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THE MEANS OF SPIRITUAL VICTORY
THAT there will be a time when all the nations of the earth shall be converted unto God, is attested by every part of Holy Writ. But the seasons of great awakenings in the Church have always been seasons of violent opposition from the great adversary of God and man: and while there remain any ungodly persons to act as his instruments, he will not fail to make use of them, in obstructing to the uttermost the progress of true religion. It is matter of consolation however, that the more strenuous his exertions are, the more will God himself put forth his power to maintain and advance his work: and we are well assured, that, “when he worketh none shall hinder.” That the passage before us refers to the Millennial period is certain; because St. Paul cites it in that very view [Note: Compare ver. 20. with Rom_11:26.]. The words of the text indeed are somewhat differently translated by some, who apply the whole of it to God exerting himself “like a river straitened in its course, which a strong wind driveth along [Note: Bishop Lowth.].” But in our translation there is a very important idea suggested, from which there is no need to depart. It leads us to consider,
I. In what way the great adversary of souls assaults the Church—
Never for one moment does Satan relax his vigilance, or feel any intermission of his enmity against the people of God. But there are particular seasons when his efforts are more violent, and when he may be said to “come in a like a flood.” In the manner of his assaults indeed he is continually changing; but his object is invariably the same. He seeks to overwhelm the Church,
1. By errors—
[In this way he has often prevailed to an astonishing extent. Even in the apostolic age he had many active emissaries, whom he sent forth to disseminate error, and by whom he “subverted whole houses [Note: Tit_1:11.].” It is scarcely credible to what a degree he “blinded the minds” of men in later ages, by the superstitions of Popery; and with what rapidity he established the heresies of Pelagius, Arius, and Socinus. But we need not go back to former times: for we have witnessed in our own days the spread of infidelity like a deluge: we have seen a whole country, under the idea of superior illumination, setting up a false philosophy in the place of true religion, and establishing the worship of Reason on the ruins of Christianity.
If we of this nation have been preserved in a measure from the general contagion, still the errors that obtain amongst us are as general and fatal as any that were ever propagated in the world. The fundamentals of Christianity are kept out of sight: the doctrines of original sin, of salvation by faith, and of the operations of the Holy Spirit, are either wholly exploded, or received only in such a way as to reduce them to barren sentiments, devoid of efficacy on the soul — — — Nor are the professors of godliness freed from the baneful influence of error. There are not wanting some who turn the grace of God into licentiousness, and boast that they are freed from the law, not as a covenant only, but as a rule of life. This is but too pleasing to corrupt nature: no wonder therefore that such teachers draw away disciples after them, and that they cause many to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.]
2. By iniquity—
[At all times there will be found much impiety and profaneness in the world. But when a governor, or a professor of religion, lends himself to the propagation of wickedness, it will, like an impetuous torrent, bear down all before it, and inundate the land. Jeroboam no sooner enjoined the dereliction of God and his worship, and set up calves in Dan and Bethel, than all the ten tribes “willingly ran after his commandment [Note: Hos_5:11.]:” and Peter no sooner sanctioned a cowardly shunning of the cross, than all the Church, not excepting Barnabas himself, were drawn away by his dissimulation [Note: Gal_2:12-13.]. Indeed this is the natural effect of sin: wherever “iniquity abounds, the love of many will wax cold.” The difficulty of maintaining one’s steadfastness must of necessity be much increased by a general prevalence of sin. How hard must Noah have found it to preserve himself unspotted in the midst of the antediluvian world; and Lot in Sodom; and Micaiah or Elijah in Israel [Note: 1Ki_19:10; 1Ki_22:6; 1Ki_22:13.]! We are, alas! far more ready to follow a multitude in doing evil, than to put them to shame by a holy conversation; more ready to “put our light under a bushel,” than to expose it to the blasts which threaten to extinguish it. Well has our Lord said, “Woe unto the world because of offences.”]
3. By persecution—
[This was the engine which Satan used from the beginning: he instigated the first-born of man to murder his own brother, for no other crime than his superior sanctity [Note: 1Jn_3:12.]. What effects were made in succeeding ages by Pharaoh to destroy the people of the Lord, is well known. The Prophets, the Apostles, and our Lord himself, were almost without exception persecuted unto death. The Christian Church, from the first moment of its establishment to this present hour, has experienced the truth of that assertion, that “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution [Note: See ver. 15. middle clause.].” And how many have been cast down by it! How many “bright stars have been swept away by the dragon’s tail [Note: Rev_12:4.]!” St. Paul, when arraigned before Nero as a criminal, was left alone: all his followers forsook him; and he was left without any other countenance or support than what he received from the Lord himself [Note: 2Ti_4:16-17.]. Thus in every age, “those who have not had root in themselves, have endured but for a while, and in the time of persecution have fallen away [Note: Mat_13:21.].”]
4. Temptation—
[Many who have withstood all other assaults, have fallen at last through the fiery darts of temptation. If we find here and there a Joseph or a Daniel who is enabled to defeat his enemy, we see multitudes who, like David or Peter, are as beacons to us, and as monuments of human weakness. By the means that have been before mentioned, Satan assaults the Church at large; by temptations he attacks the individuals in particular. And who has passed this ordeal unhurt? who has combated without a wound? Happy for us, if we have not been utterly cast down, and left to rise no more!]
But that we may not be discouraged, let us consider,
II. In what way the Spirit of God withstands him—
“Our help is indeed laid upon One that is mighty.” The Lord of Hosts himself stands forth for our help: he erects his standard; and calls us to fight under it. He effectually defeats the attempts of our great adversary,
1. By the preaching of his Gospel—
[With this apparently weak and inefficient weapon does he go forth to smite down his enemies, and subdue them to the obedience of faith. It is justly called “the rod of his strength.” See what God wrought in one single hour by this sword in the hand of a poor fisherman: he reached the inmost souls of three thousand rebels, and rescued them out of the hands of their inveterate foe. Wherever the doctrine of the cross was exhibited, it proved “mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong holds” of sin and Satan: and at this moment, though delivered in much weakness, it is “the power of God to the salvation of many souls” — — —]
2. By the dealings of his providence—
[The dispensations of Providence, whether pleasing or afflictive, are all ordered for this end. His “goodness is intended to lead us to repentance;” and the day of adversity to bring us to consideration. Astonishing were his interpositions in Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, for the purpose of preserving his Church and people. And if we were more observant of the various occurrences of life, we should often see that his hand hath wrought gloriously on our behalf. As David, when almost surrounded by Saul’s army, was rescued by the diversion caused by the invading army of the Philistines [Note: 1Sa_23:26-28.], so have we experienced, on many occasions, God’s seasonable interposition for “the deliverance of our souls [Note: See Zec_1:18-21 and Rev_12:15-16.].” “Whoso is wise, will observe these things; and he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord [Note: Psa_107:43.].”]
3. By the influence of his grace—
[All other means, if unaccompanied with a divine agency on the soul, are of no effect: the richest mercies or the heaviest judgments serve only to harden the heart, and sear the conscience. The Gospel itself is rather “a savour of death unto death, than of life unto life,” if it “come not to us in power and in the Holy Ghost.” But the most trivial event shall impress the mind, and the most cursory observation pierce like a barbed arrow, when directed by God “through the joints of the harness:” it is then “sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierces to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit, the joints and marrow” — — —]
This subject naturally suggests to us the improvement suited to it. Hear then a word,
1. Of warning—
[We may not have experienced, or strongly noticed, the assaults of Satan: but let us not therefore imagine that he is regardless of us: he is only watching his opportunity to strike with more effect. When he was defeated by our Lord, he retired; but it was only “for a season.” In the garden of Gethsemane he redoubled his malignant efforts: and sooner or later he will make his assaults on us, however eminent we may be, or however careful to give him no advantage against us. Let us then “watch and be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation.” Let us “resist the devil; and he shall flee from us.”]
2. Of direction—
[In the warfare which you are called to maintain with this great adversary, think not to resist him in your own strength. Your strength is perfect weakness. Unsupported by your God, you will be crushed before the moth. You have not in yourselves a sufficiency for the smallest thing; much less to vanquish this “roaring lion.” Lean not then either to your own understanding, or to an arm of flesh: but let your trust be in God, who made heaven and earth.]
3. Of encouragement—
[However numerous or potent your enemies may be, there are more for you, than against you [Note: See Psa_93:3-4.]: “God has given you a banner [Note: Psa_60:4.];” yea, he himself is Your banner [Note: Exo_17:15.]. Under him you shall conquer; yea, you shall be “more than conquerors through Him that loved you.” Your extremity shall be the very season of his effectual interposition: “In the mount the Lord shall be seen.” “Fear not then; for though thou art only a worm, thou shalt thresh the mountains.” Even now may you triumph, in full assurance of victory. You may challenge all your enemies, and, like David, already pronounce Goliath’s doom [Note: See Psa_118:6-12.]. “Be strong then in the Lord, and in the power of his might,” and you shall soon put your feet upon the necks of your vanquished enemies.]