Christ our Lord^" " In him we are strong;" and through his gracious communications " we can do all things :" " none can be eftectually against us, whilst he is for us." Having infused into our souls a principle of life, " he dwells in us," and " is himself our life%" and can-ies us forward " from conquering to conquer," till sin and " Satan are bruised under our feet," and " death itself is swallowed up in ever- lasting victory."]
Observations —
1. How infatuated are they who live in wilful sin !
[Do they consider whom they serve, and against whom they fight ? Do they consider that they are doing those very works which proceed from and characterize the devil, and which Christ was manifested to destroy ? Reflect on your con- duct. Brethren, in this view, and then judge, whether ye do well to continue in it ]
2. What reason for humility have even the best of men !
[There is no man who has not daily occasion to lament his short-comings and defects. We are not any of us so watchful, but Satan finds some opportunities to deceive us ; nor so expert in our warfare, but he wounds us occasionally by " his fiery darts." And when that wicked fiend has " got an advantage over us," with what exultation is he filled, even though he knows that he can never ultimately prevail against our blessed Lord ! Be watchful. Brethren, that ye do not so gratify your malignant adversary, or so grieve the Spirit of your adorable Saviour. Put yourselves more habi- tually under the protection and guidance of your Divine Master ; and " through him you shall be more than con- querors."]
3. How unbounded are the obligations we owe to Christ !
[Who but he could have ever redeemed us from sin and death ? Who but he could have ever destroyed for us those works of the devil ? Think what would have been the state of the world, if he had never become incarnate ; what slaves we must have been if he had not liberated us ; and what a death we must have xuidergone, if he had not died in our stead ! Verily, if we felt our obligations as we ought, we should scarcely pass a moment without adverting to them, and magnifying him \yith songs of praise and thanksgiving. Let us dwell on the delightful thought, which, wherever it is
entertained, ' Rom. vii. 24, 25. * Col. iii. 4.
254 ijonx, III. 16. [1180.
entertained, creates a heaven upon earth : and in a httle time our dehverance shall be complete ; and we shall unite with all the hosts of heaven " in singing Hallelujali to God and to the Lamb for ever and ever."]