Although they know that they cannot destroy. the children of God while their Redeemer lives, yet they do not desist. Although they are sensible that they are preparing for themselves a more terrible condemnation, they still persevere. Although they were foiled by the Captain of salvation, and are foiled by those who fight under his banners, they still renew the combat. Do not dream, then, Christians, of peace, while you are on this side heaven. Your adversaries will press you with the utmost virulence in every part where they find you vulnerable. They showed no quarter to your Lord, and they will be far from showing any to you.

(4.) In addition to their malice, they possess great knowledge and equal art.

Not to mention that evil spirits are naturally capable of grasping, in one view, more objects than we can imagine, the practice of near six thousand years must have furnished them with a large stock of experience. Veterans in rebellion against God, and trained to the ruin of man, they cannot but be expert in deeds of wickedness. The scripture, therefore, speaks of the depths of Satan-of the snare of the devil-and the Apostle Paul says, we are not ignorant of his devices. They are indeed devices which are neither understood nor suspected without

illumination from on high. Satan is well acquainted with the tempers and circumstances of mankind, and can tell, often more exactly than themselves, the sin that doth most easily beset them. He accordingly adapts himself to the taste of those whom he tempts, and plans his stratagems so as to render them most effectual. Be sober, then, Christians, be vigilant, that your understandings be not blinded by the craft, that your feet be not caught in the snare, of your enemies; but in all cases let your appeal for instruction be to the law and to the testimony; and your recourse for aid to Him, who hath all power in heaven and in earth.

(5.) These adversaries of God's people are indefatigable.

Never was chemist more indefatigable in scrutinizing the composition and qualities of bodies, than is Satan in studying the human heart. Never was an active and able general more assiduous in striving to vanquish his antagonist, either by superior force or by surprise, or by drawing him into an ambuscade, or by overreaching him in any other military manœuvre, than is Satan in attempting to gain the victory over the children of light. With an eagle's eye he watches all their motions. If the sons of God present themselves before

him, Satan never fails to present himself along with them. If they go to the house of prayer, Satan goes too; and when he is there he is never idle, however many of the hearers may be. Whence comes it to pass that such a multitude of memories, which are very faithful and retentive in the affairs of life, grow so very treacherous as soon as people enter a place of public worship, that they can scarcely carry away a single truth which concerns their eternal peace? It is because that arch-thief steals away the word from their hearts, and most of the hearers permit him to steal it very quietly. Why are the minds of those who truly seek the Lord often more distracted with vain, wandering, blasphemous thoughts, while they wait upon God in his ordinances, than at other times? It is because Satan is then most busy in trying to keep them from contemplating the person and feeding upon the fulness of their Saviour. He does not stop here. When Christians retire to their secret devotions, Satan is at their heels; and what chamber so close as to shut out the fiend? If they quit their solitude, and mingle with the society of their friends, Satan is sure to make one of the party. Ah! believers, you cannot sufficiently know the importance of your Lord's command to watch, nor the necessity of ob

serving it. The devil sets his gins in every spot, and if you are so happy as to avoid one that is designed for you now, you cannot take the next step ere he will fix another. If the good hand of God prevent you from falling into the pit which he has prepared for you here, he will speedily dig one yonder. If you escape both the net and the pit, he will plant your path with thorns, and render painful every step you take. One would suppose that opposition like this is enough to shake the most courageous faith; but formidable as it is, it is only a part of that which he has to encounter. He finds,

2. A host of enemies in the world.

By the world, in scripture, we are sometimes to understand the men of the world, and sometimes the things of the world. In both these senses the world is a mortal enemy to the peace of the Christian, and to his comfortable progress in the divine life.

(1.) The men of the world are decided and uniform enemies to the Christian.

It is long since One who could not err told us, In the world ye shall have tribulation. His first followers experienced the truth of this information in its most tremendous extent. Like their brethren of old, (for the righteous have always resembled each other as well in

their fate as in their character,) they had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. These, and every other species of torture which malignity can invent, or barbarity execute, they endured for their faithfulness to Christ and his gospel. The history too of later ages, and men from whose profession and knowledge we might have expected other conduct, records many a horrid tale of the sufferings of those who held fast the testimony of Jesus.

But though God, in his kind providence, has wrested from the hand of persecutors the murdering sword and the blazing faggot, so that his people no longer bleed on the scaffold, nor fry at the stake, yet we must not imagine that the carnal world and they are on better terms than formerly. Since the first promise was given to Adam, He that was after the flesh has persecuted him that was after the spirit, he does so yet, and will continue to do so while the devil has a particle of empire upon earth. It cannot be otherwise, for the righteous and the wicked differ so widely in their characters, in their motives of action, in their joys