June 10

Manifold temptations. - 1 Peter 1:6.

CONCERNING the Christian’s trials, the apostle reminds us first of their nature. This is expressed in their name. They are called “temptations.” This word sometimes means seduction to sin. In this sense it is applied to Satan, who is commonly called the tempter, and we are not ignorant of his devices. But in this sense the word is wholly inapplicable to God. This is expressly decided by revelation. “Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” There may be difficulties attached to this subject, and there are; but let us walk “by faith;” let us believe simply his own testimony, and ascribe righteousness to our Maker. But temptations, ordinarily, in the Scripture, mean merely probation, or experiments, or trials, by which the reality and the degree of our gifts or graces are made known to ourselves or to others; for we know very little of ourselves till we are tried.

While Christians have ease, and health, and strength, and a prosperous business, and while they have an abundance of creature possessions and enjoyments, it is not easy for them to determine what they are depending on,-whether on these or on God. But, if they are removed, their dependence will soon enough plainly appear. If these were their portion, why, then they will exclaim, in the day of adversity, “They have taken away my gods, and what have I more?” On the other hand, if God has been their portion while they have enjoyed these, they will still say, “I hope in him;” and though they fail they will not faint, or if they faint they will not die.

The Christian sometimes becomes a wonder as well as a grief to himself, by the discoveries he is enabled to make in consequence of the trials by which he is exercised. “Oh,” says he, “I was little aware that I was so proud till I was called to stoop; I little imagined I was so impenitent till I was required to seek pardon; I little imagined I had so little confidence in God till I was required to walk in darkness, and, having no light, to lean upon the Lord when I could not see him, and to stay upon my God.” But so it is. In walking by the hedges and through the woods in the spring and in the summer, we cannot discern the nests of the feathered tribe: they are concealed by the leaves; but a few of the autumnal winds or the winter’s frosts, stripping off the foliage, lay them open to view; they are no longer disguised. And so it is with Christians. It is in the day of necessity that the retreats, the resources, the little holes and the nests, the very recesses of their hearts, are discovered.

Secondly, He reminds us of their number;-“manifold temptations.” “He performeth,” says Job, “the thing that is appointed for me, and many such things are with him.” “Lo,” says David, “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” So said Paul and Barnabas when they were at Antioch: they told the church that “through much tribulation they must enter the kingdom.” “In the world,” says the Saviour, “ye shall have tribulation.” As if it were to be their portion,- what they were to look for as long as they were here. To say nothing of persecutions innumerable, instances of which are still occurring in this land of known liberty, there are private sufferers from affliction, who, from hour to hour, from day to day, from week to week, suffer on, unobserved by their fellows, are made to possess months of vanity, and have wearisome nights appointed to them; unnoticed by any except that blessed Being, “the God of all comfort,” who seeth in secret.

Oh, how vulnerable is man! How vulnerable is his body, his health, his business, his reputation, his family! Thus we find that, in passing through life, according to our affections so are our afflictions.