4.3o The Sins of Men not chargeable upon God ; Vol. l by Imprifonment, and Torture, and Death. And this is that kind 'of Tempta- tion which the Apoftle particularly fpeaks of before the Text, Bleffed is the Man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried, he (hall receive the Cronin of Life, which theLord bath promifed to them that love him; and then it follows, Let no Manfaywhenhe is tempted, Iam tempted ofGod. And thus I have given an ac= count of the feveral forts of temptations comprehended under thisfecond Head, namely, when Menare tempted by being brought into fuch Circumftances as do greatly endanger their falling intoSin, by the Allurements of this World, and by the Evilsand Calamities of it. Now theQueftionis, how far God hath an hand in thefe kindof temptations, that fo we may know how to limit this Propofition, which the Apoftle here re- leas, that Men are temptedof God. Let no Man fay, when he is tempted, I am tempted ofGod. That the Providence of Goddoes order, or at leaft permit Men to be brought into thefe Circumftances I have fpoken of, which are fuchdangerous temptations to Sin, no Man can doubt, that believes his Providence to be concern'd in the affairs ofthe World. All the Difficulty is, how far the Apoftle does here intend to exempt God from an hand in thefe temptations. Now for the clearer under- ftanding of this, it will be requifite to confider the feveral Ends and Reafons, which thofe who tempt others may have in tempting them ; and all temptation is for one of thefe three Ends or Reafons ; either for the trial and improvement of Men's Virtues ; or by way of Judgment and Punifhment for tome former great Sins and Provocations or with a dire purpofe and defign to feduce Men to Sin ; thefe I think are the chief Ends and Reafons that can be imagined, ofexer- cifing Men with dangerous temptations. Firfi, For the exercife and improvement of Mens Graces and Virtues. And this is the End which God always aims at, in bringing good Men, orpermitting them to bebrought into dangerous temptations. And therefore St. James fpeaks of it as a matter of joy, when good Men are exercifed withafiflions; not be- caufe afiliftions are defirable for themfelves, but becaufe of the happy confequen- ces of them, Ver. 2, 3. of this Chap. My Brethren, count it alljoy, when yefall into divers temptations ; knowing this, that the trying ofyourfaith worketh patience. And to the fame purpofe St. Paul, Rom. 5. 3, 4, 5 We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulationworketh patience, and patience experience ; h'oxt,unv Patience trieth a Man, and this trial worketh hope, and hope maketh not afhamed. Thefe are happy effehts and confequences of afïliftion and (offering, when they improve the Vir- tuesof Men and increafe their Graces, and thereby make way for the increafe of their Glory. Upon this account, St. James pronounceth thofe Bleyed, whoare thus tempted. Bleffedis the Man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried, he (hall receive theCrown ofLife, which the Lard hath promifed to them that love him. And this certainly is no difparagement to the Providence of, God, to permit Men to be thus tempted, when he permits it for no other end, but to make them better Men, and thereby to prepare them for a greater Reward : And fo the Apoftle allures us, Rom. 8. 17, 18. If fo be we finer with him, we (hall alfo be glorified with him ; for I reckon that the fuferings of this prefent time are not wor- thy to be compared with the glory that (hall be revealed in us. And ver. 28. For we know that all things(hall work together for good to them that love God. And this happy end and iffue of temptations to good Men the Providence of God fecures to them (if they be not wanting to themfelves) one of thefe two ways, either by proportioning the temptation to their flrength ; or if it exceed that, by mini- firing new flrength and fupport to them, by the fecret and extraordinary aids of his Holy Spirit. Firfi, By proportioning the temptation to their flrength ; ordering things fo by his fecret and wife Providence, that they (hall not be affaulted by any temp- tation, which is beyond their strength to refift and overcome. And herein the fecurity of good Men doth ordinarily confi(t; and the verybe(tofus, thole who have the firmeft and moti refolute virtue were in infinitedanger, if the Providence of God did not- take this care of us. For a temptation may let upon the belt Men
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