Wherein is opened the singular advantage that suffering
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, CHAP.
Wherein is opened the singular advantage thatfufferingfaints have by their skill and insight into the methods and mysteries of Satan's temptations ; some of those wiles of Satan opened, and rules for the avoiding of the danger briefly prescribed.
T HE hazards and dangers of Christians in times of persecution, 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, sufferings and temptationsgo together, Heb. xi. 37. And therefore it behoves such as are, or expect to be, called to sufferings, to dive into the mysteries of temptations, and be well acquainted with the enemy's designs upon them.
So was Paul, and fo he supposes all others to be, that engage in the same cause:
" We are not ignorant of his devices," 2 Cor. ii. 11 . is a manifold advantage redounding to suffering faints thereby.
There 1. He that is well acquainted with the methods of temptation, will be better able todescry the first approaches and beginnings of it, andatemptationdiscovered, is more than half conquered.
It is a special artifice of Satan, to shuffle in his 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 suffering season to be a tempting season; because sufferings, like fire to iron, make it impressive and operable, they do ordinarily put the foul into an hurry and distraction, and fogives him an advantage to tempt the foul with less suspicion, and greater success . But now, a skilful Christian, that is acquainted with his wiles, willdifcern when he begins to enter into temptation ; as Christ's expression is, Luke xxii. 46. Andfo check the temptation in its firstrife, when it is weakest ; and most easily broken.
Doubtless one reason why so many fall by temptation, is, because it is got within them, and hath prevailed far, before it be discovered to be a temptation.
2 He that is well acquainted with Satan's methods of tempting,will not onlydifcern it sooner than another; but also knows his work and duty, and how to manage the conflict with it, which is a great inatter. There are manypoorfouls that labour under strong temptations, and know not what to
The best Work in the worst Times.
do: They go up and down complaining, from Christian to Christian, whilftthe judicious Christian plies to the throne of grace with strong cries, see 2 Cor. xii. 8. keeps up his watch,
Luke xxii. 46. countermines the temptation, by assaulting
that corruption, by endeavours of mortification, which Satan affaultsby temptation, 1 Cor. ix. 27.
3. Lastly, To name no more; he that is best acquainted with the mystery of temptation, andcanmaintain his ground against it, he shall be the persevering Christian underpersecutions, and the victorious Christian over them.
Here lies the main design of Sat an, in raising persecution against the faints.
It is not so much their blood that he thirsteth after, as their fall by temptation : and allperfecutionsare designed by him to introduce his temptations.
These work upon our fear, and fear drives us into his trains and snares, Prov. xxix. 25. The devil'swork in raising persecution, is but as the fowler's work in beating the bush in the night, when the net is spread to take the birds, which he can affright out of their coverts. He that understands this, is not easily moved by the strongest opposition, from his place and duty; and so is like to prove the most constant and invincible Christian in times of persecution.
Oh! then, how necessary is it,that since all persecutions are intended as means to promote temptation, and that skill and insight intothesedesigns of Satan so advantages as to frustrate his designs in both ? I say, how necessary is it that you should be all instructed wherein the strength of temptation lies ; as also how to resist those strong and dangerous temptations, which your sufferings only are intended tousherin, and make way for ?
It will not be unseasonable or impertinent, then, in this chapter, to fhewyou, First, Wherein the force and efficacy of temptation lieth ; Secondly, What you are to do, when in a suffering hour such temptation shallaffaultyou. And first,
Quest. Wherein doth the efficacy and power of temptation lie?
Sol. I answer, It lies principally in three things.
I. In the kind andnatureofthe temptation.
II. In the craft and policy of Sat an in managing it.
III. In that secret correspondencythat Satan hath with our corruptions.
I. It lies in the kind and nature of the temptation itself; for it is most certain, that all temptations are not alike forciZz2
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, ble and dangerous. Some are ordinarily more successful than others ; and such are these that follow..
1. Strange and unusual temptations, I mean not such as none have been troubled with before us; for there is not a dart in Satan's quiver, but hath been let fly at the breasts of other saints, before it was levelled at ours, 1 Cor. x. 13.
But by strange and unusual, I mean such as the people of God are but rarely troubled with,and possibly we were never exercised with before.
These are the more dangerous, because they daunt and amaze the soul, and ordinarily beget despondency, even as some strange disease would do that we know not what to make of, nor can learn that others have been sick of.
2. Mark them for most dangerous temptations, that are adapted and suited to your proper fin, or evil constitution : For certainly that is the most dangerous crisis of temptation when it tries am an there. Now, if he be not truly gracious, he falls by the root irrecoverably, Luke xxii. 5,6.
Or iffincere, yet without special assistance, and extraordinary vigilance, he falls scandaloufly, 2 Sam. xi. 2. compared with 1 Sam. xvi. 12.
3. When it is a spiritual 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 slaughter and con quests we make of them, Duties,and enlargements in them, which are the poison of other lusts, proves the food and fuel of this, 1 Cor. iv. 7, 8.
And how much the more covert and close any temptation is, by so much the more dangerous it is.
II. The strength and efficacy of temptation lies much in the skill and policy of Sat an in the management of it : And hence they are called wiles, methods, and devices, 2 Cor. ii.
11. Eph. vi. 11. and himself an old serpent, Rev. xii. 9.
And among the rest of his deep and desperate stratagemsthele following are remarkable.
1. In employing such instruments to manage his temptations as are least suspected, and have the 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 of it ; Paul's forest trial was by his dearest friends .
2. In the orderly disposition and ranging of his tempt at i ons, beginning with little things first, and then by degrees working over to greater. His first motions arecommonlymoft modest, Gen. iii. 1. Should he discover the depth of his de sign at first, it would startle the soul,and make it replyasHa-
The best Work in the worst Times.
zael, "Am I a dog that I should do thus ?" It is far easier to gain his end by parts, than putting for all at once.
3. Inendeavouring to engage the soul upon his own ground.
I mean to tempt him from his station and duty where God sets, and expects to find him. He knows while you are with
God, God is with you, 2 Chron. xv. 2. Whilst 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 :
And therefore, as fishers, when they have spread their net in the river, beat the fishes out of their coverts and caverns ; fo doth Satan.
4. In not presenting the temptation, till the foul be prepar- ⚫ed to receive it. He loves to strike when the iron is hot. He first lets their troubles come to an height, brings them to the prison, gibbet, or fire, and then offers them deliverance, Heb. xi . 35, 375. In tiring our fouls with along continuanceoftemptations.
What he cannot win by afudden storm, he hopes to gain by a tediousfiege.
Forty days together he afsfaulted the Captain of our salvation, Mark i. 13. And truly it is a wonder the soul yields not at last, that hath been tried long, Pial. cxxv. 3.
"When the rod of the wicked lies long upon the back of the "righteous, it is much if he put not forth his hand to iniqui- " ty."
6. In falling most violently upon them,when they are lowest and mostproftrate in their spirits and comforts : So he assaulted Job with a temptation, to curse God and die, when he fat in that 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: And therefore ordinarily you find times of divine desertions to be times of diabolical temptations.
So that,look, as the wild beasts of the defart come out of their dens in the night, and then rore after their prey, Psal. civ. 20. so doth Satan, when the foul seems to be benighted and lost in the darkness of spiritual 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 fur prize us so easily : As you fee in Christ ; 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 shaken never fo much by temptation, yet no fil
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, thy sediment could appear; but now we have an enemy withinthatholds intelligence with Satanwithout; and this would prove a devil to us, if there 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 instrument by which Satan doth all his tempting work, 2 Pet. i. 4 .
Our several passions and affections are the handles of his temptations . Every thing, faith Epictetus, hathδυο λάβας, two handles to take it by.
Our affections are the handles of our souls.
The temptation of self-confidence, and pride, takes hold of a daring and forward disposition, the temptation ofapostacy upon a timorous disposition, &c.
These inbred lusts go over to the enemy in the day of battle, and fight against the soul, 1 Pet. ii. 11. This is a more dangerous enemy than the devil.
It is true, they both work against us, but with a double difference.
Satan works externally and objectively ; but lust internally and physically, i. e. quoadmateriale, as it is capable of physical efficiency. " Sin wrought in me all manner of " concupifcence," Rom. vii. 8.
Yea, it is a subtle enemy that doth his business politicly, Rom. vii. 11. Sin deceived me; it betrays with a kiss, strangles with a silken halter,
Heb. ii. 13. Eph. vii. 22. These be his agents fitting at the council-table in our own breasts, and there carrying on his designs effectually: Yea, it is the restless and perpetual enemy, no ridding your hands of him.
Satan is sometimes put to flight by resistance, Jam. iv. 7. and sometimes ceases his tempt at i ons, Luke iv. 13. But when he 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, and perpetually assaulted by it,
Rom. vii. 24. We may say ofitasHannibalsaid ofMarcellus, that it is never quiet,whether a conqueror, or conquered ; yea, it is a potent enemy too, it hauls men away to the commission off in,Jam. i. 14. itseizeth the magazine of the soul, and de livers up the arms, I mean the members, to be οπλα άδικιας, weapons ofunrighteousness.
Thusyoufee wherein the efficacy and power of temptation consists. And it mightily concerns you that are, or expect to be sufferers for Christ, to be acquaintedwiththese things, and know where the strength of your enemy lies.
But how shallthefuffering faint so manage himselfinafuffering hour, as not to be captivated by temptations ? This bringsmeuponthe secondthingI promised; viz. to prescribe some rules for the escaping or conquering of those temptations that are incidental to a suffering state. And first,
The best Work in the worst Times.
1. Rule. Labour to cut off the advantages of temptations before they come.
It is our inordinate love to life, estate, liberty,and ease, that gives the temptations so much strength upon us. Do not over-value them, and you will more easily part from them, Rev. xii . 11. Omortify self-love, and creature-love; let your heart be loosened and weaned from them, and then the 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,you will set the lighter and lower by all things on earth. That is a pregnant text to this purpose, Heb. x.
34. It is our darkness and uncertainties about those, that make us cling so fasttothese.
3. Rule. Settle this principle in your heart, as that which you will never depart from, that it is better for you to fall
- into any suffering, than into the least sin, Heb. xi. 24, 25.
This all will acknowledge, but how few practise it ! Oh that you would practically understand and receive it! Suffering is but a respective, external, and temporal evil; but fin is an universal, internal, and everlasting evil.
4. Rule. Believe that God hath cursed and blasted all the ways of fin, that they shall never be a shelter 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 in the way of iniquity. He that runs from suffering to sin, runs from the seeming 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 secure you, when carnal wisdom will expose and betray you.
Psal. xxv. 2. Job ii. 3. Sinful policy never thrives with saints.
6. Rule. Confider sadly what the consequence of yielding up yourselves to temptations will be : The name of God will be dreadfully reproached, 2 Sam. xii. 14. A fatal stumbling block is laid before the blind world, I Sam. ii. 36. The hearts of many upright ones made fad, Psal. xxv. 3. The fall of a ✓professor is as when a standard-bearer fainteth ; and a dreadful wound it will be to thine own conscience, 2 Cor. ii. 7.
Matth . xxv. 76. One hour's sleep of security, may keep you many days and nights waking upon the rack of horror.
7. Rule. Never engage a temptation in your own strength, but go forth against it trembling 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 of your temptation be days of strong cries and fupplications. Thus did Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8. Psal. cix. 4. Your best posture to wrestle with temptation, is upon your knees.
9. Rule. Dwell upon the consideration of those choice encouragements God hath laid up in the word for such a time.
As, (1.) Though he give Satan leave to tempt you, yet you are still in his hand to preferveyou, Deut. xxxiii. 3. Johnx. 28.
(2.) That whilst Satan is sifting and trying you on earth, Christ is interceeding for you in heaven, 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.
Lastly, Be contenttillGodopen a door out of your temptations, Cor. x. 13. The time ofthepromisewillcome, Acts vii. 17. Wait for it, though ittarry, and feemto be deferred; in the end it will speak,and not lie, Hab. ii. 3. There was a fecretdoor in the ark,though it could not be seen whilst the waters prevailed: And so there is in all your temptations, though at present it be not discernible by you .
And thus I have brought you one step nearer to Paul's blessed frame. O give diligence to makeyourselves ready for sufferings.
CHAP.
XII.
Sheweth, that a choice part of our preparation and readiness forfufferings consists in the improvement of our praying abili ties, and keeping close with God in that beavenly andexcel lent duty, in days of suffering ; wherein also is opened the nature and means of its improvement. is amongst graces.
Doubtless it is of special use and service at all times to a Christian : But yet in suffering days it is of more than ordinary use and necessity, Heb. iv. 16. James v. 13.
And therefore it is reckoned among those choice pieces of armour,which suffering saints are to put on, Eph. vi. 18. I will here briefly discover the neceflity of it, and then shewyou that aChriftian may improve himself to an excellent degree in it; and, lastly, prescribe some means for an improvement.
The necessity of it toa suffering faint will demonftratively appear, if you 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 fur charged with sorrow.
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 condensed into black clouds, that overspread the soul, 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 asleep by Divine contentment in the bosom of God. A time may come, when thy heart is ready to break with trouble, and not a friend to whom thou canst open and ease it, and then 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, Psal. cii. title, Psal. Ixii. 8. For, (1.) This opens and gives 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 only diverted, but sanctified, and so cease to be distracting, or destroying troubles .
2.As it gives 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.
In this also they meet the gracious smiles of God, which swat low up their troubles, Psal.lxxxv. 8. And, lafly,hereby they prevail with God to open a seasonable and effectual door out of all their troubles, Psalm xxxiv. 4, 6.
3. Prayer begets and maintains holy courage and magnanimityin evil times. When all things about you tend to difcowragement, it is your being with Jesus that makes you boid,
Acts iv. 13. He that uses to be before a great God, will not be afraid to look such little things as men are in the face. The woman clothed with the fun, had the moon under her feer.
And what need you have of courage in evil times,hath been already shewed.
4. This is a dutyyoumay perform at any time, or in any condition : No adversary can cut you off from it.
It cannot befaid so of many other duties. None can hinder the inter
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Preparations for Sufferings : Or, course betwixt heaven and your souls: You may perform it in a prison, Acts xvi. 25. in a banished condition, Psal. lxi.
2.And so is fitted for a suffering 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 of grace to grow up to perfec tionthisway, Judg. xix. 20. He will have all mercies fetchel out this way, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. Jer.xxix. 11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you from God, must come in this channel. Beconvincedthen of the need you have to im proveyourselves herein, as everyouhope to stand in the evil day.
But how are these praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God ?
Praying abilities are either externalandcommon,or elfein ternaland special. The external and common ability is nothing else but that dexterity and skillmenget to express themselves to God in prayer.
Thus manycanput their meaning into apt anddecentexpressions, to which the Spirit sometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this hypocrites rest on, and glory in. Or else they are special and internal, wherebymen are enabled to pour out their fouls to God ina gracious manner. And this maybe considered either in the habit or the act. The habit is given by the Spirit, when the principles of grace are first infused into the soul, Zech. xii. 10.
Acts ix. 1 r. By being sanctified we are made near, and by acting those principles in prayer we are said to draw near,
Psal. x. 17. Now in our actual drawing near to God, the Spirit hath the chiefandprincipal hand: And his assistance there in is threefold.
1.He excites the heart to the duty; it is he that whispers to the foultodraw nigh to God, Psalm. xxvii. 8.
2. He suggests the matter of our prayers, and furnishes us with the materials, Rom. viii. 26. guiding us as to them at ter, not only to what is lawful,but alsotowhat is expedient for us.
3.He stirreth up suitable affections in prayer, Rom. vi 26.Andhencethose groans and tears, those gafpings and vehement anhelations. But notwithstanding all our abilities, both habitual and actual, be from the Spirit,and not from our
: selves,yet aretheycapable of improvement by us : For though in respect ofacquirement, there be a great difference be twist natural and supernatural habits, yet their improvement is in
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 can pray, yet you may learn to pray more humblythanbefore : Though you rise no higher as to words, yet you may learn to lay yourselves lower before the Lord, as Abraham and Ezra did, Gen. xviii.
27. Ezra ix. 6.
Secondly, You may learn to pray with more sincerity than formerly: Ah ! there is much hypocrisy and formality in our prayers, much of custom, &c. Now,you may learn to pour out more cordial prayers.
See Psal. xvii. 1. Psal. cxix. 10.
Thirdly, You may learn to pray with more zeal and earneftness than before: Somefaintshave excelled, and been remarkable for this, Dan. ix. 19. Hofea xii, 4. James v. 16.
Fourthly, With more affiduity and readiness at all times for it, Ephef. vi. 18. Praying always, with all prayer.
Hence Christ gives that commendation to the church, Cant. iv. 11 .
" Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honey-comb."
The honey-comb often drops,but always hangs full of drops readytofall.
Fifthly, You may learn to pray with more faith : Oh the qualms ofunbelief,thatgo over our hearts in a duty; faith is the soul of prayer, and according to the faith God finds in them, he accepts and values them. Now in all these things you may improve yourselves abundantly.
1. By being more frequent in the duty, Job xxii. 21. " Ас- " quaint thyself with the Almighty ;" in the Hebrew it is, accustom thyself: Those that havebeenexcellent, have also been abundant in it, Psal. xv. 17.
2. By taking heed that you grieve not the Spirit, on whose influences and assistances you so intirelydepend : Even as much as a ship doth upon the gales of wind for its motion.
3. By honouring the Spirit which enables you to pray, and that especially two ways ; (1. ) By dependance on him ; go not forth in your own strength to the duty, trust not to your own promptness, or preparations.
(2.) By returning, and with thankfulness ascribing the praiseofalltohim; be humble under all enlargements : fay,Not I, but grace.
4. By fearchingyourown hearts, and examining your necessities and wants, when you draw nigh to God ; this will be
✓a fountain of matter, and give you a deep resentment of the worth of mercies prayed for.
5. Lastly, By looking more at the exercise of graces, and less at the discovery of parts ; by labouring for impressions more,