Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…

2. From stronger temptations. God sometimes brings temptations that carry more force in them than ordinary, and we are woefully assaulted by them: it may be they are many and complicate, and ⟨p. 132⟩now we say, that he is withdrawn: but this may be a mistake too: if God suffers us to be tempted, and then leaves us to our selves it is then indeed a Desertion, as it was with Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32.31. who being so left, fell into that which procured Gods displeasure: but if God verify that to his people, 1 Cor. 10.13. •ith every temptation he make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it, it is not a Desertion: if he gives us grace to resist, and not to give way, it is a precious trial, and so to be acknowledged, 1 Pet. 1.6, 7. Christ himself was very fiercely tempted by the Devil, Mat. 4. begin ▪ but he was not deserted in it. What though you have great fightings, yet if you come off Conquerors, and more than so, will you say that you have been deserted? or if at present you can say as he, Psa. 118.13. thou hast thrust •ore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.

2. From stronger temptations. God sometimes brings temptations that carry more force in them than ordinary, and we are wofully assaulted by them: it may be they are many and complicate, and ⟨p. 132⟩now we say, that he is withdrawn: but this may be a mistake too: if God suffers us to be tempted, and then leaves us to our selve• it is then indeed a Desertion, as it was with Hezekiah,