to fasten upon some pai-t or other which gives them advantage moi'e easily to throw their adversary ; to prevent which they used, first, to lay aside their garments ; secondly, to anoint their bodies. For the first, Cliristian, labour to put off the old man, which is most personal ; that corruption which David calls his own iniquity, Psalm xviii. 23. This is the skirt which Satan lays hold of; observe what it is, and mortify it daily ; then Satan will retreat with shame, when he sees the head of that enemy upon the wall, which shoxild have betrayed thee into his hands.
Secondly, The Roman wrestlers used to anoint their bodies ; so do thou ; bathe thy soul with the frequent meditation of Christ's love. Satan will find little welcome where Christ's love dwells ; love w'ill kindle love ; and that will be as a wall of fire to keep oft' Satan ; it will make thee disdain the oficr of a sin, and, as oil, supple thy joints, and make agile to offend thy enemy. Think how Christ wrestled in thy quarrel : sin, hell, and wrath, had all come full mouth upon thee, had not he coped with them in the way. And canst thou find in thy heart to requite his love by betraying his glory into the hands of sin by cowardice or treachery ? Say not thou lovest him, so long as thou canst lay those sins in thy bosom which plucked his heart out of his bosom. It were strange if a child should keep, and delight to use, no other knife but that wherewith his father was stabbed.
Thirdly, Improve the advantage thou gettest at any time wisely. Sometimes the Christian hath his enemy on the hip, yea, on the ground ; can set his foot on the very neck of his pride, and throw away his unbelief, as a thing absurd and unreasonable ; now, as p, wise wrestler, fall with all thy weight upon thine enemy ; though a man think it fold play to strike when his adversary is down, yef do not thou so compliment with sin as to let it breathe or rise. Take heed thou art not charged of God, as once Ahab, for letting go this enemy now in thy hands, whom God has appointed to destruction. Learn a little wisdom of the serpent's brood, who, when they had Christ under their foot, never thought they had him sure enough ; no, not when dead ; and therefore both seal and watch his grave. Thus do thou to hinder the resurrection of thy sin ; seal it down w'ith stronger piu-poses, solemn ovenants, and watch it by a wakeful, cir- cumspect walking.
Use 3. This is ground of consolation to the weak Christian, who disputes against the truth of his grace, from the inward conflicts and fightings he hath with his lusts ; and is ready to say, like Gideon, in regard of outward enemies, ' If God be with me, why is all this befallen me ?' Why do I find such strugglings in me, provoking me to sin, pulling me back from that which is good ? Why dost ask ? The answer is soon given ; because thou art a wrestler, not a conqueror. Thou mistakest the state of a Christian in this life ; when one is made a Christian, he is not presently called to triumph over his slain enemies, but carried into the field to meet and fight them. The state of grace is the commencing of a war against sin, not the ending of it ; rather than thou shalt not have an enemy to wrestle with, God himself will come in a disguise into the field, and appear to be thine enemy. Thus, when Jacob was alone, a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day ; and therefore set thy heart at rest if this be thy scruple. Thy soul may rather take comfort in this, that thou art a wrestler; this struggling within thee, if upon the right ground, and to the right end, doth evidence there are two nations within thee, two contrary natures ; the one from earth, earthly ; and the other from heaven, heavenly ; yea, for thy further comfort know, though thy corrupt nature be the elder, yet it shall serve the younger.
Use 4. O how should this make thee, Christian, long to be gone home, where there is none of this stir and scuffle I It is strange, that every hour seems not a day, and every day a year, till death soimds thy joyful retreat, and calls thee off the field, where the bullets fly so thick, and thou art fighting for thyself with thy deadly enemies, to come to court, where not swords, but palms are seen in the saints' hands ; not drums, but harps ; not groans of bleeding soldiers and wounded consciences, but sweet and ravishing music is heard of triumphing victors, caroling the praises of God and the Lamb, through whom they have overcome. Well, Christians, while you are below, comfort yourselves
G 2
g|, NOT WITH FLESH MiT) BLOOD.