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"ment in all things:" That " by his holy inspiration, we may think those things that be good, and by his merciful guiding may per"form the same:" That "his Holy Spirit 66 may in ALL things direct and rule our "hearts Ť."

Having thus established the influence of these two agents, the Evil Spirit, and the Holy Spirit of God, as the doctrine of the Scriptures and of our Church, --- it remains, (1.) to endeavour to explain some of Satan's temptations,that being "no longer ignorant of his devices, "he may cease to get an advantage of us." After which, (2.) we may attempt to point out

-

the

Collect for the 5th Sunday after Eafter. See alfo that for the 9th Sunday after Trinity.

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+ Collect for the 19th Sunday after Trinity.

"The Father to create, (fay our pious Reformers) the Son to "redeem, the Holy Ghost to fanctify and regenerate. Whereof "the laft, the more it is hid from our underfanding, the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the fecret and mighty working of God's Holy Spirit, which is within us. For it is the Holy Ghoft, and no other thing, that doth quicken the minds of men, ftirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God, fuch as other "wife of their own crooked and perverfe nature, they fhould never "That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit:" As who. "fhould fay, - Man, of his nature, is flefly and carnal, corrupt "and naught, finful, and difobedient to God; without any fpark of goodnefs in him; without any virtuous or godly motion; "only given to evil thoughts. As for the works of the Spirit, "the fruits of faith, charitable and godly motions, if he have any. at all in him, they proceed only of the Holy Ghoft, who is the "only worker of our fanctification, and maketh us new men in Chrift."

"have.

66

66

Homily for Whitfunday, Part I., Edit. 1635. page 209.

the manner in which his malicious designs are frequently overcome by the Holy Spirit of God.

(1). The principles by which the great spiritual enemy of mankind too effectually prevailed with our first parents, seem to have been, first, his blinding them to the truth and certainty of God's word-" Ye shall not surely “die, (said the Tempter) for God doth know, "that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes "shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,

I knowing both good and evil*." The fear of God's awful denunciation being lessened or removed, he next applied himself to those pas sions and dispositions which he judged most favorable to his designs,-leading the woman, as" the weaker vessel," to "see that the tree "was good for food, and that it was pleasant

to the eyes, and a tree to be desired, to make "one wiset." Thus" lust, when it had con, "ceived, brought forth sin; and sin, when it

was finished, brought forth death." We may. trace, in this too successful temptation, the dawning of those three evil principles, "the lust of the flesh", or the desire of sensual gratification; "the lust of the eyes," or the desire of worldly possessions; and " the 66 pride

Gen. iii. 4, 5.

+ Gen. iii. 6. 1 John ii. 16.

‡ James i. 15.

pride of life," or the thirst after distinction and importance; as those, by means of which, variously modified, and accompanied by a neglect of God's word, Satan has ever since exercised his dominion over the fallen race of men. If we look through the records of history, sacred and profane; if we direct our eyes to mankind around us; if we turn them inwardly into our own breasts, and accurately trace the motives and springs of our deeds, we shall find one or more of these three principles, at the root of every sinful action which has debased mankind. And, Oh, how common, ----- I had nearly said. universal, are their influence, over a race of beings," shapen in iniquity, and conceived in sin!" with hearts deceitful above all "things, and desperately wicked ." Suchprinciples, in the hands of our subtile spiritual adversary, cannot but be too successful ;---and it becomes a subject of the greatest surprise, that any persons should be rescued from their prevailing influence.This the Holy Spirit. of God alone is able to effect. So well indeed did our spiritual adversary know their efficacy, by their successful influence on our first parents, and so many of their descendants, --- that we observe him assailing with similar temptations the second Adam, the Lord of Life and Glory, when

when arrayed in his garment of human flesh. He was "tempted every way in like manner

as we are:"--- but then, he was "without

sin" When Satan, "the Prince of this "world, came," he had nothing in him;" he found nothing in his pure and spotless soul, which could give him the least ascendancy.---"God had given the Holy Spirit, not by mea"sure," but in infinite abundance, "unto

him ." He was every way proof against his repeated attacks; and, with one of the choicest weapons from God's armoury, ---" the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of "God," he foiled every attempt for his seduction. In vain did the Tempter, after our dear Lord's miraculous fast, when hunger was suffered to afflict him with its acutest pangs, uge him to "command that the stones should "be made bread." Notwithstanding all the cravings of animal desire for food, He who came to set a perfect example to his Church, would not employ the miraculous power, with which he was invested, to any purposes of selfish gratification, however necessary.

The "desire

"Chrift, in the truth of our nature, was made like unto us in "all things, fin only except,-from-hich he was clearly void, both in his flefh and in his fpirit." Article 15.

See the account of thefe temptations, Matth. iv. 1, &c.

Luke iv. 1, &c.

"desire of the flesh" was thus wonderfully disregraded. The being "good for food, which had wrought so powerfully on the mind of Eve, swayed in no degree upon his, even in such an extremity, when the will of God appeared to be against his indulgence. "It is "written, (said He) man shall not live by "bread alone, but by every word that pro"ceedeth out of the mouth of God --- "The "lust of the eyes, the desire of earthly possessions even of empire, and that universal, operated as little upon him. when the worship of Satan was the odious condition annexed. He saw indeed "all the kingdoms of "the world, with the glory of them :" but he saw without desire. It is written, ( said he, "still keeping close to the law and to the "testimony') Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

What (said his own perfect example, as well as his heavenly doctrine) is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" "The pride of life, -The desire of distinction had just as little effect on him, "who was meek and lowly in "heart,”—Who "being the brightness of his "father's glory, and the express image of his

person, and upholding all things by the word * of his power, for our sake, made himself of