Section 2. Showing That the Evil of Temptation Works for Good to the Godly
2. The evil of Temptation works for good. Satan is called [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], the Tempter, Mark 4:3. He is ever lying in ambush, stat in procinctu Diabolus; he is continually at work with one Saint or other. The Devil has his Circuit, or Diocese, that he walks every day; he is not yet fully cast into prison, but like a prisoner that goes under Bail, he walks about to tempt the Saints. This is a great molestation to a child of God; as it is a trouble to a Virgin to have her chastity daily assaulted. Now concerning Satan's Temptations, there are three things to be considered: 1. His Method in tempting. 2. The Extent of his Power. 3. That these Temptations work for good.
1. Satan's Method in tempting: Here, take notice of two things. 1. His Violence in tempting, and so he is the Red Dragon: He labours to storm the Castle of the heart, he throws in thoughts of blasphemy, he tempts to deny God; these are the fiery Darts he shoots, whereby he would inflame the passions.
2. His Subtlety in tempting, and so he is the Old Serpent. There are five chief subtleties the Devil uses. 1. He observes the temper and constitution; he lays suitable baits of temptation. As the Husbandman knows what Grain is proper for the Soil, Satan will not tempt contrary to the natural disposition and temperament: This is his Policy, he makes the Wind and Tide go together: That way the natural Tide of the heart runs, that way the Wind of temptation blows. Though the Devil cannot know men's thoughts, yet he knows their temper, and accordingly he lays his baits: —Omnium discutit more — He tempts the ambitious man with a Crown, the sanguine man with beauty.
2. Satan observes the fittest time to tempt in: As a cunning Angler casts in his Angle when the Fish will bite best. Satan's time of tempting is usually after an Ordinance; and the reason is, because then he thinks he shall find us most secure. When we have been at solemn Duties, we are apt to think all is done, and we grow remiss, and leave off that zeal and strictness as before; just as a Soldier, who after a Battle leaves off his Armour, not once dreaming of an enemy: Now Satan watches his time, and when we least suspect, then he throws in a temptation.
3. He makes use of near Relations; the Devil tempts by a proxy: Thus he handed over a temptation to Job by his Wife, Job 2:9. Do you still retain your integrity? A Wife in the bosom may be the Devil's instrument to tempt to sin.
4. Satan tempts to evil by them that are good; thus he gives poison in a golden Cup: He tempted Christ by Peter; Peter dissuades him from suffering; Master, pity thyself. Who would have thought to have found the Tempter in the mouth of an Apostle?
5. Satan tempts to sin, under a pretense of Religion. He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an Angel of Light. He came to Christ with Scripture in his mouth; It is written. The Devil baits his hook with Religion; he tempts many a man to Covetousness and Extortion, under a pretense of providing for his Family; he tempts some to make away themselves, that they may live no longer to sin against God; and so he draws them into sin, under a pretense of avoiding sin. These are his [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], and subtle stratagems in tempting.
2. The Extent of his Power; how far Satan's power in tempting reaches. 1. He can propose the Object; as he set a wedge of Gold before Achan. 2. He can poison the Fancy, and instill evil thoughts into the mind: As the Holy Ghost does cast in good motions, so the Devil does bad; he put it into Judas his heart to betray Christ, John 13:2.
3. Satan can excite and irritate the corruption within, and work some kind of inclinableness in the heart to embrace a temptation. Though it is true, Satan cannot force the Will to yield consent, yet he being an earnest Suitor, by his continual solicitation may provoke to evil. Thus he provoked David to number the people, 1 Chronicles 21:1. The Devil may by his subtle Arguments dispute us into sin.
3. That these temptations work for good to the children of God. A Tree that is shaken by the wind is more settled and rooted: so the blowing of a temptation does but settle a Christian the more in grace. Temptations work for good eight ways.
1. Temptation sends the soul to prayer. The more furiously Satan tempts, the more fervently the Saint prays. The Deer being shot with the Dart runs faster to the water: When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, now it runs faster to the Throne of Grace. When Paul had the Messenger of Satan to buffet him, 2 Corinthians 12:8. For this I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. Temptation is a Medicine for security. That which makes us pray more, works for good.
2. Temptation to sin, is a means to keep from the perpetration of sin. The more a child of God is tempted, the more he fights against the temptation: The more Satan tempts to blasphemy, the more a Saint trembles at such thoughts, and says, avoid Satan. When Joseph's Mistress tempted him to folly, the stronger her temptation was, the stronger was his opposition. That temptation the Devil uses as a Spur to sin, God makes it a Bridle to keep back a Christian from it. The more a chaste Virgin is assaulted, the more she abhors the motion.
3. Temptation works for good, as it abates the swelling of pride: 2 Corinthians 12:7. Lest I should be exalted above measure, there was given me a Thorn in the flesh, a Messenger of Satan to buffet me. The Thorn in the flesh was to prick the Bladder of pride. Better is that temptation which humbles me, than that duty which makes me proud. Rather than a Christian shall be haughty minded, God will let him fall into the Devil's hands a while, to be cured of his imposthume.
4. Temptation works for good, as it is a Touch-stone to try what is in the heart. The word tentare, signifies explorare. The Devil tempts that he may deceive; but God suffers us to be tempted to try us. 1. Temptation is a trial of our sincerity: It argues our heart is chaste, and loyal to Christ, when we can look a temptation in the face, and turn our back upon it. 2. It is a trial of our Courage: Hosea 7:11. Ephraim is a silly Dove, without an heart. So it may be said of many, they are without an heart, they have no heart to resist temptation; no sooner does Satan come, but they yield: Like a Coward, as soon as the Thief approaches, he gives him his purse. But he is the valorous Christian, that brandishes the Sword of the Spirit against Satan, and will rather die than yield. The courage of the Romans was never more seen, than when they were assaulted by the Carthaginians: The valour & Puissance of a Saint is never more seen, than in a Field-battle, when he is fighting with the Red-Dragon, and by the power of faith puts the Devil to flight. That Grace is tried Gold, which can stand in the fiery trial, and withstand fiery Darts. Fidei robur potest esse concussum, non excussum.
5. Temptations work for good, as God makes them who are tempted, fit to comfort others in the same distress. A Christian must himself be under the buffetings of Satan, before he can speak a word in due season to him that is weary. Saint Paul was versed in temptations, 2 Corinthians 2:11. We are not ignorant of his Devices: and he was able to acquaint others with Satan's cursed Wiles, 1 Corinthians 10:13. A man that has ridden over a place where there are Bogs and Quick-sands, is the fittest to guide others through that dangerous way. He that has felt the claws of the roaring Lion, and has lain bleeding under those wounds, is the fittest man to deal with one that is tempted. None can better discover Satan's sleights and policies, than those who have been long in the fencing School of temptation.
6. Temptations work for good, as they stir up paternal compassions in God to them who are tempted. The Child which is sick and bruised is most looked after. When a Saint lies under the bruisings of temptations, Christ prays, and God the Father pities. When Satan puts the soul into a Fever, God comes with a Cordial; which made Luther say, that temptations are amplexus Christi, Christ's Embraces, because he does then most sweetly manifest himself to the soul.
7. Temptations work for good, as they make the Saints long more for Heaven; there they shall be out of Gun-shot: Heaven is a place of rest, no Bullets of temptation fly there. The Eagle that soars aloft in the air, and sits upon high Trees, is not troubled with the stinging of the Serpent: So when Believers are gotten above into the Empyrean Heaven, they shall not be molested with the old Serpent. In this life, when one temptation is over, another comes; this is to make God's people long till death sound a retreat, and calls them off the field where the Bullets fly so thick, to receive a victorious Crown, where, not the Drum, or Cannon, but the Harp and Viol shall be ever sounding.
8. Temptations work for good, as they engage the strength of Christ. Christ is our friend, and when we are tempted he sets all his power on work for us : For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. If a poor soul were to fight alone with the Goliath of Hell, he were sure to be vanquished; but Jesus Christ brings in his Auxiliary forces, he gives fresh supplies of grace, 2 Corinthians 12:9. And in him [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], we are more than Conquerors. Thus, the evil of temptation works for good.
But sometimes Satan foils a Child of God; how does this work for good?
I grant, that through the suspension of divine grace, and the fury of a temptation, a Saint may be overcome; yet this foiling by a temptation shall work for good. 1. By this foil God makes way for the augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to self-confidence, he presumed upon his own strength; and when he would needs stand alone, Christ let him fall; but this wrought for his good, it cost him many a tear, he went out, and wept bitterly; and now he grows more modest, he durst not say he loved Christ more than the other Apostles, John 21:15. Lovest thou me more than these? He durst not say so, his fall broke the neck of his pride. 2. The foiling by a temptation, causes more circumspection and watchfulness in a child of God: Though Satan did before decoy him into sin, yet for the future he will be the more cautious, he will have a care of coming within the Lion's chain any more, he is more shy and fearful of the occasions of sin; he never goes abroad without his spiritual Armour, and he girds on his Armour by prayer; he knows he walks on slippery ground, therefore looks warily to his steps; he keeps close Sentinel in his soul, and when he spies the Devil coming, he stands to his Arms, and displays the shield of Faith, Ephesians 6:16. This is all the hurt the Devil does; when he foils a Saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect, he makes him watch and pray more. When wild Beasts get over the hedge, and hurt the Corn, a man will make his fence the stronger: So when the Devil gets over the hedge by a temptation, a Christian will be sure to mend his fence; he is more fearful of sin, and careful of duty. Thus the being worsted by temptation works for good.
Object. But if being foiled works for good, this may make Christians careless whether they are overcome by temptations or no?
Resp. There is a great deal of difference between falling into a temptation, and running into a temptation; the falling into a temptation shall work for good, not the running into it. He that falls into a River is capable of help and pity, but he that desperately turns into it, is guilty of his own death. 'Tis mad running into a Lion's Den. He that runs himself into a temptation, is like Saul, who fell upon his own sword.
From all that has been said, by way of Corollary, see how God does befool the old Serpent, making his temptations turn to the good of his people. Sure did the Devil know how much benefit accrues to the Saints by temptation, he would forbear to tempt. Luther once said, there are three things make a Christian, Prayer, Meditation, Temptation. After a Fever the body shoots up more in stature: After Believers have been in a hot fit of temptation, they have shot up more in holiness. Saint Paul in his voyage to Rome, met with a contrary wind, Acts 27:4. So the wind of temptation is a contrary wind to that of the Spirit, but God makes use of this cross wind to blow the Saints to Heaven.
