04 The Christian Soldier (choice excerpts) cont'd
The Christian Soldier (choice excerpts) cont’d A pleasant, easy way to Heaven
Someone asked Him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to!" Luke 13:23-24
Though Heaven is given us freely—yet we must take pains for it. Canaan was given Israel freely—but they had to fight with the Canaanites. It is not a lazy wish, or a sleepy prayer—which will bring us to Heaven.
We have a long race from earth to Heaven—but a little time to run; it will soon be sunset. In a race there’s not only a laying aside of all weights which hinder—but a putting forth of all the strength of the body; a straining every joint that men may press on with all swiftness to lay hold on the prize.
Many have made themselves unfit to run this blessed race; they are drunk with the pleasures of the world. A drunken man is unfit to run a race.
Others neglect to run this race all their life; and when sickness and death approach—now they will begin! A sick man is very unfit to walk, much less to run a race! I acknowledge that true repentance is never too late; but when a man can hardly move his hand, or lift up his eyes—that is a very unfit time to begin the race from earth to Heaven.
The Lord has in his eternal decree joined the end and the means together—striving and entering; the race and the crown. And a man can no more think to come to Heaven without striving, than he can think to come to the end of his journey, who never sets a step in the way! Who expects a harvest without plowing and sowing? How can we expect the harvest of glory without labor?
Though our salvation with respect to Christ is a purchase—yet with respect to us, it is a conquest.
We have a precious soul to save! What pains do we take for the feeding and enriching of the body, the brutish part? O then what pains should we use for the saving of the soul? The body is but a ring of clay; the soul is the diamond. If Christ thought the soul was worth the shedding of His blood, well may we think it worth spending our sweat.
We have a heavenly kingdom to gain! What pains are used for earthly crowns and empires; men will wade to the crown through blood! Heaven is a kingdom which should make us strive for it—even to blood. The hopes of a kingdom (says Basil) should carry a Christian cheerfully through all labors and sufferings.
Some imagine that there is a pleasant, easy way to Heaven—an idle wish, a deathbed tear. But it is not so easy a thing as men imagine. There are . . .so many precepts to obey; so many promises to believe; so many rocks to avoid, so many sins to mortify; so many temptations to resist; so many graces to quicken— that it is a difficult matter to be saved.
Alas, there is a great work to be done; the bias of the heart must be changed. Man by nature does not only lack grace—but hates it! He has an envenomed spirit against God, and is angry with converting grace! Is it easy for the proud heart to be made humble? Is it easy for the earthly heart to be made heavenly? Can this be done without effort? It is all up hill to Heaven, and it will make us sweat before we get to the top of the hill.
Is salvation-work so easy? Can a man be saved by a faint wish? Can he leap out of the Devil’s arms—into Abraham’s bosom? Oh no! there must be striving.
A Christian must charge through the whole army of his lusts, every one of which is stronger than Goliath! He has no time to drowse; he must be either praying or watching.
Some think free grace will save them; but it must be in the use of means. "Watch and pray." Others say, the promises will bring them to Heaven; but the promises of the Word are not to be separated from the precepts. The promise tells us of a crown—but the precept says, "Run in such a way as to get the prize!" 1 Corinthians 9:24. The promises are made to encourage faith, not to nourish sloth. But others say, Christ has died for sinners; and so they leave Him to do all for them and they will do nothing.
Our salvation cost Christ blood; it will cost us sweat. The boat may as well get to shore without rowing, as we can get to Heaven without effort.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Not whom he may bite—but devour!
We read in Scripture of Satan’s snares and darts; he hurts more by his snares than by his darts!
Satan opposes us both by open violence, and secret treachery.
1. Satan opposes by open violence—so he is called the Red Dragon. He labors to storm the castle of the heart; he stirs up passion, lust, and revenge. These are called "fiery darts," Ephesians 6:16, because they often set the soul on fire. Satan in regard to his fierceness, is called a lion, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8. Not whom he may bite—but devour! Yes, there is "a lion in the way," but we must resolve upon fighting.
2. Satan opposes by secret treachery—so he is called the Old Serpent. What he cannot do by force,
he will endeavor to do by fraud. Satan has several subtle devices in tempting:
Satan suits his temptations to the temper of the individual. Satan studies our dispositions, and lays suitable baits. He knew Achan’s s covetous heart, and tempted him with a wedge of gold. He tempts the youthful man with lust.
Satan tempts to sin gradually. He steals into the heart by degrees. He is at first, more modest.
He did not say to Eve at first, "Eat the apple!" No! but he goes more subtly to work. He puts forth a
question, "Has God said? Surely Eve, you are mistaken; the bountiful God never intended to debar one of the best trees of the garden. Has God said? Surely, either God did not say it; or if He did, He never really intended it." Thus by degrees he wrought her to distrust God, and then she took of the fruit and ate. Oh, take heed of Satan’s first motions to sin, which seem more modest. He is first a fox, and then a lion.
Satan tempts to evil in lawful things. It was lawful for Noah to eat the fruit of the grape; but he took too much, and so sinned. Excess turns that which is good—into evil. Eating and drinking may turn to intemperance. Industry in one’s calling, when excessive, becomes covetousness. Satan draws men to an immoderate love of the creature, and then makes them sin in that which they love—as Agrippina poisoned her husband Claudius, in that food which he loved most.
Satan puts men upon doing good out of evil ends. If he cannot hurt them by scandalous actions—he will by virtuous actions. Thus he tempts some to espouse religion out of ulterior motives. He tempts others to give to charity, for applause, that others may see their good works.
"Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one!" Ephesians 6:16. We must resist the devil by faith. Faith is a wise, intelligent grace. Faith can see a hook under the bait! Faith keeps the castle of the heart, so that it does not yield. Faith beats back the temptation. Faith holds the promise in one hand, and Christ in the other. The promise encourages faith, and Christ strengthens it; so faith beats the enemy out of the field!
We overcome Satan upon our knees! A Christian by prayer fetches in auxiliary forces from Heaven. In all temptations, go to God by prayer. "Lord, teach me to use every piece of the
spiritual armor—how to hold the shield, how to wear the helmet, how to use the sword of the Spirit. Lord, strengthen me in the battle; let me rather die a conqueror—than be taken prisoner, and led captive by Satan!"
Remember that Christ has given Satan his death-wound upon the cross. He has bruised the head of the old Serpent! He is a chained enemy, and a conquered enemy; therefore do not fear him. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!" James 4:7. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under
your feet!" Romans 16:20
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Suck out the sweetness of a truth
Meditation is a holy exercise of the mind; whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves. It is a work which cannot be done in a crowd. A Christian must retire from the world, to have serious thinking upon God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone; but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.
As the bee sucks the honey from the flower, so by meditation we suck out the sweetness of a truth. It is not the receiving of food into the mouth, but the digesting of it which makes it nutritious. So it is not the receiving of the most excellent truths in the ear, which nourishes our souls—but the digesting of them by meditation.
Satan does what he can to hinder this duty. He is an enemy of meditation. The devil does not care not how much we read—so long as we do not meditate on what we read. Reading begets knowledge—but meditation begets devotion.
"Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long." Psalms 119:97
Holy meditation quickens the affections. The reason why our affections are so cold to heavenly things is because we do not warm them at the fire of holy meditation. As the musing on worldly objects makes the fire of lust burn; the musing on injuries makes the fire of revenge burn; just so, meditating on the transcendent beauties of Christ, would make our love to Christ flame forth.
Meditation has a transforming power in it. The reading of the Word may affect us—but the meditating upon it transforms us. Meditation stamps the impression of divine truths upon our hearts. By meditating on God’s holiness, we grow holy. While by meditation we look upon God’s purity, we are changed into His likeness.
Meditation produces reformation. "I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to Your statutes." Psalms 119:59. If men would spend but one quarter of an hour every day in contemplating heavenly objects, it would leave a mighty impression upon them!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The looking-glass of self-love
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9.
The heart is the greatest impostor.
Little does a man know what secret atheism, pride, and lust is in his heart.
As ignorance blinds, so self-love flatters.
Every man is ready to think the best of himself.
What Solomon says of love to our neighbor is most true of self-love; "it hides a multitude of sins." When a man looks upon himself in the looking-glass of self-love—his virtues appear greater than they are, and his sins less. Self-love makes one rather excuse what is amiss, than correct it.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is
any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalms 139:23-24
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He came hewing and cutting down men’s sins!
"Repent! for the kingdom of heaven is near!" Matthew 3:2
Hence learn, what kind of ministry is likely to do most good, namely, that which works upon the consciences of men. John the Baptist lifted up his voice like a trumpet, he preached the doctrine of repentance with power! He came hewing and cutting down men’s sins, and afterwards preached Christ to them. First, he poured in the vinegar of the law, then the wine of the gospel. This was that preaching which made men studiously seek after heaven. John did not so much preach to please—as to profit; he chose rather to reveal men’s sins—than to show his own eloquence. The best mirror is not that which is most ornate, but that which shows the truest face. That preaching is to be preferred which makes the truest discovery of men’s sins, and shows them their hearts!
It is the greatest mercy, to have a soul-searching ministry. If one had a desperate wound, he would desire to have it probed to the bottom. Who would not be content to have their souls searched, so they may have them saved?
John the Baptist was a burning and shining light; he did burn in his doctrine and shine in his life; and therefore men pressed into heaven. John 5:35
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Error damns as well as vice
Error is the adultery of the mind; it stains the soul. Error damns as well as vice. A man may as well die by poison—as by pistol.
Truth distinguishes a Christian from the world, as chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from a harlot. We have not a richer jewel to trust God with than our souls; nor He a richer jewel to trust us with than His truths.
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God’s severity against sin
Meditate on God’s severity against sin.
Every arrow in God’s quiver is shot against sin.
Sin burned Sodom, and drowned the old world.
Sin kindles hell.
The meditation of this would frighten us out of our sins. There cannot be so much sweetness in
sin—as there is sting. How dreadful is God’s anger! "Who knows the power of His wrath?" All fire,
compared with the fire of God’s wrath—is but painted and imaginary fire.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Our words show what our heart is
"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45
Our discourse demonstrates what our heart is. As the looking-glass shows what the face is—whether it be fair or foul; just so, our words show what our heart is. Vain discourse reveals a light, feathery heart. Gracious discourse reveals a gracious heart. The water of the conduit shows what the spring is.
Holy discourse is very edifying. It enlightens the mind when it is ignorant—and settles it when it is wavering. A godly life adorns religion; godly discourse propagates it.
Gracious discourse makes us resemble Christ. His words were perfumed with holiness: "grace was poured into His lips." Levi made Him a feast—and Christ feasted him with holy discourse. The more holy our discourse is, the more we are like Christ.
God takes special notice of every good word we speak when we meet. "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name." Malachi 3:16.
When men entertain bad discourse, Satan draws near, and makes one of the company; but when they have holy and gracious discourse, Jesus Christ draws near, and wherever He comes, He brings a blessing along with Him.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6
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Go in a feather-bed to Hell
Slothful professors are settled on their lees. They make a lazy profession of piety—but use no diligence. They are like the lilies, which neither toil, nor do they spin. They have some faint wishes, "Oh that I had Heaven!" But a man may desire venison, and lack it—if he does not hunt for it. "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." Proverbs 13:4
Men would be content to have the kingdom of Heaven; but they are loath to fight for it. They choose rather to go in a feather-bed to Hell, than to be carried to Heaven in a "fiery chariot" of zeal and diligence. How many sleep away, and play away, their time—as if they were made merely to rest, or amuse themselves!
Such as have accustomed themselves to an idle, lazy disposition, will find it hard to shake off, "I have taken off my robe—must I put it on again?" Song of Solomon 5:3. The spouse had laid herself upon the bed of sloth, and though Christ knocked at the door, she was reluctant to rise and let Him in.
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Enslaved
"Enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures." Titus 3:3
Lust is an inordinate desire or impulse, provoking the soul to the gratifying of its carnal desires. Aristotle calls them ’brutish lusts’ because when lusts are violent, they will not let reason or conscience be heard; but a man is carried brutishly to the satisfying of the flesh.
Men are enslaved by their drunken lusts. Though death is in the cup, they will drink it up. One having almost lost his eye-sight, the physician told him there was no cure for him, unless he would leave off his excessive drinking. "Then," replied he, "farewell sweet light!"
Men are enslaved by their impure lusts. Men are said to "burn in lusts," Romans 1:27. The apostle intimates that lust is a kind of fever. Feverish heats are not more deadly to the body, than lust is to the soul. O what folly is it—for a drop of pleasure to drink a sea of wrath!
Men are enslaved by their covetous lusts. Covetousness is the soul’s idolatry. Their God is made of gold, and to it they bow down. Those who bowed down on their knees to drink of the waters, were accounted unfit soldiers for Gideon. So are those unfit for Christ, who stoop immoderately to the
care of earthly things. Those who are enslaved by the world, what have they but the wind? "What does he gain, since he toils for the wind?" Ecclesiastes 5:16. The world cannot enrich the soul, it cannot remove pain. If pangs of conscience come, the world can no more give comfort, than a crown of gold can cure a head-ache.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The dregs of old age!
Someone asked Him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." Luke 13:23-24
Many put off seeking for heaven, until old age. When they are fit for no other work, then they will begin this taking heaven by storm.
No man says, "I will learn my trade when I am old."
It is imprudence for one to begin to work for Heaven, when he is past his time for labor. There is a night of sickness and death coming, and our Savior says, "The night comes, when no man can work." Surely a man can put forth but little effort for Heaven when old age, and old sins are upon him. Besides, how unworthy and insincere it is—to give the Devil the flower of youth; and God the dregs of old age! There is little hope of their salvation—who are never seek for Heaven, until they are on the borders of eternity.
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Many seek heaven hypocritically
Many seek heaven hypocritically. They would have Heaven and their lusts too. But let not such seekers ever think to find happiness; let them not think they can lie in Delilah’s lap—and go to Abraham’s bosom when they die.
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What makes men so loathe to die?
Because their conscience accuses them that they are not fit for heaven—so now death looks
ghastly! They are afraid death will carry them as prisoners to hell!
At the hour of death, sinners will awaken out of their lethargy—and fall into a frenzy of horror
and despair!
But the Christian who has been active in piety, and has spent his time in the service of God, can look death in the face with comfort. Death shall do him no hurt; it shall not be a destruction, but a deliverance! It shall purge out sin and perfect glory!
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He who digs in a gold mine sweats
"Christ’s love compels us!" 2 Corinthians 5:14
Love to Christ made Paul labor more than all the other apostles. A man will only strive for that which he loves. Why are men so eager in their pursuit after gold—but because they love it? Love causes delight, and delight causes diligence. Love is like oil to the wheels. Get love for Christ and piety—and you will never be weary; you will count those the best hours which are spent with God.
When a man has warmed himself by this fire, he is fittest for holy work.
He who digs in a gold mine sweats—yet love for the gold makes his labor delightful.
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It cost more to redeem us, than to make us
Great was the work of creation; but greater the work of redemption. It cost more to redeem us, than to make us. In the one, there was only the speaking a Word, Psalms 148:5 in the other, the shedding of blood, Hebrews 9:22. The creation was the work of God’s fingers, Psalms 8:3; the redemption was the work of his arm, Luke 1:5. In creation God gave us ourselves; in redemption He gives us Himself!