Powers, yea, and greater than he himself also, as man, and as Mediator, should effectually preserve them; and that no enemy should prevail against them, unless he should first overcome Jehovah himself. This then being secured to them by a pro- mise that cannot fail, and by a power that cannot be overcome, we may congratulate the sheep of Christ in the words of their good Shepherd; " Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."]
Now because of the singular importance of this subject, we shall,
1. Guard it against abuse —
[By referring the final issue of our warfare to the veracity and power of God, rather than to the faithfulness and diligence of man, it may be thought that we open a door for licentious- ness of manners, or at least for carelessness and indifference in our spiritual concerns. But if it be recollected what has been stated as the character of Christ's sheep, (that " they hear his voice" and "follow his steps;") and what has been declared as to the manner of perfecting in them the good work, (that God enables them to mortify sin, and to vanquish Satan ;) what room can there be for the objection of its tending to licen- tiousness? If however there be any man disposed to say, ' God will not suffer me to perish, therefore I will be careless about my walk and conduct,' he needs nothing more to prove that he is not one of Christ's sheep ; he has not the smallest resemblance to his sheep ; he is altogether deaf to the voice of Christ; he walks in a way directly opposite to his; and, in- stead of vanquishing sin and Satan, he is overcome by them. Whatever therefore he may call himself, he is no other than a wolf in sheep's clothing. To imagine that he can attain the end without the means, is absurd; for God has ordained not only the end, but the means, and the end by the means. See how clearly this is stated by St. Paul : " God," says he, " hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctifica- tion of the Spirit and belief of the truth d." To what hath God chosen us ? to enjoy the means of grace ? to possess heaven, if we can earn it by our good works? No; he has chosen us to salvation, even " to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." But has he left it to our choice in what way this end shall be attained? No: he has appointed " sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," as the way to it : and if we are not proceeding in that way, it is in vain to think of ever attaining that end. If we choose to walk in sin, we may ; but it will infallibly lead us to perdition : holiness is
d 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14.
i,l2