So Israel on the haughty necks And sung their Joshua's conquering sword, DODDRIDGE. Doctrinal Instruction. The Christian, of all men, needs courage and resolution. Indeed, there is nothing he doth as a Christian, or can do, but is an act of valour. A cowardly spirit is beneath the lowest duty of a Christian. "Be thou strong, and very courageous, that thou mayest "-what? stand in battle against those warlike nations ?—No, but "that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses, my servant, commanded thee."r It requires more prowess and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully, than to command an army of men; to be a Christian, than to be a captain. What seems less than for a Christian to pray? yet this cannot be performed aright, without a princely spirit; as Jacob is said to behave himself like a prince, when he did but pray; for which he came out of the field God's banneret. Indeed, if you call that prayer which a carnal person performs, nothing is more poor and dastard-like. Such a one is as great a stranger to this enterprise, as the craven soldier is to the exploits of a valiant chieftain. The Christian in prayer comes up close to God, with a humble boldness of faith, and takes hold of him, wrestles with him, yea, will not let him go without a I Josh. i. 7. blessing, and all this in the face of his own sins, and Divine justice, which let fly upon him from the fiery mouth of the law; while the other's boldness in prayer is but the child, either of ignorance in his mind, or hardness in his heart; whereby not feeling his sins, and not knowing his danger, he rushes upon duty with a blind confidence, which soon quells, when conscience awakes, and gives him the alarm that his sins are upon him, as the Philistines on Samson : alas, then in a fright the poor-spirited wretch throws down his weapon, flees the presence of God with guilty Adam, and dares not look him in the face. Indeed, there is no duty in a Christian's whole course of walking with God, or acting for God, but is lined with many difficulties, which shoot like enemies through the hedges at the Christian, whilst he is marching towards heaven: so that he is put to dispute every inch of ground as he goes. There are only a few noble-spirited souls, who dare take heaven by force, that are fit for this calling.—GURnall. Having found the comforts and supports of the Lord's favour in times past; let us not faint, but verily hope to see his goodness in the land of the living." Let us encourage others to wait for the Lord, and not to yield to fear in the midst of dangers and enemies; for his grace will be sufficient for their support and deliverance. And whatever we may meet with in this dying world, he will strengthen our hearts; and we shall see and enjoy his goodness, in the land of the living, in heaven, where sin and death never entered. Let us, then, I say, encourage each other to wait on the Lord, with patient expectation, and with fervent prayer. He, who is in Christ a new creature, may rejoice in all the precious promises which God hath spoken in his holiness, and by his Holy One; and may consider the whole ransomed inheritance as his own reversion : and the present privileges to which he is called, and the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Spirit which he experiences, are the sure earnests of heavenly glory. If Christ be ours, all things are ours; mercy, grace, peace, wisdom, righteousness, strength and victory, life and death, angels and men, earth and heaven are ours; and all things shall, in one way or other, be rendered subservient to our eternal good. We are not, however, as yet made complete conquerors; and no true believer will abuse these truths, to the allowed indulgence of sloth or vain confidence. We are still called to put on, and use our spiritual armour, and to prepare for fresh conflicts, perhaps more trying than any which we have yet experienced; trusting, however, in God to lead us forth and support us, and to give us strength in every time of trouble, we may do valiantly, and tread down all our enemies, and we shall ere long obtain the conqueror's crown. But vain is the help or salvation of man, or of creatures, even far more in things spiritual and eternal, than in our temporal concerns, so that those who trust and pray to saints and angels, and expect salvation from them, will be overcome by the enemy, and will finally perish. But our Mediator, through whom we come to the Father, and trust in him is "Emmanuel, God over all, blessed for evermore ; and believers, when strong in faith, can do all things through Christ that strengthens them. The church also, over which oppressors have so often exulted, as if the M Lord had cast her off, shall speedily triumph over them all; and while those who willingly submit to our anointed King, shall share his glories, all his foes shall be put under his feet. The good soldier of Christ must be ready, at his Captain's word, to venture into the most perilous situations, and to endure the most extreme hardships. He ought therefore to be self-denying and courageous; one who loves his Leader, and is very zealous in his cause; and who firmly believes that he can make up all losses to him, even the loss of his life, which no other prince or general can do for his soldiers. It is highly desirable that those who are engaged in this holy warfare, shall be exempted from the necessity of attending to secular business; but all who would please their Lord must avoid whatever is not absolutely necessary, and every thing which is entangling. While numbers wholly disregard these rules, some, who are active, and seem to strive for the mastery, are not careful to strive lawfully; for they either spend their zeal about outward forms, human inventions, and doubtful disputations; or they use unsanctified weapons, furnished by bigotry and resentment; or those which involve a measure of duplicity and dissimulation. We should also labour in patience and hope, assured that "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not," without vainly expecting to receive our reward, till we have given proof of our persevering diligence. Faith will enable a man to serve God and his generation, in whatever way he may be employed, whether in governing or reforming nations, or defending them, by crushing the power of iniquitous assailants; or in preaching the gospel, and boldly testifying against the crimes of the most mighty and implacable of its opposers; or by working righteousness, and obtaining promises in a more obscure station. It will influence a man to such prompt obedience, disinterested diligence, and warranted expectation, as will insure all needful success in his undertakings. It will also prepare him for facing any dangers; and though we do not now expect to stop the mouths of lions, or to "quench the violence of fire," yet we are authorized to look for proportionable supports and consolations, if called to end our pilgrimage by the hand of violence. But we are chiefly concerned in the spiritual warfare; and in this, by faith, we shall out of weakness be made strong, wax "valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens."-SCOTT, We are apt to be elated in the time of victory, and to arrogate to ourselves some portion of the glory. But God solemnly cautions us against this; and if, with Nebuchadnezzar, or Sennacherib, we take the glory to ourselves, the time is nigh at hand when God will fearfully abase us. We cannot do better than take the psalmist for our pattern; he was enabled to perform the most astonishing feats, and was honoured with the most signal victories; yet so careful is he to give the glory to God, that he repeats again and again the same grateful acknowledgments, confessing God to be the sole author of his success, and ascribing to him the honour due unto his name. Let it be remembered, that " our enemies still live and are mighty ;" and therefore we must not boast as if the time were come for us to put off our armour. We need the same power to keep down our enemies, as to bring them down at first; |