circumspection, of walking cautiously, and of guarding against small deviations from our duty, the beginnings or first steps of transgression. His common efforts on Christians are designed to make them negligent and slothful; to deter them from exertions by a dread of opposition and difficulties; to betray them into imprudences and irregularities; to produce in them inordinate affections, spiritual pride, jealousy of one another, bigotry, levity, presumption, or distrust and melancholy; and to draw them into extremes of indulgence, or of austerity. He will neglect no means to retard their own progress, and to beguile them into such misconduct, as may dishonor their profession,

or

diminish their usefulness among others. Is the tempter so subtle, and so busy? How ought we, therefore, to watch and pray. Let us endeavor to acquire self-knowledge and to realize our situation, and leave no quarter unguarded. Let us carefully scrutinize every affection, frame, opinion, inclination, or purpose, lest the enemy lurk under it. Let him neither keep us from our duty, nor corrupt our principles or motives in the performance. An indolent, heedless mind is peculiarly exposed to his devices.

4. Our Savior was led into the wilderness to be tempted, immediately after the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him at his bapúism, and the testimony from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Thus Christians generally pass from extraordinary manifestations of divine favor, er unusual religious enjoyments, VOL. XI.

into a state or frame that forms a striking contrast. Perhaps such tokens of divine love are sometimes designed to prepare them for an approaching conflict. Often however such favors render them vain and remiss, se that some humiliating circumstance is necessary, like the apostle's thorn in the flesh. We should therefore remember to keep our hearts with great care after such seasons, that we may not be elated and giddy, and inadvertently fall into the snares of the tempter.

5. Our Lord's retiring into the wilderness and fasting forty days and nights, does not warrant any attempts to do as he did in this respect. His retirement and abstinence evidently belong to those special transactions, in which he is not to be literally followed. Why should I attempt to imitate him in this case any more, than in walking on the sea? His sea? His example does not therefore authorize monastic seclusions and the extraordinary austerities, which have been extolled at some periods, as the greatest efforts of virtue and piety. Retirement and abstinence, however, are a Christian's incumbent duty. We should retire daily to our closet, or some convenient place, for the secret exercises of devotion; we should be temperate at all times; and on proper occasions we should add fasting to prayer and humiliation. Probably these duties are too much neglected. Our Lord undoubtedly passed the time in the wilderness, as far as the interruptions of the tempter would admit, in meditation and prayer, preparatory to the arduous work and sufferings, which were be

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fore him. When young men are about to enter into the ministry, they should in imitation of his example, appropriate an unusual portion of time to meditation, self-examination and prayer. There are many occasions also, on which all persons should do this.

But when we retire to commune with our hearts and our God, we should expect and beware of the tempter. He will endeavor to interrupt and confuse our meditations, and to lead the mind from what would be most useful to something calculated to excite vain and unholy feelings. He will endeavor to mislead and make us partial in self-examination; and in the result vain and self-confident, or gloomy and dispirited. In our prayers he will endeavor to occasion carelessness of spirit, vagrancy of thought and attention, forgetfulness and formality; or to render them the efforts of the mind, rather than the humble and fervent aspirations of the heart. It is his object to make us trifling and listless, or injudicious in these duties, and to prevent spiritual improvement; and we may be sure, he has corrupted them, when they render us no more humble, spiritually minded, or diligent in doing good. In our retirements we should endeavor to keep our heart in the love and fear of God, and should be grieved at unholy or unseasonable thoughts, which tend to prevent their usefulness. Such was our Redeemer's perfect holiness, that the temptations of Satan were distressing to him by their disagreeableness, and the abhorrence and antipathy they excited. He suffered, being tempted. He was probably ha

rassed by the odious suggestions of the tempter from time to time, during the forty days and nights he fasted in the wilderness, (Mark i, 13.) At the end of them, when he was an hungered, Satan seems to have assumed a visible appearance, probably that of an angel of light.

"And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word, that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt. iv, 3, 4.

Here the adversary suggested to our Savior distrustful thoughts of God's goodness and providence, and endeavored to excite him to an inexpedient measure for relief. He might also intimate, that it was questionable, whether he were the Son of God, and that he ought to prove himself to be so, by a miracle to satisfy his hunger. Our Lord replied by a pertinent quotation from Scripture, importing that a man's life depends on God and not on his food only, and that the best way to preserve his life and to secure his salvation, is to observe implicitly every promise and direction of God's word.

On this passage we may make the following remarks.

1. Satan's address to our Lord reminds us of the manner, in which he accosted Eve, the mother of our race; Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? In both cases he endeavors to insinuate doubts of the truth and benevolence of God. Most sins begin in latent unbelief, or in doubting

the veracity, wisdom, power, knowledge, justice, or goodness of the Sovereign of the Universe. Some of his attributes appear to be questioned or denied in every transgression. It is of vast importance, therefore, that we preserve in our hearts a firm belief and approbation of his perfections. Then we shall acquiesce in his dispensations, as in all cases perfectly wise and good; confide in his word, as infallibly true; rely on his providence, as a sure resource; and endeavor to ascertain and do his will, as always right and most beneficial. Let us then, looking unto Jesus, seek to maintain such a cordial faith in his power, as our shield.

2. The different circumstances in which our Redeemer and our first parents were assailed by the tempter, are worthy of observation. He was in a rude and barren wilderness; they were in paradise. He had fasted forty days and nights, was faint and hungry, and had no supply at hand; they were full, and had permission to eat of every tree, that was good for food. He was tempted to a deed, which was highly plausible and might seem necessary; they were tempted to disobey a plain and absolute command of their bountiful Creator, without any specious pretext to justify their transgression. These considerations make our Savior's victory more illustrious. They should also humble us, and diminish our self-confidence. If our first parents, when holy, were so easily circumvented what can we do, whose hearts are so darkened and corrupted with sin? We can manifestly have no hope of overcoming the adver

sary, except through the powerful assistance of the victorious Captain of our salvation.

3. The enemy of our souls well understands, how to take advantage of our temporal circumstances. Are we favored with the ease and spirits of good health, he will endeavor to lead us into excessive and irregular gratifications of a sensual nature; and we should especially guard against all the sins of intemperance and sensuality. We should be diligently employed in something useful, partake with mod eration of the bounties of providence, avoid whatever excites improper desires, and consider our bodies, as temples for the Spirit of God; and present them a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reusonable service.

Is it our lot to endure the pains and disquietudes of a body, indis. posed and feeble; the enemy will take advantage of our state in this respect; and we should guard particularly against gloomy im aginations, murmuring and peevish feelings, discontentment, impatience, and censoriousness. We should beware of niaking the state of our health an excuse for indulging sins of this kind, or for neglecting any duties which we can perform. We should look on the favorable side of our condition in a spiritual view, as calculated to wean us from the world, to keep death and eternity in mind, to make spiritual consolations and blessings more acceptable, to humbie the soul into penitent submission, and to make us look to God as our only hope and dependance. Such benefits as these, if derived by the grace of

God from our condition, will render it most salutary to the soul. Corporal maladies may be instrumental in producing spiritual health and beauty, and temporal adversity yield ever lasting joys.

If we are distinguished by the possession of wealth and affluence, by elevation to honorable offices and employments, or by talents and erudition, the adversary will diligently endeavor to prevent the right use of our advantages, and to make them the occasion of immense guilt and mischief to ourselves and others. In such circumstances we should particularly guard against the swellings of pride and self-importance, ostentation, voluptuousness, seeking our own glory and emolument, the vanity of valuing ourselves on original and singular opinions, and contempt of common men and common things. We should remember, that our responsibility to God and obligations to do good to men, are proportionate to our superior means and opportunities. We should beware, that our mind be not intoxicated; study our high and extensive duties; and preserve on our hearts a deep conviction, that we are entrusted with our gifts and advantages for the promotion of truth, virtue and piety, the welfare of mankind and the glory of God; and that Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shull be much required.

Though prosperity and elevation are most agreeable to the natural desires of mankind, it is much safer being in the vale. A low condition, howev. er, has also its dangers. The enemy tempts those in it more

particularly to envy, dishonesty, base and sordid gratifications, murmuring, insubordination, and subserviency to the views of others. If in an indigent and humble condition, we should guard against such sins, learn contentment and resignation, and by industry, frugality, virtue and piety, endeavor to mitigate the evils of such a state, and to glorify God and be useful to man in it. We should respect our superiors, meddle not with concerns beyond our duty, but study to be inoffensive, and to get and do what good we can; not coveting great things in this world, but aspiring to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which God has promised to them that love him.

Our circumstances should be attentively considered, to ascertain our duties and our dangers, that we may perform the one, and guard effectually against the other. The appointment and providence of God should also be acknowledged; and thy will and not mine be done, express our caquiescence. We should not rashly conclude that we are the favorites of God, if prospered and flattered in the world; nor that he has cast us off, if we are pressed down to the dust under a heavy burden of afflictions, or by grievous temptations.

4. Satan often tempts Christians, when destitute and afflic ted, to distrust and despondency. They are sometimes ready to say of God; does he not deal severely with me? How many wicked men prosper, and have all their hearts can wish; while I am distressed for necessary food and apparel. How many enjoy perfect health and ease;

while I am incessantly visited with disease and pains. How many are honored, caressed, and surrounded with their friends; while I am bereaved of my friends, despised and persecuted, or neglected. Has he not forgotten to be gracious? How ean his promises be true, while I am left to suffer such things? When such suggestions as these, arise in the minds of afflicted Christians, they should immediately banish them, as coming from no good source. Rather let them say; God has no where promised me affluence, or health, or the favor of men, or exemption from the rod of affliction in this world. My Redeemer was a man of sorrows and acquainted with sufferings, beyond any parallel; and shall I com plain, who have been so vile and guilty? The great Shepherd knows what is best; and might not any other circumstances be worse for me than these? Perhaps he is now putting my faith and love to the trial; or teaching me to hate sin more, to love the world less, and to long for his heavenly kingdom; or making my refrac tory heart by discipline more humble, patient, resigned, and spiritual; and thus preparing me in the furnace, to shine with greater lustre. I will therefore hold fast my confidence to the end; and in the mean time endeavor to learn the lessons, which my afflictions are calculated to teach me, to submit myself unreservedly to the will of God, and to rely without wavering on his word. Though he slay me; yet will I trust in him; and I shall one day sing his praises for all these sufferings.

5. Satan often tempts persons to improper ways of supplying their wants, or extricating themselves from difficulties. Their case it is suggested, is of such an extraordinary nature, as to justify a departure from the rigid laws of virtue; their circumstances render it necessary to resort to forbidden means. In such an extremity as theirs, it would be folly to be scrupulous; their necessity gives them licence, and will be a sufficient excuse. How many by such suggestions are beguiled into the use of falsehood,. and fraud, and other unlawful expedients; quieting their consciences by the groundless persuasion, that their indigence and distress will excuse them. Never should we yield to such a persuasion; but in circumstances, most trying, adhere inflexibly to the precepts and confide steadfastly in the promises of God. Trust in him; and he will do for us much better than we can for ourselves by any unwarrantable steps. Our blessed Redeemer, who in compassion, repeatedly fed by miracle, the multitudes who followed him, refused thus to supply himself at the instigation of the tempter. It would have shown a disposition, on any emergency or solicitation, to leave the direct path of duty. His example teaches us to avoid all sinister and suspicious measures in our distress, and to rely with unshaken confidence on the providence of God. Our Lord was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Shall we then think that any sins become necessary and allowable on account of our trials and temptations? Let us ever re