Let the captives of Satan arise and assert their liberty —
[Behold the kingdom of heaven is before you, " that good land flowing with milk and honey: " and will ye be content that your great adversary shall rob you of it without a struggle ? Know that there is armour provided for you ; and that if you go forth against him clad with it, you cannot but conquer. O enlist under the banners of the Lord Jesus, and go forth in his strength! fight a good fight; quit yourselves like men; be strong ; and be assured, " your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord."]
Let the timid take courage, and return to the charge —
[Think not of your own weakness, but of the Lord's strength. Remember what he has done for his people in old time. Did not the walls of Jericho fall at the sound of rams' horns? Was not Midian vanquished by a few lamps and broken pitchers ? Did not Goliath fall by a sling and a stone ? Ah! know that your enemies shall be like them, if only you will take courage. " Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you." See what Joshua did to the five confederate kings b: thus shall
a Isai. xli. 10. x Isai. xli. 14—16. y Isai. li. 12, 13.
z Isai. xl. 27—31. a Luke xii. 32. b Josh. x. 24, 25.
you also do in due season; for the true Joshua has promised that "he will bruise Satan under your feet shortly0."]
Let the strong remember in whom their strength is —
[Let not any think themselves so strong, but that they still need, even as Joshua himself did, a word of exhortation and encouragement. Be not self-confident even for a moment, lest God leave you to yourselves, and you " be crushed before a moth." Peter will remind you how weak you are, if not upheld by God ; and what Satan can accomplish, if permitted to sift you as wheat. " Be not high-minded then, but fear:" yet fear not others, but yourselves only. Be weak in your- selves, and strong in the Lord; and then you may dismiss every other fear, and already begin the shout of victory.]
c Rom. xvi. 20.