3. Against what we must watch.
[L] Grenerally against the three grand enemies of our salvation, the devil, the world, and the flesh.
(1.) Against Satan ; for he hath laid his ambushes and enterprises against us continually, and by his spiritual nature hath advantages of being near us, when we are little aware of him : 1 Peter v. 8, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' Satan is ever watching, there- fore you should watch. You give him the greatest advantage by your folly and negligence ; now the apostle saith he would not give him any advantage : 2 Cor. ii. 11, ' Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.' He is unwearied in his motions, lays his designs deep, takes all advantages and occasions to destroy us. If the devil were either dead or asleep, or had lost his malice and power, then we need not stand so much upon our guard.
(2.) Against the world ; for we are bidden to ' deny worldly lusts,' Titus ii. 12. Not only ungodliness must be watched and prevented, but our inclination to worldly things. See how these two are matched ; for when we fall off from God we take to the creature: Jer. ii. 13, * My people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me the foun- tain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that will hold no water ; ' and ' Christ died to deliver us from this present evil world,' Gal. i. 4. Here lie all the baits, and snares, and
292 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XV.
dangers ; pass but safe througli these flats and quicksands, and we shall soon arrive to the haven of eternal glory. The great virtue and proper effect of the cross of Christ is seen in crucifying us to the world : Gal. vi. 14, ' God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' When the fashion of worldly glory is spoiled, and it seemeth less lovely in our eyes, then the cross of Christ hath pro- duced its effect upon us, and the spiritual life advanceth apace. It is the world that is an enemy to God, and quencheth and abateth our love to him : 1 John ii. 15, ' Love not the world, neither the things of the world : if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ; ' James iv. 4, ' Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God ? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.' Some temporal good lieth nearest our hearts, and God is not our chiefest good and last end, wherein lieth the life of all religion. It is the world that diverts us from our duty, that hinders the vigour and perfection of the life of grace : Luke viii. 14, * They which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.' It is the world that makes us grudge at the strictness of Christ's precepts : Mat. xix, 22, ' When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.' It is the world that tempts us to live in a slight way, as other careless creatures do about us. It is the world that maketh us slightly mind heavenly things, and affect a life of pomp and ease here : Luke xvi. 25, ' Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime Teceivedst thy good things.' It is the world that enticeth us to stay by the way and neglect our home, that maketh the impressions which arise from the belief of another and better world to be weak and ineflficacious : 2 Cor. iv. 4, 'In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the image of God, should shine on them.' Well, then, we cannot be watchful enough against the sly insinuations of the world. When it seemeth too sweet and amiable to you, the devil is at your elbows, enticing your souls from God ; when the things of this world begin to be represented as more sweet and delectable than God, and holiness, and heaven, and you are ready to value your happiness rather by worldly prosperity than by the favour and friendship of God, and you are more indif- ferent, and can contentedly live without a sense of his love, but your desires are more urgent and strong after an increase of temporal en- joyments, when you affect to grow rich in this world, and neglect to grow rich in grace, — oh ! then christians have need to stand upon their guard, mischief is near, and unless it be prevented, will prove the bane and everlasting ruin of your souls.
(3.) The flesh must be watched against. The flesh is importunate to be pleased, and will urge us to retrench and cut off a great part of that necessary duty which belongeth to our heavenly calling ; yea, it will crave very unlawful and unreasonable things at our hands. It may be not at first ; but if you continue to gratify sense and brutish appetite with an uncontrolled license, it is impossible that you should keep within the bounds of your duty. Therefore, unless you keep a