September 10

Eighth Tuesday after Trinity

I know it: then Thou shewedst me their doings. Jeremiah 11:18.

WE must more earnestly serve our Lord. We must enter on a kind of contest of holy exertion; prepare our souls for strife with temptation, and understand that exactly in proportion to our greater heartiness in pursuing our salvation will be the vehemence of our enemies' assault. But stronger is He that is in us than he that is against us. We have force through Him in Whose power we confide; for it was to this end that our Lord allowed Himself to be tempted by the tempter, that, as we are guarded by His aid, we should be instructed by His example. For He conquered the adversary by authorities from the Law, not by the exertion of superior might, that by this means He might at once put a higher honour on man, and inflict a heavier punishment on the adversary, in that the foe of mankind was conquered not as it were by God, but by man. He therefore fought, then, that we too might fight afterwards; He conquered that we too might conquer likewise. For there are no works of virtue without the trials of temptation, no faith without probation, no conflict without a foe, no victory without an engagement. Our life lies in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles. If we do not mean to be deceived, we must keep watch; if we do mean to conquer, we must strive.

Strive, when thou art called of God, When He draws thee by His grace; Strive, to cast away the load That would clog thee in the race.

Fight, though it may cost thy life; Storm the kingdom, but prevail; Let not Satan's fiercest strife Make thee, warrior, faint or quail.