Temptations to Evil, not from God. ç reprefented as in a confederacy and mifchie- S E R M, vous affociation, ranged under the infernal I. government of one head, who is eminently `"` . called the tempter, and is always ready to take every opportunity of enfnaring unwary mortals, having many of his minifters in all places fully inftru&ed in his hellifh arts, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But after, all, St. names teacheth, that our greateft danger iS not from them ; it is fomething in aurfelves, we have reafon to be moft afraid of, as the fource of the moft prevailing temptations ; and but for it, we Mould have nothing to apprehend from the poifoned arrows of enemies without ; their molt fub- tle devices and moil furious afl'aults would be utterly ineffectual. This is what the apoftle calleth every man's own lulls, meaning his lower appetites and paflions, whereby he is drawn away and inticed. There are, there- fore, thefe two points contained in the text, which I (hall diftintly confider. Firfi, That Cod in all his works and ways:, the whole of his adminiftration to- wards mankind, ftandeth perfeftly clear of tempting them to moral evil ; he is not in the lea$ degree, or by a fair conftru Lion, in any part of his B 3 con-
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