FAITH’S POWER TO QUENCH Satan’s pleasing temptations

           SECOND.  We shall show you that faith will enable a soul to quench the pleasing temptations of the wicked one.  This is called our ‘victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,’ I John 5:4. Faith sets its triumphant banner on the world's head.  The same St. John will tell you what is meant by the world: ‘Love not the world;... for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world,’ I John 2:15, 16.  All that is in the world is said to be ‘lust,’ because it is food and fuel for lust.  Now faith enables the soul to quench those darts which Satan dips and envenoms with these worldly lusts —called by some the worldlings Trinity.

           First Dart of pleasing temptations.  ‘The lust of the flesh.’  Under this are comprehended those temp­tations that promise pleasure and delight to the flesh. These indeed carry fire in the mouth of them; and when they light on a carnal heart, do soon inflame it with unruly passions and beastly affections.  The adulterer is said to burn in his lust, Rom. 1:27.  The drunkard to be ‘inflamed with his wine,’ Isa. 5:11.  No sort of temptation works more strongly than those which present sensual pleasure and promise delight to the flesh.  Sinners are said to ‘work all uncleanness with greediness’—with a kind of covetousness; for the word imports they never have enough.^[4]  When the voluptuous person hath wasted his estate, jaded his body in luxury, still the fire burns in his wretched heart.  No drink will quench a poisoned man’s thirst. Nothing but faith can be helpful to a soul in these flames.  We find Dives in hell burning, and not ‘a drop of water to cool the tip of his tongue’ found there.  The unbelieving sinner is in a hell above ground.  He burns in his lust, and not a drop of water, for want of faith, to quench the fire.  By faith it is said those glorious martyrs ‘quenched the violence of the fire,’ Heb. 11.  And truly the fire of lust is as hot as the fire of martyrdom.  By faith alone this is quenched also: ‘We...were sometimes foolish, dis­obedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleas­ures,...But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,...he saved us,’ Titus 3:3, 4.  Never could they shake off these lusts, the old companions, till by faith they got a new acquaintance with the grace of God re­vealed in the gospel.