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railroads, steam-packets, or the various modes of conveyance &c., are all of them ensnaring to the soul, and instituted by the "God of this world" to that end. It is naturally conclusive that all who follow up these dissipating, soul-destroying practices, are the subjects of the God of this world.

As only two families divide the world, it is easy to reduce all mankind to their own father; and we judge of men and women by their habits, their practices, and their associates : "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil."

It must be remarked, that his children, or subjects, are his voluntarily; in whatever sins or pleasures they engage, they follow them without compulsion; if they form part of what is called "the fashionable world,” they consent to the customs of that circle; "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."

Reflect upon the doom of the "God of this world;" "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

What will be the doom of his subjects? Many of them, it is admitted, are very amiable, and full of kindness and benevolence; but these pleasing traits of character will not save them; there is but one way of salvation, and it is accessible to all who, seeking spiritual instruction, will read the New Testament with prayer. Reading it without prayer would not be the most likely way to gain the desired knowledge; nor indeed can it be understood by any man, however acute and penetrating he may be, while he reads it only with his natural eyes. Thousands that have

tried it are now bewailing their carnal attempts. It is, as Mr. Newton says, like a man endeavouring to light a candle which has on an extinguisher; for "the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." A great point is gained when an individual is willing to believe that he cannot read to profit without the Spirit's enlightening influences; then, and not earlier, will he seek spiritual teaching; then he will begin to pray over the word; and then, the word being understood, it will be drank in with avidity, for it will be sweeter than honey to the taste.

The word of God is like a looking-glass, it reflects the likeness of the soul; it shews its deformities while in a state of sin; and when the soul has regained the image of Christ, by the operation of the Holy Spirit changing the heart, and renewing the divine likeness, the word of God and the Spirit's testimony convince the conscience of the happy change; then it is that every page is calculated to wet the eye with tears of joy.

But those of Satan's subjects who determine to continue a life of sin, pleasure, or frivolity, must hear that “God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap; he who soweth to his flesh, shall of his flesh reap corruption; but he who soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

THINK OF THE TREMENDOUS LOSS OF AN IMMORTAL SOUL WHEN ABANDONED BY GOD!

THE CHRISTIAN CONFLICT.

EVERY kingdom in this world has its soldiers enlisted to fight its battles; Christ's kingdom, in this respect, does not differ as to the establishment of bands of men for warfare; but it does essentially differ respecting the nature of the warfare his soldiers wage, and the enemies they have to encounter; the enemies being spiritual, the warfare must necessarily be spiritual too, and is, in course, conducted on different principles, and with different ends in view; " for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."

Christ's kingdom differs, too, from the kingdoms of this world with respect to the proportion of his subjects who are soldiers. In some countries, one out of every thirty inhabitants are drafted for the war; in others, one in every fifty; but in Christ's kingdom his subjects are all of them soldiers, without a single exception; they are not all of them veterans, some being less practised than others in this spiritual warfare; they are all of them combatants, conflicters, fighters. There are many soldiers enlisted in earthly armies who never see the enemy, who never fight the battles of their country; they receive the pay, but are "feather

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bed" soldiers, only marching on parade; but Christ's soldiers are none of them "fireside" soldiers; they must, from the nature of the warfare and the appointments of their enemies, all come into actual conflict. They are all of them true to their Captain and his cause; they all suffer the pains and penalties of warfare; but then they do not fight uncertainly as to the result of the conflict: "So fight I, not as one who beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." And then they have honours and rewards for their stimulus and encouragement, which far surpass the glory of military crowns: "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

The first enemy I shall notice, with which the believer in Christ Jesus has to commence hostilities, is the flesh; by which I understand, not only sensual indulgences, but also the corrupt inclinations that are produced by the mind being alienated from God, and from the rational powers being at enmity with him. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath," &c. The hearts of men are very corrupt, and naturally inclined to every kind of vice that is opposed to purity; and when opportunities do not offer for indulging the flesh in its carnal desires, the mind betrays its propensities by a wanton carriage, by gestures, and unseemly behaviour. The pride of men's hearts leads to emulation, strife, wrath, hatred, and rancour, often arising in very little things, but frequently terminating in bloody revenge; and these results are as natural to the natural man as it is for the sun's rays to occasion heat.

Our unregenerate nature is so continually inclined

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towards these corrupt courses, that, after the Holy Spirit has taken up his divine abode in our hearts, and we possess undoubted evidence of the fact, yet we still experience that the old carnal inclinations are often up and active; and though we mourn over the existing evil, though our reason, our better mind, moves us to resist, and though the Holy Spirit within us raises a standard for our defence, yet our lamentation is, "We cannot do the things that we would, for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit ;" and this is an outline of the conflict that believers maintain with the flesh. The depravity of our nature is ever rife; not only the grosser inclinations, but our corrupt wills also, occasion the necessity of perpetual war; the former, most Christians are able, with Divine help, to subdue and bring into captivity; but the latter, in ten thousand instances, makes the believer" groan, being burdened;" nor can I comprehend what the Wesleyan Methodists mean when they talk about "attaining to, in this life, and living for many years in, a state of sinless perfection;" but I fear they practise a deception upon their judgments, or otherwise are puffed up by their fleshly minds."

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Different temperaments of constitution predispose to different sins, and the enemy of souls knows how to work in with all; he can suit snares for each of us; we are not all addicted to the same kind of transgression, but one has a natural propensity to lust, another to lucre; one to strife, another to vainglory, &c.

Having enlisted under Christ's banner, being made aware of the contention that must ensue if we are faithful; and exposed to the dangers and difficulties of perpetual warfare, even to the end of our Christian course, we are called upon to "endure hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ."

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