orings abundantly more trouble, than the tranfitory enjoyment and fatisfaction of the most pleasing fin. The advantage gained by confenting to a Temptation, is gone long before we come to repent. Revenge is no longer fweet, than while the paffion of malice lafts, and what a man acquires unjustly, must be restored the moment true repentance begins. So that it is evidently neceffary for our own eafe and quiet, not to enter into Temptation, or fall by it, though we fhould repent and reform, which is the beft end we can promise ourselves; but if we fuppofe the worst, that a man grows more easy to his fins, and more readily yields to the Devil's fuggeftions, fo as to fill up the measure of his iniquity, what follows? nothing less than fire unquenchable. If then we are concerned for the end, if we fear the dreadful fentence of everlasting mifery, we have need, great need to pray, Lord, Lord, lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil. The great difficulty of refifting Temptations, is another reason for our using this petition in good earneft. For if we confider the variety and number of Temptations, we shall find no age, calling, or condition of life, no conftitution of body or mind, totally free from all Temptations. Youth is follicited by pleasure and wantonnefs; riper years by the cares and pride of life; old age by discontent and spitefulness, and, to the admiration of all confiderate perfons, by fenfelefs covetoufnefs. A calling gives an opportunity for dishonesty and hard-dealing, griping and oppreffions, and administers Temptations to falfehood and lying. A free fanguine temper is apt to run into improprieties, and good-nature into into debauchery; a referved difpofition into fullennefs and difcontent; fo that every constitution hath its incident danger. If we converse with our friends, we are in danger of being flattered, if with our enemies, of encreafing malice and revenge. Commendation is apt to make us vain, reproof angry, reproach and contempt to fill us with hatred. If one hath more wealth, honour, beauty, or refpect than another, he is ready to be elated with pride; or if he fees himself herein excelled by any, that is a Temptation to envy. If we live in cafe and plenty, we are in danger of falling into floth and idleness; if we have much to do, then contention, peevishness and all the vices incident to bufinefs, lie in wait to affault: us. It is hard to bear ficknefs after long health, and to fall from wealth into poverty, or take up up the crofs. As in a fuffering condition, there are Temptations which naturally arise, and the change itself is a very fevere one, so when a man unexpectedly comes into profperity, luxury and wantonnefs, pride and forgetfulness of God, will then more eafily befet him. In a word, we are expofed to the danger of divers fins and lufts, each of which has feveral Temptations, and the one often makes the other ftronger. Being then thus befet with dangers, it behoves us not only to be very circumfpect, but to pray alfo, Lord, fave us, or we perish. The frequency of Temptations is also another argument to prove the neceffity of conftant prayer. The Temptation may be changed, but is never quite removed. Whilft we are in the world we are still on trial trial and duty. We have many enemies near at hand, always bufy and urgent upon us, fo that we had need to watch and pray. A man's table is a fnare to him, his wealth an occasion of falling; he is often betrayed into excefs, when he fufpects no danger; if full of business, he is exposed to irreligion, covetoufnefs, and anger; if inclined to company, he is eafily feduced to evil fpeaking; he hath his tongue to bridle, his appetites and paffions to manage, and to preferve himself from the temptations of foolish mirth, uncharitable cenfures, and all the vices of converfation. Laftly, we have our own depraved nature to ftruggle with. Our outward fenfes are ever ready to let in Temptation, our imagination to entertain it, and our reafon not strong enough to refift it. We are also befet with a fubtle and malicious adversary, who |