Houston-Packer Collection BV4253 .B85 1649 .B85 1649

250 Satanspower to Tempt; andChrift's lave% his own children to be tempted, but he intends tobreak the back of that temptation, even by their being tempted. I his is thedeign of God the father : Oh I what a glorious deign oflove, and mercy is here upon all the temptations ofGods people Put God hath yet greater, and higher defigns : The Ma- nifeflation of his own Power; of his own W ifdom ; of his ownFaithfulnefs 5 ofhis ownLove and Free grace. The tranifetiation ofhis Power. WhenPaul was temp- ted, and buffeted by Satan, the Lord laid untohim, Mat his firength fbculdbe perfetied in weakiefi ; inPaul: wealnefs, Gods strength fhould be perfe &ed. The manifeitation of hisW ifdom, The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, faies the Apoffle. The manifeitationof his Faithfulnefs. In the r Cor. i0. 13. Doe Lord is faithful, and will notAlferye to be temptedabove whatye are able to bear. The manifefiation of his Free-love and grace. And therefore, ben Paul was tempted and buffetted by Satan, and prayed IN againft his temptation; theLord anfwered thus: My grace is fujjicient for thee. Put in regard of the Saints themfelves : How fl-culd they give a Probate, or Teftimony of their uprightnefs, and fin- cerity, their firm, and fail cleaving to God, if they were never tempted : reade for this purpofe, the r3. of Deuterono- my, and the 2. and 3. verfes. &fere _yob was tempted, Sa- tan thought that Job had ferved Codfor a boone, for fome- thi ng : liaft thou not leen my firyant Job (faies Cod) I, faies Satan ,but does Job ferve Godfor naught ? job's an Hypocrite, all things go well with him, Job's in a fair, and bleffed outward condition, and yob was never tempted ; does yob ferve God for naught ? but now touch him, and let me tempt him a little, and fee if he don't blafpheme God then : thus Satan then. And just thus is the languageof the Devil now : Does filch a man or woman ferve Cod for naught ? he is but an Hypocrite, all things go well with him, he was never yet tempted : but, 0Lord, let this man or wo- man

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