Thirdly, Temptations are rather hopeful evidences that thy estate is good, that thou art dear to God, and that it shall go well with thee for ever, than otherwise. God had but one Son without corruption,1 but he had none without temptation. Pirates make the fiercest assaults upon those vessels that are most richly laden: So doth Satan ⟨p. 263⟩upon those souls that are most richly laden with the treasures of grace, with the riches of glory. Pirates let empty vessels pass and repass, without assaulting them: so doth Satan let souls that are empty of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, of Grace, pass and repass without tempting or assaulting of them. When nothing will satisfy the soul but a full departure out of Egypt, from the bondage and slavery2 of sin and that the soul is firmly resolved upon a march for Canaan, then Satan Pharaoh-like, will furiously pursue after the soul with Horses and Chariots, that is, with a whole Army of Temptations. Well, a tempted soul, when3 it is at worst with him, may safely argue thus, if God were not my friend, Satan would not be so much my enemy; if there were not something of God within me, Satan would never make such attempts to storm me; if the love of God were not set upon me, Satan would never shoot so many ⟨p. 264⟩fiery darts to wound me; if the heart of God were not towards me, the hand of Satan would not be so strong against me. When Beza was tempted, he made this answer, Whatsoever I was, Satan, I am now in Christ a new Creature, and that is it which troubles thee; I might have so continued long enough ere thou wouldest have vexed at it, but now I see thou dost envy me the grace of my Saviour. Satan's malice to tempt is no sufficient ground for a Christian to dispute Gods love upon, if it were, there is no Saint on earth that should quietly possess divine favour, a week, a day, an hour. The Jailer is quiet, when his prisoner is in bolts, but if he b•e escaped, then he pursues him with hue and cry; you know how to apply it. Men hate not the picture of a Toad, the Wolf flies not upon a painted Sheep; no more doth Satan upon those he hath in chains; therefore hold thy peace, though thou art inwardly tempted, as ⟨p. 265⟩well as outwardly afflicted.
Thirdly, Temptations are rather hopeful evidences that thy estate is good, that thou art dear to God, and that it shall go well with thee for ever, than otherwise. God had but one Son without corruption,1 but hee had none without temptation. Pirats make the fiercest assaults upon those vessels that are most richly laden: So doth Satan ⟨p. 263⟩upon those souls that are most richly laden with the treasures of grace, with the riches of glory. Pirats let empty vessels pass and repass, without assaulting them: so doth Satan let souls that are empty of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, of Grace, pass and repass without tempting or assaulting of them. When nothing will satisfie the soul but a full departure out of Egypt, from the bondage and slavery2 of sin and that the soul is firmly resolved upon a march for Canaan, then Satan Pharaoh-like, will furiously pursue after the soul with Horses and Chariots, that is, with a whole Army of Temptations. Well, a tempted soul, when3 it is at worst with him, may safely argue thus, if God were not my friend, Satan would not bee so much my enemy; if there were not something of God within mee, Satan would never make such attempts to storm mee; if the love of God were not set upon mee, Satan would never shoot so many ⟨p. 264⟩fiery darts to wound mee; if the heart of God were not towards mee, the hand of Satan would not bee so strong against mec. When Beza was tempted, hee made this answer, Whatsoever I was, Satan, I am now in Christ a new Creature, and that is it which troubles thee; I might have so continued long enough ere thou wouldest have vexed at it, but now I see thou dost envy mee the grace of my Saviour. Satans malice to tempt is no sufficient ground for a Christian to dispute Gods love upon, if it were, there is no Saint on earth that should quietly possess divine favour, a week, a day, an hour. The Jaylor is quiet, when his prisoner is in bolts, but if hee b•e escaped, then hee pursues him with hue and cry; you know how to apply it. Men hate not the picture of a Toad, the Wolf flies not upon a painted Sheep; no more doth Satan upon those he hath in chains; therefore hold thy peace, though thou art inwardly tempted, as ⟨p. 265⟩well as outwardly afflicted.
- 1Heb. 2. 17, 18
- 2Exod. 14. 9
- 3Israel going into Egypt, had no opposition, but travelling into Canaan, they were never free.
