Chap. io. An Expo'tion upon the Bookof f O B. Verf. i. 421 may be able to bear it ;as if he had (said, Temptations are fore bur- dens, and although yours hitherto have been but ordinary tem- ptations, fuch as ufually befall the Saints, though yours be mode- rate atilidions , and of a common ftature, fetch as in the eye of realon any man may deal with by a common affnlance of grace yet there are temptations, which (if God , the faithful God should not come in with greater aflìftances then ufual ) you are not able to bear it, They who trreffle with more then flefh and blood, alwayes need more then the ffrength of flea) and blond to help diem in their wrefflings. And bccaufe they are often affaulted with great- er ftrength, therefore they are atülted with greater ítrength, For it God do either withdraw his help from the Saints, or leave them towreltle with Satan alone, and to tight Tingle with his Ar- mies, or if he do not proportion the aid he fends to the temptati- on he permits,they are fadly over- charged, though they cannever be totally overcome ; and 'tis pofíibie to grow wearyof the bat- tel, though we are aifured of the vi±'ory. It it the honour of the Saints to conquer, when they are tempted ; but it is their happineß to be above or without temptation. How many poor fouls put up bi,ls of complaint, and beg prayers againft temptations. Paul pray'd thrice, that is, often and much, when the meffenger of Satan buffetted him': whether his were an inward or an outward tern- ptation is doubted, but without doubt that temptation made his life burdenlom to him, till he received that anfwer fromGod, My grace if fnlcient for thee. Secondly, The Saints are wearied with the weight of their finful hearts. Inward corruption burdens more then outward temptation : and were it not for corruption within, temptati- on without could not be very burdenfome : The devil tempted. Chrifl,but becaufe he found nothing at all in him,complying with, or finable to his temptations; therefore thrift threw them off. with cafe. That enemy without could do us no hurt (he might put us to fome trouble) if he found no correfpondence within. The traitour in our own bowels, opens our ports, and lets in the adverfary. His fparks could never enflame us, if he found no tinder in us. The bafeuefs and unbelief, the lulls and vanities of our minds, are apt to take fire at every injection. A gra- cious foul cannot live bere without fin, and yet can eafier die then jin. Paul ( Rom, 7.24. ) cries out, 0wretchedman that lam, who ,¡halt deliver me from the body ofthis death, or from this bodyof death ? ;i a6
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