Then & Now · 10 of 10

Chapter IX

A General Exhortation

HAving thus paſſed through the Conſideration of the duty of watching, that we enter not into temptation, I ſuppoſe I need not adde motives to the obſervance of it. Thoſe who are not moved by their own ſad experiences, nor the importance of the duty, as laid down in the entrance of this diſcourſe, muſt be left by me to the farther patience of God. I ſhall only ſhut up the whole with a generall Exhortation to them, who are in any p. 178 meaſure prepared for it, by the Conſideration of what hath been ſpoken. Should you go into an hoſpitall, and ſee many perſons lying ſick and weak, ſore and wounded, with many filthy diſeaſes and diſtempers, and ſhould enquire of them, how they fell into this condition, and they ſhould all agree to tell you, ſuch, or ſuch a thing was the occaſion of it; by that I got my wound ſaies one, and my diſeaſe ſaies another; would it not make you a little carefull how, or what you had to do with that thing or place? ſurely it would. Should you go to a dungeon, and ſee many miſerable creatures bound in chaines for an approaching day of execution, and inquire the way and means whereby they were brought into that condition, and they ſhould all fix on one and the ſame thing, would you not take care to avoid it? The caſe is ſo with entring into temptation: ah! how many poor, miſerably, ſpiritually, wounded ſoules have we every where? one wounded by one ſin, another by p. 179 another; one falling into filthineſse of the fleſh, another of the ſpirit: aske them nowhow they cameinto this ſtate and condition; they muſt all anſwer, alas! we entred into temptation, we fell into curſed ſnares and intanglements, and that hath brought us into the woefull condition you ſee. Nay if a man could look into the dungeons of hell, and ſee the poor damned ſoules that lie bound in chaines of darkneſſe, and hear their cries: what would he be taught? what do they ſay? are they not curſing their Tempters, and the Temptations that they entred in? and ſhall we be negligent in this thing? Salomon tells us, that the ſimple one that followes the ſtrange woman, knows not that the dead are there, that her houſe inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead: (which he repeats 3 times) and that is the reaſon, that he ventures on her ſnares. If you knew what hath been done by entring into temptation, perhaps you would be more watchfull and carefull. Men may think that they p. 180 ſhall do well enough notwithſtanding; but can a man take fire in his boſome, and his cloathes not be burnt, can one goe upon hot coales, and his feet not be burnt, Prov. 7. 27. 28. No ſuch thing: men come not off their temptation without wounds, burnings, and ſcars. I know not any place in the world where there is more need of preſsing this exhortation than in this place: Go to our ſeverall Colledges, enquire for ſuch and ſuch young men; what is the anſwer in reſpect of many? ah! ſuch an one was very hopefull for a ſeaſon, but he fell into ill company & he is quite loſt. Such an one had ſome good beginning of Religion, we were in great expectation of him, but he is fallen into temptation: And ſo in other places; ſuch an one was uſefull and humble, adorned the Goſpell, but now he is ſo wofully intangled with the world, that he is growne all ſelfe, hath no ſap nor favour; ſuch an one was humble and zelous, but he is advanced and hath loſt his firſt love and wayes: oh how p. 181 full is the world, how full is this place, of theſe wofull examples: to ſay nothing of thoſe innumerable poore creatures who are fallen into temptation by deluſions in Religion. And is it not time for us to awake, before it be too late; to watch againſt the firſt riſings of ſin, the firſt attempts of Satan, and all wayes whereby he hath made his approaches to us, be they never ſo harmeleſſe in thēſelves.

Having thus passed through the considerations of the duty of watching‸ that we enter not into temptation, I suppose I need not add motives to the observance of it. Those who are not moved by their own sad experiences, nor the importance of the duty, as laid down in the entrance of this discourse, must be left by me to the farther patience of God. I shall only shut up the whole with a general exhortation to them‸ who are in any measure prepared for it‸ by the consideration of what hath been spoken. Should you go into an hospital, and see many persons lying sick and weak, sore and wounded, with many filthy diseases and distempers, and should inquire of them‸ how they fell into this condition, and they should all agree to tell you‸ such‸ or such a thing was the occasion of it,—“By that I got my wound,” says one, “And my disease,” says another,—‸would it not make you a little careful how‸ or what you had to do with that thing or place? Surely it would. Should you go to a dungeon, and see many miserable creatures bound in chains for an approaching day of execution, and inquire the way and means whereby they were brought into that condition, and they should all fix on one and the same thing, would you not take care to avoid it? The case is so with entering into temptation. Ah! how many poor, miserable, spiritually-‸wounded souls, have we everywhere‸!—‸one wounded by one sin, another by another; one falling into filthiness of the flesh, another of the spirit. Ask them‸, now, how they came into this estate and condition? They must all answer, “Alas! we entered into temptation, we fell into cursed snares and entanglements; and that hath brought us into the woful condition you see!” Nay, if a man could look into the dungeons of hell, and see the poor damned souls that lie bound in chains of darkness, and hear their cries, what would he be taught? What do they say? Are they not cursing their tempters, and the temptations that they entered in? And shall we be negligent in this thing? Solomon tells us‸ that the “‸simple one that follows the strange woman‸ knows not that the dead are there, that her house inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead” (which he repeats three times); and that is the reason‸ that he ventures on her snares. If you knew what hath been done by entering into temptation, perhaps you would be more watchful and careful. Men may think that they shall do well enough notwithstanding; but‸, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt?” Prov 6:27, ‸ ‸ 28. No such thing; men come not out of their temptation without wounds, burnings, and scars. I know not any place in the world where there is more need of pressing this exhortation than in this place. Go to our several colleges, inquire for such and such young men; what is the answer in respect of many? “‸Ah! such a one was very hopeful for a season; but he fell into ill company‸, and he is quite lost. Such a one had some good beginning of religion, we were in great expectation of him; but he is fallen into temptation.” And so in other places. “Such a one was useful and humble, adorned the gospel; but now he is so wofully entangled with the world‸ that he is grown all self, hath no sap nor savour. Such a one was humble and zealous; but he is advanced, and hath lost his first love and ways.” Oh! how full is the world, how full is this place, of these woful examples; to say nothing of those innumerable poor creatures who are fallen into temptation by delusions in religion. And is it not time for us to awake‸ before it be too late,—‸to watch against the first risings of sin, the first attempts of Satan, and all ways whereby he hath made his approaches to us, be they never so harmless in themselves?

Have we not experience of our weakneſſe, our folly, the invincible power of temptation when once it is gotten within us. As for this duty that I have inſiſted on, take theſe conſiderations:

Have we not experience of our weakness, our folly, the invincible power of temptation, when once it is gotten within us? As for this duty that I have insisted on, take these considerations:—

1. If you neglect it, it being the only means preſcribed by our Saviour, you will certainly enter into temptation, and as certainly fall into ſinne: flatter not your ſelves; ſome of you are old Diſciples, have a great abhorrency of ſinne; you thinke it impoſſible you ſhould ever be ſeduced ſo, and ſo: but, let him (who ever he be) that p. 183 ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall: it is not any grace received, it is not any experience obtained, it is not any reſolution improved, that will preſerve you from any evill, unleſſe you ſtand upon your watch: what I ſay to you, ſayes Chriſt, I ſay to all; watch. Perhaps you may have had ſome good ſucceſſe for a time, in your careleſſe frame: but awake, admire God’s tenderneſſe and patience, or evill lyes at the doore. If you will not performe this duty, who ever you are, one way or other, in one thing or other, ſpiritual or carnall wickedneſſe, you will be tempted, you will be defiled, and what will be the end thereof? Remember Peter.

1. If you neglect it, it being the only means prescribed by our Saviour, you will certainly enter into temptation, and as certainly fall into sin. Flatter not yourselves. Some of you are “‸old disciples;” have a great abhorrency of sin; you think it impossible you should ever be seduced so‸ and so; but, “Let him (whoever he be) that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” It is not any grace received, it is not any experience obtained, it is not any resolution improved, that will preserve you from any evil, unless you stand upon your watch: “What I say to you,” says Christ, “‸I say to all, Watch.” Perhaps you may have had some good success for a time‸ in your careless frame; but awake, admire God’s tenderness and patience, or evil lies at the door. If you will not perform this duty, whoever you are, one way or other, in one thing or other, spiritual or carnal wickedness, you will be tempted, you will be defiled; and what will be the end thereof? Remember Peter!

2. Conſider that you are alwayes under the eye of Chriſt, the great Captaine of our ſalvation, who hath enjoyned us to watch thus, & pray that we enter not. What thinke you are the thoughts, & what the heart of Chriſt, when he ſees a Temptation haſtening towards us, a ſtorme riſing about us, and we are faſt aſleep? doth it not grieve p. 182 him, to ſee us expoſe our ſelves ſo to danger, after he hath given us warning upon warning? Whileſt he was in the dayes of his fleſh, he conſidered his temptation whileſt it was yet coming and armed himſelfe againſt it: the Prince of this world cometh, ſayes he, but he hath no part in me. And ſhall we be negligent under his eye? do but think that thou ſeeſt him coming to thee, as he did to Peter when he was aſleep in the garden, with the ſame reproof, what! canſt thou not watch one houre? would it not be a grief to thee to be ſo reproved, or to heare him thundring againſt thy neglect from heaven, as againſt the Church of Sardis, Revel. 3. 2.

2. Consider that you are always under the eye of Christ, the great captain of our salvation, who hath enjoined us to watch thus, and pray that we enter not into temptation. What think you are the thoughts and what the heart of Christ, when he sees a temptation hastening towards us, a storm rising about us, and we are fast asleep? Doth it not grieve him‸ to see us expose ourselves so to danger, after he hath given us warning upon warning? Whilst he was in the days of his flesh‸ he considered his temptation whilst it was yet coming, and armed himself against it. “The prince of this world cometh,” says he, “‸but he hath no part in me.” And shall we be negligent under his eye? Do but think that thou seest him coming to thee‸ as he did to Peter, when he was asleep in the garden, with the same reproof: “What! canst thou not watch one hour?‸” Would it not be a grief to thee to be so reproved, or to hear him thundering against thy neglect from heaven, as against the church of Sardis? Rev‸ 3:‸2.

3. Conſider that if thou neglect this duty, and ſo fall into temptation, which aſſuredly thou wilt do, that when thou art intangled, God may withall bring ſome heavy affliction or judgment upon thee, which by reaſon of thy intanglement, thou ſhalt not be able to look on any otherwiſe, than as an evidence of his anger & hatred: & than what wilt thou do with thy temptation and affliction together? p. 184 All thy bones will be broken, and thy peace and ſtrength will be gone in a moment. This may ſeeme but as a noyſe of words for the preſent, but if ever it be thy condition, thou wilt find it to be full of woe and bitterneſſe. Oh then let us ſtrive to keep our ſpirits unintangled, avoiding all appearance of evill, and all wayes leading thereunto: eſpecially all waies, buſineſſes, ſocieties, and imployments that we have already found diſadvantageous to us.

3. Consider that if thou neglect this duty, and so fall into temptation,—‸which assuredly thou wilt do,—‸that when thou art entangled God may withal bring some heavy affliction or judgment upon thee, which, by reason of thy entanglement, thou shalt not be able to look on any otherwise‸ than as an evidence of his anger and hatred; and then what wilt thou do with thy temptation and affliction together? All thy bones will be broken, and thy peace and strength will be gone in a moment. This may seem but as a noise of words for the present; but if ever it be thy condition, thou wilt find it to be full of woe and bitterness. Oh! then, let us strive to keep our spirits unentangled, avoiding all appearance of evil‸ and all ways leading thereunto; especially all ways, businesses, societies, and employments that we have already found disadvantageous to us.

FINIS.