For indeed, to
depart from that is to draw my mind off from that which will follow
me with continual solicitations. Samson withstood his Delilah for a
while, but she got the mastery of him at the last. Why so? because
he wanted patience; he grew angry and was vexed, and could withstand
her solicitations no longer. Judges 16: 15-17. Many there be, also,
that can well enough be contented to shut sin out of doors for a
while; but because sin has much fair speech, therefore it overcomes
at last. Prov. 7:21. For sin and iniquity will not be easily said
nay. Wherefore, departing from iniquity is a work of length, as long
as life shall last. A work, did I say? It is a war, a continual
combat; wherefore, he that will adventure to set upon this work,
must needs be armed with faith and patience, a daily exercise he
will find himself put to by the continual attempts of iniquity to be
putting forth itself. Matt. 24: 13; Rev. 3:10.
THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR.
The war that the church makes with antichrist is rather defensive
than offensive. A Christian also, if he can but defend his soul in
the sincere profession of the true religion, doth what by duty, as
to this, he is bound. Wherefore, though the New Testament admits him
to put on the whole armor of God, yet the whole and every part
thereof is spiritual, and only defensive.
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