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 fense, 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 trials with which God is pleased fometimes to prove good, and punish wicked men. So that God may be said 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 O 2 8 perhaps perhaps it would be very hard for any man to declare which Temptation he could best refift, or which would be moft difficult to him. We are fo ignorant of ourselves, in things of this nature, that we know not what trial we can best encounter; therefore, 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 knows our make and frame, by his infinite wisdom fees will most endanger us. Having thus confidered the firft part of this petition, I proceed to the fecond. 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, 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 alloting 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 also 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 fenfe, as keeping us from being overcome by temptations when they happen, then the petition means, the good providence of God without us, and the motions and operations of his holy Spirit within us, whereby he fupports and preferves those who in the time of their trials trust in him. God delivers us by his outward providences, and which are very confiderable; Q 3 fiderable; fometimes by the good examples of others labouring under the fame circumstances, fometimes by the faithful advice of a friend, the feasonable prefence of a good man, a fudden change in our fortunes, and divers unforeseen accidents, cafual indeed to us, but purposely ordered by the wife difpofal of God, to prevent our being led away by Temptations that affault us; therefore, in this prayer, we commit ourfelves to the good Providence of God, that he would still continue to preserve us by fuch ways as to his wifdom seems most requifite. By the operations of his holy fpirit within us, he delivers us from evil under Temptation, when he represents to us the reasons of our duty, and strongly impreffes them on our minds; whereby good men have been often rescued from their paffions, and kept from falling when on the brink of danger. Therefore, in this prayer prayer we intreat God not to caft us away. from his prefence, nor take his holy fpirit from us, that he would not forfake us when we are in the greateft danger of forgetting him, but that his grace may prevent us from yielding to any Temptation, whether fudden, violent, or long, that fo we may never be tempted above what we are able to bear. I fhall now offer fome confiderations that fhould make us in good earnest pray against Temptations, that they may not overcome us, nor draw us into fin. First, let us confider the great confequence of being overcome by Temptations. If we are prevailed on to act contrary to our duty, the beft end we can make is a forrowful repentance; and which if fincere, |