2

devil:" His enemies took HIM prisoner-and they who took HIM, "as soon as He said unto them, I am HE, went backward, and fell to the ground:" One man betrayed and delivered HIM up to these His enemies—and HE "could have prayed to His FATHER, and He would presently have given HIм more than twelve legions of Angels:" HE was "numbered with the transgressors"—and one of the two which were crucified with HIм prayed "LORD, remember me, when THOU Comest into THY kingdom:" HE "bowed His Head, and gave up the ghost"— and He cried out with the loud triumphant shout, which drew from heathen lips the confession, "Truly this Man was the Son of GOD:" HE was buried, and taken captive by the grave and He rose again, and “led captivity captive:" HE was seen of a little band of poor men before HE ascended-and He ascended above Angels and Archangels, to sit at the Right Hand of GOD.

Such was the REDEEMER in prophecy, and

1 S. John xviii. 6.

2 S. Matt. xxvi. 53.

3 S. Luke xxii. 37; compare with xxiii. 42.
4 S. John xix. 30; compare with S. Mark xv. 39.
5 Ps. lxviii. 18; Eph. iv. 8.

such was HE when He came, "in the fulness of the time," and visited this world in the Flesh. All throughout His prophetic and incarnate career, there was a conflict going on; a conflict between HIM and the great Adversary. He was "the LORD strong and mighty," but HE was "the LORD mighty in Battle."

And who is there that knoweth not how the Christian's duty is to follow the Pattern of CHRIST?-CHRIST'S example teaches us plainly that we came into this world to fight against it, and so to fight against it, that we might overcome it, even as He fought against it, and overcame it. We have a warfare. We are His soldiers. Observe how plainly the Church reminds each one of us of this truth at our very admission into the number of His elect. Were not these words pronounced over each one of us, when we were first brought to HIM? "We receive this child into the congregation of CHRIST'S flock, and do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that, hereafter, he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of CHRIST crucified, and manfully to fight

1 Gal. iv. 4.

under His Banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue CHRIST'S faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end."

Thus, at our very entrance into CHRIST'S Church, we are taught that we have "to fight"-" to fight manfully"-"to fight under CHRIST'S Banner"-" to fight against sin, the world, and the devil"-and to "continue CHRIST's faithful soldiers and servants unto our lives' end."

And this is just what the Apostle says to the Bishop Timothy, in the text, and to us, "Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST."

And here let me remind you that we stand unexcused, if we rebel against HIM-if we turn cowards-if we desert HIM. And why? Because we have not His bright Example only, but His mysterious Strength too, afforded us. Yes, and, consequently, His Promise that if we will but "fight manfully," we shall be quite certain to "have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh;" He promises that if we will but be 1 Baptismal Service. 2 Ibid.

"faithful unto death, HE will give us a Crown of life:" that if we "endure unto

the end," we "shall be saved."

Each step

in the Church's steady march will take us only the further into the land where we must, in God's might, "drive out our enemies, by little and little." Each Holy Ordinance will be an earnest at once of future strife, and strength, and success.

And thus we go forth from our Baptismknowing what our foes are knowing Whose soldiers we are-knowing that we have power given to us to fight and overcomeknowing that "we can do all things through CHRIST WHICH Strengtheneth us."

Then, only consider how utterly vain must be all attempts to make excuse. All those sad and silly excuses which we so often hear around us are done away with by our Blessed LORD's direct and positive declarations beforehand.

Thus we hear people saying, "I know that I am not what I ought to be, but I have such difficulties and temptations to meet with that I cannot overcome them." But has

1 Rev. ii. 10.

3 Ex. xxiii. 30,

2 S. Matt. xxiv. 13.
4 Phil. iv. 13.

not the REDEEMER already told us that it is a very difficult thing to get to Heaven, and that there are very few that will get thither? Brethren! what aweful words are His! "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Few there be that find it. Heaven is only for a few. Only a few get to Heaven! "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." And therefore HE exhorts His followers, in another passage, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate:" "strive:" the Greek word is literally "agonize "—" agonize to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." How full of awe the thought, how dreadful to know that we are living among crowds of fellow-creatures, of fellow Christians and only a few will get to Heaven! To know, too, that many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able! And indeed all Christians, all Christians whose consciences are not utterly dead, do seek to get to Heaven. All would wish to get to Heaven, when they die. All wish to share in the glo1 S. Matt. vii. 14.

2 S. Luke xiii. 24.