3. Fear —
[Though your hearts may have been renewed by divine grace, you are renewed, brethren, only in part : you have still the flesh within you, as well as the Spirit ; and you carry about with you still " a body of sin and death," from which, to your dying hour, you will need to be delivered. In fact, your whole life must be "a putting-off of the old man, and a putting-on of the new." I need not tell you what precautions people take, when they carry a light in the midst of combustibles, which, if ignited, will spread destruction all around. Know, that ye carry such combustibles about you, wherever you go ; and you know not how soon you may come in contact with somewhat that may cause a desperate explosion. You all know how David fell, in an unguarded moment ; and what a dreadful tissue of evil was produced by one sinful imagination. Know ye, then, what corrupt creatures ye are : be sensible of your proneness to commit even the vilest abominations : and pray, day and night, to God, to " hold up your goings in his ways, that your footsteps slip not." It was from sad expe- rience that Peter spoke, when he said, " Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour : whom resist, steadfast in the faith g." He had indulged self-confidence, and had slept when he should have watched : and hence arose his fall, which speaks loudly to every one of us. " Be ye, then, not high-minded ; but fear : " and " what I say unto one, I say unto all, Watch."]
8 1 Pet. v. 8.