retreat, while holy resolution, built on fast principles, lifts up its head like a rock in the midst of the waves. ' Those that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.' Dan. xi. 32. The angel told Daniel who were the men that would stand to their tackling, and bear up for God in that hour, both of temptation and persecution, which should be brought upon them by Antioclms ; not all the Jews, some of them should be corrupted basely by flatteries, others scared by threats out of their profession ; only a few of fixed principles, who knew their God whom they served, and were grounded in their religion, these should be strong and do exploits; that is, to flatteries they shoidd be incorruptible, and to power and force unconquerable.
Secondly, A sincere aim at the right end in our profession. Let a man be never so knowing in the things of Christ, if his aim be not right in his profes- sion, that man's principles will hang very loose; he will not venture much, or far for Christ, no more, no further than he can save his own stake. A hypocrite may shew some mettle at hand, some courage for a moment in conquering some difficulties, but he will shew himself a jade at length. He that hath a false end in his profession, will soon come to an end of his profession, when he is pinched on that toe where his corn is; I mean, called to deny that his naughty heart aimed at all tliis while ; now his heart fails him, he can go no farther. O take heed of this wistful eye to our profit, pleasure, honour, or any thing beneath Christ and heaven ; for they will take away your heart, as the prophet saith of wine and women; that is, our love; and if our love be taken away, there will l)e little courage left for Christ. How courageous was Jehu at first ! and he tells the world it is zeal for God. But why doth his heart fail him then before half his work be done ? His heart was never right set ; that very thing that stirred up his zeal at first, at last quenched it, and that was his ambition ; his desire of a kingdom made him zealous against Ahab's house, to cut them oft", who might in time jostle liim beside the throne, which done, and he quietly settled, he dare not go thorough-stitch with God's work, lest he shoidd lose what he had got, by provoking the people with a thorough reformation. Like some soldiers, when once they meet with a rich booty at the sacking of some town, are spoiled for fighting ever after.
CHAPTER IL
OF THE saints' STRENGTH, WHERE IT LIES, AND WHEREFORE LAID UP IN GOD.
The second branch of the words foUoweth, which contains a cautionary direction. Having exhorted the saints at Ephesus, and in them all believers, to a holy resolution and courage in their warfare, lest this should be mistaken, and beget in them an opinion of their own strength for the battle, the apostle leads them out of themselves for this strength, even to the Lord ; ' Be strong in the Lord.' From whence observe,
. Doct. That the Christian's strength lies in the Lord, not in himself The strength of the general in other hosts lies in his troops ; he flies, as a great commander once said to his soldiers, upon their wings; if their feathers be clipped, their power broken, he is lost. But in the army of saints, the strength of every saint, yea, of the whole host of saints, lies in the Lord of hosts. God can overcome his enemies without their hands, but they cannot so much as defend themselves without his aim. 2. It is one of God's names, ' The Strength of Israel,' 1 Sam. xv. 19. He was the strength of David's heart; without him this valiant worthy (that could, when held up in his arms, defy him that defied a whole army,) behaves himself strangely for fear at a word or two that dropped from the Philistine's mouth. He was the strength of his hands; ' He taught his fingers to fight,' and so is the strengtli of all his saints in this war against sin and Satan. Some propound a question, whether there be a sin committed in the world in which Satan hath not a part ? But if the question were, whether there be any holy action performed without the special assistance of God concurring? that is resolved, John xv. 5: ' Without me you can do nothing.' Thinking strength of God, 2 Cor. iii. 5, ' Not that we are sufficient as of ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.' We apostles, we saints, that have habitual grace, yet this lies like water at the
g BE STRONG IN THE LORD.