Page:Comer's conflict, or, The beginner's battle with the devil, when essaying to come to Christ by faith.pdf/10

 10 The Comer's Conflict; or,

SERMON II.

Luke ix. 24. And as he was yet a coming, the Devil threw him down and tare him.'

THIS doctrine may he applied, at the time, in att exhortation or advice, particularly to theſe that are tempted and torn of the devil, when they effay to come to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. In order to your being fortified, through grace, againſt his aſſaults and fiery darts, there are only fix forts of temptations, I would at preſent en- deavour to fortify you againſt. 1. With reference to heart- blaſphemy. 2. With reference to heart-wandering: 3. With reference to the commiſſion of ſin. 4. With reference to the omiſſion of duty. 5. With reference to unworthy apprehenſious of God. 6. With' reference to all theſe that you need to be fortified againſt ; while you are com- ing to Chriſt, Satan may attempt to throw you down, and tear you in all theſe, and many other reſpects : but I ſhall touch a little at each of theſe. 1ſt, There are temptations of Satan with reference to blaſphemy, whereby he would throw down and tear in pieces, as it were, the fouls of theſe that would come to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. They may be tempted to dread- ful blaſphemous thoughts, which are not to be named, they are ſo deteſtable and abominable; they are fearful injections upon the mind, and very terrifying to the weak believer that is coming to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. In or- der to your being fortified againſt theſe, I would offer you the following advices. 1. Be not terrified with them, ſince they harm you more by their horror than by their guilt. It is true, the guilt of them is ſo great, that it is unpardonable to him to whom it belongs. Theſe are Satan's ſins, and not thine, and he ſhall anſwer for them, and not thou. Though he lay theſe blaſphemous thoughts at thy door, he is the father of them. Such thoughts are like lightenings caſt into a room, they have a great deal of horror; but as the lightening ſprings got from any cauſe in the room, ſo theſe thoughts proceed not from any thing in thee; not pro- perly from thy corruptions, for unregenerate men them- felves abhor them: and tho' the feed of all ſin be in our nature, yet ſcarce, if ever, doth this fin ſpring up even is