demoniac mentioned by St. Mark, is a melancholy picture of yours, who are breaking through all the restraints of God's holy law, and inflicting the most deadly wounds upon your own souls u. O beg of God to shew you what a miserable state you are in, and to interpose with his almighty power for your speedy deliverance.]
2. The conflicting —
[To those amongst us who have commenced a warfare against sin and Satan, we would particularly say, Remember where your strength is : it is not in yourselves : you " have not in yourselves a sufficiency even to think a good thought :" "your sufficiency is altogether in God," and in the Lord Jesus Christ, " without whom you can do nothing*." Hear the voice of God to you on this subject ; " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts y." Be on your guard then, " lest ye lean to your own understanding," or " trust," even in the smallest degree, " in an arm of flesh." You are indeed to " be strong ;" but it must be " in the Lord, and in the power of his might2." You are to go forth armed; but not in armour framed by human skill ; that would be to you as useless as Saul's armour was to David : there is a whole suit of armour provided for you by God ; and in that you must be clotheda: arrayed in that, and especially taking with you the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, you need not fear : Satan well " knows " the power of soldiers thus arrayed; and " he will flee from those who thus resist him1'." Inquire of those who are now triumphant in heaven ; and ask them, how they gained the victory. The answer from every one of them will be, " We overcame him by the blood of the Lamb0:" we trusted to that blood, to " obtain mercy for us, and grace to help us in every time of need :" and we were not disappointed of our hope : we fought ; we gained the victory ; and " Satan was in due time bruised under our feet."]
3. The victorious —
[It may seem presumptuous to speak of such in this pre- sent world ; but such there are, and such, we trust, amongst usd. We do not indeed imagine that there are any, against whom Satan does not sometimes gain advantage ; but we are persuaded that there are some amongst us who maintain a good, and a successful warfare. To such then we say, If God has made you to differ from others, give glory to that adorable Saviour, who has strengthened you by his Spirit, and enabled
11 Mark v. 2 — 5. x 2 Cor. iii. 5. John xv. 5.
y Zech.iv. 6". z Eph. vi. 10. a Eph. vi. 11 — 17.
b Jam. iv. 7. c Rev. xii. 11.
d 1 John ii. 14. and v. 18.