give himk. What David thus illustrated, we may see exemplified in the conduct of St. Paul : " If God be for us," says he, "who can be against us?" Who is he that shall condemn me ? (shall the law curse me ? or Satan overcome me ?) I fear none of them ; since " Christ has died, yea rather, is risen again, and maketh intercession for me. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us : for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord1." Thus it is that we must go forth against all the enemies of our salvation : we must " have no confidence in the flesh m;" neither must we have any doubt respecting the all-sufficiency of our God : the weakest among us should boldly say, " The Lord is my helper ; I will not fear what men or devils can do against me":" "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth
me0."
In applying this subject to the different classes of professing Christians, we should first address ourselves to the self-confident.
It is the solemn declaration of God, that " by strength shall no man prevail1'." We might hope that men would be convinced of this truth by their own experience. Who amongst us has not made vows and resolutions without number, and broken them again almost as soon as they were made ? Who ever resolved to devote himself unfeignedly to God, and did not find, that he was unable steadfastly to pursue his purpose ? What folly is it then to be renewing these vain attempts, when we have the
k 1 Sam. xvii. 45—47. l Rom. viii. 31—39. » Phil. iii. 3.
» Heb. xiii. 6. ° Phil. iv. 13.
p lSam.ii, 9. See also Rom.ix. l(i. andZech. iv.6. and Johni. 13.