Page:Comer's conflict, or, The beginner's battle with the devil, when essaying to come to Christ by faith.pdf/21

 The Beginner's Battle with the Devil. 21

thyſelf down from the pinnacle of the temple ; yet we read of no ſaint in ſcripture that yielded to the tempter. We are therein told of none but wicked wretches that deſtroyed themſelves ſuch as Saul, Ahithephel, and Judas; and ſure you would not deſire to be like either of them. 3: Conſider the contrary practice of the ſaints in ſcrip- ture, both in their beſt and worſt time-Old Simeon got an armful of Chriſt, and did he now attempt to cut off his own life that he might win away to heaven? No he wiſhes to be away, but he puts himſelf in God's will, Now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace. Paul was wrapt up to the third heaven, and his deſire of death muſt have been very great; yet he is content to ſtay till he is diſſolved. Again on the other hand, if pain of body, and terrors of mind, might contribute to ſtrengthen ſuch a temptation, Job did not want his ſhare of both; yet inſead of putting a period to his own days, though indeed he curſed the day of his birth, and wiſhed for the day of his death, yet he ſays, All the days of my appointed time, will I wait till my change come, Job xiv. 14. 4. Conſider, that by ſuch horrid ſuggeſtions, as theſe, you are tempted to aſſume to yourſelf a prerogative that belongs to God only. It is he that lives for ever and ever that ſays, I kill, and I make alive, I wound, and I heal, Deut xxxii. 39. Your life is not your own to diſpoſe of; and as you cannot lengthen your life, ſo you may not ſhorten it. Therefore, 5. When you are thus tempted, keep not the devil's counſel, nor be thou his ſecretary: go to ſome faithful miniſter, or experienced Chriſtian, and tell them how you are tempted; for this temptation is partly conquered, when it is revealed. 6. Thoſe that think they ſhall be damned and go to hell when they die, it is the greateſt madneſs in the world for them to baſten their death. That the fear of hell ſhould make them leap into hell, is ſo contrary to all common ſenſe, that it is a wonder that any one ſhould ſo much ceaſe to be a man, not to ſay a Chriſtian, as to do a thing fo contrary to nature, let be to grace. Let me aſk you, Can you endure to be among blaſphemers? Can yon endure to blaſpheme God yourſelf for a year together, or an hour, and to ſpend it all in curſing and blaſpheming ? if your ſoul