TIDE EXCELLENCIES OF thoughts of God, undervaluing thoughts of Christ, unbelieving thoughts of scripture, or injurious thoughts of providence ! to be tempted sometimes to turn to present things, to play with the baits of sin, and venture on the delights of flesh, and some- times to atheism itself! especially when we know the treachery of our own hearts, ready, as tinder to take fire as soon as one of these sparks shall fall upon them ! Satan hath power here to tempt us in the wil- derness," but he entereth not the holy city! He may set us on a pinnacle of the temple in the earthly Jerusalem, but the New Jerusalem he may not approach. He may takeusup into an exceedinghigh mountain, bu t the mount Sion he cannot ascend ; and if he could, all the kingdoms of the world and the glory ofthein,(q) would be a despis- ed bait to a soul possessed of the kingdom of our Lord. No, it is in vain for Satan to offer a temptation more. All our temptations from the world and The flesh shall also cease. O the hourly dangers that we here walk in ! Every sense and member is a snare ; every creature, every mercy, and every duty, is a snare to us. We can scarce open our eyes, but we are in danger of envying those above us, or despising those below us ; of coveting the honours and riches of some, or beholding the rags and beggary of others with pride and unmercifulness. If we see beauty, it is a bait to lust ; if deformity, to loathing and dis- dain: How soon do slanderous reports, vain jests, wanton speeches, creep into the heart ! How ,constant and strong a watch does our appetite re- quire ! Have we comeliness and beauty ? what fuel for pride! Are we deformed? what an occasion of repining ! Have we strength of reason, and gift of learning? O how prone to be puft up, hunt after applause, and despise our brethren ! Are we unlearn- ed ? how apt then to despise what we have not ! Are we in places of authority-? how strong is the tempta- tion to abuse our trust, make Our will our law, and cut out all the enjoyments of others, by the rules and model of our own interest and policy ! Are we (y) Matt. iv. 1-5-8.
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