Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

That tentations aregood for Gods children. 409 ther this confolation, That howfoever we are aî c nfotat . faulted continually by the flefh, the world, and the can neither devil,yet we (hall not be overcome except the Lord tempt nor himfelf lead us into tentation. Satangoeth about con- overcome without tinually like a poring lion , feeking whom he may de- Godspermic voure: but he cannot tempt, except it pleafe God to lion. bring us upon the frage, as he did Job : nor in tempt- ing overcome us, unle% the Lord give us over into his hands. For he that is in us is greater then he that is in the world,' John 4.4. And if we be born of God, the evil one (hall not touch us to hurt us, r. John 5. i8. The devil defireth to lift and to winnow us as wheat: but our Saviour bath prayed for thofe that believe in him, that our faith may not fail, Luke 22. 3.2. The devils could not enter into the herd of (wine with- out fpeciall leave. Neither could Satan touch the cattel of Job untill he had commiffion from God: and further then his tedder he cannot go. Seeing therefore in all tentations the Lord ruleth the aeiion and overruleth the tempter,our duty is, in all tentations to flee unto him praying that he will not lead us into tentation. So much of the perfon to whom we make this requefi. Let us now confider the thing againfi which we pray: That we be not ledinto tentation. Our Sa- viour doth not teach us to pray that we be not tempted at all : For it is not an evil thing, to be That it is tempted,fimply;but rather to the children of God a not evil to good and a neceffary thing. James biddeth the faith- full b;tóä Q rej oyce when they fall into tentations, Jam. 1.2. He Gods chii that is not tempted, faith the fonne of Sirach,he know- dren. eth but a little, 34. io,and. as Auguítine,No man know - rn T fal.6o. eth