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CHAP. 43. Of the third Assault. (Book 43)
THe third Assault is concerning Sanctificatio••.
The tentation, is a prouoking to sinne, according as the disposition of e••••ry man, and as occasion shall offer it selfe. 1. Chron. 21.1. And Satan st••••d vp against Israel, and prouoked Dauid to number Israel. Ioh. 13.2. And when supper was done, the deuill had now put into the heart of Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne, to be∣tray him.
In this tentation, the deuil doth wonderfully diminish and extenuate those sinnes, which men are about to commit, partly by obiecting closely the mer∣cy of god, and partly by couering or hiding the punishment, which is due for the sinne.
Then, there are helpes to further the deuill in this his tentation.
First, the flesh which lusteth against the spirit, sometimes by begetting euill motions and affections, and sometimes by ouerwhelming and oppressing the good intentents and motions. Gal. 5.17. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, & the spirit against the flesh: and thes•• are contrarie one to another, so that ye cannot doe the same things that ye would. 19. Moreouer, the works of the flesh are mani∣fest, which are adulterie, fornication, vncleannesse, wantonnesse. 20. Idolatrie, witch∣craft, hatred, debate, emulations, wrath, contentions, seditiōs, heresies. 21. Enuy, mur∣thers, drunkennesse, gluttonie, and such like, whereof I tell you before, as I also haue told you before, that they which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of god. Iam. 1.14. But euery man is tempted, when he is drawne away by his owne concupis∣cence, and is entised.
Secondly, the world, which bringeth men to disobedience, through plea∣sure, profit, honour, and euill examples. Eph. 2.3. Among whom we also had our conuersation in time past, in the lusts of our flesh, in fulfilling the will of the flesh, and of the minde, and were by nature the children of wrath, as well as others. 1. Ioh. 2. 16. For all that is in the world, as the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eies, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world.
Resistance, is made by the desire of the spirit, which worketh good motiōs and affections in the faithfull, and driueth forth the euill. Gal. 5.22. But the fruite of the spirit is loue, ioy, peace, long suffering, gentlenes, goodnes, faith, 23. Meek∣nes, temperancie: against such there is no law. 24. For they that are Christs, haue crucified the flesh, with the affections and the lusts thereof. 26. Let vs not be desirous of vaine glory, prouoking one another, enuying one another.
The preseruatiues are these, whereby Men are strengthened in resisting.
- I. To account no sinne, light or small. Gal. 5.9. A little leauen doth leauen the whole lumpe. Rom. 6.23. For the wages of sinne is death, but the gift of God is eter∣nall life, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
- II. To auoide all occasions of sinne. To these rather agreeth the prouerbe vsed of the plague: longè, tardè, citò: that is, aloofe, slowly, quickly. 1. Thess. 5.22. Abstaine from all appearance of euill. Iud. v.23. And other saue with feare, pulling them out of the fire, and hate euen the garment spotted by the flesh.
- III. To accustome thy selfe to subdue the lesser sinnes, that at the last, thou maist also ouercome the greater. Rom. 13.4.