[We wish not to discourage those who find difficulties in their warfare : but yet we must say, that God does not do his work by halves (if we may so express it). If he begin a good work in any soul, he will not suffer Satan to defeat his purpose. " He will give more and more grace," till it prove effectual to the end for which it is given. Grace that is not sufficient, (I mean, that does not finally prevail,) is not true grace. We know, that if a judgment be formed from the actual attainments of the religious world, we shall be ready to think that piety and car- nality, and victory and bondage, can consist together. But they cannot ; and those who with a religious profession unite an habitual subjection to any one sin, will feel themselves grievously disappointed in the issue. " They may dream of plaudits from their Judge ; but he will say to them, " I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity." " The weapons of our war- fare are sufficiently powerful to cast down all the strong-holds of Satan," and to bring even " our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ : " the soldier therefore that yields to any one of his spiritual enemies, betrays his Lord; and for sub- mitting to tire chains of sin, will be bound " in chains of ever- lasting darkness."]
3. A work of which none need despair —
[A more desperate state than that described in the text, can scarcely be conceived : they were captives, and captives in a state of grievous oppression : yet they are not only delivered, but made to "rule over their very oppressors." Who thenhas any reason to despair ? We may say perhaps, that our enemies are more powerful than those of others ; that by our own consent they have acquired an indisputable right over us ; and that therefore tve cannot hope for deliverance. But God states, and answers, this very case*^. And, not content with this, he makes his readiness to relieve such persons a prominent feature in his own character : as if he were especially to be known by it^. He makes his promises too to this very description of persons^, as though he counted himself most glorified, when the weakness of his people has given the most scope for the exercise of his almighty power^. To the weakest then, and to the most de- sponding, we would say with the prophet, that though " with- out God the strongest of men should bow down under the prisoners, and fall under the slain ''," yet " with hhn you shall be able to do all things':" even "the lame shall take the prey'^," and " the feet of the poor and of the needy shall tread down their mightiest enemies^"]
•1 Isai. xlix. 24— 2G. •" Amos. v. 9. ^ Ps. Ixxii. 4, 12, 13,
e 2 Cor. xii. 9. '> Isai. x. 4. Jer. xxxvii. 10.
' Phil. iv. 1.3. '^ Isai. xxxiii. 23. ' Isai. xxvi. 5, G,
883.J IMMUTABILITY OF GOd's COUNSELS. /)73