left unholy after that they have been admitted into it-"That very grace of God which bringeth us salvation, teaches us to deny every species and degree of ungodliness" To fail in this would be to defeat a principal end of Christ's death-If there be any allowed sin in us, we deceive ourselves, and our religion is vainf-] 2. None, however, need to despair on account of the inveteracy of their lusts [Were it required of us to purify our hearts by any exertions of our own, we might well despair-But holiness is not only enjoined; it is promised; it is promised by him, who is able also to perform-Let none then say, My wound is irremediable: for with God all things are possible; and we, however weak in ourselves, shall be " able to do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us"-If we had been led captive hitherto by ten thousand lusts, no sin whatever should have dominion over us in future, provided only we took refuge in the covenant of grace-] 3. Nevertheless this promise does not supersede our prayer and watchfulness [God's promises are free; "yet will he be enquired of by us before he will perform them"-Nor are we at liberty to run into temptation because he has promised to keep us; for that would be to tempt him: but, in the exercise of prayer and watchfulness, he will keep us-If Paul, that chosen vessel, was obliged to keep his body under, and to bring it into subjection, lest he himself should be a cast-away, surely the same care and diligence are necessary on our part-It is our comfort however, that, while we run, 66 we do not run as uncertainly;" and while "we fight, it is not as one who only beats the air:"s for victory is secured for us, and God himself will "bruise Satan under our feet," and preserve us blameless to his heavenly kingdom-] ₫ Tit. ii. 11, 12. f James i. 26. e Ib. ver. 14. 1 Cor. ix. 26. CCCCXCV. VICTORY OVER SATAN. Rom. xvi. 20. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. IN order to get forward in our christian course we must unite a strenuous exertion of our own powers with an humble dependence on the divine aid-We cannot work without God; and God will not work without us: but if we look to him for assistance, and yet labour in a diligent and prudent way, he will succour us with his almighty power, and "perfect that which concerneth us"-St. Paul, cautioning the Christians at Rome against those who caused divisions and offences, exhorts them to cultivate that wisdom of the serpent and that harmlessness of the dove, which would serve to counteract their efforts: yet for their final success he directs their eyes to God, through whose co-operation alone they could maintain their integrity, and in whose strength they should eventually overcome-In discoursing on his words, we shall consider I. The promise which God has here given to the church Satan is an active and powerful adversary to God's people [His exertions are directed against the church at large, and against every individual member of it-Indefatigable are his exertions in causing dissentions and divisions among the various societies of Christians, embittering them one against another, or sowing discord among themselves-And though these feuds may be considered as arising from the turbulence and pride of men, yet must they also be referred to Satan as their original author; since it is he who instigates the professors of religion, as well as others, to the commission of sin-Much of carnal contention prevailed in the church of Corinth; and that the apostle repeatedly ascribes to Satan: he calls the authors of it "his ministers," and puts the members of that church on their guard, "lest the serpent, who beguiled Eve through his subtlety, should corrupt them from the simplicity of Christ" He tells them how ready Satan was to take advantage of them in the matter of the incestuous man; and in general, whatever evils occur in the church, he traces them up to Satan's temptations as their proper sourced -Nor is there any individual among the Lord's people, whom that wicked one does not endeavour to harass and destroyIt was he who stirred up David to number the people: it was he who influenced Peter to deny his Lord with oaths and curses: and, who can tell to what straits he would have reduced the Apostle Paul by his buffetings, if that holy man a This is intimated in the context. Compare ver. 17, 20. b 2 Cor. xi. 3, 15. e 1 Chron. xxi. 1. Thess. iii. 5. had not obtained timely succour from his Lord? Indeed, if he had the effrontery and the malice to assault even our Lord himself, and if he repeatedly reduced even him to such a state as that he needed to be strengthened by an angel from heaven, well may we suppose that he will not suffer us to pass unmolested and unassailed-] But God has promised to "bruise him under our feet" [God is "the God of peace" not merely as being reconciled to us through the death of his Son, but as delighting in the social order and the personal happiness of his people-In this view he enters the lists against our great adversary, and undertakes to subdue him for us-Already has he given us an earnest of our triumph in enabling his Son to "bruise that serpent's head" upon the cross;" and it is a very short time that that wicked one shall retain the present remnant of his power-Though permitted to fight against us, his rage is overruled for the benefit of the saints and the glory of God: and, as when he possessed the bodies of men, his malice always terminated in his own confusion, so, in every instance, shall he be foiled in his endeavours to destroy the souls that belong to Christ-He is even now a vanquished enemy; and soon shall the very weakest believer trample on him, as Joshua trampled on the necks of the kings of Canaan-'] If we desire this mercy at the hands of God, we shall be glad to know II. The way in which we may expect him to accomplish it However various his dealings may be with different persons in some minute particulars, there are general rules which he will observe towards all 1. He will increase the triumphs of his people over Satan in this world [Satan gains great advantage over young Christians by means of their unsubdued corruptions, and their inexperience in the spiritual warfare-To defeat his malignant efforts God increases the strength of his people, and gives them a deeper insight into the devices of their enemy-He clothes them with divine armour, and teaches them how to use the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith"-By exercise he renders them expert soldiers, and enables them to war a good warfare" -Instead of exposing themselves needlessly to danger, they are now taught to "watch and be sober:" instead of indulg 8 2 Cor. xii. 7-9. h Matt. iv. 11. and Luke xxii. 43. ¡Cen. iii. 15. and Col. ii. 15. k John xii. 31. Josh. x. 24. m Eph. vi. 13--17. L ing a vain conceit of their own purity and strength, they are led to suspect the treachery of their own hearts, and to depend more simply on the grace of Christ-Thus they learn to fight a good fight; and, though sometimes wounded by his fiery darts, they "resist their enemy till he flees from them" -] 2. He will give them a complete and everlasting victory over him in the world to come [While they are in the flesh Satan will renew his assaults upon them-There is no place so sacred, but he will intrude into it; nor any person so holy, but he will seek to destroy him-When the sons of Job were assembled before the Lord, Satan came also in the midst of them: and when Joshua stood in the divine presence, the same wicked fiend stood at his right hand to resist him:P nor will he suspend his attacks even when we are bowing our knees at the throne of grace, or assembled around the table of the Lord-But into heaven he can never enter: there we shall be lodged in perfect safety: thence we may deride his impotent attempts, and rejoice over him as a captive foe But it may be said, That we rather escape from him, than triumph over him; for that he still continues master of the field We answer, No: for he shall in due time be dragged in chains of darkness into our very presence; and, as assessors with Christ in judgment, we shall judge him and all his angels. We shall confirm the sentence passed upon him; and add our hearty Amen to the curse that dooms him to eternal fire-] INFER 1. How great and precious are the promises of God! [To those who know nothing of the Christian warfare, this promise will afford but little satisfaction: but to those who have been long conflicting with the powers of darkness, it will be a ground of inexpressible joy and thankfulness. Such an assurance of victory will revive their drooping spirits, and reanimate them for the combat: nor will they be averse to maintain the contest as long as God shall see fit to try their faith and patience: having this word, they want no more: "they know in whom they have believed;" and that, though now their hands hang down and their hearts are faint, they shall soon make heaven itself to echo with their shouts of victory-0 that all might have an interest in this promise, and experience its completion in the realms of bliss!-] n James iv. 7. 。 Job ii. 1. 2. How much are we concerned to obtain peace with God! [It is to those only who are reconciled to God that the promise in the text is made-If we have never yet obtained mercy at his hands through the blood of Jesus, we shall in vain hope to conquer this cruel adversary-God, so far from interposing for us, gives us into his hands; and, instead of fighting for us as a friend, is himself our enemy-Miserable indeed shall we then be; for, if we cannot contend with Satan, how shall we with Jehovah?" Will our hands be strong in the day that HE shall deal with us, or can we thunder with a voice like his?"-Let us then seek reconciliation with him; so shall he be a God of peace to us, and secure us victory in the day of battle-] CCCCXCVI. CHRIST THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE AND LIGHT. Ps. xxxvi. 9. With thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light shall we see light. BY a sober consideration of scripture metaphors we obtain a more full and comprehensive knowledge of divine truth, than could easily be obtained from the most laboured discussions. Besides, the ideas suggested by them strike the mind so forcibly, that they cannot fail of making a deep and lasting impression. Let us but notice the rich variety of figures whereby the Deity is set forth in the passage before us, and we shall be filled with admiring and adoring thoughts of his goodness. The Psalmist, illustrating the loving-kindness of his God, represents him first under the image of a hen gathering her chickens; then as an opulent host feasting his guests with the richest dainties; and then, in a beautiful climax, he compares him to the sun. It is this last metaphor, to which we would draw your attention at this time: and in discoursing upon it, we observe I. Christ is an inexhaustible source of spiritual blessings Christ may be considered as peculiarly referred to in the metaphor before us, [It is in Christ only that the perfections mentioned in the |