SERMO N. ix. MATTHEW vi. 13th. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. HIS Petition confifts of two parts; Tthe one, lead us not into tempta tion, the other, but deliver us from evil. For the more particular understanding the former part, it will be proper to remove fuch acceptations of the word temptation, as are not intended in the ufe of this Petition and fince it is here fuppofed that God may lead a man into temptation, I will confider in what fenfe that must be understood in this place. A man may be faid to lead another into temptation, when he entices him to fin, or by any argument, art, or violence, perfuades or compels him to it. But we are not to understand any thing of this nature on God's part---for in this fenfe, God tempts no man. He neither designs, or lays any trap or fnares, to make men fin: he purposes nothing to their hopes or fears, to deceive, allure, or fright them into fin; nor does he by any impulse on their minds, incline or neceffitate them to fin ; to conceive fuch things as these of God, would be the highest impiety. Again. To tempt a man may fignify in general to prove and try him, whether he will faithfully discharge his duty, and anfwer another's expectation of him, or not. In this fenfe, it is certain, God tempts every man; that is, he gives him occafions and opportunities of performing, or refufing to do his duty. Thus the laws of God to mankind in general, or to Christians in particular, the former by Nature, the latter latter by Revelation, are temptations or trials of our obedience, whether we will observe them or not; and in regard that the circumstances of men are very various, and that they have respective duties to be performed, therefore every man's particular condition of life, his honour or meanness, his wealth or poverty, his authority or fubjection, his fingle or married state, his temper and constitution of body, his health or fickness, his calling and profeffion, in a word, his condition in life, with respect to circumftances of this nature, which are infinite, is a temptation or trial, whether he will live up to the general rules of his religion, and perform that duty which his place, relation, and peculiar interest in the world, require of him. In this fenfe then, every man is led into temptation; that is, he hath the general rules of religion to obferve, and the particular duties proper to his place and condition to perform. And God who requires these, and by whose providence men are put into fuch circumftances, may fo far be faid to lead a man into Temptation. But as every man in this sense, is, and must be tempted, this cannot be the meaning of the words, when we pray, not to be led into Temptation. By Temptation we may here alfo understand, thofe hazardous tryals with which God is pleased fometimes to prove good, and punish wicked men. So that God may be faid to lead a man into Temptation, when he permits fome extraordinary accidents to befal him, in order to try his, fincerity. It is impoffible to mention the various kinds of Temptation to which we are liable, and perhaps it would be very hard for any man to declare which Temptation he could best refift, or which would be most difficult to him. We are fo ignorant of ourselves, in things of this nature, that we know not what trial we can beft encounter; there¬ fore, we ought to leave the petition to God in general, as our Saviour hath here taught us, namely that God would not lead us into Temptation, or that he would keep thofe Temptations from us, which he, who beft best knows our make and frame, by his infinite wisdom fees will most endanger us. Having thus considered the first part of this petition, I proceed to the second. But deliver us from evil: which fignifies the fame, and fomething more than the former. The fame, as including deliverance from great and dangerous temptations; but more, as the evil is greater to fall under Temptations, than only to be tempted. If confidered in the former fenfe, it implies God's providence in allotting us fuch a portion in this life, as he fees is beft for our spiritual estate, and in removing from us whatever he knows to be inconfiftent therewith. It is alfo to be understood of those innumerable methods of Providence, by which God keeps men from fundry temptations that would befal them, if he did not interpofe to prevent them. Taking it in the latter sense, as keeping us from being overcome by temptations when they happen, then the petition means, the good pro |