'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — April 3

To enter into temptation there must be two things: First, by some special advantage or occasion, Satan attacks us with greater force than his ordinary solicitations. He takes advantage of a lust or corruption with much greater turbulence than usual. Secondly, our heart must be entangled enough in the temptation that we are not wholly able to eject or cast out the poison that has been injected. The soul is surprised how hard the entanglement is to resist. The soul may cry and pray, and the entanglement continues. Entering into temptation occurs in one of two seasons: (1.) When God allows Satan, for ends best known to himself, to gain a peculiar advantage against the soul; as in the case of Peter, he sought to sift him like wheat, and prevailed. (2.) When a man's lusts and corruptions meet a particular provoking object or opportunity along life's way, as it was with King David. When one enters into one of these seasons, he has entered into temptation. The hour of temptation is the hour that a temptation has arrived at its zenith, a season in which it grows to its greatest force, when it is most vigorous, active, and prevalent. It may take a while to get to this point, but given the right circumstances, temptation arrives at this very dangerous hour. When man has entered into it, it carries him quite away before it. At other times it has little power over a man; he can despise it, and easily resist it. Temptation at times is supported by other circumstances and occurrences that give it new strength and effectiveness. The man is weakened, the hour has come, he has entered into it, and it prevails. Blessed is he who is prepared for such a season. There is no escape without this preparation. If we maintain our preparation, we are safe.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Owen, Works, VI:98-99
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