Every Christian is commanded to enter the List, and to fight against these Principalities and Powers.1
2. The World; this is another grand, potent, and subtle Adversary; many have been overcome and subdued by it.
(1.) The Things of the World, viz. the Pleasures, Honours, and Profits of the World. These (as one well observes) have their Hooks and Snares hid under their pleasant Baits, they usually prevail by Craft; their Flatteries and Allurements are very dangerous. By this part of the World Satan set upon our blessed Saviour, Mat. 4.8.
(2.) The Men of the World, who are the Subjects of the Prince of Darkness, and his Soldiers, the Militia of Hell, and the Auxiliaries of Satan, the Seed of the Old Serpent, who are filled with Enmity against the Woman's Seed.2 He that is born after the Flesh, persecuteth him that is born after the Spirit, &c. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father ye will do. These continually oppose the Truth, and hate Godliness, and those who profess it.
(3.) The Worships of the World. Saints have been often exposed to great Dangers, for opposing the Ways, Inventions, and Superstitions of Men, the Worship of the Beast, and cursed Fornications of the great Whore; but whilst they are able to stand, or have Life in them, they must oppose and resist all false Ways and Worshippers, such as strive to make void the Doctrine of Christ, and the Commands of God, by their Traditions.
(4.) There are also the Lusts of the World, the Lusts of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, which Saints are engaged to fight against, and oppose.3
⟨p. 151⟩Secondly; They have their Domestic Enemies:
1. Sin, which is a wretched and treacherous Inmate, and cursed Adversary.
2. The Flesh. These two made the holy Apostle to cry out,4 O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me! &c. Hence we are exhorted, as Strangers and Pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly Lusts, that war against the Soul.
VIII. A Soldier expects, and therefore ought to prepare to meet with his Enemies; he knows he is chosen, listed, and placed under the Command of his Captain, on purpose to fight. | VIII. So a Saint expects, and therefore ought to make ready to meet with spiritual Opposition from the Enemies of the Soul, as soon as ever he is listed, and entered into Christ's Service.
Every Christian is commanded to enter the List, and to fight against these Principalities and Powers.1
2. The World; this is another grand, potent, and subtil Adversary; many have been overcome and subdued by it.
(1.) The Things of the World, viz. the Pleasures, Honours, and Profits of the World. These (as one well observes) have their Hooks and Snares hid under their pleasant Baits, they usually prevail by Craft; their Flatteries and Allurements are very dangerous. By this part of the World Satan set upon our blessed Saviour, Mat. 4.8.
(2.) The Men of the World, who are the Subjects of the Prince of Darkness, and his Souldiers, the Militia of Hell, and the Auxiliaries of Satan, the Seed of the Old Serpent, who are filled with Enmity against the Woman's Seed.2 He that is born after the Flesh, persecuteth him that is born after the Spirit, &c. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father ye will do. These continually oppose the Truth, and hate Godliness, and those who profess it.
(3.) The Worships of the World. Saints have been often exposed to great Dangers, for opposing the Ways, Inventions, and Superstitions of Men, the Worship of the Beast, and cursed Fornications of the great Whore; but whilst they are able to stand, or have Life in them, they must oppose and resist all false Ways and Worshippers, such as strive to make void the Doctrine of Christ, and the Commands of God, by their Traditions.
(4.) There are also the Lusts of the World, the Lusts of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, which Saints are engaged to fight against, and oppose.3
⟨p. 151⟩Secondly; They have their Domestick Enemies:
1. Sin, which is a wretched and treacherous Inmate, and cursed Adversary.
2. The Flesh. These two made the holy Apostle to cry out,4 O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me! &c. Hence we are exhorted, as Strangers and Pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly Lusts, that war against the Soul.
VIII. A Souldier expects, and therefore ought to prepare to meet with his Enemies; he knows he is chosen, listed, and placed under the Command of his Captain, on purpose to fight. | VIII. So a Saint expects, and therefore ought to make ready to meet with spiritual Opposition from the Enemies of the Soul, as soon as ever he is listed, and entred into Christ's Service.
- 1Eph. 6.11, 12.
- 2Rom. 8.44
- 31 John 2.16.
- 4Rom. 7. 1 Pet. 2.11.
