First, To explain the nature of this victory ; it doth not consist in an exemption from troubles, or suffering temporal loss by them, or utter perishing as to this world, but keeping that which we contend and fight for; we do not vanquish our enemy so as to cause all opposition to cease ; yea, or that we shall not temporally perish under it. No, the world needeth not suspect this holy victory of the saints : it is not conquering kingdoms, and becoming masters of other men's possessions, nor seeing our desire upon our enemies. I prove it —
1. From Christ's purchase : Gal. i. 4, ' Who died, that he might deliver us from the present evil world.' How so ? That we should live exempt from all troubles ? That the world should never trouble us ? No, but that the world should not ensnare and pervert us. His word was to ' save us from our sins,' Mat. i. 21 ; to ' deliver us from wrath to come,' 2 Thes. i. 10 ; and to justify and sanctify and glorify us. We have the victory that he hath purchased for us, if the devil and the world do not hinder our fruition and possession of eternal glory.
2. I prove it, partly from the way of dispensation of it, that is iutimated in the first promise of the Messiah : Gen. iii. 15, ' I will put
394 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIH. [SeR. XLVL
eumity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Misery being brought into the world by sin, God ordereth it so that some temporal calamities shall remain on those that are recovered by grace ; indeed it is our Redeemer's work so to moderate these sufferings, that our heel may be only bruised, but our head safe.
3. I prove it from the way of our conflict and combat and con- quest. It is not by worldly greatness, visible prosperity, or the strength of outward dominion ; but by patience, and contentedness in suffering, even to the very death. Those that are as sheep appointed to the slaughter, and killed all the day long, are more than conquerors. This is a riddle to carnal sense : we do not call them conquerors in the world who are killed, oppressed, kept under ; but yet these are killed all the day long, and yet are more than conquerors, Scias homi- nem Chrislo dicatum, saith Jerome, mori posse, vinci non posse. A christian may be slain, yet more than a conqueror. The way to conquer here is to be trodden down, and ruined : 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9, ' We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are perplexed, yet not in despair ; persecuted, but not forsaken : cast down, but not destroyed.'
4. Our main party and enemy is Satan. You have not only to do with men, who strike at your worldly interests, but with Satan, who liath a spite at your souls : Eph. vi. 12, ' For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness ia high places.' God may give men a power over your bodily lives, and all the interests thereof, but he doth not give the devil a power over the graces of the saints, to separate them from God's love. The devil aimeth at the destruction of souls : he can let you enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, that he may deprive you of your delight in God and celestial jileasures. He can be content you shall have dignities and honours, if they prove a snare to j'ou. The devil seekelh to bring you to troubles, and poverty and nakedness, to draw you from God : 1 Peter v. 8, 9, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour : whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.' Satan's tempta- tions are conveyed to the godly by afflictions, by which he seeketh to make them quit the truth, or their duty, or to quit their confidence in God ; otherwise he would let such have all the glory in the world, if it were in his power, so you would but hearken to his lure : as he offered it to Christ : Mat. iv. 9, ' And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and wonship me.' Therefore our victory is not to be measured by our prosperity and adversity, but faithful adherence to God ; if he get his will over our bodies, if he get not his will over our souls, you conquer, and not Satan.
5. The ends or things we contend for. The victory must be stated by that ; for we overcome if we keep what we fight for. Now our con- flict is for the glory of God, the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, our own salvation, and to maintain and keep alive present grace.
[1.] The glory of God. God must he honoured by his people ia adversity : 2 Thes. i. 11, 12, ' Wherefore we j)ray always for you, that