184.1 The Cities Of Refuge. 201

exhort all in the first place to flee for refuge to the hope set before them, we would also exhort them to stand forth manfully against the enemy ; to regard neither time, nor labour, nor property, no, nor life itself, so that they may but help forward to the uttermost their country's cause. And though the occupation of a warrior is the last perhaps that a man of piety would choose, yet on the present occa- sion conscience requires, rather than forbids, that all of us should unite with heart and hand to repel the foe, and to sacrifice our lives, if need be, in defence of our religion and liberties, our property and friends, our king and country. Still however we must recur to our former observation ; and urge in the first place the necessity of turning to our strong-hold. Would to God that none of us might delay, or loiter, or slacken our pace, or yield to weariness, or regard any thing that we leave behind ; but that all might flee, as Lot out of Sodom, to our adorable Saviour ! Then, whether we live or die, we must be safe. The enemy may destroy our bodies, but our great adver- sary can never hurt our souls. Our immortal part will be placed beyond the reach of harm : and when empires fall, yea, and the whole earth shall be dis- solved by fire, we shall dwell in mansions that are inaccessible to evil, and enjoy a bliss that shall never end.