OfTEMP,TATION, &c. 35 and temptations lies in that of the wife man, Prov. iii. 5. 7r ß o the Lordwith all thine heart, and lean notto thine ownunderflanding. This is thework of faith : it is faith ; it is to live by faith. Thegreat falling of men in trials, is their leaning to, or leaning up- on, their own underftanding andcounfel. What is the ifrue of it ? Job. xviii. 7. The "keys of hisflrersgth fhall be ffraigthned, and his own counfel fball raft himdown. Firft he (hall be entangled, and then calldown ; and all by his own counfal, until he come to be afhamed of it, as Ephraim was, Hof. x. 6. when ever in our trials, we cordult our own underflandings, hearken to felf reafonings, though they feem to be good, and tending to our prefervation, yet the principle of living faith is Rifled, and we Ihall in the ifrue be raft downby our own coúnfels. Now nothing can empty the heart of this felf- fuinefs, but faith, but living by it, but not living to our felves, but having Chrift live in us, by our living by faith on him. (z. Faith, making the foul poor, empty, helplefs, deflitute in its felt ingages the heart, will, and paver of Jefus Chrift, for aflftance, of whichI have fpoken more at large elfewhere. 2.) Love to the faints, with care that they fuller not upon our account, is agreat preferving principle in a time of temptations and trials. How powerful this was in David, he declares in that earneft prayer, Pfal. lxx. 6, ht not them that wait an thee, 0 Lord Godofboth, be afbamedfor my fake, Let not thofe tbstfeek theebe confounded f r my fake, O God of lfrael. O letnot me fo mifcarry, that thofe for whomI would lay dowb my life, lhould be put to fhame, be evil fpoken of; difhonoured, reviled, contemned on my account, for myfailings. A felfilh foul, whofe love is turned whollyinwards, will never abide in a time of trial. Many other confiderations andprinciples, that thofe who keep the word of Chrill's patience in the way and manner before defcribed, are attended withal; might be enumerated, but I (hall content my felf to havepointed at thefe mentioned. And will it now be eafy to determine, whence it is that fo many in our days, are pre- vailed on, in the time of trial r that the hour of temptation comes upon them, and bearsthem down, more or left before it? Is it not becaufe amongft the great multitude of profeffors that we have, there are few that keep the word of thepatience ofChrift? If wewilfully negle&; or cartaway our intereft in thepromife of prefervation, is it any wonder, if webe not preferved? There isan hour oftemptation come upon the world, to try them that dwell therein : it varioufly exerts its power and efficacy; there is not any way, nor thing, wherein it may not be feet along and putting forth it felf, in worldlinefs, in fenfuality, in loofenefs of converfation, in neglelt of fpiritual duties, private, publick, in foolifh, loofe, diabolical opinions, in haughtinefs and ambition; in envy and wrath, in Strife and debate, revenge, felfifhnefs ; in atheifm and contempt of God, Both it.appear. Theyare but branches ofthe fame root, bitter fireams ofthe fame foundation, cherifhed by peace, profperity, fecurity, apoftales of profeffors and the like; and alafs howmany do daily fall under the power of this temptation in gene- ral ? How few keep their garments girt about them, and undefiled ? Andif anyurging particular temptation befal any, what inftances almoft have we ofany that efcape. May we not defcribe our condition, as the spalle that of theCórinthiant in refpe&of an outward vifatation ; fame are fiel, andfame are weak, and many fleep ; fome are wounded, fomedefiled, many utterly loft : what is the fpring and fountainof the fad conditionof things? is ie not, as hath beenPaid;. we do not keep the word of Chrifl's patience in uuiverfal clofe walking with him; and fo lofe the benefit of the promife givenand 'annexed [hereunto? Should I go about togive inflances of this thing ; ofprofeffors coming Short of keep- ing theword of Chrift, it wouldbe a long work. There Four beads would comprife the moli ofthem. FirI, conformity to the world, whichChrift bath redeemedus from, almoft in all things, with joyand delight, in promifcuous compliances, with the men of theworld. Secondly, negleft ofduties which Chrift hath enjoined, from chafemeditation to publick ordinances. Thirdly, ftrife, variance, and debate among our-felves, woful judging and defpifing oneanother, upon account of things foreignto the bond ofcom- munion:that is betweenthe faints. Fourthly, felf-fulnefs as toprinciples, and felfifhnefs as toends. Now where thefe thingsare, are not men carnal ? Is the word of Chrift's patience effeftualin them ? Shall they be preferved ? They fhall not. Would you then be preferved, and kept from the hour of temptation; would you watch againli entring into it, as deduftions from what bath been delivered in this chapter, take the enfuing cautions. t. Take
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