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A TRADICE OF TEMPTATION John
Owen Chapter 5 The second case proposed, or inquiries resolved,
what are the best directions to prevent entering into temptation? having seen the danger of entering
into temptation and also discovered the ways and seasons in which
men usually do so. Our second inquiry is what general
directions may be given to preserve a soul from that condition that
has been spoken of. And we see our Savior's direction
in the place spoken of before. Matthew 26 verse 41 He sums up all in these two words. Watch and pray. I show the little
labor to unfold them and show what is enwrapped and contained
in them and that both jointly and severally. There is included
in them a clear, abiding apprehension of great evil, that there is
an entering into temptation. That which a man watches and
prays against, he looks upon as evil to him, and by all means
to be avoided. This, then, is the first direction.
Always bear in mind the great danger that it is for any soul
to enter into temptation. It is a woeful thing to consider
what slight thoughts the most have of this thing. So men can
keep themselves from sin itself in open action. They are content. They scaresame it more. On any
temptation in the world all sorts of men will venture at any time.
How will young men put themselves on company, any society, at first
being delighted with evil company, then with the evil of the company?
How vain are all admonitions and exhortations to them to take
heed of such persons, debauched in themselves, corruptors of
others, destroyers of souls. At first they will venture on
the company, abhorring the thoughts of practicing their lewdness.
But what is the end of this? Unless it be here is there one
whom God snatches with a mighty hand from the jaws of destruction,
They are all lost, and become after a while in love with the
evil which at first they abhorred. This open door to the ruin of
souls is too evident, and woeful experience makes it no less evident
that it is almost impossible to fasten upon many poor creatures
Any fear or dread of temptation, who yet will profess a fear and
abhorrency of sin? Would it were only thus with
young men, such as are unaccustomed to the yoke of their Lord. What
sort of men is free from this folly in one thing or other? How many professors have I known
that would plead for their liberty, as they called it? They could
hear anything, all things, all sorts of men, all men. They would
try all things, whether they came to them in the way of God
or not, and on that account would run to hear and to attend to
every broach or a false and abominable opinions. Every seducer, though
stigmatized by the generality of the saints. For such a one
they had their liberty. They could do it, but the opinions
they hated as much as any. What has been the issue? I scarce
ever know any come off without a wound, though most have had
their faith overthrown. Let no man then pretend to fear
sin that does not fear temptation to it. They're too nearly allied
to be separated. Satan has put them so together
that it is very hard for any man to put them asunder. He hates
not the fruit who delights in the root. When men see that such
ways, such companies, such courses, such businesses, such studies
and aims entangle them, make them cold, careless, or quench
coals to them, and dispose them to even, universal, and constant
obedience. If they adventure on them, sin
lies at the door. It is a tender frame of spirit,
sensible of its own weakness and corruption, of the craft
of Satan, of the evil of sin, of the efficacy of temptation
that can perform his duty. And yet, until we bring our hearts
to this frame upon the considerations before mentioned, Or, as the
like that may be proposed, we shall never free ourselves from
sinful entanglements. Boldness upon temptation, springing
from several pretenses, has, as is known, ruined innumerable
professors in these days, and still continues to cast many
down from their excellency. Nor have I the least hope of
a more fruitful profession amongst us until I see more fear of temptation. Sin will not long seem great
or heavy to any to whom temptations seem light or small. This is
the first thing enwrapped in this general direction, the daily
exercise of our thoughts. With an apprehension of the great
danger that lies in entering into temptation is required of
us. Grief of the Spirit of God. Disquietment
of our own souls. Loss of peace. Hazard of eternal
welfare lies at the door. If the soul be not prevailed
with to the observation of this direction, all that ensues will
be of no value. Temptation despised will conquer,
and if the heart be made tender and watchful here, half the work
of securing a good conversation is over. And let not him go any
further who resolves not to improve this direction in a daily conscientious
observation of it. Number two, there is this in
it also that it is not a thing in our own power to keep and
preserve ourselves from entering into temptation. Therefore are
we to pray that we may be preserved from it because we cannot save
ourselves. This is another means of preservation,
as we have no strength to resist the temptation when it comes,
when we are entered into it, but shall fall under it, without
a supply of sufficiency of grace from God. So to reckon that we
have no power or wisdom to keep ourselves from entering into
temptation, but must be kept by the power and wisdom of God,
is a preserving principle, 1 Peter 1.5. We are in all things kept
by the power of God. This our Savior instructs us
in, not only by directing us to pray that we be not led into
temptation, but also by His own praying for us that we may be
kept from it. I pray not that thou shouldst
take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them
from the evil. That is, the temptations of the
world unto evil, unto sin, out of evil. That is in the world. That is temptation, which is
all that is evil in the world, or from the evil one who in the
world makes use of the world to temptation. Christ prays his
Father to keep us and instruct us to pray that we be so kept. It is not then a thing in our
own power. The ways of our entering into
temptation are so many, various and imperceptible, The means
of it so efficacious and powerful, our weakness, our unwatchfulness
so unspeakable, that we cannot in the least keep or preserve
ourselves from it. We fell both in wisdom and power
for this work. Let the heart then commune with
itself and say, I am poor and weak. Satan is subtle, cunning,
powerful, watching constantly for advantages against my soul. The world, earnest, pressing,
and full of specious pleas, innumerable pretenses and ways of deceit,
my own corruption, violent and tumultuating, enticing, entangling,
conceiving sin and warring in me, against me, occasions and
advantages of temptation, innumerable in all things I have done or
suffer, in all businesses and persons with whom I converse,
the first beginnings of temptation insensible and plausible, So
that, left to myself, I shall not know I am ensnared until
my bonds be made strong, and sin has got ground in my heart.
Therefore, on God alone will I rely for preservation, and
continually will I look up to Him on that account. This will
make the soul be always committing itself to the care of God, resting
itself on Him, and to do nothing. Undertake nothing and so on without
asking counsel of him So that a double advantage will arise
from the observation of this direction Both of singular use
for the soul's preservation from the evil feared The engagement
of the grace and compassion of God Who is called the fatherless
and helpless to rest upon him? Nor did ever soul fell of supplies
and when a sense of want rolled itself on him and the account
of his gracious invitation Number two, the keeping of it
in such a frame as on various accounts is useful for its preservation. He that looks to God for assistance
in a due manner is both sensible of its danger and conscientiously
careful in the use of means to preserve himself. Which two,
of what importance they are in this case, may easily be apprehended
by them who have their hearts exercised in these things. Number
three, this also is in it. Act faith on the promise of God
for preservation. To believe that he will preserve
us is a means of preservation. For this God will certainly do,
or make a way for us to escape out of temptation if we fall
into it under such a believing frame. We are to pray for what
God has promised. Our requests are to be regulated
by his promises and commands, which are of the same extent.
Faith closes with the promises and so finds relief in this case.
This James instructs us in chapter 1 verses 5 to 7. What we lack,
we must ask of God. But we must ask in faith, for
otherwise we must not think that we shall receive anything of
the Lord. This then also is in this direction of our Savior,
that we act faith on the promises of God for our preservation out
of temptation. He has promised that he will
keep us in all our ways. We shall be directed in a way
that though we are fools. We shall not err therein Isaiah
35 verse 8 that he will lead us Guide us and deliver us from
the evil one Set faith on work on these promises of God and
expect a good and comfortable issue it is not easily conceived
what a train of graces faith is attended with and when it
goes forth to meet Christ in the promises. Nor what a power
for the preservation of the soul lies in this thing. But I have
spoken to this elsewhere. Four. Weigh these things severally. And first, take prayer into consideration. To pray that we enter not into
temptation is a means to preserve us from it. Glorious things are
by all men that know ought of these things Spoken of this duty
and yet the truth is not one half of its excellency power
and efficacy is known it is not my business to speak of it in
general, but this I say is to my present purpose and That would
be little in temptation. Let him be much in prayer This
calls in the suitable help and sucker that is laid up in Christ
for us Hebrews 4 16 This casts our soul into a frame of opposition
to every temptation When Paul had given instruction for the
taken to ourselves the whole armor of God that we may resist
and stand in time of temptation and He adds this general close
of the whole, Ephesians 6, 18, praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the spirit, and watching therein too with
all perseverance and supplication. Without this, all the rest will
be of no efficacy for the unproposed. And therefore consider what weight
he lays on it. Praying always that is at all
times and seasons or be always ready and prepared for the discharge
of that duty Luke 18 1 Ephesians 6 18 with all prayer and supplication
in the spirit putting forth all kinds of desires to God that
are suited to our condition according to his will lest we be diverted
by anything whatever and that not for a little while, but with
all perseverance, continuance links an out to the utmost. So
shall we stand. The soul so framed is in a sure
posture, and this is one of the means without which this work
will not be done. If we do not abide in prayer,
we shall abide in cursed temptations. Let this, then, be another direction,
abide in prayer, and that expressly to this purpose, that we enter
not into temptation. Let this be one part of our daily
contending with God, that he would preserve our souls and
keep our hearts and our ways, that we be not entangled, that
his good and wise providence will order our ways and affairs,
that no present temptation befall us. that he would give us diligence,
carefulness, and watchfulness over our own ways. So shall we
be delivered when others are held with the cords of their
own folly. Of Temptation Chapter 5
Of Temptation Chapter 5
Series John Owen's Temptation Book
| Sermon ID | 97192341215694 |
| Duration | 15:00 |
| Date | |
| Category | Audiobook |
| Language | English |
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