accoutred, he put to flight the whole host of Midian : they brake their pitchers, held forth their lamps, and blew their trum- pets ; and the enemies were put to flight''. Thus, precisely thus, does the Christian triumph over his enemies : unable to accomplish any tiling by his own arm, he, by the mere light and sound of the Gospel, vanquishes his foes. When indeed the rout commences, he summons all his powers to destroy them ; nor ceases from the pursuit, till he has effectually sub- dued them all. Behold a man who was lately enslaved by the world, the flesh, and the devil ; see him at once throw off the yoke, behold him trampling on the world, crucifying the flesh, and bruising Satan under his feet! Is this a dream? No; it is a reality, that may be seen now as much as it was on the day of Pentecost, or on the day that the blood-thirsty Saul became a preacher of the faith he had once destroyed. " Such is the heritage of the servants of the Lord :" they all are con- querors, and " more than conquerors, through Him that loved them."] Infer,
1. How strangely do men misconceive of the natm'e and operation of the Gospel !
[That which Christ and his apostles preached, is deemed fanaticism, and is supposed to lead to melancholy and licen- tiousness. But how opposite is this sentiment to that which is contained in the text ! Only let the Gospel be searched into with candour and diligence, and we will venture to affirm that it shall approve itself as light, and become a source of joy, and lead to certain victory. Whatever remains of darkness, grief, or bondage, shall be gradually banished, and the felicity of heaven be enjoyed, in proportion as the soul is subjected to the dominion of Christ.]
2. How much do the samts of God live below their privileges !
[If we look at the first converts, we shall be ready to think that they were of a different species from us ; so far are we below them in spiritual attainments. But is not the Gospel the same as it was in their day ? Does it not require as much of us as it did of them ? And will it not operate as powerfully on our hearts as it did on theirs ? O let us not be satisfied with such indistinct views of the mysteries of God : let us not be contented with such scanty measures of joy and triumph : let us not think it enough to gain some small advantages over our spiritual enemies : let us look for greater things, and expect more signal displays of the Divine power and goodness! We are not straitened in God, but in ourselves : let us only be strong in faith ; and " according to our faith it shall be unto us."]
•' Judtr. vii. 19—21.
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