Converfation. I dare fay, he will not be fo partial to himself, as to think this is any tolerable Excufe: And if the human Temptations we meet with in the World, be no just Excufe for our Sins, it is certain, the Devil's Temptations can be none neither: For it is certain, the Devil cannot tempt more strongly than Men can do, and tho' he may convey his Temptations in another Kind of Way, than those of Mankind are applied, yet let them be conveyed as they will, we are as much at Liberty (as I faid before) whether we will yield to them, and have as much Power to refift them, as we have to refift those that come upon us in the ordinary Way of Converfation or Example, and the like. So that, when all is done, we are to lay the Guilt of our Sins nowhere, but at our own Doors: Whether the Devil applied the Temptation to us, or applied it not, it matters not much; it was we ourselves, that, by consenting, brought the Sin upon us.

And thus much of our Third Head of Inquiry; thofe that remain I fhall refer to the next Time.

SER

90

SERMON V.

2 COR. II. 11.

Left Satan fhould get an Advantage of us ; for we are not ignorant of his Devices.

HE Subject I am now upon is the Devil's Temptation; a Point. which creates a great deal of Trouble to fome Sorts of People. In order to the difcourfing clearly upon it, I proposed these fix following Heads to be inquired into: First, Whom we are to understand by Satan, or the Devil.

Secondly, Whether the Devil hath ordinarily a Power to tempt Men, especially us Christians.

Thirdly, Whether all our Temptations to Sin do arife from the Devil, or are to be afcribed to him.

Fourthly, Whether the Devil hath a Power to tempt all Men alike, or the fame Men at different Times.

Fifthly,

Fifthly, Whether we can distinguish the Devil's Temptations, from the evil Suggeftions that arise in our own Minds from other Caufes.

Sixthly, What we are to fay of thofe wicked blafphemous Thoughts, and other troublesome Fancies, that are often injected into the Minds of melancholy People, and which are usually thought and called the Devil's Temptations in a most proper Senfe and what are the most proper Advices to be given in that Cafe.

The three former of thefe Inquiries I have already spoken to in my laft Difcourse, and there is no need I should repeat any Thing I then faid concerning them, in order to the making Way for what I am now to deliver; fave only this, that I then largely proved from the Scripture, that tho' the Devil hath not so great a Power over us Chriftians, as he had over Mankind before our Saviour's Appearance, or as he has ftill in fome Countries, where the Light of the Gofpel never fhone; yet neverthelefs, we are not exempted altogether from his Affaults: He hath a Power of tempting us ftill left him, which he doth frequently exercife in fuch Manner, and at fuch Times as God is pleafed to permit.

Taking now this for granted, I proceed to my fourth Inquiry, which is this: Whether we Chriftians are equally expofed to the Devil's Temptations, or whether he hath not more Power to tempt fome than others, and

the

the fame Perfons more at fome Times, than at other Times.

To this I answer: It is very reasonable to believe, nay, it is very certain, that the Devil hath not Power over all Perfons alike, nor upon the fame Perfon always equally; but every one, as he is more or lefs under the Conduct of God's Spirit, and under the Protection of his holy Angels, fo is he lefs or more obnoxious to the Snares of the Devil. And every Man likewife, as he grows better or worse in his Morals, as he leads a more holy or a more fenfual wicked Life, fo is he more or less under the Care of the Holy Spi rit, and the good Angels.

Some Perfons, that are intirely and heartily the Servants of God, and walk closely with him in the Exercise of all Chriftian Virtues; thefe Perfons are fo much under the Guidance and Government of God's Spirit, and are fo guarded by the invifible Ministers of the Kingdom of Light, that it is to be hoped the Devil hath but little Access to them; nay, perhaps none at all, unless there fall out fome extraordinary Occafion, that God, for the greater Exercise and Improvement of their Virtue, may think fit to fuffer the Devil to create them fome Difturbance, as it was in the Cafe of St. Paul; who, left he should be puffed up thro' the Gifts of Revelations, which were vouchfafed to him, there was, as he tells us, given him a Thorn in the Flesh; an Angel of Satan to buffet him. And tho' he prayed thrice, that it might be removed, yet the An

fwer

fwer which was given him was, My Grace is Sufficient for thee; fee 2 Cor. xii. 7. Intimating, that God would not remove the Temptation, but however he should fo far affift him with his Grace, that the Temptation should do him no Mischief.

Thus, I fay, the Cafe ftands, as to good and holy Men; the Devil hath ordinarily but very little to do with them; but as for others, that do not thus endeavour to recommend themselves to God's Favour, but are loofe and careless in their Lives, and have no Senfe of Religion upon their Minds, or Fear of God before their Eyes, I do not doubt but the Devil hath a much greater Power over those; and tho' they may not be wholly abandoned by God, but are still under the Care of his general Providence, by which the Devil is kept from committing thofe downright Violences, and putting those grofs Cheats and Abuses upon Mankind, efpecially Christian Profeffors, which otherwife he would; yet, fo long as they continue in this State of Irreligion, they are, in a great Measure, under his Conduct, and ftill, the worse they grow, the more they are fo. And if once they come to that Pitch of Wickedness, that they let themselves loose to all Kind of Vice, and commit Sin with Greedinefs, without Remorfe or Reflection; then it is to be feared, they may be faid to be given over to the Power of the Devil; To be his Slaves and Vafals, and to be led captive by him at his Will and Plea