principle which actuates the godly, is mighty in operation : however numerous or powerful their enemies may be, the "grace of Christ is sufficient for them0;" and the weakest in the universe may say, " Through Christ strengthening me I can do all things p." Their inherent weakness does not at all militate against this assertion ; for, when they are weakest in themselves their strength is at the height: and when they look unto their Lord for help, " he will perfect his strength in their weakness q." Survey for a moment the Christian's conquests : his lusts are subdued, condemned, crucified r : the world is over- come, and put under his feet8: the powers of darkness are put to flight1 : and he is triumphing daily in the God of his salvation11: so "strengthened is he with might in his inward man x," and so " mighty are his weapons to destroy the strong holds of sin and Satan, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obe- dience of Christy."
What shall we now say to you who are destitute of this armour ? Shall we congratulate you on your prospects of victory ? Shall we even flatter you with hopes of escaping with life ? We cannot ; we dare not. There is a possibility, that you might vanquish an armed host with a broken pitcher2 ; or make the walls of an impregnable fortress to fall with the sound of rams' horns a : but to succeed without righteousness in your spiritual warfare is impossible : for the truth of God is pledged that you shall perish, if you continue in your unrighteous state b. "Awake then to righteousness, and sin notc." Let your earnest prayer ascend up before God, that you may be made new creatures in Christ Jesusd, and be turned effectually from the power of Satan unto Gode. But do not mistake : do not imagine, that
0 2 Cor. xii. 9. p Phil. iv. 13. * See Heb. v. 13, 14.
r Gal. v. 24. s 1 John v. 4, 5. Gal. vi. 14.
4 Jam. iv. 7. u 2 Cor. ii. 14.
x Eph. iii. 16. Ps. cxxxviii. 3. y 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.
z Judg. vii. 19 — 22. a Josh. vi. 4, 5, 20. b 1 Cor. vi. 9.
c 1 Cor. xv. 34. <1 Eph. ii. 10. e Acts xxvi. 18.