suspect the treachery of their own hearts, and to depend more simply on the grace of Christ. Thus they learn to fight a good fight ; and, though sometimes wounded by his fiery darts, they " resist their enemy till he flees from them" ."]
2. He will give them a complete and everlasting victory over him in the world to come —
[While they are in the flesh Satan will renew his assaults upon them. There is no place so sacred, but he will intrude into it; nor any person so holy, but he will seek to destroy him. When the sons of Job were assembled before the Lord, Satan came also in the midst of them0 : and when Joshua stood in the Divine presence, the same wicked fiend stood at his right hand to resist him p : nor will he suspend his attacks even when we are bowing our knees at the throne of grace, or assembled around the table of the Lord. But into heaven he can never enter : there we shall be lodged in perfect safety : thence we may deride his impotent attempts, and rejoice over him as a captive foe.
But it may be said, That we rather escape from him, than triumph over him : for that he still continues master of the field. We answer, No : for he shall in due time be dragged in chains of darkness into our very presence ; and, as assessors with Christ in judgment, we shall judge him and all his angels q. We shall confirm the sentence passed upon him ; and add our hearty Amen to the curse that dooms him to eternal fire.]
Infer —
1. How great and precious are the promises of God !—
[To those who know nothing of the Christian warfare, this promise will afford but little satisfaction : but to those who have been long conflicting with the powers of darkness, it will be a ground of inexpressible joy and thankfulness. Such an assurance of victory will revive their drooping spirits, and reanimate them for the combat : nor will they be averse to maintain the contest as long as God shall see fit to try their faith and patience: having this word, they want no more: " they know in whom they have believed ;" and that, though now their hands hang down and their hearts are faint, they shall soon make heaven itself to echo with their shouts of victory1-. O that all might have an interest in this promise, and experience its completion in the realms of bliss!]
n Jam. iv. 7. ° Job. ii. 1. p Zech. hi. 1. <J 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3.
r Here might be a personal address to those who are assaulted with temptations of any kind, urging them to combine holy vigilance with a steadfast faith. 1 Pet. v. H, !).