Temptations to Evil, not from God, 25 that God is no party to thefe temptations, S E R M. but declareth himfelf in oppofition to them. I. The directly oppofite interefis of moral good and evil, in this world, have their oppofite friends and abetters ; but fupreme power and wifdom cannot be on the fide of evil. The caufe, therefore, of virtue (hall finally triumph, which may encourage us refolutely to adhere to it. This is not merely a plea- fing fpeculation. In the general, every good man ftruggling with temptations, may apply it to his own cafe, and betake himfelf to God, as not an unçoncerned fpeaator of what the fcripture calleth a fpiritual warfare, and the good fight of faith .; but as utterly averfe to the defign of temptations, and as the the friend of confliaing virtue, who, accord- ing to his promife, will not fuller his fer- vants to be tempted above their ability. St. Peter telieth us, that the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, 2 epift. ii. 9. and he biddeth us hope from the power of God, as well as his wifdom ; for who, faith he, i epift. iii. 13. is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good. Let us therefore always put ourfelves under the divine proteaion, and pray, as our Saviour bath taught us, lead us not into temptation ; either by thy good z providence
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