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But art

with Christ, we are strong and invincible: in us, we are wretched; in him we are happy and glorified. But the mere imagining the thing, is here of no avail-it must be truth and reality. What, therefore, is thy name? thou that which thou callest thyself? what happiness is thine! Christ must be dethroned, sooner than anything evil can befal thee. If the Lord is thy shepherd, thou shalt not want. Amen.

If so,

SERMON VII.

"No one is crowned, except he strive lawfully," observes Paul, in writing to Timothy (2 Ep. ii. 5). This he said in reference to the Grecian games. An individual might have used the greatest efforts in striving; yet if these were not in accordance with the rules and laws of the conflict, he did not obtain the prize, however much he excelled in other respects. also the case in the spiritual course.

Such is

Augus

tine says, "Halting forward upon the right path brings us further than running out of it ;" and this expresses, in other words, the meaning of Paul. A person may strive against that which is evil; he may use great exertion; he may even seem to accomplish great things, and yet all be in vain, because his efforts are not in accordance with the rules of the spiritual conflict. I fight," says the Apostle, "not as one that beateth the air," by which no man is wounded.

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What should we expect to effect in natural things if we used improper weapons; and en. deavoured, for instance, to destroy bees with the sword; which is effected only by smoke: or if we did not use our weapons in a proper manner, and expected to wound our foes with the hilt, instead of the blade of the sword? It is certain, that in the spiritual conflict, persons frequently act thus inconsistently, and therefore accomplish nothing in reality, even when they appear to succeed, or else are conscious that they do not really hit the enemy. And are

not the frequent complaints of the little which is effected, and the slow progress which is made in the spiritual course, all of them proofs that those who thus complain do not strive in a regular manner? He that does not, will not obtain the crown, as his own conscience already tells him. The enemy will always renew the challenge, and mock at him. He will perceive that there is some cursed thing in him, in whatever it may consist, and hence he cannot stand against his foe. And this accursed thing is so deeply hidden, that the man himself does not perceive it, until the Holy Spirit reveals it to him, and shews him, at the same time, wherein

he is deficient, which is a great mercy, since it is also connected with instruction how he ought to fight, in order to gain one victory after another, and to go from strength to strength. When Jesus calls his yoke easy and his burden light, every complaint of religion being a wearisome thing only proves that we do not rightly understand the taking upon ourselves his yoke. And yet many seem to think more highly of complaints in religion, than of thankfulness; and of anxiety, than of peace. We betake ourselves to the conflict, without considering whether it is advisable with ten thousand men to oppose him who comes against us with twenty thousand; and whether it be not more prudent, either to make peace with him, while he is still afar off; or, if that cannot be, to look about us betimes for a powerful ally. Jehoshaphat acted thus. "In us," said he, "there is no strength; for we know not what we ought to do." But instead of despondingly complaining, he adds, But our eyes look unto thee, O Lord!"

Let us consider our combatant Jacob, and see whether we can learn of him how to strive aright.

GENESIS XXXII. 28.

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

WE recently considered the question put by the Lord, "What is thy name?" and the direct reply of the Patriarch; "and he said, Jacob." The Lord now gives him a new name, and says, "Thou shalt no longer be called Jacob, but Israel," and mentions the reason for it; " for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

By names, we indicate persons and things, in order to distinguish them from others. If the thing becomes changed, it also receives another Water when frozen, we term ice, snow, and hail; when it falls from heaven-rain; when it descends at night upon the plants-dew; and when it dissolves into small particles-mist.

name.

Man, according to his age, receives the name of a child, a youth, a man, and an old man. With reference to God and his kingdom, he is either a sinner, a wicked man, or even a child

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