t a
wretched delusion of Satan that is!

"Whatever I see to be sin, I ought from this hour to set my
whole soul against it, using all scriptural methods to mortify
it, as the Scriptures, special prayer for the Spirit, fasting,
watching.

"I ought to mark strictly the occasions when I have fallen, and
avoid the occasion as much as the sin itself.

"Satan often tempts me to go as near to temptations as possible
without committing the sin. This is fearful,--tempting God and
grieving the Holy Ghost. It is a deep-laid plot of Satan.

"I ought to flee all temptation, according to Prov. 4:15--Avoid
it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.' ... I ought
constantly to pour out my heart to God, praying for entire
conformity to Christ--for the whole law to be written on my
heart ... I ought statedly and solemnly to give my heart to
God--to surrender my all into his everlasting arms, according to
the prayer, Ps. 31., 'Into thine hand I commit my
spirit,'--beseeching Him not to let any iniquity, secret or
presumptuous, have dominion over me, and to fill me with every
grace that is in Christ, in the highest degree that it is
possible for redeemed sinner to receive it, and at all times,
till death.

"I ought to meditate often on heaven as a world of
holiness,--where all are holy, where the joy is holy joy, the
work holy work; so that, without personal holiness, I never can
be there ... I ought to avoid the appearance of evil. God
commands me; and I find that Satan has a singular art in linking
the appearance and reality together.

"I find that speaking of some sins defiles my mind and leads me
into temptation; and I find that God forbids even saints to
speak of the things that are done of them in secret. I ought to
avoid this.

"Eve, Achan, David, all fell through the lust of the eye. I
should make a covenant with mine, and pray, 'Turn away mine eyes
from viewing vanity.' ... Satan makes unconverted men like the
deaf adder to the sound of the gospel. I should pray to be made
deaf by the Holy Spirit to all that would tempt me to sin.

"One of my most frequent occasions of being led into temptation
is this,--I say it is needful to my office that I listen to
this, or look into this, or speak of this. So far this is true;
yet I am sure Satan has his part in this argument. I should seek
divine di