A TRADICE OF TEMPTATION BY JOHN OWEN CHAPTER 6 WATCHING IN SPECIAL SEASONS OF TEMPTATION We are considering three particular issues regarding temptation. Number one, how a man may know when he has entered into temptation. Chapter four. Number two, what directions are to be given for the preventing of our entering into temptation. CHAPTER FIVE NUMBER THREE What seasons there are in which a man may and ought to fear that an hour of temptation is at hand. THIS CHAPTER SIX In addition to prayer, the other part of our Savior's direction, namely, to watch, is more general and extends itself to many particulars. I shall fix on some things that are contained therein. WATCH The seasons in which men usually do enter into temptations. There are various seasons in which an hour of temptation is commonly at hand. They will unavoidably seize upon the soul unless it be delivered by mercy through the use of watchfulness. When we are under such a season, then are we peculiarly to be on our guard that we enter not into, that we fall not under the power of temptation. Some of those seasons may be named. First, unusual outward prosperity. A season of unusual outward prosperity is usually accompanied with an hour of temptation. Prosperity and temptation go together. Yet prosperity is a temptation, many temptations. This is because without great supplies of grace, prosperity is apt to cast a soul into a frame of mind that is exposed to any temptation. Prosperity provides temptation with fuel and food for all temptations. prosperity as provision for lust and the darts of Satan. The wise man tells us that the prosperity of fools shall destroy them, Proverbs 1, verse 32. It hardens them in their way, makes them despise instructions, and puts the evil day, whose terror should influence them to repentance, far from them. Without special assistance, prosperity has inconceivably malignant influence on believers themselves. Hence, Agur prays against riches because of the temptation that attends them. Lest, he says, I befull and deny you, and say, Who is the Lord? Proverbs 30, verses 8 and 9. That is, lest, being filled with them, he should forget the Lord as God complains that His people did. Hosea 13, verse 6. We know how David was mistaken in this case. In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved. Psalm 30 verse 6. All is well and will be well. But what was at hand which lay at the door that David thought not of? Verse 7. You hid your face and I was troubled. God was ready to hide his face and David was ready to enter into temptation of desertion. and he did not know it. As then, to a prosperous condition I shall not go against Solomon's counsel, and the day of prosperity be joyful, Ecclesiastes 7 verse 14. Rejoice in the God of your mercies, who does you good in his patience and forbearance, notwithstanding all your unworthiness yet. I may add to it, from the same fountain of wisdom, consider also verse 14, lest evil lie at the door. Genesis 4 verse 7. A man in that state is in the midst of snares. Satan has many advantages against him. He forges darts out of all of his enjoyments. And if that man does not watch, he will be entangled before he is aware. You lack that which should poison, ballast your heart. Formality and religion will be apt to creep in upon you, and that lays the soul open to all temptations in their full power and strength. Satisfaction and delight in creature comforts. The poison of the soul will be apt to grow upon you. In such a time, be vigilant. Be circumspect, or you will be surprised. Job says in his affliction, God makes my heart soft, Job 23 verse 16. There is a hardness, an insensible lack of spiritual things, gathered in prosperity, which, if not watched against, will expose the heart to the deceits of sin and baits of Satan. Watch and pray in this season. Many men's negligence in it has caused them near. Their woeful experience cries out to take heed. Blessed is he who fears God always, but especially in a time of prosperity. 2. COLD FORMALITY As was shown before, in part, a time of the slumber of grace, of neglect and communion with God, of formality and duty is the season to be washed in, as that which certainly has some other temptation attending it. Let a soul in such an estate awake and look about him. His enemy is at hand, and he is ready to fall into such a condition as may cost him dear all the days of his life. His present estate is bad enough in itself, but it is also an indication of that which is worse, lying at the door. The disciples who were with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane are not only aboddly, but a spiritual drowsiness upon them. What says our Savior to them? Rise. Watch and pray. Did ye enter not into temptation? Matthew 26, verses 46 and 41. We know how near one of them was to a bitter hour of temptation. That is, Peter, and not watching as he ought, he immediately entered into it. I mentioned before the case of the spouse in the Song of Solomon, chapter 5, 2-8. She slept, and was drowsy, and was unwilling to gird up herself to a vigorous performance of duties in a way of quick, active communion with Christ. Before she is aware she has lost her beloved, then she moans, inquires, cries, endures woundings, reproaches, and all before she obtains them again. Consider then, O poor soul, your state and condition. Does your light burn dim? Or, though it gives to others as great a blaze as formerly yet, do you see it not clearly in the face of God and Christ by it, as ye have done before? 2 Corinthians 4 verse 6 Is your zeal cold? Or if it does the same works as formerly, yet, is your heart not warm with the love of God and to God in them as formerly, but instead you only proceed in the course you have been in? Are you negligent in the duties of praying or hearing the word? Or if you do observe them, do you not do it with that life and vigor as formerly? Do you flag in your profession? Or if you keep it up, are your wills oiled by some sinister respects from within or without? Does your delight in the people of God feign grow cold? Or is your love to them changing from that which is purely spiritual into that which is very carnal upon the account of suitableness of principles and natural spirits, if not worse foundations? If you are drowsing in such a condition as this, take heed. You are falling into some woeful temptation that will break all your bones and give you wounds that shall stick by you all the days of your life. Yes, when you awake, you will find that it has indeed laid hold of you already, though you do not perceive it. It has smitten and wounded you though you have not complained or sought for relief or healing. Such was the state of the church as Sardis. The things which remain are ready to die. Revelation 3 2 Be watchful, our Savior says, and strengthen them or a worse thing will fall upon you. If any who reads the word of this direction be in this condition, if he has any regard of his poor soul, let him now awake before he is entangled beyond recovery. Take this warning from God and do not despise it. 3. Times a Great Spiritual Enjoyment A season of great spiritual enjoyments is often by the malice of Satan and the weakness of our hearts turned into a season of dangers to this business of temptation. We know how the case stood with Paul, 2 Corinthians 12 verse 7. He had glorious spiritual revelations of God and Jesus Christ. Instantly Satan falls upon him, a messenger from him buffets him, so that he earnestly begs its departure but yet is left to struggle with it. God is pleased sometimes to give us special discoveries of Himself and His love to fill the heart with His kindness. Christ takes us into the banqueting house and gives our hearts their fill of love, and this is by some notable work of His Spirit overpowering us with a sense of love and the unspeakable privilege of adoption, and so fills our souls with joy unspeakable and glorious. A man would think that this was the securest condition in the world. What soul does not cry with Peter in the mount? It is good for us to be here. Let us make here three tabernacles, Matthew 17, verse 4. That is, to abide here forever. But yet, very frequently some bitter temptation is now at hand. Satan seeth that, being possessed by the joy before us, we quickly neglect many ways of approach to our souls wherein he seeks and finds advantages against us. Is this, then, our state and condition? Does God at any time give us to drink of the rivers of pleasure that are at His right hand, and satisfy our souls with His kindnesses with marrow and fatness? Let us not say we shall never be moved. Psalm 30, verse 6. We don't know how soon God may hide His face, or a messenger from Satan may buffet us. Besides, there lies oftentimes a greater and worse deceit in this business. Men cheat their souls with their own imaginations instead of a sense of God's love by the Holy Ghost. And when they are lifted up with their imaginations, it is not expressible how fearfully they are exposed to all manner of temptations. How then are they able to find relief against their consciences from their own foolish imaginations and deceivings with which many sport themselves? May we not see such everyday persons walking in the vanities and ways of this world, yet boasting of their sins of the love of God? Shall we believe them? If so, we must not believe truth itself. How woeful, then, must their condition be! 4. SEASONS OF SELF-CONFIDENCE A fourth season is a season of self-confidence. Then the temptation is usually at hand. The case of Peter is clear in this. Yet, will I not deny you, Matthew 26, verse 35? That is, though all men should deny you, I will not. Though I were to die for it, I would not do it. This said the poor man when he stood on the very brink of that temptation that caused him such bitter tears afterward, and has taught him so far to know himself all of his days. It gave him such acquaintance with the state of all believers that when he had received more of the Spirit and of power, yet he had less of confidence. He therefore sought fit that others should have less confidence also, and therefore persuades all men to pass the time of their sojourning here in fear. 1 Peter 1 verse 17, And ought to be confident and high as he was, lest they fall as he did. It's a first trial. He compares himself with others and finds himself above them. Though all men shall be offended because of you, yet will I never be offended, Matthew 26, verse 33. He fears every man more than himself. But when our Savior afterwards comes to him and puts him directly upon the comparison, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these, John 21, verse 15? He is done comparing himself with others and only cries, Lord, you know that I love you. He will lift up himself above others no more. Such a season often comes. Temptations are abroad in the world and false doctrines with innumerable other allurements and provocations. We are ready, everyone, to be very confident that we shall not be surprised with them. Though all men should fall into these follies, yet we would not. Surely we shall never go off from our walking with God. It is impossible our hearts should be so stupid and foolish. But, says the apostle, be not high-minded, but fear. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Would you think that Peter, who had walked on the sea with Christ, Confessed him to be the son of God, been with him in the mount when he heard the voice from the excellent glory, Matthew 17, 1 to 8. Should instantly fall a cursing and swearing that he knew him not at the word of a servant girl, Luke 22, verse 57. When there is no legal inquisition after him, no process against him, nor against anyone in his condition, let them take heed of self-confidence who have any mind to take heed of sin. And this is the first thing in our watching to consider well the seasons wherein temptation usually makes its approaches to the soul and be armed against them. And these are some of the seasons wherein temptations are nigh at hand. John Owen of Temptation Chapter 6