all that might favour his natural corruption, he follows whatever may amend it. He is not ingenious to discover reasons why the strictness of the Jewish sabbath is not binding upon Christians; why he may be sparing in his attendance upon public services; why he may abridge his private devotions, or be excused from prayer with his family; because he feels that all the means he can use, and all the motives he can encourage, are no more than needful to keep down the old nature, and stir up the new: and that were he not to continue instant in prayer, were he not to make the sabbath a day holy to the Lord, the evils which he is combating would gain hold upon him, and instead of "growing in grace," he would be "falling back into perdition."

"The

This, then, is the first principle of our faith, which gives the victory over the world. world lieth in wickedness," and the end of wickedness is eternal misery.

2. But there is a second motive which enables the Christian to overcome the world. There is a better prospect before him. "The world passeth away, and the lust thereof." Nevertheless, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." These promises, these expectations, complete the triumph which a dread of the consequences of a corrupt nature had begun. The Christian places in the one scale this present world, its wealth, its gratifications, its favour: in the other scale he places the honour, and glory, and immortality of which he knows not the exact description, but of which he knows thus much, that

they who have enjoyed the clearest revelation of them have done the most and risked the most for their sake. In this balance, the present world flies up; the heavenly world, the kingdom of God, has a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. And every inconvenience, every sacrifice, all the cost of pains and labour, is amply recompensed by the hope which is set before him.

Here, then, in this sentence, we have a test by which true christian faith may be tried and known. Does it overcome the world? For whatsoever is born of God does overcome the world. The way of Scripture here may be compared to a commander of ancient times, who marched his troops to an eminence, and showed them the enemy's army in the plain below, and then addressed them in such words as these: "Friends, you see your enemies before you; you have arms in your hands, and if you do not destroy these men, they will destroy you." So Scripture points out to us the world: gives us the whole armoury of FAITH and bids us overcome the world. If we do not resist the love of the world, the pleasures of the world, the cares of the world, the course of the world, these will destroy us; for these are Satan's troops, and will deliver us into his hands.

But faith does more still. It shows us something beyond the army led by Satan, the host engaged against us. It shows the happy and peaceful plains beyond, and says, If in the strength of Him who is mighty to save, you conquer these enemies, there remaineth no more opposition between the

Spirit and the flesh, no more contest against sin. God has prepared a glorious kingdom, where they who have overcome this present evil world shall suffer no more, neither contend any more: for therein "dwelleth righteousness," and "the wicked cease from troubling.”

LECTURE LXXV.

THE METHOD BY WHICH FAITH IN CHRIST
OVERCOMES THE WORLD.

1 JOHN v. 5.

5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

In the preceding verse St. John had stated, that the sincere Christian, the man born of God, has a contest to maintain, a victory to achieve he must oppose and conquer the world in which he lives and moves. Because that world has objects which would divert him from the allegiance he owes to God: objects which he must only follow, as far as they agree with God's commands and are consistent with his service.

This the apostle had said before. Now he proceeds farther, and affirms that the Christian alone does enter upon this contest and obtain this victory.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that belieneth that Jesus is the Son of God? Such is the hold which the world and the things that are in the world retain over the heart, even when they can no longer please or profit, that all except the followers of Christ Jesus, instead of overcoming the world, by the world are overcome.

Consider such persons: such as are described by the phrase," children of this generation ; " seeking their portion here, and looking for nothing beyond. Take the covetous man, for example: one who is wise in his own conceit, and who pleads that riches purchase comforts and gratifications, and therefore he is seeking riches. Then, in proportion as he has obtained these, and has procured comforts; or in proportion as he grows older, and has less time to enjoy comforts, he will be less and less eager to increase his store. So we might suppose; but it is not so in fact he does not overcome the world, but the world overcomes him even when it can never profit him. On the brink of the grave he still seeks more of that for which the grave has no use: and employs the last remainder of his strength to grasp some addition to his treasures. This is neither

wise nor reasonable but it is notoriously true. Common sense or reason does not overcome the world.

Observe another class; those who indulge their sensual appetites and passions. See their health declining: their fortune wasted away: their prospects blighted their conscience stinging them: their hearts wretched, confessedly wretched: so as to envy,

sometimes, the brute animal that sports before them. Yet they proceed in their unhappy course; sink lower and lower: the impure are hurried away by temptations, against which they have made, perhaps, repeated vows: and the intemperate still lift to their lips the cup, which they own to be the cup of poison. The understanding, alone, cannot conquer passion : or Herod would have put away Herodias. A sense of present evils cannot change the heart, or Pharaoh would have released the Israelites.

The case is much the same with the lovers of what is called pleasure. Day after day they complain of fatigue, of weariness: of the dullness of their amusements and the trouble which they cost: yet they travel the same beaten road: trying from week to week to excite an appetite which is palled, and to satisfy tastes which are insatiable: but not leaving these vanities for things more reasonable, or relinquishing the tracks which they have found so wearisome. Because a new taste, a new desire must be excited, before the old one can be overcome. And these have not that new desire. So that St. John's question is answered by experience, Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? He does not overcome the world, who opposes it by any worldly arguments. The world cannot overcome the world. Nor he who em

ploys against it any carnal weapons. The flesh cannot overcome the flesh. Reason does not overcome it. Reason falls prostrate before passion. Expediency does not overcome it: in spite of certain danger or clear advantage, the force of evil habits