kingdom into Christ's". It is by that also that our daily war- fare is to be carried on0. Yea, through that are we to attain our full and final salvation1". Faith is the shield whereby alone we can ward off the darts of Satan q : if that fail, we are exposed to the fiercest assaults of our enemy. If we lose our hold of the promises, we shall be driven away as chaff: we shall have no point around which to rally our scattered forces. Whereas, if faith be strong, we shall hope even against hope r ; and, though wounded, we shall return with fresh vigour to the combat. Nor shall our great adversary be able to prevail against uss. Hence that earnest caution against unbelief ' — and that express direction respecting the mode of opposing Satan u — ]
But the intercession of Christ is necessary to uphold our faith —
[Peter's faith would have failed utterly, if he had been left to himself; but through the intercession of Christ he was pre- served. Thus we also should " make shipwreck of our faith." But our prevailing Advocate pleads for us alsox : as our High- Priest he bears us on his breast-plate before the throne y: he obtains for us fresh supplies of the Spirit. In this way he, who has been the author of our faith, will also be the finisher2. Hence the encouragement given us to rely on the intercession of Christ a — Hence the encouragement given us to regard it under every backsliding0 — Hence the encouragement given us to rest assured of Christ's power to savec — ]
Infer —
1. What need have we to be ever on our guard!
[Perhaps at this moment Satan may be desiring to sift us. And what if God should give us up into his hands ? If suffered to exert his strength, he could soon dissipate whatever is good in us ; nor should our past zeal in God's service remove our apprehensions ; that would rather provoke Satan to more activity against us. Let us then " not be high-minded, but fear." Let us follow the salutary advice which our Lord has given usd Let us plead with fervour those important peti- tions6— At the same time let us " put on the whole armour of God," and prepare, as God has taught us, for the assaults of our enemy f.]
2. What a mercy is it to have an interest in Christ!
" Gal. iii. 26. ° 2 Cor. i. 24. p 1 Pet. i. 5.
<J Eph. vi. 16. r Rom. iv. 18, 20. s Rom. x. 11.
* Heb. iii. 12. u 1 Pet. v. 8, 9. x John xvii. 20.
y Exod. xxviii. 29. z Heb. xii. 2. a Rom. viii. 34.
b 1 John ii. 1. c Heb. vii. 25. d Matt. xxvi. 41.
e Matt. vi. 13. f Eph. vi. 13—18.