turns the soul to himself; and so robs those Egyptian lusts, and so consecrates that to the use of the Tabernacle, which was provided for Idols.
It is true! God oftentimes brings light out of this darknesse; and turnes things to a better issue. After it may be a man hath studied sundry yeares, with an eye upon his lusts; his ambitition, pride, and vaine glory; rising early, and going to bed late to give them satisfaction; God comes in with his Grace; turnes the soule to himselfe; and so robbes those Aegyptian lusts, and so consecrates that to the use of the Tabernacle, which was provided for Idols.
Men may be thus entangled in better things than learning; even in the profession of piety, in their labour in the ministry, and the like.
Some mens profession is a snare to them; they are in reputation, and are much honoured on the account of their profession and strict walking; This often falls out in the days wherein we live, wherein all things are carried by parties; some find themselves on the accounts ⟨p. 89⟩mentioned perhaps to be the darlings, and ingentia decora, or glory of their party; if thoughts hereof secretly insinuate themselves into their hearts, and influence them into more then ordinary diligence, and activity in their way and profession, they are entangled; and instead of aiming at more glory, had need lye in the dust, in a sense of their own vileness; and so close with this temptation; that oftentimes it requires no food to feed upon, but that he who is entangled with it, do avoid all means and ways of honour and reputation; so that it can but whisper in the heart, that, that avoidance is honourable; The same may be the condition with men, as was said, in preaching the Gospel, in the work of the Ministry; many things in that work may yield them esteem, their Ability, their plainness, their frequency, their success; and all in this sense may be fuel unto temptations. Let then a man know, that when he likes that which feeds his lust, and keeps it up,