Temptation

“The devil, if he cannot hinder us from duty, will hinder us in duty. When we come before the Lord, he is at our right hand to resist us (Zech. 3:1). Like when a man is going to write, and another stands at his elbow and jogs him, so that he cannot write evenly. Satan will set vain objects before the fancy to cause a diversion. The devil does not oppose formality but fervency. If he sees that we are setting ourselves in good earnest to seek God, he will be whispering things in our ears, so that we can scarcely attend to what we are doing. “ The Godly Man’s Picture ” pgs. 162-163”

“An idle person is the devil’s tennis ball, which he bandies up and down with temptation till at last the ball goes out of play. “ The Godly Man’s Picture ” pg. 169”

“In time of temptation, apprehensive consciences look so much to the present trouble they are in that they need to be roused up to behold him in whom they may find rest for their distressed souls. In temptations it is safest to behold nothing but Christ the true brazen serpent, the true `Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world', (John 1:29). This saving object has a special influence of comfort to the soul, especially if we look not only on Christ, but upon the Father's authority and love in him. For in all that Christ did and suffered as Mediator, we must see God in him reconciling the world unto himself (2 Cor. 5:19). ~ The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes”

“Let this support us when we feel ourselves bruised. Christ's way is first to wound, then to heal. No sound, whole soul shall ever enter into heaven. Think when in temptation, Christ was tempted for me; according to my trials will be my graces and comforts. If Christ be so merciful as not to break me, I will not break myself by despair, nor yield myself over to the roaring lion, Satan, to break me in pieces. ~ The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes”

“Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out the utmost sin in that kind.”

“If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation.”

“Let no man pretend to fear sin that does not fear temptation also!”

“Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward.”

“Satan loves to sail with the wind, and to suit men's temptations to their conditions and inclinations.”

“We may be tempted, yet not enter into temptation.”

“He that would be little in temptation, let him be much in prayer.”

“God can make a way for a man to escape; when he is in, he can break the snare, tread down Satan, and make the soul more than a conqueror, though it have entered into temptation.”

“The best course to prevent falling into the pit is to keep at the greatest distance from it. He who will be so bold as to dance upon the brink of the pit, may find by woeful experience that it is a righteous thing with God that he should fall into the pit.”

“There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction.”

“Christ is the crown of crowns, the glory of glories, and the heaven of heavens.”