1 Chronicles 21

3. The devil can excite and stir up the corruption within, and work some inclinableness in the heart to embrace the temptation. Thus he stirred up corruption in David's heart, and provoked him to number the people (1 Chronicles 21:1). Satan can blow the spark of lust into a flam…

As we may see in David, how strong a disposition we find in him needlessly to number the people (2 Samuel 24) — against all reason as well as religion, and the persuasion and opposition not of Joab only, but of others of his counselors — a man would wonder that one so holy and w…

And God sometimes gives to Satan power over the sons and daughters of Abraham (Luke 13) even as well as others, and as their bodies to be vexed by him, so their spirits; and as to provoke them to sin, so much more to terrify for sin — there being more of punishment than of sin i…

Both ways he lies in ambush in the creature. Sometimes he tempts us by the good things of the world (1 Chronicles 21:1), and Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel, so glorying in his might, and puissance, and victory over neighbor kings. So meaner peo…

Section 24. Thus God who himself began the writing of the Word with his own finger, Exodus 31:11; after he had spoken it Exodus 20; appointing or approving the writing of the rest that followed, Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 23:6; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicl…

See it in Christ's instance (Matthew 4:1): It is said, "He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil"; that is, led by the Good and Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the evil spirit. So (2 Samuel 24:1) compared with (1 Chronicles 21:1): God moved David…

4 They that tempt men to sin come under the devil's denomination, and do his work, who is the tempter (Matthew 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5); he tempts all men to one or other sin. The devil had a hand in Cain's murdering his brother (1 John 3:12), in Judas's treason (Luke 22:2),…

But true desires are costly. David would not offer burnt offerings without cost (1 Chronicles 21:24). A hungry man will give anything for food, as fell out in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:25).

Let Jeroboam set up idolatry, and Israel is soon in a snare; it's said the people willingly walked after his Commandment, Hosea 5:11. Secondly, should the sin stay at Court, and the infection go no further, yet the sin of such a one, (though a good man) may cost a whole Kingdom…

Even when the Saints fall into a sin in its nature presumptuous, they do not commit it so presumptuously as others; there is a part true to God in their bosomes, though over-voted Moses spoke unadvisedly, but the devil had his instruments to provoke him, quite against the good m…

And: I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I beseech you, remove the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly. Of Ezra: O my God, I am ashamed and confounded to lift up my eyes to you, my God, for our iniquities are increased over our he…