from a remarkable text in Matthew, (viii, 31,) that the devils have no power to hurt even brute creatures without special leave from God; for they could not enter into the herd of swine till Jesus Christ had given them the permission. This restraint is so strict that Satan cannot ruin us by force, but only by artifice. He operates, as St. Paul phrases it, by "wiles" and "devices." In order to destroy, he must first tempt; and his success depends on our concurrence. While we cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart the tempter cannot harm us.

But in order to have the benefit of what God has thus done for us, we must remember that his plan for defeating the adversary includes,

2. Means to be used on our part. The grace provided for us by Christ we ourselves must apply for, and use, and exercise. The armor intrusted to us by God we must put on and wield. Herein also we must be workers together with God. While he "worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure," we must "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." More particularly, to prevent the success of the great enemy's plans, there must be on our part,

(1.) A serious conviction of the value of our souls and of the danger to which they are exposed from infernal malice. We must be awakened out of our natural sleep, and roused out of our habitual supineness.

(2.) A humbling sense of our inability to preserve ourselves, and of our need of supernatural aid. A confidence in ourselves is as dangerous as an ignorance of the enemy's devices. As well not resist at all as resist in a way which can issue only in our discomfiture and shame.

(3.) A contrite confession of our past guilt, especially in having foolishly sinned against our own souls by concurring with Satan's desire, and having yielded ourselves to his

service.

(4.) A cordial and grateful belief of the willingness and ability of God to save us from the adversary's power, and of the suitableness and efficacy of the means he has adopted for that end.

(5.) A hearty, unfeigned, and unreserved surrender of our souls to the care of Christ Jesus; a fleeing for refuge to the hope set before us.

(6.) Subsequent diligence in the use of all such means of safety as our great Captain shall direct: for example, earnest and unceasing prayer; watchfulness against allurements to sin, against the appearance of evil, and against the first risings of evil desire; watchfulness over every passion, appetite, sense; over our words, thoughts, and actions. We should really be, in a spiritual sense, what the heathen fabulists say of Argus, possessed of a hundred eyes. It is highly concerning, also, that we cultivate union with our fellow-soldiers. Devils wander not at large single and solitary, but make their attacks in unison and concert with each other. Our defense should be conducted on the same plan. Christian fellowship and mutual love will aid us, beyond expression, in the dread conflict.

And most important is the exercise of trust in our almighty Helper. "I have prayed for thee," says Christ to the disciple who was about to be severely sifted, "that thy faith fail not." "Be sober, be vigilant," writes that same disciple in maturity of years and of grace; "because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith." (1 Peter v, 8, 9.) In fine, brethren, you must study and practice Paul's advice to the Christians at Ephesus: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace: above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which

and sup

is the word of God: praying always with all prayer plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians vi, 10–18.)

From what has been said, may we not learn to judge, with some degree of precision, of the state of our souls and of our prospects for eternity? Satan desires to have you, and is using every effort for that purpose. And there is but one effectual plan of resisting and defeating him. The important question therefore is, Are you availing yourselves of that plan? Have you acceded to its terms? If you do not accede, Satan is as sure to have you forever as if he had you already.

If you are in Christ, marvel not at temptation. Expect it. Prepare for it. Count it not strange.. But be serious and earnest. To persons in your circumstances trifling is death— it is damnation. You do not need to take any pains to go to hell. Only take little or no pains to escape it and it is sure to be your doom. Resist, then, with all your might the tendency of your nature to sloth and indolence. It might, perhaps, be truly said, that, after all, the worst enemy is our own heart. We are so prone to trifling that it requires continual grace from God to preserve us from this guilty infatuation. O pray to be made and kept broad awake. It will be an awful thing to awake, from the pleasing dream of mirth and folly, from the slumbers of indifference and unconcern, in hell! Merciful God, quicken thou us according to thy word!

While, however, you guard against trifling, guard against despondency. Think seriously, but do not despair. Consider your danger, that you may be kept from presumption; but consider that the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath you are his everlasting arms. Remember that no temptation hath befallen you but such as is common to men; and your Lord is faithful, who hath promised, and will with the temptation make a way for your escape, that you shall be able to bear it. Satan is mighty, but not almighty. The bit and the bridle of Jehovah are in his jaws. God hath said to him, "Hitherto thou shalt come, but no farther." Rejoice, then, though it be with trembling. More are they that be with us

than they that be against us. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel." Satan, if permitted by God to do his worst, could only make martyrs of you by taking away your earthly life: he cannot make you sinners without your own consent. You never need yield to him. You may be even "more than con

querors."

Rejoice in hope of that better world where temptation shall have no place. Yet a little while, and you shall give all your enemies the slip forever. The wicked one shall cease from troubling, and the weary will be at rest. It is yet but a little while, and the heaven and the earth shall flee away. In that consummation of all things the dominion of impiety shall be finally crushed. That old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, being cast forever into the bottomless pit, shall deceive the nations no more; and there shall be heard voices in heaven, saying, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Revelation xii, 10.) God of my fathers, may I, may all that hear me, bear some humble part in that heavenly chorus for the Messiah's sake! Amen!

1

XXII.

THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND OF THE

SADDUCEES.

PART I.

TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND OF THE SADDUCEES.-Matthew xvi, 6.

Ir was truly said of Christ, "Never man spake like this man." This remark is applicable not only to the matter, but also to the manner of his teaching. Not only were his doctrines possessed of an intrinsic dignity and excellence peculiarly characteristic of truth, and far surpassing all human wisdom; but even the mode in which he introduced and taught these doctrines was in the highest degree striking and forcible, and bespoke the divine skill of the Teacher. It was his custom to seize on every passing event, on every occurrence of common life, and to render it, however seemingly trivial, subservient to the purposes of Christian instruction. Of this happy facility in the religious improvement of minute circumstances we have an instance in the passage before us. It appears that in one of his journeys he had occasion to cross the sea of Galilee. In these little excursions it was needful that travelers should carry with them a temporary supply of provisions. Through forgetfulness, his disciples, to whom he intrusted the management of such matters, had omitted to do this. When they "were come to the other side," it was found that "they had forgotten to take bread." Instead of angrily chiding their neglect, or expressing in harsh terms his displeasure at the inconvenience to which it might subject the whole company, he seized the opportunity of speaking to them on a subject of