that day wherein God shall say, " Let him alonep:" from that hour your condemnation will be sure, and Satan will have perfectly gained his point. Judge then whether it be not better to contend with Satan, than with God ? with him whom you are sure to conquer, to your eternal happiness, than with him, by whose avenging arm you must be crushed for ever*1? Consider well which of the two ye choose for your enemy, God or Satan : and may God in- cline you to enlist under the Redeemer's banner, and in his strength to combat all the enemies of your salvation !
2. Let us speak to those who have begun the ar- duous contest.
Be not afraid of your great adversary. Do not be like the unbelieving Israelites, who, because the Anakims were of such extraordinary stature, and dwelt in cities that were walled up to heaven, dreaded to go up against themr ; but rather say, with Caleb, " They shall be bread for us8:" instead of destroying, they shall be an occasion of good to, our souls : their spoils shall enrich us ; and the oppo- sition that they make shall only be the means of displaying more abundantly the love and faithfulness of our God. " Take unto you" again and again " the whole armour of God ;" and " fight, not as one that beateth the air1," but as one that is determined to conquer or die : and if at any time you be tempted to give up the contest, think of " those who now through faith and patience inherit the promises11." Once they were conflicting like you ; but now they rest from their labours, and are anxious spectators of your conflicts \ It is but a little time, and you also shall be numbered with them. " Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world7." Only go forth therefore in the name of Christ ; and his triumphs shall be the pattern, the pledge, the earnest of your own.
p Hos. iv. 17. i Isai. xxvii. 4. r Numb. xiii. 28, 31, 33.
s Numb. xiii. 9, 30. * 1 Cor. ix. 26. u Heb. vi. 12. x Heb. xii. 1 . y 1 John iv. 4.