XI. SERM. of you for yourselves, and he will again fly from you. Do not be afraid that your Powers are weaker than those with which the Holy Jefus withstood him: For when Jefus was tempted, we may pioufly believe that his Divinity remained quiefcent in him; that his Godhead did not affift him in the Conflict, but left his Manhood alone to contend, though ftrengthened with fufficient Help from the Holy GoD. And fuch Helps he will vouchfafe to us all. Jefus, if we ask him, will himself stand by us: And as he bids us, fo he' will fee and help us fight, and freely impart to us of the fame Spirit, by which he conquered. For we have not an High Prieft, that cannot be touched with the Feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in Time of Need, Heb. iv. 15, 16. For in that he himfelf bath fuffered, being tempted, he is able, (and if able, he is willing) to fuccour them that are tempted, Chap. ii. 18. No Temptation therefore fhall take you, but such as-is common to Man: For GOD is faithful, and will not fuffer you to be tempted above that able: But will with the Temptation also make a Way ye are I XI. a Way to escape, that ye may be able to bear S ER M. it, 1 Cor. x.-13. Refift therefore, but manfully, and you may be fure of the Victory, of the greatest of Victories in fubduing your own corrupt Inclinations, and of the nobleft of Triumphs, fince your conquered Paffions draw you up into Heaven. SERMON SERMON XII. Chrift led up by the Spirit into the SERM. XII. MATT. iv. 1, 2. Then was Jefus led up of the Spirit into the H AVING feen the End which Providence defigned in allotting our bleffed Lord and Saviour those great Trials and Temptations, which the Church proposes to our Thoughts at our Entrance on this holy Seafon; I propose, this Day, to offer to your Contemplations fome general Circumstances leading and conducing to them, which my Text particularly notes and points out to us, and which it will be very useful carefully to obferve, before we proceed to a particular Confideration of the Temptations themselves. 1. And here the First Thing that requires our Attention, is what the firft Word in my Text refers to, viz. The Time of this folemn Engagement between the Saviour and the Enemy of Mankind. THEN (faith the Evangelift in the Paffage I have read to you) i. e. (as appears from the Close of the Chapter immediately foregoing) As foon as he came from the Waters of Jordan, where he had been baptized, immediately after the Holy Ghost had in a visible Manner defcended on him, when a Voice from Heaven had audibly pronounced him the well beloved Son of GOD, and whilst Jefus was yet full of the good Spirit within him, THEN was he led up-to be tempted of the DevilDuring all the Time of his private Life, we do not find that the Devil, in any remarkable Manner, fet upon him: But now when he has received an extraordinary Teftimony of GoD's Love and Pleafure in him; when he is anointed for the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind, and is just entring upon the Exercife of his great Office and Miniftry; This is the Time which the Devil thinks his proper Seafon: He conceives that now, by one Foil (could he give him one) he should render this diftinguished Son of GOD, but level with the reft of the Sons SERM. XII. of XII. SERM. of Men; that he should fruftrate the eternal Decrees of Heaven, and for ever quash all future Hopes of the World's Redemption. This Juncture therefore the Arch-Fiend feizes to attempt the Holy Jefus with his utmost Malice, Effort and Skill. Not that either the Devil could have tempted him in so strenuous a Manner, or that Jefus would have thrown himself purpofely and defignedly in the Devil's Way, had not the Holy Spirit of Gop permitted the one and conducted the other. For fo the Text tells us in the up SECOND Place, viz. That Jefus was led of the Spirit, i. e. by the Holy Spirit with which he was filled, and which now led him to this Conflict or Trial to fee what Ufe he would make of his Strength.- -Not that - the Holy Spirit of GOD leads Men into Temptation with the fame View, with which the Devil tempts: For he, it is plain, endeavours to force or entice us into Sin; whereas when GOD tempts or leads us to Temptation, it is only for our Trial, that we may refift the Temptation, and by fuch Refiftance give Proof of our Faith. GOD's Defign is not to pervert, but to manifeft our Obedience. This therefore we may affure ourselves was the End proposed |