through a difbelief of the divine faithfulnefs and love. Let us beware of such an attack, and learn what refiftance we fhould make. It would have been eafy for our Lord to accomplifh what Satan propofed; but he would not even feem to diftruft the care of Providence; and he has left us an example of a firm reliance upon God in the fevereft difficulties. He replied, therefore, from the feriptures, "Man fhall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God *." Thus he has taught us, to be more anxious to obtain the divine bleffing, than a supply of food, which of itself can adminifter no nutriment to the body. We fhould not dare to purfue any unlawful: course, or take one step out of the road of duty, for the providing even of neceffary support. Let us preferve our dependence upon the God of heaven, who in a thousand ways can give us bread to.eat, or even fuftain us without it.. 2. Jefus was then tempted to prefumption. "The Devil taketh him up into the holy city" (in what way we do not enquire, nor is it neceffary to know), "and fetteth him on a pinnacle of the temple." Here again the address was most artful: he would now perfuade him, to prefume upon his relation to God, in the belief of which he could not be fhaken, to make an improper display of it, and. to expect protection: without a fufficient warrant. "If thou be the Son: of God," faid he, " caft thyself down from hence; for it is written, He fhall give his Angels charge concerning thee to keep thee; and in their hands they fhall bear thee up, left at any time thou dash thy foot against a ftone +." Satan, we obferve, can appeal to scripture, to ferve his own purposes. But here he produced a falfe, because a partial, quotation. He emitted to mention from the original text, IN ALL * Deut. viii. 3. † Pfal. xci. 11. THY THY WAYS;" for this oppofed his defign; fince it teaches us, that then. only we may depend on God for our preservation, when we are in our appointed place. No fecurity is promifed to thofe who are out of the way. In this inftance likewise we behold the admirable wisdom of our Lord, wrefting the fcripture out of the hands of his adverfary, and confounding him with it. He replied, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God *." We are forbidden, then, to prescribe unto God what evidence he fhall afford us, or to presume upon his care over us in that line of conduct, which he has not authorized. Yet to this very fin the followers of Chrift are generally. urged. Indeed, they are in danger from the two oppofite extremes. For, if Satan be baffled in one point, he will try another; and therefore it will be an advantage to be apprized of his devices. What? though you be the children of God, and can maintain. your hope in him: confider well, where you venture to fet your foot. He is not bound by any promise to comply with your vain wifhes, or to preferve you, where your proper duty does not call you. Dare not,, then, however you may be folicited, to deviate from the right path for the difplay of your own abilities,, without any view to the glory of God.. 3. An attempt was made to feduce the Saviour by fuch an offer, as a proud and ambitious mind would greedily have catched at. "The Devil taketh him: up into an exceeding high mountain, and fheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, in a moment of time." We do not well understand he conducted this ftratagem: but, being permit-try all his artifices, he had fome method of reting the most delightful profpect of earthly pomp ir, that could be exhibited. or conceived.. r Pretending, therefore, to have the abfolute difpofal of every thing in his own hands, he promised to deliver up the whole power and magnificence to Jefus, on condition of receiving an act of adoration from him. How daring the fcheme! how deteftable the falfhood, which fupported it! The defign of Satan is the fame in all his affaults, but he does not always avow or discover it. "Fall down, and worship me," is in effect the meaning of every temptation. And, ah! how frequently does he fucceed! He ftill continues to offer "the luft of the eyes and the pride of life;" and thefe are the baits, which thoufands feize with eagerness to their eternal ruin. "All this," fays he," will I give thee;" and thus he perfuades men to barter away their confciences, and to forfake God and his truth, from the profpect of worldly advantages. But we would remind you, while you liften to fuch folicitations, that you will probably be difappointed. He, to whom you hearken, is a deceiver and a liar. It is not in his power to beftow what he promises, and what you defire to obtain. Or, if your largest wishes could be gratified, your poffeffions would still be poor. and contemptible. At length the holy refentment of Jefus was roufed; and, while he let the tempter know that he underftood his real character, he rejected his propofal with abhorrence: " Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only thou fhalt serve *." We learn, then, how to repel the attacks of our enemy. We must poffefs the utmost firmnefs of oppofition, and defpife every offer of temporal advantage, which might induce us to depart from our God. We must determine to yield no reverence or obedience to any but Him; and * Deut. vi.. 13. then \ then we fall be proof against all the enticements of the world. The conflict was ended, and the victory obtained. Satan departed, yet only" for a feafon," intending on fome other occafion to renew the affault: and immediately a company of holy Angels came to minifter to the relief of Jefus, and to rejoice with him on his glorious triumph. How replete with inftruction is this hiftory! It affords a ftriking reprefentation of the power, the malice, and the fubtilty of our adverfary, and the nature of that warfare, to which we are called. You, who follow Chrift, muft expect to be conformed to him in his temptations. An oppofition of the very fame. nature will be made against you. Do not ftagger in your minds, when you come into the conflict; nor decline the combat, though moft fevere, but arm yourfelves for it. " Refift the Devil, and he will flee from you*, as he did from Jefus. For this purpose, befides the other parts of the Chriftian's armour, "take the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God +.” Study, how you may ufe this weapon to the beft advantage; that you may be able to answer and repel every fuggeftion with," It is written." But here alfo are exhibited the grace and tendernefs of our Redeemer. How aftonishing the humiliation, to which he fubmitted! Painful to himself; yet most falutary in its confequences to us! Now we are affured, that "he is able to fuccour you who are tempted," that he is touched with a feeling of your infirmities |," and that "he will not fuffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation alfo make a way to escape 4." Yes, in due time you fhall triumph over all the malice of your enemies. The victory of Jefus was an earnest * James iv. 7. + Eph. vi. 17. Heb. ii. 13. +. 1 Cor. x. 13. of of victory to his people. "The God of peace fhal! bruife Satan under your feet fhortly *." Angels are anxiously obferving your conduct. In the view of fuch witneffes, "ftand faft in the faith, quit you like men, be ftrong t," and foon they will congratulate you, on having obtained a glorious and everlasting conqueft. But are not many unacquainted with this fpiritual warfare? If you make no refiftance, but willingly comply with the folicitations of Satan, you may escape fome of the difficulties which the Christian foldier meets with. All may seem to be peace with you: but the reason is, the prince of darkness holds his palace in your hearts, and, while you allow him the poffeffion, he will not disturb you. But you are no other than his vaflals, " led captive by him at his will." We entreat you to arise, and affert your liberty: for to what tremendous confequences will a continuance in your present bondage lead you! Cry. mightily to God, that he would refcue you from it, and thus deliver you from the power of darknefs, and translate you into the kingdom of his dear Son ‡.” Rom. xvi. 20. † 1 Cor. xvi. 13. Col. i. 13. JESUS |