Matthew Mead on Temptation: Part 1

Introducing Matthew Mead:

Matthew Mead was a puritan pastor and writer who was born in 1629 near Bedfordshire. He studied at Eton College and was later elected a scholar at King's College in Cambridge. In 1655 he became a morning lecturer at the parish in which William Greenhill was vicar. In the following years he served as curate or lecturer at a few other parishes (at least to one of which he was appointed by Oliver Cromwell) . Thoroughly adapt in the biblical languages, Mead co-published An English-Greek Lexicon in 1661. That same summer he preached a number of sermons at St. Sepulchre parish in Holborn. These sermons struck at the heart of Christian hypocrisy and challenged "professors" (those who claimed to be Christian but really were not) to examine their self-deceit. These sermons were later published as The Almost Christian Discovered. Within months of preaching these sermons he was ejected from all his lecturships and teaching positions and barred from preaching in the Anglican church. The reason isn't because his congregation objected to his sermons (they, in fact, urged him to publish them), but rather because of his nonconformity to government-imposed restrictions and oaths upon the clergy. His farewell sermon, The Pastor's Valediction, is a beautiful treatise urging his congregation to stand firm on the gospel in the midst of a culture of conformity. Later, the Five Mile Act would force him to move away from his parish and work with an Independent congregation. In the following decades he was arrested twice on charges of treason but was eventually released both times. Yet Mead was no troublemaker and he would later championed the eventually unsuccessful union between the Congregationalists and Presbyterians. Mead died in 1699, leaving behind thirteen children.

Mead on Temptation:
In a sermon delivered in 1660 (Spiritual Wisdom Improved Against Temptation), Mead explains the causes of sucumbing to temptation as well as the scriptural remedies against it. In an age where sin is rarely preached, this message becomes all the more important. The stain of sin continues to soil the faithful. Mead writes,

"Though believers are not in sin, yet there is sin in believers. Where grace is, it destroys sins power, but it doth not destroy its presence. Though we are sanctified in every part, yet we are sanctified but in part. Though regeneration taketh much out of us, yet temptation findeth much sin still in us."

Temptation, Mead understands, is a result of two enemies: Satan and our own sinful desires. He writes, "Satan is the Father of temptation, but the heart is the Mother of sin." While understanding the power of the Devil, Mead also understands his limitations. He abtly notes that while "the Devil may flatter us he cannot force us; he may provoke, but without our consent he cannot prevail; he may tempt us unto sin but he cannot tempt us into sin; he could never come in the house if we did not open the door."

Such temptation is not limited to the person in the pew. Mead offers an example of a minister who is tempted to lie to the local magistrate in order to avoid being forcebly ejected from his parish. To those who would encourage the pastor to compromise to keep his post, Mead responds:

"Why, you will say 'it is a pity such a man should not preach', but I [say] it is a greater pity that he should sin; you will say 'He may do much good in his ministry would he but conform, but I [say] he must not do evil that good may come from it. If I suffer for conscience sake God is honored; but if I sin for God's sake he is dishonored, for my lie cannot advance his glory."

Ironically, Mead faced this very temptation less that two years after preaching this sermon. By God's grace, he followed his conscience and was ejected from the pulpit.

In part 2 we will examine the causes of succumbing to temptation and the scriptural remedies offered by Mead.

Books by Matthew Mead:
Monergism has assembled some of his writings that can be found free online. Works that are currently in print include:

A Name in Heaven.
The Almost Christian Discovered.
Used copies of The Sermons of Matthew Mead can still be found (1991 repint, Soli Deo Gloria).

JG