place the most unlimited confidence in his skill and power.
The exhortation being contracted into a very small space, and conveying far more than appears at first sight, we shall consider, first, What is implied in it ; and afterwards, What is expressed.
I. What is implied in the exhortation —
The first thing that would naturally occur to any one to whom this exhortation was addressed, is, that the Christian has need of strength ; for on any other supposition than this, the words would be altogether absurd.
But the Christian will indeed appear to require strength, whether we consider the work he has to per- form, or the difficulties he has to cope with. It is no easy matter to stem the tide of corrupt nature, to controul the impetuous passions, to root out inve- terate habits, to turn the current of our affections from the things of time and sense to things invisible and eternal. To renew and sanctify our hearts, and to transform them into the Divine image, is a work far beyond the power of feeble man ; yet is it indis- pensably necessary to his salvation.
But as though this were not of itself sufficient to call forth the Christian's exertions, he has hosts of enemies to contend with, as soon as ever he ad- dresses himself in earnest to the work assigned him. Not to mention all the propensities of his nature, which will instantly rise up in rebellion against him, and exert all their power for the mastery, the world will immediately begin to cry out against him ; they will direct all their artillery against him, their scoffs, their ridicule, their threats : his very friends will turn against him ; and " those of his own household will become his greatest foes." They would let him go on in the broad road year after year, and not one amongst them would ever exhort him to love and serve his God : but the very moment that he enters on the narrow path that leadeth unto life, they will all, with one heart and one soul, unite their endea-
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vours to obstruct his course ; and when they cannot prevail, they will turn their back upon him, and give him up as an irreclaimable enthusiast.
In conjunction with these will Satan (as we shall hereafter have occasion to shew) combine his forces : yea, he will put himself at their head, and direct their motions, and stimulate their exertions, and concur with them to the uttermost to captivate and destroy the heaven-born soul.
And can such work be performed, such difficulties be surmounted, without the greatest efforts ? Surely they who are called to such things, had need " be strong."
A second thing implied in the exhortation is, that the Christian has no strength in himself ; for, if he had, why should he be exhorted to be strong in another ?
Little do men imagine how extremely impotent they are, in themselves, to that which is good. Tt must be easy, one would suppose, to read and under- stand the word of God, or, at least, to profit by a clear and faithful ministration of it. But these are far beyond the power of the natural man. The word is " a sealed book " to him s, which, for want of a spiri- tual discernment, appears a mass of foolishness11, a " cunningly devised fable1." When it was even ex- plained by our Lord, the Apostles, for the space of more than three years, were not able to comprehend its import, till he opened their understandings to understand itk ; and Lydia, like thousands of others, would have been unmoved by the preaching of Paul, if " the Lord had not opened her heart" to appre- hend and embrace his word1. It should seem, how- ever, that if these things be beyond the power of man, he can at least pray to God to instruct him. But neither can he do this, unless the Spirit of God " help his infirmities," teaching him what to pray