A90277:42
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.
And many other good and gracious ends He hath, which He accomplisheth towards his Saints by his trials and temptations, not now to be insisted on.
And many other good and gracious ends He hath, which He accomplisheth towards his Saints by his trialls and temptations, not now to be insisted on.
2. For the ways whereby God accomplisheth this his search, trial, or temptation, these are some of them.
2. For the waies whereby God accomplisheth this his search, triall, or temptation, these are some of them.
1. He puts men on Great Duties, such as they cannot apprehend that they have any strength for, nor indeed have. So he tempted Abraham, by calling him to that Duty of sacrificing his son; a thing absurd to Reason, ⟨p. 11⟩bitter to nature, and grievous to him on all accounts whatever. Many men know not what is in them, or rather what is ready for them, until they are put upon what seems utterly above their strength, Indeed upon what is really above their strength. The duties that God in an ordinary way requires at our hands, are not proportioned to what strength we have in our selves, but to what help and relief is laid up for us in Christ; And we are to address our selves to the greatest performances, with a settled persuasion that we have not ability for the least. This is the law of Grace; But yet when any duty is required, that is extraordinary, that is a secret note often discovered, in the yoke of Christ; it is a trial, a temptation.
1. He puts men on Great Duties, such as they cannot apprehend that they have any strength for, nor indeed have. So he tempted Abraham, by calling him to that Duty of sacrificing his sonne; a thing absurd to Reason,