XI. DISC. for the righteous; or the Almighty on his throne, prepared with a thunderbolt to strike the wicked into a place of torment? -We do not see this with the bodily eye; but faith, which is "the evidence of things " not seen" as yet, makes it all present to the mind's eye, and, thus, repels every temptation to tranfgress, causing the fiery dart of the wicked one to fall, and go out, without hurting us. Were our faith always awake and active, it would preserve us in our integrity: we never fin, but when we have first suffered it to slumber: we are off our guard: "the shield of the mighty has " been shamefully cast away." The last piece of defenfive armour recommended by the Apostle is " the helmet " of salvation." The helmet, as is well known, was a cap of iron or steel, for the head, to fence against any blows a part so very important; a part, from whence proceed all those instruments of sensation, called the nerves; the XI. the feat of thought and understanding; and, DISC. as many philosophers have imagined, the residence of the soul herself. The meaning of St. Paul in this expreffion is explained in another passage, where, writing on the fame subject, he says, " And for an helmet, the "hope of falvation." When we have loft hope, a blow has been struck, that stupifies and unnerves us; understanding perishes, and strength fails; despair is to the Christian, what a stroke that cleaves the skull is to the man; there is no longer the breath of life in him. He who possesses the hope of fal vation, through the power of such hope can do all things, and bear all things; because he still looks forward to the end of his hope, which will reward all his actions, and make ample amends for all his fufferings; but that once given up, there is nothing any longer worth contending for, or thinking about. The mind, turning itself on every fide to seek rest, and finding none, finks into all the wretchedness of utter despondency, and the agonizing groan of suicide is heard! Daily therefore cherish and invigorate your hope VOL. III. R DISC. hope in Christ; pray daily to God, that it may never fail you; diligently read such parts of holy Scripture as may revive it when languishing, and re-establish it. Should you find your own meditations insufficient, consult, without delay, your minifter, or fome religious and sensible friend. A word of inftruction, comfort and encouragement, from another, spoken in season, has often prevented the dreadful crime of felf-murder from being committed. Evermore, then, remember to "take for an helmet, the "hope of salvation;" and put it not off, till the contest be finally over, and hope ceafes by our becoming possessed of it's object. : *.. To the Christian, thus armed for defence in the day of battle, the Apostle recommends only one offensive weapon; but it is abundantly sufficient; "the sword of the "Spirit, which is the word of God;" sharper than any two-edged sword fabricated by the art of man, piercing even to the dividing asunder of foul and spirit, and of the the joints and marrow; reaching the very DISC. thoughts and intentions; subduing and mortifying evil defires and blafphemous imaginations, as they arife within; confuting and XI. filencing infidelity and error, as they affault us from without. A fingle text, well understood, and rightly applied, pierces the heart of a temptation, or an objection, and lays the most formidable adversary dead at our feet. With this weapon the blefsed Jesus conquered in the wilderness; by the same weapon, and no other, must every disciple of his expect to conquer in the world. And now, friends, and fellow foldiers in the Christian warfare, listen to the voice of inspiration, and be directed by one who cannot direct you wrong. Enemies of all kinds furround you; enter not into the battle unarmed: the host of darkness is in array against you; put on the armour of light, to discover and survey it. Let truth be the girdle of your loins, let righteousness be the protection of your heart, and let the fandals of the Gospel of peace adorn and defend your R2 DISC. your feet in the way in which you go: let XI. faith be your invincible shield, and hope your impenetrable helmet: and on the thigh be girded the sword of the Spirit, bright and shining, and ready for use, and to be drawn, at a moment's warning. Thus completely armed from head to foot, always remembering from whence come skill and strength for the battle, fall upon your knees, as the Apostle enjoins at the close of his exhortation; "pray with all fupplication, and watch "with all perseverance." Then go forth, and may the Almighty go forth with you, teaching your hands to war, and your fingers to fight, and at length giving you a complete and glorious victory over every enemy, through the Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 |