Chap. 1 .Se6t.4 ·.Looking uvto Jefru. Booic IV· 3 . Heobferves, and fits his temptations to our outward conditions; thus, if we are in profperity, theN he tempts us to pride and forgetfulneffeofGod , co contempt of our brethren, to the love of the world; to coldneife in Religion, carnal fecurity, and the like: or if we are in adverfity, then he tempts us to·the ufe ofunlawful meanes, to the di{hLJlling ofGods all-ruling providence, and never-deceiving promifes; or it may ~e to de1paire, murmure ' and repining :tgainft God; by this temptation he ~onfidently prefumed to have moved Chrifr to difrruft Gods providence, and to ihift for himfelfe, by turning ftones into bread. · 4· He obferves, and fits .his temptations to our fpiritual eflate ;. tlius ifwe are notorioufly wicked, thea he tempts us tq atheifme, contempt of Gods worfhip, fwearing, blafph~ming, prophaning of the Lords dayes. to difobedience, murthers,adultries,drunkenneffe, theft, cov:roufneffe, and all devilifh pradifes; or ifwe are civilized, and run not with others into fuch an exceife of riot and finne, why then he tempts us to a good opinion of fuch a condition, I thank_thee 0 Father, that I am not as other men, &c. I deale jujUy and t4prightly with all my neighbours; I have a good mea1<1ing to~a_rds God, though I am igmrant ofScripiure, and ofthe principles ofReligion ; or if we are profeifours ofGods truth, and ean tip our tongues with glorious words of Religion, holineife, ~ Chrift; why then he tempts us with refiing on this; what need.r more? if I can but putw11rdly performe the duties of piety, ai the hearing ofGods Word, receiving &f rhe Sacraments, publik,s and private calling on God? in this I 11m tt trite Proteftllnt, that ch11ritj, love, gr>Qd work.!, and t~!l the dutie.r of the (econd table can never juftifie me,or [ave me, but only f<tith;I beleeve,& I makt a pr.ofejfion of Religion, and I hope this wi!l fu.ffice ; or if we are fincere pr<?- feffours, and but weak in the fa ith, why then he tempts us with fad thoughts of our fins; he fets before us their number, and nature, and odioufneife in every aggrav-ation ; and if therewith ·' .! T l ( he cannot overwhclme us, he adds (it may be) unto them fome · ofhi:s own fins, thus he catl:eth into our mindes many otitragioris , • ·•J 1l blafphemies,fuch blafphemies as he propounded toChrill;to worfhip him for our God, to deny Jefus Chritl: as our God,our Lord, , our Saviour, our Redeemer; 1:0 fay in our heart~ there is· no . q~d, ~~~ na~u~c; n~ ~criptU~ ~~h;ly G~o~ ~~anY, a prccfo~! . r ·11 ·r' ·: ~
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