Wherein is opened the fingular advantage that fuffering
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, CHAP.
Wherein is opened the fingular advantage thatfufferingfaints have by their skill and infight into the methods and mysteries of Satan's temptations ; some ofthose wiles of Satan opened, andrulesfor the avoiding of thedanger briefly prefcribed.
T HE hazards and dangers ofChriſtiansin times ofperſecution, ariſe not ſo much from their ſufferings, as from the temptations that always attend, and are by Satan planted upon their ſufferings : for the moſt part, fufferings and temptationsgo together, Heb. xi. 37. And therefore it behoves ſuch as are, or expect to be, called to fufferings, to dive into the mysteries oftemptations, andbewell acquainted with the enemy's deſigns upon them.
So was Paul, and fo he ſuppoſes allothers tobe, that engage in the ſame cauſe:
" We are not ignorant ofhis devices," 2 Cor. ii. 11 . is a manifold advantage redounding to fuffering faints thereby.
There 1. He that is well acquainted with the methods oftemptation, willbe better able todeſcry the firſt approaches andbeginnings ofit, andatemptationdiſcovered, is more than half conquered.
It is a ſpecial artifice of Satan, to ſhuffle inhis temptations as undifcernably as may be into the ſoul ; for he knows, that " in vain is the net ſpread in the fight of any
" bird," Prov. i. 17. And therefore he ordinarily makes a fuffering ſeaſon to be a tempting ſeaſon; becauſe fufferings, like fire to iron, make itimpreſſive and operable, they do ordinarily putthe foul into anhurry and diſtraction, and fogives him an advantage to temptthe foul with leſs ſuſpicion, and greater fucceſs . Butnow, a ſkilful Chriſtian, that is acquaintedwith his wiles, willdifcern when he begins to enter into temptation ; as Chriſt's expreffion is, Luke xxii. 46. Andfo checkthe temptation inits firſtrife, when itis weakeſt ; and moſt eaſily broken.
Doubtleſs one reasonwhy ſo many fall bytemptation, is, becauſe it is got within them, and hath prevailed far, before it be diſcovered tobe a temptation.
2 He that is well acquainted with Satan's methods of tempting,willnot onlydifcern itfooner than another; but alfo knows his work andduty, and how to manage the conflict with it, which is a great inatter. There are manypoorfouls that labour under ſtrong temptations, and know notwhatto
The best Work in the worst Times.
do: They go up and down complaining, from Chriſtianto Chriſtian, whilftthe judicious Chriſtian plies tothe throne of gracewith strong cries, ſee 2 Cor. xii. 8. keeps up his watch,
Luke xxii. 46. countermines the temptation, by affaulting
that corruption, by endeavours of mortification, which Satan affaultsby temptation, 1 Cor. ix. 27.
3. Laſtly, To name no more; hethat is beſt acquainted with the mystery of temptation, andcanmaintain his ground againſt it, he ſhall be the perſevering Chriſtian underperſecutions, andthe victorious Chriſtian over them.
Here lies the maindeſign ofSatan, in raiſing perſecution againstthe faints.
Itisnot so much their blood that he thirſteth after, as their fall bytemptation : and allperfecutionsare defigned byhim to introduce his temptations.
Theſe work upon our fear, and feardrives us intohis trains and ſnares, Prov. xxix. 25. The devil'swork in raiſing perſecution, isbut as the fowler's work in beating the bush in the night, whenthe net is ſpread to take the birds, which hecan affright out of their coverts. He that underſtands this, is noteasily moved by the ſtrongest oppoſition, from his place and duty; and ſo is like to prove the moſt conftant and invincible Chriſtianin times ofperſecution.
Oh! then, how neceſſary is it,that ſince all perſecutions are intended as means topromote temptation, and that ſkill and infight intotheſedeſigns of Satan ſo advantages as to fruftrate his deſigns inboth ? I ſay, how neceſſary is it that you ſhouldbe all inſtructed wherein the ſtrength oftemptation lies ; as alſo how to refift thoſe ſtrong and dangerous temptations, which your fufferings onlyare intended tousherin, and make wayfor ?
Itwill not be unſeaſonable or impertinent, then, in this chapter, to fhewyou, First, Whereinthe force and efficacy of temptation lieth ; Secondly, What you are to do, when in a ſuffering hourſuch temptation ſhallaffaultyou. And firſt,
Quest. Wherein doth the efficacy and power of temptation lie?
Sol. I anſwer, It lies principally in three things.
I. Inthe kind andnatureofthe temptation.
II. In the craft and policy ofSatan inmanaging it.
III. Inthat fecret correſpondencythat Satan hath with our corruptions.
I. It lies in the kind and nature of the temptation itſelf; for it is moſtcertain, that all temptations are not alike forciZz2
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, ble anddangerous. Some are ordinarily more ſucceſsful than others ; andfuch are theſe that follow..
1. Strange and unusual temptations, Imean not fuch as none have been troubledwith beforeus; for there isnota dart in Satan's quiver, but hath been let fly at the breasts ofother faints, before it was levelled at ours, 1 Cor. x. 13.
But by ſtrange and unusual, Imean ſuch as the people ofGod are but rarely troubled with,and poſſibly we were never exerciſedwith before.
Theſe are the more dangerous, becauſe they daunt and amaze the foul, andordinarily beget deſpondency, even as fome ſtrange diſeaſe would do that we know not what to makeof, nor can learn that others have been fick of.
2. Mark them for most dangerous temptations, that are adapted and ſuitedtoyour proper fin, or evil conftitution : For certainly that is the most dangerous criſis of temptationwhen it tries amanthere. Now, ifhe be not trulygracious, he falls bythe root irrecoverably, Luke xxii. 5,6.
Or iffincere, yet without ſpecial aſſiſtance, and extraordinaryvigilance, he falls ſcandaloufly, 2 Sam. xi. 2. compared with 1 Sam. xvi. 12.
3. When it is aspiritual temptation, which riſes undifcernably out of the Chriſtian's duties.
This is the leſs ſuſpected, becauſe temptations usually come from the ſtrength and livelineſs ofcorruptions; but this, from the flaughter and con queſts we make of them, Duties,and enlargements inthem, which are the poiſon of other lufts, proves the food and fuel ofthis, 1 Cor. iv. 7, 8.
Andhow much the more covert and cloſeany temptation is, by ſo much the more dangerous itis.
II. The ſtrength and efficacy of temptation lies much in the ſkill and policy ofSatan inthe management ofit : And hencethey are called wiles, methods, and devices, 2 Cor. ii.
11. Eph. vi. 11. and himself an old ferpent, Rev. xii. 9.
Andamongthe rest of his deep anddefperate ſtratagemsthele following are remarkable.
1. In employing ſuch inſtruments to manage his temptations as are leaſt ſuſpected, andhavethe greatest influence. A teacher, Gal. ii. 14. A wife, Gen. iii. 6. Job ii. 9. Friends,
Acts xxi. 13. The devil knows it is a bad buſineſs, and therefore must make the beſt ofit ; Paul's foreſt trial was by his dearest friends .
2. In the orderly diſpoſition and ranging of his temptati ons, beginning with little things firſt, and then by degrees working over to greater. His firſt motions arecommonlymoft modeft, Gen. iii. 1. Should he diſcover the depth of his de fign at first, itwould ſtartle the foul,and make it replyasHa-
The best Work in the worst Times.
zael, "Am I adog that I ſhoulddo thus ?" It is far eafier to gainhis endby parts, than putting for all at once.
3. Inendeavouring to engage the foul upon his ownground.
Imeanto tempt him from his ſtation and duty where God ſets, and expects to find him. He knows while you arewith
God, God is with you, 2 Chron. xv. 2. Whilft a man abides there,he abides with God, 1 Cor. vii. 24. Whilst he is there, the promise is a good breast-work to keep off all his darts :
Andtherefore, as fiſhers, whenthey have ſpread their net in the river, beat the fishes out of their coverts and caverns ; fo doth Satan.
4. Innotpreſenting thetemptation, tillthe foulbe prepar- ⚫ed to receive it. He loves to ſtrike when theiron is hot. He firſt lets their troubles come to anheight, brings them to the prifon, gibbet, or fire, and then offers them deliverance, Heb. xi . 35, 375. Intiringour fouls with along continuanceoftemptations.
Whathe cannot winby afudden storm, he hopes to gain by a tediousfiege.
Forty days together he afſfaulted the Captain of our ſalvation, Marki. 13. And truly it is awonder the foul yields not at last, thathath been tried long, Pial. cxxv. 3.
"When the rod ofthe wicked lies long uponthe back ofthe "righteous, it ismuch ifhe put not forth his hand to iniqui- " ty."
6. In falling most violently uponthem,whenthey are loweſtand mostproftrate in their ſpirits and comforts : So he affaulted Job with a temptation, to curse God and die, when he fat inthat deplorable ſtate uponthedunghill,Job ii. 8, 9. He loves to fall upon us, as Simeon and Levidid upon the Shechemites, when we are fore and wounded: Andtherefore ordinarilyyou find times ofdivine desertions to be times of diabolical temptations.
So that,look, as the wild beasts of the defart comeout oftheir dens in the night, and then rore after their prey, Pfal. civ. 20. ſodoth Satan, whenthe foul ſeems tobe benighted and lost inthe darkness ofſpiritual troubles .
And this is the second thing wherein the efficacy and ſtrength of temptation lies.
III. Lastly, It lies in that ſecret correſpondency Satan holds with our boſom enemies.
Were it not for this domestic ✓ traitor, he could not furprize us ſo eaſily : As you fee in Chrift ; he coulddonothing becauſe he found nothing to faftena temptation on. He was like a chrystal glass filled with pure fountain water: So that though he ſhould have been agitated and ſhakennever fo muchby temptation, yet no fil
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, thy ſediment could appear; butnowwe have an enemy withinthatholds intelligencewith Satanwithout; and this would prove a devil to us, ifthere were no other devil to tempt us,
Jam. i. 14, 15. It is a fountain of temptation in itſelf.
Matth. xv. 19. and the chief inftrument bywhich Satan doth all his tempting work, 2 Pet. i. 4 .
Our ſeveral paffions and affections are the handles ofhis temptations . Every thing, faith Epictetus, hathδυο λάβας, two handles to take it by.
Our affections are the handles ofour fouls.
The temptation of ſelf-confidence, and pride, takes hold ofadaring and forward difpofition, the temptation ofapoſtacy upon a timorous diſpoſition, &c.
Theſe inbred lufts go overtothe enemy in theday ofbattle, and fight against the foul, 1 Pet. ii. 11. This is a more dangerous enemy thanthe devil.
Itis true, theyboth work againſt us, but with a double difference.
Satan works externally and objectively ; but luft internally and physically, i. e. quoadmateriale, as it is capable ofphyſical efficiency. " Sinwrought in me all manner of " concupifcence," Rom. vii. 8.
Yea, it is a fubtle enemy that doth his buſineſs politicly, Rom. vii. 11. Sin deceived me; it betrays with a kiſs, ſtrangles with a filken halter,
Heb. ii. 13. Eph. vii. 22. Theſe be his agents fitting at the council-table in our own breasts, andthere carrying on his deſigns effectually: Yea, it is the reſtleſs and perpetualenemy, no ridding your hands of him.
Satan is ſometimes put to flight byreſiſtance, Jam. iv. 7. and ſometimes ceaſes his temptati ons, Luke iv. 13. But whenhe ceaſeth to tempt and inject, this ceaſeth not to irritate and ſollicit ; where we are, it will be; it is our fad lot to be tied to it, andperpetually affaulted byit,
Rom. vii. 24. We mayſay ofitasHannibalſaid ofMarcellus, that it is never quiet,whether a conqueror, orconquered ; yea, it is apotent enemytoo, it hauls men away tothe commiffion offin,Jam. i. 14. itſeizeth the magazine ofthe foul, and de livers up the arms, I mean the members, to be οπλα άδικιας, weapons ofunrighteouſneſs.
Thusyoufee wherein the efficacy andpower oftemptation confifts. Anditmightily concernsyou that are, orexpect to be ſufferers for Chrift, tobe acquaintedwiththeſe things, and know where the ſtrength ofyourenemy lies.
Buthow shallthefuffering faintſo manage himſelfinafuffering hour, as not to be captivated by temptations ? This bringsmeuponthe ſecondthingI promised; viz. to prefcribe ſome rules for the eſcaping orconquering ofthoſe temptations that are incidentalto a fuffering ſtate. And firſt,
The best Work in the worst Times.
1. Rule. Labour to cut off the advantages oftemptations beforethey come.
It is our inordinate love to life, eftate, liberty,andeaſe, that gives the temptations ſo much ſtrength uponus. Do not over-value them, andyou will more eaſily part from them, Rev. xii . 11. Omortify felf-love, and creature-love; letyour heart be looſened and weaned from them, andthenthe temptation hath lost its strength .
2. Rule. Secure to yourſelves an intereſt in the heavenly glory. When once you clearly ſee your propriety in the kingdom above,youwill fet the lighter and lowerby all things onearth. That is a pregnant text to this purpoſe, Heb. x.
34. It is our darkneſs and uncertainties about thoſe, that make uscling ſo faſttotheſe.
3. Rule. Settlethis principle inyour heart, as thatwhich you will never depart from, that it is better for you to fall
- into any fuffering, than into the leaſt ſin, Heb. xi. 24, 25.
This all will acknowledge, but how fewpractiſe it ! Oh that you wouldpractically underſtand andreceive it! Suffering is but arespective, external, andtemporal evil; but fin is an univerſal, internal, andeverlasting evil.
4. Rule. Believe that God hath curſed and blaſted all the ways of fin, that theyſhall never be a fhelter to any foul that flies for refuge to them, Mark viii. 35. Prov. xiii. 15. The way oftranſgreſſors is a hard and difficult way. There is no ſecurity inthe way of iniquity. Hethat runs from ſuffering to ſin, runs from the feeming to the real danger ; from the painted, to the living lion.
5. Rule. Live up to this principle, that there is no policy like ſincerity and godly ſimplicity. This will preſerve and ſecureyou, when carnal wisdom will expoſe and betray you.
Pfal. xxv. 2. Job ii. 3. Sinful policy never thrives with faints.
6. Rule. Confider ſadly whatthe conſequence of yielding up yourſelves to temptations will be : The name ofGod will be dreadfully reproached, 2 Sam. xii. 14. A fatal ſtumblingblock is laid before the blind world, I Sam. ii. 36. The hearts ofmany upright ones made fad, Pfal. xxv. 3. The fall of a ✓profeſſor is as when a ſtandard-bearer fainteth ; anda dreadful wound it will be to thine own confcience, 2 Cor. ii. 7.
Matth . xxv. 76. One hour's fleep of ſecurity, may keep you many days and nightswaking upon the rack ofhorror.
7. Rule. Neverengage a temptation inyour own strength, but go forth against ittrembling in yourſelves, and relying on Divine aids and aſſiſtances, Eph. vi. 10. What ! are you to grapple with ſpirits, to enter the lifts withprincipalities and
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, powers? Or what is your ſtrength that you ſhould hope?
8. Rule. Let the days ofyour temptation be days of ſtrong cries and fupplications. Thusdid Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8. Pfal. cix. 4. Your beſt poſture to wrestlewith temptation, is upon your knees.
9. Rule. Dwell upon the confideration ofthoſe choice encouragements God hath laid up in the word for ſuch a time.
As, (1.) Though he give Satan leave to temptyou, yet you are ftill in his hand to preferveyou, Deut. xxxiii. 3. Johnx. 28.
(2.) That whilft Satan is fifting and trying you on earth, Chriſt is interceeding for you inheaven, Luke xxii. 31, 32.
(3.) That an eternal reward islaidupfor those that overcome, Luke xxii. 28, 29. Rev. xxi. 7, 8. And now is this reward to be won or loft.
Laftly, Be contenttillGodopen adoor out ofyour temptations, Cor. x. 13. The time ofthepromisewillcome, Acts vii. 17. Waitfor it, though ittarry, and feemto be deferred; inthe end it will ſpeak,and not lie, Hab. ii. 3. There was a fecretdoor in the ark,though itcouldnot be ſeen whilft the waters prevailed: And ſo there is in all your temptations, though at preſent itbe not difcernible byyou .
And thus I have brought you one ſtep nearer to Paul's bleſſed frame. O give diligence to makeyourſelves readyfor fufferings.
CHAP.
XII.
Sheweth, that a choice part of our preparation and readiness forfufferings consists in the improvement ofour praying abili ties, and keeping close withGod in that beavenly andexcel lentduty, indays ofsuffering ; wherein alſo is openedthe nature andmeans ofits improvement. is amongst graces.
Doubtless itis of ſpecial uſe and ſervice atall times to a Chriſtian : Butyet in ſuffering days it is ofmore than ordinary uſe and neceffity, Heb. iv. 16. James v. 13.
Andtherefore it is reckoned among thoſe choice pieces ofarmour,which fuffering ſaints are toput on, Eph. vi. 18. Iwill here brieflydiſcover the neceflity of it, andthen ſhewyou that aChriftian may improve himself toan excellentdegree in it; and, laſtly, preſcribe ſome means for animprovement.
The neceffity of it toa ſuffering faint will demonftratively appear, ifyou confider,
The best Work in the worst Times.
1. That this duty is the outlet of troubles, and the beſt way the poor Christian hath to eaſe his,heart when furcharged with forrow.
Griefs are eaſedby groans.
Such evaporations diſburden and cool the heart, as the opening ofa vein in ſome caſes doth.
Oh the ſenſible eaſe that comes in this way!
Whengriefin the mind, like vapours in the air, are condenfed into black clouds, that overſpread the foul, and darken that beautiful light that once ſhone there, then prayer, like the fun, diſpels and ſcatters them, 1 Sam. i. 18.
Many a faint, by prayer, hathfuckedthe breaſt of a promiſe, and then fell afleep by Divine contentment inthe boſom ofGod. A time may come, when thyheart is ready to break with trouble, and not a friend towhom thou canst open and eaſe it, andthen bleſſed be God for prayer, Micah vii. 5, 6, 7. That which finks others is, that when troubles fill and overwhelm their hearts, they try what reaſon, merry company, or outward comforts can do : But, alas ! this is to palliate a cure, it returns again with the more violence: But prayer gives fenible relief, Pfal. cii. title, Pfal. Ixii. 8. For, (1.) This opens andgives a vent to troubles, Jer. xx. 12.
(2.) It gives our troubles a diverſion, and ſo a cure, Plal. v. 1. and the lait verſe compared. Yea, (3.) By praying over them, they are not onlydiverted, but fanctified, and ſo ceaſe to be diſtracting, or destroying troubles .
2.As itgives a vent to our troubles, ſo an in-let to unfpeak- ✓able comforts and confolations.
See a pregnant inſtance of this, Acts xvi . 25. For, (1.) Herebytheyobtain gracious anſwers from the Lord concerning their troubles, 2 Cor. xii. 9.
Inthis alſo theymeet the gracious ſmiles ofGod, which ſwat low up their troubles, Pfal.lxxxv. 8. And, lafly,hereby they prevail withGod to open a ſeaſonable and effectual door out ofall their troubles, Pfalm xxxiv. 4, 6.
3. Prayer begets and maintainsholy courage and magnanimityin evil times. When all things aboutyou tend to difcowragement, it is your beingwith Jeſus that makes you boid,
Acts iv. 13. He that uses to be before a great God, will not beafraidto look ſuch little things as men are inthe face. The woman clothed with the fun, had the moon under her feer.
Andwhat needyou have of courage in evil times,hath been already ſhewed.
4. This is a dutyyoumay perform at any time, or inany condition : No adverſary can cutyou offfrom it.
It cannot befaid ſo ofmany other duties. None can hinderthe inter
VOL . VII.
Aaa
370.
Preparationsfor Sufferings : Or, courſe betwixt heaven andyour fouls: You may perform it in a prifon, Acts xvi. 25. in a baniſhed condition, Pfal. lxi.
2.And ſo is fitted for a fuffering condition.
Lastly, You muſt ſtrive to excel in this, foraſmuch as no grace within, or ſervice without, can thrive without it.
God hath ordained the whole work ofgrace togrow up to perfec tionthisway, Judg. xix. 20. He willhave all mercies fetchel out this way, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. Jer.xxix. 11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you fromGod, must comein this channel. Beconvincedthen ofthe needyou have to im proveyourſelves herein, as everyouhope to ſtand in the evil day.
Buthow are theſepraying abilities capable ofimprovement inthepeople ofGod ?
Praying abilities are either externalandcommon,or elfein ternaland ſpecial. The external andcommon ability isnothing elſebut thatdexterity and ſkillmenget to expreſs themſelves toGod inprayer.
Thus manycanput their meaning into apt anddecentexpreſſions, towhichthe Spirit ſometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this hypocrites reſt on, andglory in. Or elſe they are ſpecial and internal, wherebymen are enabled to pour outtheir fouls to God ina gracious manner. Andthis maybe confidered either in the habit or the act. The habit is given bythe Spirit, when the principles ofgraceare firſt infuſed into the foul, Zech. xii. 10.
Acts ix. 1 r. By being ſanctifiedwe are made near, and by acting thoſe principles in prayer we are ſaid to draw near,
Pfal. x. 17. Now in our actual drawing near toGod, the Spirithath the chiefandprincipal hand: Andhis aſſiſtancethere in is threefold.
1.He excites the heart to theduty; it is he thatwhiſpers tothe foultodraw nigh toGod, Pfalm. xxvii. 8.
2. He ſuggeſts the matter ofour prayers, and furnishes us with the materials, Rom. viii. 26. guiding us as tothemat ter, notonly to what is lawful,but alſotowhat is expedientfor us.
3.He ſtirreth up ſuitable affections inprayer, Rom. vi 26.Andhencethoſe groans and tears, thoſe gafpings and vehement anhelations. But notwithstanding all our abilities, both habitual andactual, be from the Spirit,andnot from our
: ſelves,yet aretheycapable of improvement byus : For though inreſpect ofacquirement, there be a great difference betwist naturaland ſupernatural habits, yet their improvement isin
The best Work in the worst Times.
the fame way and manner ; and this improvement may be made divers ways : For, First, Though you have the Spirit, and canpray, yet you maylearn to praymore humblythanbefore : Though you riſe no higher as to words, yet you may learn to lay yourſelves lowerbefore the Lord, as Abraham and Ezra did, Gen. xviii.
27. Ezra ix. 6.
Secondly, You may learnto praywith more fincerity than formerly: Ah ! there is much hypocrify and formality in our prayers, much of custom, &c. Now,you may learn to pour out more cordialprayers.
See Pfal. xvii. 1. Pfal. cxix. 10.
Thirdly, You may learn topraywith more zeal and earneftneſs thanbefore: Somefaintshave excelled, and been remarkable for this, Dan. ix. 19. Hofea xii, 4. James v. 16.
Fourthly, With more affiduity and readineſs at alltimes for it, Ephef. vi. 18. Praying always, with all prayer.
Hence Chriſt gives that commendation tothe church, Cant. iv. 11 .
" Thy lips, O my ſpouſe, drop as thehoney-comb."
Thehoney-comb oftendrops,but always hangs full ofdrops readytofall.
Fifthly, You may learn to pray with more faith : Oh the qualms ofunbelief,thatgo over our hearts in aduty; faith is the foul of prayer, and according to the faith God finds in them, he accepts and values them. Now in all theſe things youmay improve yourſelves abundantly.
1. By being more frequent inthe duty, Job xxii. 21. " Ас- " quaint thyselfwiththe Almighty ;" in the Hebrew it is, accustom thyself: Thoſe that havebeenexcellent, have alsobeen abundant in it, Pfal. xv. 17.
2. By taking heed thatyou grievenotthe Spirit, on whoſe influences and aſſiſtances you ſo intirelydepend : Even as much as a ſhip doth upon the gales ofwind for its motion.
3. By honouring the Spirit which enables youto pray, and that eſpeciallytwo ways ; (1. ) By dependance on him ; go not forth in your own strength to the duty, truſt not toyour own promptneſs, or preparations.
(2.) By returning, and with thankfulneſs aſcribing the praiseofalltohim; behumble under all enlargements : fay,Not I, butgrace.
4. By fearchingyourown hearts, andexamining your neceffities andwants, when youdraw nigh to God ; this will be
✓a fountain ofmatter, and give you a deep reſentment of the worth ofmercies prayed for.
5. Laſtly, By looking more atthe exerciſe ofgraces, and leſs at thediſcovery ofparts ; by labouring for impreſſions more,