For the Christian's defence against the evils of this sinful
Evil 83 rescue us from the vicious practices and customs of it into which we are naturally enslaved.
We may note from this: (a) That this present world is an evil world. It has become so by the sin of man, and it is so on account of the sin and sorrow with which it abounds, and the many snares and temptations to which we are exposed as long as we continue in it.
(6) Fesus Christ has died to deliver us from this present evil world. Not presently to remove His people out of it, but to rescue them from the power of it, to keep them from the evil of it, and in due time to possess them of another and better world. And this, the apostle informs us, He has done "according to the will of God and our Father"'.
6. THE CHRISTIAN'S DEFENCE AGAINST EVIL
For the Christian's defence against the evils of this sinful world God has provided an armoury of weapons (£ph. vi. 11). We are here encouraged in our Christian warfare. Is not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Is not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a Captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by which we are to govern ourselves.
Now it is requisite that a soldier should have a good heart and that he be well armed. Those who have so many battles against evil to fight, and who on their way to heaven must dispute every step, like a pass, with dint of sword, have need of a great deal of courage. "Be strong, therefore'', strong for service, strong for suffering, strong for fighting. Let a soldier be never so well armed without, if he have not within a good heart his armour will stand him in little stead. Spiritual strength and courage are very necessary for our spiritual warfare. Be strong in the Lord; either in His cause or for His sake, or, rather, in His strength. We have not sufficient strength of our own. Our natural courage is as perfect cowardice, and our natural strength as perfect weakness. All our sufficiency is of God. In His strength we must go forth and go on. By the actings of faith we must fetch in grace and help from heaven, to enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do, in our