Secondly, For striving, this is required of us also ; for we are bidden ' to stand against the wiles of the devil,' Eph. vi. 11, ' To withstand, that after all we may stand,' ver. 13. A stout and peremptory resistance of Satan's temptations is required of us in order to victory. The more we yield to sin, the more it tyranniseth over us : Mat. xii. 45, ' Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other* spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first.' The more Satan is resisted the more he loseth ground : James iv. 7, ' Kesist the devil and he will flee from you.' Christ promiseth the crowns to those that will fight manfully : Kev. ii. 10, ' Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' Therefore do not basely yield, nor lazily sit down, as if the work were already done.
But what is this striving ? It implieth two things — (I.) An avowed defiance ; (2.) A courageous resistance.
1. An avowed defiance. The first preparation of it is the resolution of the mind, or the dedication of ourselves to God. When we are re- generate, we renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, and bid de- fiance or proclaim an eternal feud and hostility against them, declare ourselves enemies to these three.
2. A courageous resistance ; for after that time we are fearfully assaulted, and in continual warfare with Satan : 1 Peter v. 8, ' Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, continually walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ; ' with the world : James iv. 4, ' Know ye not that the friendsliip of the world is enmity with God ? whosoever therefore will be a friend to the world is the enemy of God ; ' with the flesh : Rom. vii. 15, * For that which
' Qu., " acquireth ? "— Ed. ^ Qu., "will spare his darling sin?"— Ed.
298 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XV.
I do I allow not ; for what I would, that I do not ; but what I hate, that do I ; ' there is the strife described. Now we resist —
[1.] By strength of resolution : Dan. iii. 18, ' We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up ; ' Ps. xxxix. 1, ' I said I will take heed unto my ways, that I offend not with my tongue.'
[2.] Partly by hazarding our temporal interests : Heb. xii. 4, ' Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin;' Kev. xii. 11, ' They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.'
[3.] By opposing gracious considerations : Gen. xxxix. 9, ' How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God ? ' 1 John ii. 14, ' Ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have over- come the wicked one,' by opposing reasons out of scripture, or arguing strongly against sin.
[4.] By praying, or crying strongly for help, when we are sensible of the burden of sin : Eom. vii. 24, ' 0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from this body of death ? '
[5.] But chiefly by being acquainted with all the christian armour, and the use of it. We must not go one day unarmed, but be armed cap-d'pie with the helmet of salvation, which is hope, the breastplate of righteousness, the girdle of truth, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit. The apostle beginneth with —
(1.) ' The girdle of truth,' whereby is meant a sincere and honest intention to be what we seem to be. Satan useth wiles ; but we must not imitate our adversary in deceit, but labour for truth of heart, which as a girdle is strength of the loins.
(2.) ' The breastplate of righteousness,' which is a principle of grace inclining us to obey God in all things, or a fixed purpose and endea- vour to give God and man their due. This secureth the breast or vital parts.
(3.) ' The feet must be shod.' We meet with rough ways as we are advancing to heaven ; and soldiers had their greaves or brazen shoes, to defend from sharp-pointed stakes, fixed by the enemy in the ground over which they were to march. This preparation is a readiness of mind to suffer anything for Christ ; this is built on the gospel of peace : Acts xxi. 13, ' Then Paul answered. What mean ye to weep and break ray heart ? for I am ready not to he bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus; ' 1 Peter iii. 15, ' Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.' We must be ready to confess Christ in persecu- tions and dangers. When we have a sense of our peace and friend- ship made up between God and us by Jesus Christ, and our great and eternal interests are once settled, what need a believer fear ?