(6.) Sixthly, These are also upon a special design on God’s part, either to find us work and to keep us doing, or to prevent sin and miscarriage; to keep down our pride, lest we should be ‘exalted above measure,’ [2 Cor. xii. 7;] to awaken us from slothfulness and security, lest we should ‘settle upon our lees,’ [Jer. xlviii. 11;] or to be an occasion of his grace, and an evidence of his power in our preservation, satisfying us and others, that in the greatest shocks of our spiritual battle his ‘grace is sufficient for us,’ [2 Cor. xii. 9.] Upon these, and such like designs as these, doth the most wise God permit it.
(7.) Seventhly, Satan doth not attempt temptations of this kind but upon a special design, and that either because he hopes by a violent and pertinacious impetuosity at length to prevail, or that he would please himself to molest us; for surely the cries and complainings of God’s children are music in his ears; or at least upon a design to discourage us in our services, and to make way for other temptations of murmuring, blasphemy, despair, &c., which are as a reserve or ambushment laid in wait for us. The inferences from hence are these two:—
Applic. 1. That the children of God under such temptations may be encouraged under a patient expectation, by considering that Christ did undergo the like assaults from Satan. It is in itself tedious and disheartening, but they may see,
(1.) First, That this way of trouble is usual, and that to the best; and therefore they should not faint under it.
(2.) Secondly, That grace is sufficient to preserve from the prevalency of the most earnest temptations even there, where our heavenly Father thinks it not fit to preserve us from the trouble of them. When Paul gives the highest security that the faithfulness of God can afford, that temptations shall not be above strength, 1 Cor. x. 13, or the ability that shall be given them, he tells them they are not to expect always such aids as shall presently drive away the temptation, that it must immediately vanish, or that their temptations shall become light and contemptible, but that God’s faithfulness will be no further engaged in the general, than [1.] to make their temptations tolerable, that they ‘may be able to bear them,’ though not without much to do. [2.] That the ‘way of escape’ shall be concurrent with the continuance of the temptation, that though the temptation abide, yet we shall be aided under it. [3.] That yet he is as careful of our help in temptations as he is ready to commissionate them, when need requires. His resolves that we should be tempted, and his resolves that we should be succoured, they bear the same date. ‘With the temptation he will make a way to escape.’
(3.) Thirdly, That such temptations do not argue [1.] either a likelihood, much less a necessity, that they should prevail; nor [2.] any want of care and love in God; nor [3.] do they always evidence a more than ordinary proneness and inclination in us; for Christ, who was most averse to the least of sin, who was highest in God’s love, against whom there was no possibility he should prevail, yet was thus tempted.
Applic. 2. Secondly, In such continued violences it will concern us to make stout resistances; according to the counsel of James, chap. iv. 7, ‘Resist the devil, and he will fly.’
Obj. But I have done so, and yet the temptation is the same, and still continues.
Ans. (1.) First, It is not enough to resist, but we must continue to do so. Some make limited resistances, as besieged persons that set a time for their holding out, and then if they be not relieved at that time, they yield; but we must resolve a perpetual resistance, as long as the temptation lasts. When one hand is beaten off, we must hold by another; when both are beaten off, we must, as it were, hold by our teeth.
(2.) Secondly, In a faithful resistance, we may cast the whole matter upon God, and engage him in the quarrel; as David: ‘I will say unto God, Why hast thou forsaken me?’ &c.