whole armour of God; which we are to put on," and by means of which we are to withstand all our enemies. But in this warfare we must, of necessity, meet with great trials, yea, and must sustain many afflictions. For, where is there a Christian who has not " his cross to bear, whilst following his Lord?" A soldier, by his very profession, expects to encounter difficulties : and his mind is made up to bear what- ever evils he may meet with in the discharge of his duty : and precisely thus must we, having once girded on the sword, be prepared for privations, exertions, conflicts ; and we must never think of rest, till all " our enemies are bruised under our feet."
As for other occupations, the soldier feels that he has no time for them. He cannot alienate his time and attention from the duties of his calling. The concerns of agriculture and commerce he leaves to others: and he concentrates all his energies in the more immediate duties of his profession ; having no wish, no desire, but to approve himself faitiiful to his commander and his king. Thus, my brethren, it must be with us : with ministers in a more especial manner ; because for them, by divine appointment, is a provision made, in order that they may be able to give themselves wholly and exclusively to the service of the sanctuary : and it is greatly to be regretted, that, in our Church, the provision made is so small as to render a compliance with God's appointment in this respect, in many instances, impracticable. But I hesitate not to say, that for a minister to " entangle himself in the affairs of this life" beyond what is necessary, is not the way to *' please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier." And the same would I say, to a certain degree, respecting Christians in general. They have, it is true, and must have, their temporal employments, to which it is their duty to pay very diligent attention. But yet these must all be subordinated to the higher duties of religion: they must " seek Jirst the kingdom of God and his righteousness ;" and disregard " the meat that perisheth," in comparison of that which " endureth to ever- lasting life." Every man must perform his duties in social and domestic life: but we must be "without carefulness:" and, whilst our heads and our hands are occupied with earthly pursuits, " our affections must be altogether set upon things above." To please our God must be, at all times and under all circumstances, our one concern,]
2. As wrestlers —
[The Apostle often takes his illustrations from the Grecian games. Here he compares us with wrestlers, who, however much they might exert themselves, were not crowned, unless they conformed exactly to the rules which were prescribed to