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God。〃 〃Stand； having your loins girt about with truth； and having on
the breastplate of righteousness。〃 〃Take the helmet of salvation； and
the sword of the Spirit； which is the Word of God。〃 〃Above all； take
the shield of faith。〃 （Ephes。 vi。 13…17。） And not least； the professing
Christian has the best of leaders： Jesus the Captain of Salvation；
through whom he may be more than conquerorthe best of provisions； the
bread and water of lifeand the best of pay promised to him： an
eternal weight of glory。
All these are ancient things。 I will not be drawn off from my subject
in order to dwell on them now。
The one point I want to impress upon your soul just now is this； that
the true believer is not only a soldier； but a victorious soldier。He
not only professes to fight on Christ's side against sin； the world；
and the devil； but he does actually fight and overe。
Now this is one。 grand distinguishing mark of true Christians。 Other
men； perhaps； like to be numbered in the ranks of Christ's army。 Other
men may have lazy wishes； and languid desires after the crown of glory。
But it is the true Christian alone who does the work of a soldier。 He
alone fairly meets the enemies of his soulreally fights with them；
and in that fight overes them。
One great lesson I want men to learn from these seven epistles is this；
that if you would prove you are born again and going to heaven； you
must be a victorious soldier of Christ。 If you would make it clear that
you have any title to Christ's precious promises； you must fight the
good fight in Christ's cause； and in that fight you must conquer。
Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that you have a saving
religion。 You like good sermons perhaps。 You respect the Bible； and
read it occasionally。 You say your prayers night and morning。 You have
family prayers； and give to Religious Societies。 I thank God for this。
It is an very good。 But how goes the battle？ How does the great
conflict go on all this time？ Are you overing the love of the world
and the fear of man？ Are you overing the passions； tempers； and
lusts of your own heart？ Are you resisting the devil and making him
flee from you？ How is it in this matter？ You must either rule or serve
sin； and the devil； and the world。 There is no middle course。 You must
either conquer or be lost。
I know well it is a hard battle that you have to fight； and I want you
to know it too。 You must fight the good fight of faith； and endure
hardships； if you would lay hold of eternal life。 You must make up your
mind to a daily struggle； if you would reach heaven。 There may be short
roads to heaven invented by man； but ancient Christianity； the good old
way； is the way of the crossthe way of conflict。 Sin； the world； and
the devil must be actually mortified； resisted； and overe。
This is the road that saints of old have trodden in； and left their
record on high。
（a） When Moses refused the pleasures of sin in Egypt； and chose
affliction with the people of Godthis was overing： he overcame the
love of pleasure。
（b） When Micaiah refused to prophesy smooth things to king Ahab； though
he knew he would be persecuted if he spoke the truththis was
overing： he overcame the love of ease。
（c） When Daniel refused to give up praying； though he knew the den of
lions was prepared for himthis was overing： he overcame the fear
of death。
（d） When Matthew rose from the receipt of custom at our Lord's bidding；
left all and followed Himthis was overing： he overcame the love of
money。
（e） When Peter and John stood up boldly before the council and said；
〃We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard〃this was
overing： they overcame the fear of man。
（f） When Saul the Pharisee gave up all his prospects of preferment
among the Jews； and preached that very Jesus whom he had once
persecutedthis was overing： he overcame the love of man's praise。
The same kind of thing which these men did you must also do if you
would be saved。 They were men of like passions with yourself； and yet
they overcame。 They had as many trials as you can possibly have； and
yet they overcame。 They fought。 They wrestled。 They struggled。 You must
do the same。
What was the secret of their victory？their faith。 They believed on
Jesus； and believing were made strong。 They believed on Jesus； and
believing were held up。 In all their battles； they kept their eyes on
Jesus； and He never left them nor forsook them。 〃They overcame by the
blood of the Lamb； and the word of their testimony；〃 and so may you。
（Rev。 xii。 11。）
I set these words before you。 I ask you to lay them to heart。 Resolve；
by the grace of God； to be an overing Christian。
I fear much for many professing Christians。 I see no sign of fighting
in them； much less of victory。 They never strike one stroke on the side
of Christ。 They are at peace with His enemies。 They have no quarrel
with sin。I warn you； this is not Christianity。 This is not the way to
heaven。
I often fear much for those who hear the Gospel regularly； i fear lest
you bee so familiar with the sound of its doctrines； that insensibly
you bee dead to its power。 I fear lest your religion should sink
down into a little vague talk about your own weakness and corruption；
and a few sentimental expressions about Christ； while real； practical
fighting on Christ's side is altogether neglected。 Oh！ beware of this
state of mind。 〃Be doers of the word； and not hearers only。〃 No
victoryno crown！ Fight and overe！ （James i。 22。）
Young men and women； and specially those who have been brought up in
religious families； I fear much for you。 I fear lest you get a habit of
giving way to every temptation。 I fear lest you bee afraid of
saying； 〃No！〃 to the world and the deviland； when sinners entice you；
think it least trouble to consent。 Beware； I do beseech you； of giving
way。 Every concession will make you weaker。 Go in