enmity with God： whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is
the enemy of God。〃〃If any man love the world； the love of the Father
is not in him。〃〃The world is crucified to Me； and I unto the
world。〃〃Whatsoever is born of God overeth the world。〃〃Be not
conformed to this world。〃 （James iv。 4； 1 John ii。 15； Gal。 vi。 14； 1
John v。 4； Rom。 xii。 2。）
He must fight the devil。 That old enemy of mankind is not dead。 Ever
since the fall of Adam and Eve he has been 〃going to and fro in the
earth； and walking up and down in it；〃 and striving to pass one
great endthe ruin of man's soul。 Never slumbering and never sleeping；
he is always 〃going about as a lion seeking whom he may devour。〃 An
unseen enemy； he is always near us； about our path and about our bed；
and spying out all our ways。 A 〃murderer and a liar〃 from the
beginning； he labours night and day to cast us down to hell。 Sometimes
by leading into superstition； sometimes by suggesting infidelity；
sometimes by one kind of tactics and sometimes by another； he is always
carrying on a campaign against our souls。 〃Satan hath desired to have
you； that he may sift you as wheat。〃 This mighty adversary must be
daily resisted if we wish to be saved。 But 〃this kind goeth not out〃
but by watching and praying； and fighting； and putting on the whole
armour of God。 The strong man armed will never be kept out of our
hearts without a daily battle。 （Job i。 7； 1 Peter v。 8； John viii。 44；
Luke xxii。 31； Ephes。 vi。 11。）
Some men may think these statements too strong。 You fancy that I am
going too far； and laying on the colours too thickly。 You are secretly
saying to yourself； that men and women in England may surely get to
heaven without all this trouble and warfare and fighting。 Listen to me
for a few minutes and I will show you that I have something to say on
God's behalf。 Remember the maxim of the wisest General that ever lived
in England〃In time of war it is the worst mistake to underrate your
enemy； and try to make a little war。〃 This Christian warfare is no
light matter。 Give me your attention and consider what I say。 What
saith the Scripture？〃Fight the good fight of faith。 Lay hold on
eternal life。〃Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ。〃〃Put on the whole armour of God； that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil。 For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood； but against principalities； against powers； against the ruler of
the darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness in high
places。 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God； that you may
be able to withstand in the evil day； and having done all to
stand。〃〃Strive to enter in at the strait gate。〃〃Labour for the meat
that endureth unto everlasting life。〃〃Think not that I came to send
peace on the earth： I came not to send peace but a sword。〃〃He that
hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one。〃〃Watch ye； stand
fast in the faith： quit you like men； be strong。〃〃War a good warfare；
holding faith and a good conscience。〃 （1 Tim。 vi。 12； 2 Tim。 ii。 3；
Ephes。 vi。 11…13； Luke xiii。 24； John vi。 27； Matt。 x。 34； Luke xxii。
36； 1 Cor。 xvi。 13； 1 Tim。 i。 18； 19。） Words such as these appear to me
clear； plain； and unmistakable。 They all teach one and the same great
lesson； if we are willing to receive it。 That lesson is； that true
Christianity is a struggle； a fight； and a warfare。 He that pretends to
condemn 〃fighting〃 and teaches that we ought to sit still and 〃yield
ourselves to God；〃 appears to me to misunderstand his Bible； and to
make a great mistake。
What says the Baptismal Service of the Church of England？ No doubt that
Service is uninspired； and； like every uninspired position； it has
its defects； but to the millions of people all over the globe； who
profess and call themselves English Churchmen； its voice ought to speak
with some weight。 And what does it say？ It tells us that over every new
member who is admitted into the Church of England the following words
are used〃I baptize thee in the name of the Father； the Son； and the
Holy Ghost。〃〃I sign this child with the sign of the cross； in token
that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ
crucified； and manfully to fight under His banner against sin； the
world； and the devil； and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and
servant unto his life's end。〃Of course we all know that in myriads of
cases baptism is a mere form； and that parents bring their children to
the font without faith or prayer or thought； and consequently receive
no blessing。 The man who supposes that baptism in such cases acts
mechanically； like a medicine； and that godly and ungodly； praying and
prayerless parents； all alike get the same benefit for their children；
must be in a strange state of mind。 But one thing； at any rate； is very
certain。 Every baptized Churchman is by his profession a 〃soldier of
Jesus Christ；〃 and is pledged 〃to fight under His banner against sin；
the world； and the devil。〃 He that doubts it had better take up his
Prayer…book； and read； mark； and learn its contents。 The worst thing
about many very zealous Churchmen is their total ignorance of what
their own Prayer…book contains。
Whether we are Churchmen or not； one thing is certainthis Christian
warfare is a great reality； and a subject of vast importance。 It is not
a matter like Church government and ceremonial； about which men may
differ； and yet reach heaven at last。 Necessity is laid upon us。 We
must fight。 There are no promises in the Lord Jesus Christ's Epistles
to the Seven Churches； except to those who 〃overe。〃 Where there is
grace there will be conflict。 The believer is a soldier。 There is no
holiness without a warfare。 Saved souls will always be found to have
fought a fight。
It is a fight of absolute necessity。 Let us not think that in this war
we can remain neutral and sit still。 Such a line of action may be
possible in the strife of nations； but it is utterly impossible in that
conflict which concerns the soul。 The boasted policy of
noninterferencethe 〃masterly inactivity〃 which pleases so many
statesmenthe plan of keeping quiet and letting things aloneall this
will never do in the Christian warfare。 Here at any rate no one can
escape serving under the plea that he is 〃a man of peace。〃 To be at
peace with the world； the flesh and the devil； is to be at enmity with
God； and in the broad way that leadeth to destruction。 We have no
choice or option。 We must either fight or be lost。
It is a fight of universal necessity。 No rank； or class； or age； can
plead exemption； or escape the battle。 Ministers and people； preachers
and hearers； old and young； high and low； rich and poor； gentle and
simple； kings and subjects； landlords and tenants； learned and
unlearnedall alike must carry arms and go to war。 All have by nature
a heart full of pride； unbelief； sloth； worldliness； and sin。 All are
living in a world beset with snares； traps； and pitfalls for the soul。
All have near them a busy； restless； malicious devil。 All； from the
queen in her palace down to the pauper in the workhouse； all must
fight； if they would be saved。
It is a fight of perpetual necessity。 It admits of no breathing time；
no armistice； no truce。 On week…days as well as on Sundaysin private
as well as in publicat home by the family fireside as well as
abroadin little things like management of tongue and temper； as well
as in great ones like the government of kingdomsthe Christian's
warfare must unceasingly go on。 The foe we have to do with keeps no
holidays； never slumbers； and never sleeps。 So long as we have breath
in our bodies we must keep on our armour； and remember we are on an
enemy's ground。 〃Even on the brink of Jordan；〃 said a dying saint； 〃I
find Satan nibbling at my heels。〃 We must fight till we die。
Let us consider well these propositions。 Let us take care that our own
personal religion is real； genuine； and true。 The saddest symptom about
many so…called Christians is the utter absence of anything like
conflict and fight in their Christianity。 They eat； they drink； they
dress； they work； they amuse themselves； they get money； they spend
money； they go through a scanty round of formal religious services once
or twice every week。 But the great spiritual warfareits watchings and
strugglings； its agonies and anxieties； its battles and contestsof
all this they appear to know nothing at all。 Let us take care that this
case is not our own。 The worst state of soul is 〃when the strong man
armed keepeth the house； and his goods are at peace〃when he leads men
and women 〃captive at his will；〃 and they make no resistance。 The worst
chains are those which are neither felt nor seen by the prisoner。 （Luke
xi。 21； 2 Tim。 ii。 26。）
We may take fort about our souls if we know anything of a