And because Sovereignty hath a special hand in temptations,1 we are to take heed to temptations to weaken us in duties; as Master, pity thy self. 2. Sometime Satan tempts to duties, to pray when we should hear. 3. Sometime to gross carnal sins, fall down and worship me; and sometimes to spiritual fins, If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread. 4. Sometimes to duties in the excess; as for Timothy to drink water, the incestuous man to mourn until he be swallowed up of grief, 2 Cor. 2. 5. Sometimes Satan tempts himself to go out that he may more tempt, and return with seven devils worse then himself. 6. Sometimes he tempts by a boisterous imperious usurpation. Job is mine, he serves God for hire. All hypocrites are Satan's, Job. 1. 7. Sometime he tempts to lawful liberties, to ear, setting the Law of nature in opposition ⟨p. 111⟩to the divine positive-law, Gen. 3. The tree is good for meat; then God and Nature ordained it for food. In all which, holy Sovereignty gives influences natural to the tempter; nor will he have us to question his Sovereignty. 2. Nor would he have us to make either his giving or his withdrawing of influences our rule. And 3. In all our actings he would have us to tremble; What if providence put a cross bensil or bias on the heart, what can influences not do to hasten a Judas to his place, though the holy Lord remains spotless and free? 4. There is much need of that, lead us not into temptation. 5. Had the Gold will and reason, it oweth thanks to the Goldsmith, though he burn and melt it, because he removes the dross. Its true, the Physician lames and wounds particular nature, when he opens a vein; but he saves the whole body thereby, and the sick person owes him thanks. Were there no more but these excellent influences that act in temptations, as to their precious fruits, to wit, the humbling of the tempted sinner, the discovery of latent corruption, of the wiles of Satan, the praise and glory of his grace who knows how to counter-work (in a manner) his own influences, and doth invisibly uphold his own children, under these temptations; the Lord is here to be loved and adored, as wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.
And because Soveraignty hath a special hand in temptations,1 we are to take heed to temptations to weaken us in duties; as Master, pity thy self. 2. Sometime Satan tempts to duties, to pray when we should hear. 3. Sometime to gross carnal sins, fall down and worship me; and sometimes to spiritual fins, If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread. 4. Sometimes to duties in the excess; as for Timothy to drink water, the incestuous man to mourn until he be swallowed up of grief, 2 Cor. 2. 5. Sometimes Satan tempts himself to goe out that he may more tempt, and return with seven divels worse then himself. 6. Sometimes he tempts by a boysterous imperious usurpation. Job is mine, he serves God for hire. All hypocrites are Satan's, Job. 1. 7. Sometime he tempts to lawful liberties, to ear, setting the Law of nature in opposition ⟨p. 111⟩to the divine positive-law, Gen. 3. The tree is good for meat; then God and Nature ordained it for food. In all which, holy Soveraignty gives influences natural to the tempter; nor will he have us to question his Soveraignty. 2. Nor would he have us to make either his giving or his withdrawing of influences our rule. And 3. In all our actings he would have us to tremble; What if providence put a cross bensil or byas on the heart, what can influences not doe to hasten a Judas to his place, though the holy Lord remains spotless and free? 4. There is much need of that, lead us not into temptation. 5. Had the Gold will and reason, it oweth thanks to the Goldsmith, though he burn and melt it, because he removes the drosse. Its true, the Physician lames and wounds particular nature, when he opens a vein; but he saves the whole body thereby, and the sick person ows him thanks. Were there no more but these excellent influences that act in temptations, as to their precious fruits, to wit, the humbling of the tempted sinner, the discovery of latent corruption, of the wiles of Satan, the praise and glory of his grace who knows how to counter-work (in a manner) his own influences, and doth invisibly uphold his own children, under these temptations; the Lord is here to be loved and adored, as wonderfull in counsel and excellent in working.
- 1Influences are given of God to various temptations.
