254 Satanspower to Tempt; attdChrifi's love to, ObjeU. qtr. for the A&, and yet remain wicked: So there is no fin, which a wicked man fals into, but a godly man may be tempted to it and yet remain godly. But you will fay unto me, This evil that is uponmy heart, is not the temptationofSatan,but indeed it is the corruption of mine own heart, and therefore I fear my condition. Indeed, if I were fore that it were only the temptationofSatan, I fhould never que- flionGods love, nor mineown condition becaufe of it ; but, Oh I Iam afraid it is not a temptation of Satan, but the corruption of mine own heart, and therefore I fear all is not right with me. This is no new thing, for Gods own people and chil- dren, to charge all Satans temptations upon their own hearts, to lay all at their own door. Wicked men, they charge all their own corruptions upon Satans temptations, as if they were not their own, but altogether Satans : God- ly men, they charge all Satans temptations upon their own hearts, and upon theirown account, as if they were all their own and nothing ofSatans; this is no new thing. Adam and Eve, when theywere fallen, and had eaten the forbidden fruit, then they were ungodly, in the fiate of nature prefently upon the fall before they beleeved in Chrifi : and, faies Eve, Thisferpent gaveme to eat:; as if fhe fhould fay, He bath done it, 'tis all his work, 'tis Satansl, work, and 'tis none of mine; being in her unregenerate (late, fhe laies all upon the Devil, and free's her felf, as if the had nothing todo with it. On the other fide, David was provoked by Satan to number the people; yet not- withflanding, fee what he faies in the 2 Sam. 24. Chapter and the i o. verfe. And David! heart frnote him after that he had numbered the people ; and David Paid unto the Lord, Ihave finnedgreatly in that Ihave done ; and now Me- feed) thee, 0Lord, tape the iniquity of thy firvant, for I I Ihave done very foolifloly. He laies it all upon himfelf : he does not go now and fay, Satan bath provokedme to num- ber the people, and 'tis Satans work and none of mine; but he does charge it here upon himfelf, as ifSatan hadno, hand
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=