do thofe things which his providence permits to be done. The best of us have fome remainders of luft, fome irregular defires and appetites, which will be apt to betray us to fin, when powerful temptations are prefented to us; so that it is a great happiness to the belt of men, to be kept by the providence of God out of the way of violent temptations, for our own ftrength to refift them is but fmall, and we are apt to be fecure, and to neglect our guard; we are eafy to be furprized, and in continual danger through our own weakness or careleffnefs. Our greatest security is, if we be fincere, and heartily defirous to do well, and firmly refolved against fin, and do depend upon God for his grace and affiftance, that his providence will not fuffer us to fall into the hands of dangerous and violent temptations, which probably would be too hard for us; he who knows what our ftrength is, will not fuffer us to be tempted above what we are able.

Thirdly, From hence we may learn the best way to difarm temptations, and to take away the power of them, and that is by mortifying our lufts, and fubduing our vicious inclinations. When this is done, (which by the grace of God may be done) temptation hath loft its greatest advantage upon us. It is the confpiracy of our lufts, with the temptations that fet upon us, that betrays us into their power. The true reason why men fall into fin, is not becaufe they are tempted, but because there is fomething within them which inclines and difpofes them to comply with the temptation, and to yield to it. It is faid, when the Devil came to our Saviour to tempt him, that he found nothing in him, and therefore his temptations had no force upon him. The more we mortify our lufts, the lefs the Devil will find in us for his temptations to work upon. Every fpark is dangerous, when it falls upon combuftible matter; but though fparks fly never fo thick, there is no danger, fo long as there is nothing about us to catch fire.

If we will not be drawn afide and enticed to fin,

les

let us mortify our lufts; for fo far as we are mortified, we are out of the power of temptation.

Men are apt to complain of temptations, that they are too hard for them, and that they are not able to refift them, though they pray to God continually for his grace to that purpofe. This indeed is one means very proper and neceffary to be used; but this is not all that we are to do; we must break off habits of fin, and fubdue our lufts, and keep under our inclinations, and then we fhall find ourselves able to refift and encounter temptations with more succeís. And till we do this, in vain do we pray for God's grace, and depend upon him for ftrength to overcome the temptations that do affault us: for God's grace was never defigned to countenance the floth and negligence of men, but to encourage and fecond our refolutions and endeavours of well-doing. If we expect God's grace and affiftance upon other terms, we tempt God, and provoke him to leave us to the power of temptations, to be drawn away and enticed by our own lufts.

The end of the fifth Volume.