Seim: LXI. but upon themfelves. 429 Secondly, Men are likewife tempted, by being brought into fuch Circumnances, as will greatly endanger their falling into Sin, tho' none perfwade them to it ; and this happens two ways; when Men are remarkably befetwith the allurements of the World, or affaulted with the Evils and Calamities of it; for either of thefe Conditions are great temptations to Men, and make powerful affaults upon them, efpecially when they fall upon thofe who are ill difpofed before, or are but of a weak Virtue and Refolution. The allurements of the World are ftrong temptations ; Riches, and Honours, and Pleafures, they are the Occafionsand Incentives to many Lufts. Honour and Greatnefs, Power and Authority over others, efpecially when Men are fuddenly lifted up, and from a low Condition, are apt to tranfport Men to Pride and In-. folency towards others. Power is a ftrong Liquor which does eafily intoxicate weak Minds, and make them apt to fay and do undecent things. Man that is in Honour and enderftands not, is like the Beati that perifh , Intimating that Men who are exalted to an high Condition, are very apt to forget themfelves, and to play the Fools and Beans. It requires great Confideration, and a well poifed Mind, not to be lifted up with one's Condition. Weak heads are apt to turn and grow dizzy, when they lookdown from a great height. And fo likewife Eafe and Profperity are a very flippery Condition tomat Men, and without great care, do endanger the falling into great Sins. So Solomon ob- ferves, Prov. I. 32. For the turning away ofthe Pimple fhallflay them, and the prof - perity offools (hall defiroy them. For this Reafon Agur maketh his Prayer to God, that he wouldgive him neither Poverty nor Riches, but keep him in a mean Condi- tion, becaufe of the danger of both extreams, Prov. 3o. 8, 9. Give nee not Rich- es, 141be full, and deny thee. Both the eager delire and the poffeflion and en- joymentof Riches do frequently prove fatal to Men. So our Saviour tells us elfewhere very Emphatically, Mat. 19. 23, 24. Verily I fay unto you, that a Rich Man(hall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven : And again I fay unto you, it is eafierfor a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God. St. Paul likewife very fully declares unto us the great danger of this-Condition, i Tim. 6. 9, Io. But they that will be Rich, fall into temptation, and afnare, and into many foolifhandhurtful lefts, which drown Men in de- firuilion andperdition;for the loveofMoney is the root ofallevil, whichwhileforce coveted after, theyhave erredfrom the faith,andpierced themfelves through with manyfurrows. But thegreaten Bait of all to Fle(h and Blood, is fenfual pleafures ; the very prefence andopportunity of thefe, are apt to kindle the Defires, and to enflame the Lullsof Men, efpecially where there temptations meet with fuitable tempers, where every fpark that falls catcheth. And on the other hand, the Evils and Calamities of this World, efpecially if tbey threaten or fall upon Men in any degree ofextremity, are ftrong temptati- ons to Humane Nature. Poverty and Want, Pain and fuffering, and the fear of any great Evil, efpecially of Death, thefe are great ftraits to Human Nature, and apt to tempt Men togreatSins, to impatience anddifcontent, to unjuft and di(ho- neft thifts, to the forfaking of God, and Apoftacy from his Truth and Religion. Agur was fenfible of the dangerous temptation of Poverty, and therefore he prays againR that, as well as againR Riches ; Give me not Poverty, left being Poor I fleal, and take the name of the Lord myGod in vain ; that is, left I be tempted to Theft, and Perjury. The Devil, whofe Trade it is to tempt Men to Sin, knew very well the force ofthefe forts of Temptations, whenhe delires God firi to touch Jobin his ERate, andto fee what effe& that would have, yob t. r r. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he bath, and he will curfe thee to thy face. And when he found himfelf deceived in this, furely he thought, that were he but áf li&ed with great bodily pains, that would put him out of all patience, and fleth and blood would not be able to withftand this Temptation, Chap. 2. ver. 5. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and hisflefh, and he will curfe thee to thy face. And this was the great Temptation that the Primitive ChriRians were affaulted withal ; they were tempted to forfake Chrift and his Religion, by a molt violent Perfecution, by the fpoiling of their goods, by.
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