Q1. What does this petition necessarily suppose?

A. It supposes, "that the most wise, righteous, and gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be assaulted, foiled, and, for a time, led captive by temptations, 2 Chron. 32:31."200

Q2. How many ways may God be said to lead a person into temptation, and yet not be the author of sin?

A. Two ways, objectively and permissively.

Q3. How may he be said to lead into temptation objectively?

A. When his providential dispensations, which, in themselves, are holy, just, and good, do offer, or lay before us occasions for sin.

Q4. May these occasions be called incitements or motives to sin?

A. No; only our corrupt hearts abuse or pervert them to this end; thus, David was envious when he "saw the prosperity of the wicked," Psalm 73:3.

Q5. When may God be said to lead his people into temptation permissively?

A. When he suffers them to be assaulted by the tempter, and, at the same time, withholds those aids of grace, which would prevent their compliance with the temptation, as in the case of David's numbering the people, 2 Sam. 24:1, compared with 1 Chron. 21:1.

Q6. What is the evil from which we pray to be delivered, and the temptations we pray against in this petition?

A. The evil of sin, and temptations to sin.

Q7. What is it to be tempted to sin?

A. It is to be strongly solicited, instigated, and enticed to it, Proverbs 7:16-24.

Q8. Can God be the author or efficient of such instigations and allurements?

A. By no means; "For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man," James 1:13.

Q9. Why then does he permit them to take place?

A. That he may direct and over-rule them to the purposes of his own glory; as in the instance of Peter, Luke 22:31, 32 - "The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not."

Q10. From whence do all temptations to sin spring, or take their rise?

A. All of them flow from "Satan, 1 Chron. 21:1; the world, Luke 21:34; and the flesh, which are ready powerfully to draw us aside and insnare us, James 1:14."201

Q11. Are we liable to be drawn aside and insnared by enemies, after we are in a state of grace?

A. Yes; "even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our corruption, Gal. 5:17, weakness, and want of watchfulness, Matt. 26:41, we are both subject to be tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations, ver. 69-72."202

Q12. Are we able to resist temptations when assaulted with them?

A. No; we are, "of ourselves, unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to improve them, Rom. 7:23, 24."203

Q13. How is Satan denominated in scripture, with reference to temptations?

A. He is called, by way of eminence, THE TEMPTER, Matt. 4:3.

Q14. Why is he so called?

A. Because of his strong and violent instigation and solicitation to sin, Acts 5:8.

Q15. When did he begin this trade of tempting?

A. He began it in Paradise, Gen. 3:1, 4, 5; and has been making his assaults upon all ranks of mankind ever since, 1 Pet. 5:8.

Q16. Can Satan force and compel the will to yield to his temptations?

A. No; otherwise all his temptations would be irresistible.

Q17. How do you know that they are not irresistible?

A. Because the saints are exhorted to resist them, James 4:7; and have actually been enabled, by grace, to do it, 2 Cor. 12:8, 9.

Q18. How many are the ways by which Satan manages his temptations?

A. Two ways chiefly, either in a way of SUBTLETY, using wiles and devices; hence called "that old serpent which deceiveth the whole world," Rev. 20:2, compared with chap. 12:9; or in a way of FURIOUS ASSAULT, throwing his "fiery darts," Eph. 6:16. In both which respects he is called, in the Greek tongue, APOLLYON; that is, a destroyer, Rev. 9:11.

Q19. Why called a destroyer?

A. Because he aims at nothing less than the eternal ruin and destruction of all mankind, 1 Pet. 5:8 - "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour."

Q20. What are some of those chief wiles and stratagems in which he displays his SUBTLETY?

A. He makes choice of the most advantageous seasons for tempting; he employs the fittest instruments for carrying on his designs; and sometimes gilds over the foulest sins with the fairest names.

Q21. What are these advantageous seasons for tempting, of which Satan makes choice?

A. When a person is under sore affliction and distress, Job 2:9; when the object is present that will enforce the temptation, 2 Sam. 11:2, 4; and after some remarkable manifestation of divine love, 2 Cor. 12:2, 7.

Q22. Who are the instruments he employs for carrying on his temptations?

A. Men of the greatest power and policy, 1 Kings 12:26-30; and sometimes men of reputed piety and godliness; thus he employed the old prophet to seduce the man of God with a lie, 1 Kings 13:18.

Q23. What are these fair names, under which Satan wants to make the vilest sins pass among men?

A. He allures to covetousness, under the name of frugality, Eccl. 4:8; to profuseness, under the specious title of generosity, chap. 5:13, 14; he tempts to drunkenness, under the disguise of good fellowship, Proverbs 23:29, 30; and to neutrality and indifference in religion, under the colour of a prudent and peaceable spirit, Acts 18:14, 15, 17.

Q24. What are those temptations, which Satan endeavours to throw in upon the soul, in the way of FURIOUS ASSAULTS?

A. They are his temptations to blasphemous and atheistical thoughts.

Q25. What is his plot by injecting these horrid suggestions?

A. Either to beget unbecoming thoughts of God, or to disturb, vex, and distract the Christian.

Q26. Does he ever gain his design, in begetting unbecoming thoughts of God, in the minds of any of God's children?

A. Yes; as would appear by their speaking sometimes very unadvisedly with their lips, Psalm 77:8, 9 - "Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? hath God forgotten to be gracious?"

Q27. Are the saints suffered to continue long in such sentiments?

A. No; for as such words are far from their stated judgment; and only flow from their lips in the hour of temptation; so the Lord, by his grace, will soon make them change their speech, as in the words immediately following: "And I said, this is mine infirmity; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High," Psalm 77:10.

Q28. Do blasphemous and atheistical thoughts ever take their rise in our own hearts?

A. Frequently they do; as our Lord testifies, Matt. 15:19 - "Out of the HEART proceed - blasphemies."

Q29. When may we charge ourselves with such thoughts, as arising in our hearts?

A. When we make no resistance, but give way to them; contrary to the command of God: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," James 4:7.

Q30. Can the saints of God distinguish between blasphemous and atheistical thoughts, suggested by Satan, and those that arise in their own hearts?

A. Yes, they can, in some measure; otherwise they would frequently be deprived of the comfortable use of those consolations that are allowed them in the word.

Q31. How may they know the one from the other?

A. If they are violent and sudden, coming in like a flash of lightning upon the mind, Matt. 16:22, 23; if their souls tremble at such thoughts, and oppose them with the utmost abhorrence, Psalm 73:15; and if nothing is more grievous than to be assaulted with them, ver. 21, 22; then they may conclude, that they are rather to be charged on Satan than themselves.

Q32. What are the extremes, to which Satan labours to drive sinners by his temptations?

A. Either to presumption or despair.

Q33. What is PRESUMPTION?

A. It is a confident hope of the favour of God, and of obtaining eternal life, without any sufficient foundation to support it, like the foolish virgins, Matt. 25:11, 12.

Q34. What is Satan's conduct with reference to presumption?

A. He does all he can to foster and cherish it, and is sure to give it no disturbance, Luke 11:21 - "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace."

Q35. What is DESPAIR?

A. It is the melancholy apprehension of a person's case as being quite hopeless, and of there being no help for him in God, Jer. 2:25.

Q36. By what artifices does Satan labour to drive persons to this deplorable extreme?

A. By suggesting that their sins are too many, and too heinously aggravated to be pardoned; that the time of forgiveness is past; or that they have been guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost.

Q37. Is it possible that our sins can be more numerous and more heinously aggravated, than that they can be pardoned?

A. No; because no bounds or limits can be set to the infinite mercy of God, as vented through the meritorious obedience and satisfaction of Jesus; "for, he will abundantly pardon," (margin, "he will multiply to pardon," Isaiah 55:7); and he declares, that though our "sins be as scarlet, or red like crimson, they shall be white as snow, and as wool," Isaiah 1:18.

Q38. Can any be certain in this life, that the time of forgiveness is past as to them, or that their day of grace is over?

A. No; because while the gospel continues to be published to them, it is their unquestionable duty to believe the report made in it, concerning salvation for them in Christ, without diving into the secret counsels of God, 1 John 5:11 - "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son."

Q39. How may a person know if he is not guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost?

A. If he is deeply concerned and perplexed about this matter, and has an habitual desire after salvation by grace, he may be verily assured he is not guilty of this: for "they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick," Matt. 9:12.

Q40. What is the second spring of our temptations above mentioned?

A. The WORLD, Mark 4:19.

Q41. What are the things of the world which give rise to temptations?

A. Both the good things and the bad things of it.

Q42. What are the good things of the world, which may prove a snare and occasion to sin?

A. The profits, pleasures, and preferments of the world, when trusted to, and rested in, Matt. 13:22.

Q43. For what should we pray, in order to be delivered from such temptations?

A. That God would incline our hearts unto his "testimonies and not to covetousness," Psalm 119:36, and that he would set our "affections on things above, not on things on the earth," Col. 3:2.

Q44. What are the evil things of this world, which may prove temptations?

A. The outward troubles and afflictions we meet with in it, John 16:33 - "In the world ye shall have tribulation."

Q45. Is God the author of all outward afflictions?

A. Yes; Amos 3:6 - "Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?" Though men may indeed have an instrumental and sinful hand in their own troubles and distresses; Jer. 2:17 - "Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God?"

Q46. When do afflictions prove temptations?

A. When we either "despise the chastening of the Lord," or "faint when we are rebuked of him," Heb. 12:5.

Q47. For what should we pray when visited with afflictions?

A. That when the Lord is pleased to chasten us, it may be "for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness," Heb. 12:10.

Q48. What is the third spring or fountain of our temptations?

A. The FLESH, Gal. 5:17.

Q49. What is meant by the flesh?

A. Our corrupt and depraved nature, Rom. 8:8 - "They that are in the flesh cannot please God."

Q50. How is the flesh, or corrupt nature, the spring of temptation?

A. As it entices to it, James 1:14, and is the inlet to temptations from Satan and the world, Jer. 17:9.

Q51. How should we pray against such temptations as have their rise from corrupt nature?

A. That God would not only restrain the pernicious tendency of our natural dispositions, Psalm 19:13, but likewise fortify our souls, by the powerful influence of his grace, against all these evils, to which we are naturally addicted, Eph. 3:16.

Q52. May we pray absolutely against temptations?

A. No; but we may put an alternative into God's hand with reference to them.

Q53. What alternative may be put into God's hand with reference to temptations?

A. That he would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Q54. What do we mean, when we pray, that God would keep us from being tempted to sin?

A. We mean by it, that, since the event of a temptation, with respect to us, is so dangerous and uncertain, if God has not some gracious ends to answer by it, he would rather be pleased, by his providence, to prevent the temptation, than suffer us to fall into it, Psalm 19:13.

Q55. What do we mean, when we pray, that God would support and deliver us when we are tempted?

A. We thus express our desire, "that, if tempted, we may, by his Spirit, be powerfully enabled to stand in the hour of temptation, Eph. 3:16; or, if fallen, raised again and recovered out of it, Psalm 51:12, and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof, 1 Pet. 5:8."204

Q56. How does the Lord enable his people to stand in the hour of temptation?

A. By making his grace sufficient for them, and perfecting his strength in their weakness, 2 Cor. 12:9.

Q57. How does he raise and recover them out of temptation, when fallen into it?

A. By discovering the corrupt and natural bias of their heart toward the temptation; humbling them on account of it, and the offence done to God by their compliance; and by quickening their faith, to draw virtue from the righteousness of the Surety, for a fresh intimation of pardon, Psalm 51:4, 5, 7.

Q58. When have they a sanctified use and improvement of temptations?

A. When they are made more circumspect, watchful, and dependent on Christ for the future, as being sensible of their inability to resist the least temptation without him; for he has said, "Without me ye can do nothing," John 15:5.

Q59. What should be our habitual scope, and general end, in offering up this petition, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?"

A. Our aim and end in it, should be, "that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected, 2 Cor. 13:9; Satan trodden under our feet, Rom. 16:20; and we fully freed from sin, temptation; and all evil for ever, 1 Thess. 5:23."205

Q1. Why is this petition joined to the former with the copulative and?

A. Because it will be but little advantage to have former sins pardoned, and to be left to the power and practice, to the love and trade of sin for the future; Ezekiel 18:26. When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in them; for his iniquity that he has done, shall he die.

Q2. What is meant by temptation?

A. In general, a trial or probation of what is in us, or of what we will do.

Q3. What is meant by temptation here?

A. Temptation to sin and wickedness.

Q4. How may we be said to be tempted to sin?

A. (1.) Effectually by ourselves, and our own hearts; James 1:14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin when it is finished, brings forth death. (2.) Formally, with an intention to draw into sin; and so we are tempted of the devil; 1 Chronicles 21:1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. Matthew 4:1, 3. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (3.) Innocently, and blamelessly; and so God is said to tempt; 2 Samuel 24:1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah.

Q5. How many ways may God be said to tempt evil?

A. (1.) By withdrawing his grace, either common or special; 2 Chronicles 32:31. Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land; God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2.) By permitting Satan, and wicked men, to tempt; 2 Samuel 24:1. He moved David against them, to say, Go and number Israel and Judah. With 1 Chronicles 21:1. Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David. Matthew 4:1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. (3.) By presenting occasions in his providence, which he knows will be abused to sin; as in the fall of Adam, the hardening of Pharaoh, etc.

Q6. What do we beg in this petition?

A. We beg, that we may not any of these, or any other ways, whereby the holy God may be said to lead into temptation, be led thereunto; Psalm 141:1. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not cat of their dainties, Psalm 19:13. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Q7. What is meant by evil?

A. Some understand of the devil, but the best meaning is sin, which is the evil of evils, and makes the devil evil, and is the worst of evils the devil can bring upon us, and is usually so understood in scripture; Psalm 97:10. You that love the Lord, hate evil, Isaiah 1:16. Cease to do evil. Amos 5:15. Hate the evil, and love the good. Romans 12:9. Abhor that which is evil.

Q8. What is meant by deliverance from evil?

A. That if God sees meet to permit us to be tempted by Satan, and the wicked without, or by our own hearts within, to sin; or occasionally, by his providence; that he will not leave us, but undertake for us, that we may not be led into sin thereby, but by his grace be made more than conquerors. Psalm 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 119:133. Order my steps in your word and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. According to his promise; 1 Corinthians 10:13. But God is faithful, who will not allow himto be tempted above that you are able. 2 Corinthians 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Q9. What is the first inference?

A. That sin is the worst of evils.

Q10. What is the second inference?

A. That without God's grace we can never withstand, but shall be overcome by every temptation; 2 Corinthians 3:5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God, John 15:5. For without me you can do nothing.

Q11. What is the third inference?

A. That we must do all we can to keep ourselves from temptation, and to engage the grace of God with us in temptation, by prayer, by pleasing the Spirit of God, by looking to Jesus, etc. Of the Conclusion

Q1. Must we pray that we may not be tempted?

A. Yes: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, Matt. 26:41.

Q2. And that temptations may be removed?

A. Yes: I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me, 2 Cor. 12:8.

Q3. And that we may not be overcome by them?

A. Yes: Let no iniquity have dominion over me, Ps. 119:133.

Q4. Must we pray that God would not leave us to ourselves?

A. Yes: Incline not my heart to any evil thing, Ps. 141:4.

Q5. And that he would not withdraw the assistance of his grace?

A. Yes: Take not thy Holy Spirit away from me, Ps. 51:11.

Q6. But that he would strengthen us against every temptation?

A. Yes: Uphold me with by free spirit, Ps. 51:12.

Q7. And that he would preserve us through it?

A. Yes: That our faith fail not, Luke 22:32.

Q8. Have we encouragement to pray against temptation?

A. Yes: For God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, 1 Cor. 10:13.

Q9. And is prayer a part of our spiritual armour ?

A. Yes: Praying always, Eph. 6:13,18.

Q10. Must we dread sin as the worst evil?

A. Yes: That I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, Neh. 6:13.

Q11. And must we pray to be kept from it?

A. Yes: To be delivered from every evil work, 2 Tim. 4:18.

Q12. And from all occasions of it?

A. Yes: Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, Ps. 119:37.

Q13. Must we pray against pride?

A. Yes: That he may hide pride from man, Job 33:17.

Q14. And against lying?

A. Yes: Remove from me the way of lying, Ps. 119:29.

Q15. And against sensuality?

A. Yes: Let me not eat of their dainties, Ps. 140:4.

Q16. And against uncleanness?

A. Yes: Create in me a clean heart, O God, Ps. 51:10.

Q17. And against covetousness?

A. Yes: Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness, Ps. 119:36.

Q18. And against all tongue-sins?

A. Yes: Set a watch, O Lord, before the door of my mouth, keep the door of my lips, Ps. 141:3.

Q19. Must we pray especially against wilful sin?

A. Yes: Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins, Ps. 19:15.

Q20. Must we pray that others also may be kept from sin?

A. Yes: I pray to God that ye do no evil, 2 Cor. 13:7.

Q21. Must we pray to be delivered from other evil?

A. Yes: Keep me from evil that it may not grieve me, 1 Chron. 4:10.

Q22. Must our eye be to God for our preservation?

A. Yes: Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, Ps. 17:8.

Q23. May we take encouragement in this prayer from God's power?

A. Yes: For he is able to keep that which we have committed to him, 2 Tim. 1:12.

Q24. And from his promise?

A. Yes: There shall no evil befall thee, Ps. 91:10.

Q25. And from our own experience?

A. Yes: He that has delivered does deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver, 2 Cor. 1:10.