Applic. This must teach us to suspect Satan where we see him not, and so to converse with objects and occasions as still fearing that there may be anguis in herba, a secret snare laid for us to entrap us at unawares.
If we again cast our eyes upon what hath been said, that Christ was tempted ‘all the forty days,’ it will then give us this observation:—
Doct. 3. That Satan is sometime incessant in temptations, and sets upon us with continued importunities.
Here we may note a distinction of temptations, besides that of invisible and visible, of which I have spoken, that some are moveable and short fits, and as it were skirmishes, in which he stays not long, and others are more fixed and durable. We may call them solemn temptations, in which Satan doth, as it were, pitch down his tents, and doth manage a long siege against us. Of these last sort is this observation.
Thus he tempted Paul, continuing his assault for some time before he departed, 2 Cor. xii. 8. Thus also he dealt with Joseph, who was solicited day by day for a long time together, Gen. xxxix. 10. Of these I shall note a few things. As,
(1.) First, Such temptations are not without a special commission. He cannot indeed tempt at all without leave, but in the ordinary course of his temptations he hath a general commission under such restraints and limitations as pleaseth the Most High to put upon him; but in these he must have a special order, as we see in Job’s case.
(2.) Secondly, Such temptations have also a special ground. Either the present state and posture of our condition is such as Satan apprehends highly advantageous for his design, and therefore he desires to have the winnowing of us at such a season; or there are more than ordinary dispositions and inclinations in our heart to what we are directly tempted to, or to some other consequent design. These animate and encourage him to high resolves of prosecuting us more closely, upon an expectation that a continued solicitation is most likely to prevail at the long run.
(3.) Thirdly, It is possible that such temptations may stand out against the endeavours of many prayers, and that we shall find they are not so easily shaken off as the viper that was upon Paul’s hand. Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 8, prayed thrice against the messenger of Satan, that is, as Estius and others interpret, he prayed often and fervently, and yet it departed not.
(4.) Fourthly, Such temptations give no rest nor intermission; men are haunted and dogged by them; what way soever they go, they still hear the same things, and cannot command their thoughts to give an exclusion to his motions, but still by renewed disputes and arguings, or by clamorous importunities, they are vexed and tormented: which surely shews a high degree of earnestness and impudency in Satan.
(5.) Fifthly, These are consequently very burdensome, exceeding irksome and tiresome to us. Paul calls them ‘buffetings,’ for their trouble and molestation. Satan so molested Job in his affliction by inward accusations and troubles of terror, that, as an overwearied man, he cries out he had no quiet, and that he was disappointed of his hope of ease in sleep, because he was then ‘scared with dreams and terrified with visions,’ [Job vii. 14.]