and care of , hit People under Temptation. 117 fore this Rule is : Iftemptation arife,don't fear too much, though the temptation be never fo great : don't fear too little though the temptation be never fo finall. Seventhly, Art thou aftaulted by temptation ? Eitheryou do overcome ; oryou are overcome : ifyou do overcome, be ThmVul, left you loftyourformer ViJiory, by your after-VnthanVulnefs. And ifyou be overcome, yet don't lay down the weapon,loold it up ftand upon your guard. TheDevil tempts that he may tempt ; and he is willing to be overcome in the skirmifn, that he may overcome you in the battel : and hebrings up thezreateft temptations in the ream : As fobs afiliaions were greateft at the laft : yea, he tempts us to break the Law, and fin againft the Law, that he may tempt us to fin againft the Gofpel. This is the Seventh Rule: If you be overcome, or be not overcome, walk thus. Eighthly, and Laftly, Iftemptation do arife Ee fure that you make fame improvement of it for the better. Ifan enemy come and make an all-auk againft one of your garrifon- towns, and he goes away, and gets no hurt, he is incon. raged, and invited to come again; for (faies he) I loft no- thing ; thoughlilidnot gain, and carry the Town, yet loft nothing : But now, if upon his affault he lofes many men, and his Ordnance, I'le come no more there (faies he) for there I had filch and fuch a great lone. Thus it is with Satan when he comes before a foul with his temptations; there is a foul (faies he) I came beforehimwith my temp- tations, and though indeed I did not carry it, I did not get the thing I would, yet I loft nothing, and therefore I'le go again. But there is a foul, and there's a heart; I came before himwith my temptations, and- I confelfe I loft much; I tempted and he prayed; and the more I temp- ted the more he prayed, and the more I tempted !till, the more hedid go to Jefus Chrift, and therefore! will tempt himno more. Beloved, labour to improve your temp- tations , goe to God with your temptations in your hands, and pray over your temptations : and if you improve your temptations, you !hall not be troubled with
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