Senn. LX1I. but upon themfelves. 443 duct, finding by experience, that they will do as ill things of their own motion, as if Satan flood continually at their right hand to prompt them, and put them on fo that he can go into a far Countrey, and employ himfelf elfewhere, and leave them for a longtime, being confident that in his abfence they will not bury their Talent, and hide it in a Napkin, but will improve it to a great advantage. And I with that our own Age did notafford us too many inflances of this kind, of fuch forward and expert (inners as need no Tempter either to inft_ruft or ex- cite them to that which is evil. Now in this Cafe the Devil betakes himfelf to other Perfons, and removes his Snares and Baits where he thinks there is more need and occafon for them. So that we may reafonably conclude, that there is a great deal of wickednefa committed in the World, which the Devil hath no immediate hand in, the he always rejoyceth in it when it is done; and that there is a great deal more reafon toattribute all good to the Motions and Operations of the Spirit of God, than to afcribe all Sin and wickednefs in the World to the Devil; becaufe the Spirit of God is more powerful, and is always every where, and is more intent upon his delign, and as forward to promote it, as the Devil can be to carry on his work; nay, I doubt not but he is more a&ive to excite Men to good, than the Devil can be to tempt them to Evil. And yet for all this I think there is nogreat reafon to doubt, but that good Men do many good a &ionsof their own inclination, with- out any fpecial and immediate motion from the Spirit of God. They are in- deed at firft regenerate, and fan&ifed by the Holy Ghoft, and are continually afterwards under thecondu& of the fame Spirit : but where there is a New Na- ture, it is of it felf inclinable to that which is good, and will bring forth fruits, and do a&ions anfwerable. Much lefs do I think that the Devil tempts.every Man to all theevil that he does, or the greatefl part. When the Lulls of Men, and the habits of Vice are grown ftrong and confirmed, the Devil may (pare his temptations in a great meafure ; for after wicked Men are wound up to fuch a pitch of impiety, they will go a great while of themfelves. I have done with the frrfi Obfervation, that as the Apofile acquits God from having any hand in tempting Men toSin, fo neither does he afcribe the efficacy and prevalency of temptation to the Devil. I proceed to the Second Obfervation, That he afcribes the efficacy and fuccefs of temptation to the lulls and vicious inclinations of men which feduce them to a confent and compliance with the temptations which are afforded to them. Every Man it tempted, when he is drawnafide of his own left and enticed. We have many power- ful Enemies; but we are much more in danger of treachery from within, than of affaults fromwithout. All the power of our enemies could not deflroy us if we were but true to our felves; fo that the Apofile had great reafon to afcribe the efficacy of temptation, to the irregular defirés and vicious inclinations of Men, rather than to thofe temptations which the Providence of God permits them to be affaulted with, and confequently to lay the blame of Mens Sins chiefly upon themfelves. And that chiefly upon there two accounts. Firfi, Becaufe the L,ufls of Men are in a great meafurevoluntary. Secondly, God bath put it inour power to refill thefe temptations, and over- come them. Now fo far as the Lofts of Men are voluntary, it is their own fault that they are feduced by them, and if God bath put it in our power to refill and overcome temptations, we may blame our felves, if we be overcome and foiled by them. Firft, The Lulls of Menare in a great meafure voluntary. By the Lulu of Men, I mean their irregular defires, and vicious inclinations. I grant that the Natureof Man is very much corrupted, and degenerated from its Primitive In- tegrity and Perfe&ion: but we who are Chriftians, have received that Grace in Baptifm, whereby our Natures are fo far healed, as if we be not wanting to our felves, and do not negleft the means which God bath appointed to us, we may mortify our Lulls, and live a new Life g fo that if our Lofts remain unmor- titled, we our felves are in fault, much more if they gain new flrength, and pro- L 11 2 teed
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