as the dew; as the small rain upon the grass, and as the showers that water the earth.' But no mere man ever shone with greater lustre than Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles; none ever surpassed him in disinterested zeal for his God, in solicitude for the best interests of men, in exertions to answer the great end of his creation; and perhaps the last sayings of none are more replete with dignity, with instruction, and consolation. These are contained in this chapter, which was obviously written in the prospect of a speedy dissolution. He charges Timothy his son and successor" before God, and the Lord Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, to preach the word, to be instant in season, and out of season" in discharging the duties of his awful trust; he forewarns him of the trials and discouragements which must be expected, that some will depart from the truth, "and after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears he then expresses his expectation of an immediate translation from this world to the next, and his resignation and joy in the prospect. "I am now ready to be offered; that same life which has been devoted to active service in promoting the kingdom of my Saviour and Lord; which has been exhausted in discharging the duties of that ministry which was received from him, I can now cheerfully surrender at his call; I could willingly pour forth as an offering to him, whose I am, and whose command I

desire to obey." There is no act of christian obedience more rational in itself, none more acceptable to Jehovah, than a readiness to make a delivery of our lives at what time, and in what circumstances he may please to require them." I have fought a good fight."

Although these words may immediately referto Paul as an officer in the christian church; although they may be designed to express his diligence in the work of the ministry, and that success with which his labors had been crowned, yet they are emphatically applicable to the spiritual life in general. There is a race which every believer must patiently run, if he would be a partaker of the prize: There is a warfare in which he must engage, in which he must constantly fight, if he would expect the crown of righteousness and glory in the latter end. As these words are applicable to the life of every believer, they must be considered as particularly seasonable for our meditation on a sacramental occasion. By approaching the table of our Lord, we make the most public profession of our attachment to his cause; we most formally, and openly enlist under his standard, and therefore it is naturally to be expected that our enemies will be most malignant in their opposition, that they will use every possible artifice to shake us from our confidence, to break the ranks of the soldiers of Jesus Christ, and spoil us of the honors of victory. As a means of animating you this day to reflect honor on the Captain of your salvation

by cheerfully obeying his call, and fighting his battles it is designed to enquire,

I. Why the christian's life in this world is pronounced a "warfare," or "fight?"

and,

II. Why it is pronounced so emphatically "a good fight?" I have fought a good fight. While we attempt to discuss this subject in the most plain, familiar manner may "the Lord of hosts be with us," enlivening and encouraging us in his service, may "the God of Jacob be our refuge," protecting us from the fiery darts of our adversaries!

1. A " fight or warfare" necessarily implies an enemy to be encountered, and in this respect the christian life is properly compared to a warfare. To enumerate all the adversaries, which will assail us either secretly or openly, on the right hand and on the left, is beyond the ability of man. Opposition the most artful, unwearied, and obstinate must be expected, from our first avowal of the Lord Jesus as our captain, until our warfare is accomplished in our translation from this world. "It is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom," and expect the crown of eternal life. Remaining corruptions constitute a principal part of our spiritual foes. These are mentioned first, because, being an enemy within the camp, they are the most dangerous to our peace; they can make their attack with the greatest ease, and, by throwing open the fortress of the heart, expose us to invasion

Q

and defeat from the adversary without. " I find a law in my members,' was the complaint of a faithful veteran in the camp of Jesus, of one who had maintained a long and painful conflict in the spiritual warfare, “ I find a law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and leading me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" The children of God will readily acknowledge that they suffer incomparably more evil from unmortified corruption; that they are more frequently foiled, and defeated by a "heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," than from all the other adversaries to which they are exposed. "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, so that we cannot do the things which we would." How of ten, by "the lust of the flesh," a fondness for carnal ease, are we kept from engaging with a becoming fervor in the duties of religion, or, by a desire of gratifying its dictates, are we seduced from the paths of righteousness, and tempted to shameful violations of the divine law! How often, by "the lust of the eye," by the false glare of this world, of its wealth or glory, are we charmed, and tempted to rejoice in it as our portion! we are kept from making those sacrifices for God, which his word enjoins, and the advancement of his cause requires. How of

ten do we indulge "the pride of life," ascribing to ourselves, to our own prudence or excellence, any thing by which we are raised above others, rather than ascribing it to the sovereignty and distinguishing goodness of Jehovah! With what importunity, therefore, are we exhorted" to abstain from these fleshly lusts which war against the soul;" which are hostile to its progress in sanctification now, and its triumph and joy in the latter end! With what explicitness does our Master proclaim, " if any man will come after me, let him deny himself;" let him first crucify "the flesh with its affections and lusts:" This is the most painful, and important conflict in the christian warfare. But we wrestle not merely with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world." Fallen angels, being the irreconcileable enemies of God, will exert all their malice against those who profess to be his followers. But their persecution of the christian is peculiarly vehement and unrelenting. Man, by first yielding to the temptations of Satan, by believing his suggestions rather than the divine declaration, went as it were into his camp, and threw himself on his protection: Therefore, when we abandon his standard, and return to our allegiance to the Eternal King,all his fury will be exhausted against us: Just as he who apostatizes from the cause of another, is held in greater abhorrence, and more unrelenting