The Vexation of the Spirit. 103 Secondly, a Heart fet on any luff is unfit to withfiand temptation , becaufe temptations are commonly edged with Promifec or Threatnings. Now ifa mans heart bee let on God , there can no promifes bee made of any fuch good as the heart cares for, or which might bee likely to over -poife and fway to the temptation , which the heart bath not already ; fpirituall promifes the Divell will make few, or if hee doe, fuch a heart knoweth that evill is not the way to good ; if hee make promifes of earthly things, fuck promifes the heart bath already from one who can better make them. I Tim. 4. 8. neither can hee promife any thing which was not more mine before than his; for either that which hee promifeth is convenient for mee, and fo is Manna, foode for my nature ; or elfe In- convenient, and than it is QiLailes , foode for my luft. If the former , God hath taught mee to call it mine owne already ; give us our Bread; and not to goe to the Divels Market to feteh it ; If the other, though God fhould fuffer the Divell to give.it, yet hee fends a curie into our mouths along with it.. And as fuch a heart negle6is any promifes the Divels can make , fo is it as heedleffe of any ofhis threatnings ; becaufe ifGod be on our fide, neither principalities, nor powers, nor things prefent, nor things to come , can ever feparate from him ; f}ronger is hee that is with us than .hee that is with the world it is the bufineffe of our Calling to fight againfl fpirituall wicked- neffes, and to refift the Divell. But when the heart is let on any creature, and bath not God to reff upon , when a man attributes his wine and oyle to his lovers and not to God ; his credit, wealth,, fubfiffency to the favours of men and not to the all- fufficiency of God ; then hath the Divell aneafie way to Winne a man to any finne,or with- draw him from any good, by pointing his temptations with promifes ûr.- threatnings fitted to the things which the heart is let on. . L,et.the,Devill promife. Balaem honour and prefer- ment,
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