of heaven to be clouded by the indulgence of any unhallowed lusts ? No ; he will contend with every enemy of his soul : he will " crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts :" he will " lay aside every weight, and the sins that most easily beset him, and will run with patience the race that is set before him, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his faith." Instead of forgetting the great day of the Lord, he will be " looking for, and hasting unto, the coming of the day of Christ." Though willing to live for the good of others, he will " desire rather for himself to depart, that he may be with Christ, which is far better" than any enjoyment that can be found on earth. " Not that he will desire so much to be unclothed," because of any present troubles, as to " be clothed upon, that mortality may be swallowed up of life."
This armour then must be procured ; this armour must be worn ; and, clothed in it, we must watch against all our enemies.
And though others sleep, yet must not we : yea, if all around us should be drowned in sleep, yet must not we give way to slumber : if to be sober and vigi- lant must of necessity make us singular, we must dare to be singular, even as Elijah in the midst of Israel, or as Noah in the antediluvian world. If it be true that none but those who are children of the light and of the day are ready for death and judg- ment, let us come forth to the light without delay, and endeavour to walk in the light, even as God himself is in the light. His word is light : it shews us in all things how to walk and to please him : it sets before us examples also, in following whom we shall by faith and patience inherit the promises, as they now do. Let this word then be taken as a light to our feet, and a lantern to our paths : and let us follow it in all things, as those that would approve them- selves to the heart-searching God. Let us not listen to any vain excuses for delay. We see, in the instance before us, how suddenly we may be called away, and how soon our day of grace may come to