Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 15 and 16 of Part 3.
My summary
This week Gilpin continues his discussion of the temptation of Christ given in Matthew 4:3 'Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple'.
Gilpin observes:
(ix) that Satan seeks the ruin of our bodies as well as of our souls and tempts men often to self-murder;
(x) that pride is Satan's proper engine to bring men on to presumption;
(xi) that Satan doth usually kindle and nourish pride, by a perverse confidence of our privileges;
(xii) that popular applause Satan finds, and useth accordingly to be great instigator to pride.
What grabbed me
I always find it helpful to read about the sin of pride: 'Obs. 11. That Satan doth usually kindle and nourish pride, by a perverse confidence of our privileges. It is very hard for Christians to carry their assurance even : not but that grace in its proper working begets humiliy, and a watchful care against sin and folly ; but such is our infirmity that we are easily drawn to be proud of our mercies, and to persuade ourselves that we may make bold with God because we are his children. Hence was that paradox of Mr Foxe, ' That his sins did him most good, and his graces most hurt;' he means, sins occasioned his humility, whereas his graces were apt, through his weakness, to make him proud. And to hide this pride from man, God is forced to keep them sometime from the sight of their assurance, or to discipline them by other temptations, as he did with Paul, lest they should be ' exalted above measure.' '
Ah, the sinful heart. It even turns grace into sin.
Maranatha!
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 17 of Part 3.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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