07. CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7
Several acts of watchfulness against temptation are proposed — Watch the heart — What it means to be watched in and about —The snares lying in men’s natural tempers — About particular lusts — The occasions suited to them — Watching to lay in provision against temptation — Directions for watchfulness in the first approaches of temptation — Directions after entering into temptation That part of watchfulness against temptation which we have considered, regards the outward means, occasions, and advantages of temptation. We proceed now to what respects the heart itself, which is worked upon and entangled by temptation. Watching or keeping the heart, which we are obliged to do above all other keepings, also comes within the compass of this duty; for the right performance of it, take these ensuing directions: —
(1.) Let him that would not enter into temptation labor to know his own heart, to be acquainted with his own spirit, his natural frame and temper, his lusts and corruptions, his natural, sinful, or spiritual weaknesses, so that finding where his weakness lies, he may be careful to keep at a distance from all occasions to sin. Our Savior tells the disciples that “they did not know what spirit they were of;” Luke 9:55 which, under a pretense of zeal, betrayed them into ambition and a desire for revenge. Had they known it, they would have watched over themselves. David tells us, Psalms 18:23, that he considered his ways, and “kept himself from his iniquity,” which he was particularly prone to.
There are advantages for temptations, often lying in men’s natural tempers and constitutions. Some are naturally gentle, facile, easy to be entreated, and pliable. Though it is the noblest temper of nature — and the best and choicest ground when it is well broken up and fallowed for grace to grow in — yet if it is not watched over, it will be a means of innumerable surprisals and entanglements in temptation.71 Others are earthy, froward, and morose; so that envy, malice, selfishness, peevishness, harsh thoughts of others, and repinings72 lie at the very door of their natures; and they can scarcely step out without being in the snare of one or another of them. Others are passionate, and the like. Now, someone who would watch that he does not enter into temptation, needs to be acquainted with his own natural temper, that he may watch over the treacheries that lie in it continually. Take heed lest you have a Jehu in you that will make you drive furiously; or a Jonah in you that will make you ready to repine; or a David that will make you hasty in your determinations, as he often was in the warmth and goodness of his natural temper. Someone who does not watch this thoroughly, who is not exactly skilled in the knowledge of himself, will never be disentangled from one temptation or another all his days.
Again: men have particular natural tempers which, according to how they are attended or managed, prove to be a great fuel for sin, or a great advantage to the exercise of grace. So too, men may have particular lusts or corruptions which, either by their natural constitution or education, or other prejudices, have gotten deep rooting and strength in them. This also is to be found out by the one who would not enter into temptation. Unless he knows it, unless his eyes are always on it, unless he observes its actings, motions, and advantages, it will continually entangle and ensnare him. This then, is our first direction in this kind: — Labor to know your own frame and temper; what spirit you are of; what associates Satan has in your heart; where corruption is strong, where grace is weak; what stronghold lust has in your natural constitution, and the like. How many have had all their comforts shattered and peace disturbed by their natural passion and peevishness! How many are rendered useless in the world by their frowardness and discontent! How many are disquieted even by their own gentleness and facileness! Be acquainted then with your own heart: even though it is deep, search it; even though it is dark, inquire into it; even though it gives all its distempers other names than what they are, do not believe it. If men were not utter strangers to themselves; if they did not give flattering titles to their natural distempers; if they did not strive to justify, palliate, or excuse the evils of their hearts rather than destroy them, then it would be impossible for them, all their days, to hang about in the same briers, without making any attempt for deliverance. These evils are suited to their natural tempers and constitutions; and by accommodating them in these ways, they keep themselves from taking a clear and distinct view of their own hearts. Uselessness and scandal in professors of Christ, are branches growing constantly on this root of unacquaintedness with their own frame and temper; and how few there are who will either study these in themselves, or bear with others who would acquaint them with these!
(2.) When you know the state and condition of your heart as to the particulars mentioned, watch against all those occasions and opportunities, employments, societies, retirements, and businesses, that are apt to entangle your natural temper or provoke your corruption.
It may be that there are some ways, some societies, some businesses, that you never in your life escaped, but allowed them more or less, through their suitableness to entice or provoke your corruption. It may be that you are in a state and condition of life that weary you day by day on account of your ambition, passion, discontent, or the like. If you have any love for your soul, it is time for you to awake and to deliver yourself like a bird from the evil snare. Peter will not come again in haste to the high priest’s hall; nor would David walk again on the top of his house when he should have been on the high places of the field. But the particulars of this instance are so various, and of such several natures in respect to several persons, that it is impossible to enumerate them, Proverbs 4:14, 15.73 In this lies no small part of that wisdom which consists in ordering our conversation rightly. Seeing that we have so little power over our hearts once they meet with suitable provocations, we are to keep them apart, just as a man would keep fire apart from the combustible parts of the house in which he dwells.
(3.) Be sure to lay in provision, in store against the approach of any temptation. This also belongs to our watchfulness over our hearts. You will say, “What provision is intended, and where is it to be stored?” Our hearts, as our Savior speaks of them, are our treasury. There we store whatever we have, good or bad; and from there we draw it out for our use whatever we have, good or bad, Matthew 12:35.74 It is the heart then, in which provision is to be laid up against temptation. When an enemy draws near to a fort or castle to besiege and take it, oftentimes if he finds it well-manned and furnished with provision for a siege (and so able to hold out), he withdraws and does not assault it. If Satan, the prince of this world, comes and finds our hearts fortified against his batteries, with provisions to hold out against him, he not only departs, but as James says, he flees: “He will flee from us,” James 4:7.75 For the provision to be laid up, it is that which is provided in the gospel for us. Gospel provisions will do this work; that is, they will keep the heart full of a sense of the love of God in Christ. This is the greatest preservative against the power of temptation in the world. Joseph had this; and therefore, on the first appearance of temptation, he cries out, “How can I do this great evil, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9, and so there is an end of temptation for him; it lays no hold on him, but departs. He was furnished with such a ready sense of the love of God that the temptation could not stand. “The love of Christ constrains us,” says the apostle, “to live to him,” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, and consequently, the love of Christ enables us to withstand temptation. A man may, no, he ought to lay in provisions of the law also — fear of death, hell, punishment, with the terror of the Lord in them. But these are far more easily conquered than the other; indeed, they will never stand alone against a vigorous assault. They are conquered in convinced persons every day; hearts stored with them will struggle for a while, but quickly surrender. But supply the heart with a sense of the love of God in Christ — with the eternal design of his grace; with a taste of the blood of Christ, and his love in shedding it; get a relish of the privileges we have thereby (our adoption, justification, and acceptance with God); fill the heart with thoughts of the beauty of holiness, as it is designed by Christ for the end, issue, and effect of his death 76 — and you will, in an ordinary course of walking with God, have great peace and security as to the disturbance of temptations. When men can live and plod on in their profession, and not be able to say when they had any living sense of the love of God, or of the privileges which we have in the blood of Christ, I do not know what they can have to keep them from falling into snares. The apostle tells us that the “peace of God shall keep our hearts,” Philippians 4:7. 77 The Greek word for “keep” is a military word — a garrison; and so it is, “shall keep as in a garrison.” Now, a garrison has two things attending it — first, it is exposed to the assaults of its enemies; secondly, safety lies in it from their attempts. It is so with our souls: they are exposed to temptations, and assaulted continually; but if there is a garrison in them, or if they are kept as in a garrison, then temptation will not enter, and consequently we will not enter into temptation.
Now, how is this done? He says, “The peace of God shall do it.” What is this “peace of God?” A sense of his love and favor in Jesus Christ. Let this abide in you, and it will garrison you against all assaults whatsoever. Besides, in a special manner, there is something in this which is also in all the rest of the directions — namely, that the thing itself lies in direct opposition to all the ways 78 and means that temptation can make use of to approach our souls. Contending to obtain and keep a sense of the love of God in Christ, in the nature of it, obviates all the workings and insinuations of temptation.
Let this be a third direction then, in our watching against temptation: — Lay in a store of gospel provisions that may make the soul a place that is defended against all the assaults of temptation.
(4.) In the first approach of any temptation, as we are all tempted, the following directions are also suited to carry on the work of watching, which we are in the pursuit of: —
[1.] Always be awake, so that you may have an early discovery of your temptation, so that you may know it to be a temptation. Most men do not perceive their enemy until they are wounded by him. Indeed, others may sometimes see them deeply engaged in battle, while they are utterly insensible themselves; they sleep without any sense of the danger, until others come and wake them, telling them that their house is on fire. Temptation in a neuter sense is not easily discoverable — namely, as it denotes such a way, thing, or matter, that is or may be made use of by temptation for its ends. Few take notice of it until it is too late, and they find themselves entangled, if not wounded. Watch then, in time to understand the snares that are laid for you — to understand the advantages your enemies have against you, before they gain strength and power, before they are incorporated with your lusts, and have distilled poison into your soul.
[2.] Consider the aim and tendency of the temptation, whatever it is, and all the things concerned in it. Those which actively concur in your temptation are Satan and your own lust. For your own lust, I have made it clear elsewhere what it aims at in all its actings and enticings. It never rises up without its intent being the worst of evils. Every acting of it would be a formed enmity against God. Hence look at it in its first attempts as your mortal enemy, whatever pretences may be made about it. “I hate it,” says the apostle, Romans 7:15 — that is, the working of lust in me. “I hate it; it is the greatest enemy I have. Oh, that it were killed and destroyed! Oh, that I were delivered out of the power of it!” Know then, that in the first attempt or assault in any temptation, the most accursed, sworn enemy is at hand; it is setting on you, and does it for your utter ruin; so that it would be the greatest madness in the world to throw yourself into its arms to be destroyed. But I have spoken of this in my discourse on Mortification. Does Satan have any friendly aim and intention towards you, if he shares in every temptation? To beguile you as a serpent; to devour you as a lion — this is the friendship that he owes you. I will only add that the sin he tempts you to, against the law, is not the thing he aims at; his design lies against your interest in the gospel. He would make sin but a bridge to get over to better ground, to assault you as to your interest in Christ. Someone who might say today, “You may risk sin, because you have an interest in Christ,” will tell you tomorrow that you have no interest in Christ, because you have sinned.
[3.] Meet your temptation at its entrance with thoughts of faith concerning Christ on the cross; this will make it sink before you. If you would not enter into it, then entertain no parley, no dispute with it. Say, “‘It is Christ that died,’ — that died for such sins as these.” This is called “taking the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of Satan,” Ephesians 6:16. Faith does it by laying hold on Christ crucified, his love therein, and what he suffered for sin from there. Let your temptation be what it will — let it be to sin, to fear or doubting for sin, or about your state and condition — temptation is not able to stand before faith lifting up the standard of the cross. We know what means the Papists use to keep up the form, who have lost the power of faith. They will sign themselves with the sign of the cross, or make crosses in the air; and by virtue of doing that work being done, they think to scare away the devil. To act faith on Christ crucified is really to sign ourselves with the sign of the cross, and thereby we will overcome that wicked one, 1 Peter 5:9.79
[4.] Suppose the soul has been surprised by temptation, and entangled unawares, so that now it is too late to resist its first entrances: what will such a soul do so that it will not be plunged into it, and carried away with its power?
1st. Do as Paul did: beseech God again and again that it may “depart from you,” 2 Corinthians 12:8. And if you continue in this, you will certainly either be speedily delivered out of it, or receive sufficient grace not to be utterly foiled by it. Only, as I said in part before, do not employ your thoughts so much about the things to which you are tempted, which often raises further entanglements, but set yourself against the temptation itself. Pray against the temptation that it may depart; and when that is taken away, the things themselves may be more calmly considered.
2dly. Fly to Christ in a specific way — as he was tempted — and beg him to give you comfort in this necessary “time of trouble,”80 The apostle instructs us in this: “In that he has been tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted,” Hebrews 2:18. This is the meaning of it: “When you are tempted and are ready to faint, when you want help — when you must have it or you die — act faith specifically on Christ as he was tempted; that is, consider that he was tempted himself — that he suffered thereby; that he conquered all temptations; and that was not merely on his own account. It was for our sakes that he submitted to be tempted; it was but for us.” He conquered in and by himself, but it was for us. And draw, yes, expect help from him, Hebrews 4:15, 16.81 Lie down at his feet; make your complaint known to him; beg his assistance; and it will not be in vain.
3dly. Look to Him who has promised deliverance. Consider that he is faithful, and will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able.1 Corinthians 10:13 Consider that he has promised a comfortable outcome from these trials and temptations. Call all the promises to mind of assistance and deliverance that he has made; ponder them in your heart. And rest upon it, that God has innumerable ways that you know nothing about, to give you deliverance; such as —
(1st.) He can send an affliction that will mortify your heart as to the matter of the temptation, whatever it is, what was before a sweet morsel under the tongue, will have neither taste nor relish in it for you — your desire for it will be killed, as was the case with David;82 or,
(2dly.) He can, by some providence, alter that whole state of things from which your temptation arises, thus taking fuel from the fire, and causing it to go out by itself; as it was with that same David in the day of battle;83 or,
(3dly.) He can tread down Satan under your feet, so that he will not dare to suggest anything more to your disadvantage (the God of peace will do this for you), so that you will hear from Satan no more;84 or,
(4thly.) He can give you such a supply of grace that you may be freed, if not from the temptation itself, yet from its tendency and danger; as was the case with Paul;85 or,
(5thly.) He can give you such a comfortable persuasion of good success in the outcome, that you will be refreshed in your trials, and be kept from the anxiety of the temptation; as was the case with the same Paul;86 or, (6thly.) He can utterly remove it, and make you a complete conqueror.Romans 8:37 And He has innumerable other ways to keep you from entering into temptation so as to be foiled by it.
4thly. Consider where the temptation with which you are surprised has made its entrance, and by what means. And then, with all speed, shore up the breach. Plug that passage through which the waters have made their entrance. Deal with your soul like a wise physician: inquire when, how, and by what means you fell into this distemper. And if you find that negligence, carelessness, or lack of keeping watch over yourself, lie at the bottom of it, then fix your soul there — lament that before the Lord — shore up that breach — and then proceed to the work that lies before you.