If this temptation soon have another re him often try, and deavouring to take of the most easy parts fix it upon those part be understood. Up er dwells too much, a His head grows conf commentators, and t more. And if he does into questioning the yet he certainly neglec it, forgetting it is the himself up in his most whenever thou art te cult texts, look up to th and pray him by his Sp understanding, that th what thou readest, and not find the meaning of to thee, pass them by for puzzle and distress thy Perhaps when thou m again, they will appear will give thee light to se

hend them

If thou sayest, I do look up to him to teach me, but nevertheless, I find many hard and difficult texts. Remember thou knowest but in part, and therefore thou standest in need of daily teaching. These texts are profitable, if they humble thee, and make thee live more upon the teaching of the divine prophet. The humbler thou art, thou wilt be the more teachable. The lower thou sittest at his feet to hear his words, thou wilt learn the most. The master himself has declared, "Who"soever shall humble himself as a little "child, the same is the greatest in the "kingdom of heaven." If these difficult texts thus humble thee, and make thee live more upon Christ's inward teaching, they will be the means of thy growth in saving knowledge. Thy hearing and reading the word in a constant dependance upon him, will keep thee from the dangerous errors, and heresies of the times. Most of those arise from unlearned and unstable men, full of pride and self conceit, whom God resisteth, but he giveth grace unto the humble.

If he has given thee grace to hold fast the form of sound words, which thou

hast learned and beel my will change his thee with new temp thy happiness, he wi thee, and trying to stedfastness. He wi every lie that he ca word of God, and he reason or argument, prize, with sudden in to the mind doubts I know the scripture proof have I? And i mediately rejected, h like lightening with ot be inspired which is ful and full of doctrines a can defend the matter it? The language is lo worthy of God-the s perhaps there is neither These blasphemous times put the believer confusion, and throug and violence of them gr The apostle calls these a

the soul, and fiery, because he would have them to catch hold of, and to inflame its corruptions and lusts. And they do, if the shield of faith be not ready to stop their force, and to quench their fire. This is a piece of the armour of God, prepared for the believer's safety at such times, and the right use of it is this-The Lord having promised to be a shield to them that put their trust in him, and to compass them about with his favour as with a I shield, the believer looks up when these fiery darts are flying thick about him, and says—“O Lord God of hosts, who "hast promised, that thy faithfulness "and truth should be my shield and "buckler, now establish thy word unto "thy servant. In thee, O my God, do "I put my trust, save me in this hour of temptation." Then the battle becomes the Lord's. He is engaged to put forth his strength to shield thee from the enemy. Thus thou shalt conquer, and shalt happily experience what is written"Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."

He will flee for a season, but will return again. He has other temptations,

1

and he will try them all to disparage the word of God, and to lessen the believer's confidence in it. Sometimes he will insinuate-how can these things be?-in what way, or by what means can such a promise be fulfilled? If you begin to reason upon the point, he will get you from your strong hold and conquer you. Beware of his lies, and have always your answer ready-"It is written." What God hath said put your trust in, if all the world gainsay it: for He is faithful who hath promised, and all things are possible with him.

If this temptation does not succeed, and he cannot bring you to doubt of the truth of the promises, then he will try you about your right to them. When you are in darkness or walking heavily, in sickness or any trouble, and you have been praying for deliverance, but Christ does not presently answer you, then he has a favourable opportunity to suggest-Now you see the promises do not belong to you, Christ will not hear you, and therefore you have been deceiving yourself with a vain notion of faith. This is a common temptation, against which still oppose