Of Temptation

1: That by some Advantage, or on some Occasion, Satan be more earnest than ordinary in his solicitations to sin, by affrightments, or allurements, by persecutions, or seductions, by himself or others; or that some lust or corruption by his instigation, and advantages of outward objects provoking, as in prosperity, or terrifying, as in trouble, do tumultuate more than ordinary within us: There is a special acting of the Author, and principles of Temptation, required thereunto.

1: That by some Advantage, or on some Occasion, Satan be more earnest than ordinary in his solicitations to sinne, by affrightments, or allurements, by persecutions, or seductions, by himselfe or others; or that some lust or corruption by his instigation, and advantages of outward objects provoking, as in prosperity, or terrifying, as in trouble, do tumultuate more than ordinary within us: There is a speciall acting of the Authour, and principles of Temptation, required thereunto.

2. That the heart be so far entangled with it, as to be put to dispute, and argue in its own defence, and yet not to be able wholly to eject or cast out the poison, and leaven that hath been injected; but is surprised, if it be never so little off its watch, into an entanglement not easy to be avoided; so that the soul may cry, and pray, and cry again, and yet not be delivered; as Paul sought the Lord thrice for the departure of his temptation, ⟨p. 23⟩and prevailed not. The entanglement continues. And this usually falls out in one of these two seasons.

2. That the heart be so farre entangled with it, as to be put to dispute, and argue in its owne defence, and yet not to be able wholy to eject or cast out the poyson, and leaven that hath been injected; but is surprized, if it be never so little off its watch, into an intanglement not easy to be avoided; so that the soule may cry, and pray, and cry againe, and yet not be delivered; as Paul sought the Lord thrise for the departure of his temptation, ⟨p. 23⟩