Tuesday after the Third Sunday — Lead us not into temptation

Consider, first, that, after begging of our Lord, in the foregoing petition, the forgiveness of the sins we have already committed, we here beg of him to preserve us from relapsing into any of our former offences, or being ever any more guilty of wilful sin. The true penitent abhors the monster sin, beyond all other evils whatsoever; and therefore he is not content with seeking the remission of all his offences, but is ever solicitous to avoid the like evils for the time to come; and, therefore, he flies the occasions of them; seeks to keep out of all dangerous temptations; and, being sensible of his own weakness, he is earnest in prayer, to beg of God to stand by him, and to help him to overcome all the enemies of his soul, and rather to let him die a thousand deaths, than to commit any one wilful sin. And this is the principal meaning of this petition. Lead us not into temp» tation; which ought to be recited by all Christians, with these dispositions of a great horror of sin, and a most earnest desire to be ever preserved from it.

Consider, secondly, in what sense we here beg of God not to lead us into temptation; since, as St. James says, (chap. i. 13,) God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man: viz. so as to incite, allure, or provoke to sin. No, certainly: such temptations as these cannot be from God, who is essentially good, and ever abhors sin; but they are from the world, the flesh, and the devil: yet, as these never have power to tempt us but with God’s permission, nor strength to overcome us, but when we neg lect to apply, in a proper manner, to God for his grace; therefore we make use of this expression, to signify our total dependence on God; and to beg that he would not give the enemy any power over us, nor suffer us to give ourselves up to him. Moreover, as those trials, which God often sends for the exercise of our virtue, and for the proof of our fidelity, are also in Scripture called temptations — such as afflictions, crosses, pains, d&c. of which God is certaiy the Author and Distributer, — we beg of him by these words. Lead us not into temptation that, with relation to all such trials as these, he would ever have regard to our weakness, and never lay upon us any load above our strength.

Consider, thirdly, with regard to temptations, that they are no sins to us, if we give no way to them, nor bring them upon us by our own foult; so for from it, that they are often the occasions of very great good to our souls; by obliging us to watch and to ]»ray the more, from the sense of our danger; by keeping Us humble; and by affording us the opportunity of gaining as many vie tories, and consequently as many glorious crowns for all eternity, as we have had conflicts with the enemy, by occasion of tempta tions Wherefore it is not the meaning of this petition, to pray that we may never have any temptation, (for this might not be expedient for us,) but that we may never yield to temptation. But as for the seeking, or desiring temptations, it would be too great a rashness to weak souls; and more especially with regard to temptations against purity, it would be a crime to affect them, or, without necessity, to expose one’s self to them. Christians, let us learn to arm ourselves for this warfare with the ar mour of the fear of God and a lively faith; let us stand upon our guard by watching and praying; let us readily and heartily resist the first attacks of the enemy: let us bear with patience and humility the labour and trouble of the conflict, but ever reject with horror the criminal satisfaction proposed by the enemy.

Conclude to observe these rules with regard to temptations; to join always an humble distrust in thyself, with a firm confidence in God; and ever to have recourse to him, in all thy conflicts, by humble and fervent prayer; and thou shalt always come off with victory.