Carnal motives [to resist sin] have the fear of man more than God: ‘How shall I do this and anger man, displease my master, provoke my parents, and lose the good opinion of my minister?’ It should be ‘How can I do this and sin against God?’… When a Christian sins, he hates it, and not like Esau; he wept because he lost the blessing, not because he sold it. – William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour
I shall only add that the sin [Satan] tempts you…is not the thing he aims at; his design lies against your interest in the gospel. He would make [that] sin but a bridge to get over to a better ground [for him] to assault you as to your interest in Christ. He…will say today, “You may venture on sin, because you have an interest in Christ,” [but] will tomorrow tell you…that you have none because you have done so. – John Owen, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, 206
At times temptation presses in with violent demands. To combat the power and force of these we must prepare our hearts with strong antidotes beforehand. Fix your heart upon your true treasure, your fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Flee to God to hide you. Here the tempter cannot reach you. – From a Sermon by John Gibbon (1629-1718)