“Consider what preventions the provident God useth against our sinnings.”
“By innumerable means doth the Lord stop our precipices, hedge up our ways to sin; that when temptation invites us, we may have hands manacled, and feet fettered with detentions; and we cozen the devil against our wills. He would have us come, and we would come, but (thanks be to God) we cannot come.”
“Let us meditate how we are blessed of God, and have reason to bless God, for these happy deliverances. As St. Augustine: I had time and place to commit sin, but then the tempter was away; thy doing, O Lord, it was that he was away. The tempter was present, but then time and place were wanting, thy doing it was that I wanted time and place. Time and place were convenient, and the tempter was there also, provoking me forward, all opportunities furthering; but then I had no stomach to it, lust was cool, my will had no will to consent: thy doing it was that I was unwilling, that the edge of my appetite was dull. Sometimes I had will, but then I wanted means; sometimes I had means, but then I wanted will; sometimes I had likewise will and means, but then I also wanted ability: another time, means, will, and ability were concurring; but then came in some other interruption; a messenger with sudden business, the distress of a friend, the invitation of a neighbor. Still, O Lord, that I was not led into temptation, nor captivated by suggestion, it was thy doing. Blessed be God, as for his furtherance in good, so for his hindrance in evil.”
“If we be godly, and find these things true, let us enter into our chambers, fall upon our knees, lift up our hearts, and say in humble thankfulness, Lord, thou hast delivered me, I find thy mercy, to thy name be the glory.” ~ Thomas Adams
Amen.
