Question 113

Doth he sometimes do this by withdrawing his assisting grace?

Yes. God left Hezekiah, to try him,^b

And by letting loose our spiritual enemies?

Yes. And the Lord said, who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Kamoth-Gilead,^c

And by providentially administering occasions of sin?

Yes. Thou shalt not harken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God proveth you,^d

And from the world?

Yes. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world,^f

And from wicked men?

Yes. They that lead thee cause thee to err,^g

And from Satan?

Yes. Then was Jesus led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil,^h

And have these temptations their particular seasons of strength and prevalency?

Yes. In time of temptation they fall away,ⁱ

And to criminal practices?

Yes. Thus the devil put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ,^k

And to presumption?

Yes. If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down,^l

And to despair?

Yes. Lest such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow, and Satan should get an advantage of us,^m

And a crafty enemy?

Yes. We read of the depths of Satan,^o

And an industrious enemy?

Yes. He goeth to and fro in the earth, and walketh up and down in it,^p

Should we therefore pray that we might be kept from his temptations?

Yes. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,^q

And supported under them?

Yes. That we might not be tempted above what we are able to bear,^r

And delivered out of them?

Yes. That the God of all grace, after we have suffered awhile, would make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us,^s

Should our prayers for this purpose be fervent?

Yes. Being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly,^t

And frequent?

Yes. For this I besought the Lord thrice,^u

And sometimes joined with fasting?

Yes. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting,^v

But are not afflictions sometimes needful?

Yes. If need be, we are in heaviness through manifold temptations,^x

And useful?

Yes. The good figs were sent into the land of Chaldea for their good,^y

Should we therefore absolutely pray against them?

No. Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing,^z

Should we under afflictions have recourse only to God?

Yes. We know not what to do, but our eyes are upon thee,^aa

And trust in him?

Yes. At what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,^bb

And have we reason so to do?

Yes. For he that hath delivered doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver,^cc

Should we pray to be kept from the practice of sin?

Yes. Hold me up, that my footsteps slip not,^ee

And from the dominion of sin?

Yes. Let no iniquity have dominion over me,^ff

Should we pray to be kept from heart sins?

Yes. Incline not my heart to any evil thing,^gg

And from tongue sins?

Yes. Keep the door of my lips,^hh

And from sins of life?

Yes. That we might not practice wicked works with men that work iniquity,ⁱⁱ

But are we not sufficient thus to keep ourselves?

No. For it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,^jj