xi。 21； 2 Tim。 ii。 26。）
We may take fort about our souls if we know anything of an inward
fight and conflict。 It is the invariable panion of genuine Christian
holiness。 It is not everything； I am well aware； ut it is something。 Do
we find in our heart of hearts a spiritual struggle？ Do we feel
anything of the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against
the flesh； so that we cannot do the things we would？ （Gal。 v。 17。） Are
we conscious of two principles within us； contending for the mastery？
Do we feel anything of war in our inward man？ Well； let us thank God
for it！ It is a good sign。 It is strongly probable evidence of the
great work of sanctification。 All true saints are soldiers。 Anything is
better than apathy； stagnation； deadness； and indifference。 We are in a
better state than many。 The most part of so…called Christians have no
feeling at all。 We are evidently no friends of Satan。 Like the kings of
this world； he wars not against his own subjects。 The very fact that he
assaults us should fill our minds with hope。 I say again； let us take
fort。 The child of God has two great marks about him； and of these
two we have one。 HE MAY BE KNOWN BY HIS INWARD WARFARE； AS WELL AS BY
HIS INWARD PEACE。
II。 I pass on to the second thing which I have to say in handling my
subject： True Christianity is the fight of faith。
In this respect the Christian warfare is utterly unlike the conflicts
of this world。 It does not depend on the strong arm； the quick eye； or
the swift foot。 It is not waged with carnal weapons； but with
spiritual。 Faith is the hinge on which victory turns。 Success depends
entirely on believing。
A general faith in the truth of God's written Word is the primary
foundation of the Christian soldier's character。 He is what he is； does
what he does； thinks as he thinks； acts as he acts； hopes as he hopes；
behaves as he behaves； for one simple reasonhe believes certain
propositions revealed and laid down in Holy Scripture。 〃He that eth
to God must believe that He is； and that He is a Rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him。〃 （Heb。 xi。 5。）
A religion without doctrine or dogma is a thing which many are fond of
talking of in the present day。 It sounds very fine at first。 It looks
very pretty at a distance。 But the moment we sit down to examine and
consider it； we shall find it a simple impossibility。 We might as well
talk of a body without bones and sinews。 No man will ever be anything
or do anything in religion； unless he believes something。 Even those
who profess to hold the miserable and unfortable views of the Deists
are obliged to confess that they believe something。 With all their
bitter sneers against dogmatic theology and Christian credulity； as
they call it； they themselves have a kind of faith。
As for true Christians； faith is the very backbone of their spiritual
existence。 No one ever fights earnestly against the world； the flesh
and the devil； unless he has engraven on his heart certain great
principles which he believes。 What they are he may hardly know； and may
certainly not be able to define or write down。 But there they are； and；
consciously or unconsciously； they form the roots of his religion。
Wherever you see a man； whether rich or poor； learned or unlearned；
wrestling manfully with sin； and trying to overe it； you may be sure
there are certain great principles which that man believes。 The poet
who wrote the famous lines：
〃For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight；
He can't be wrong whose life is in the right；〃
was a clever man； but a poor divine。 There is no such thing as right
living without faith and believing。
A special faith in our Lord Jesus Christ's person； work； and office； is
the life； heart； and mainspring of the Christian soldier's character。
He sees by faith an unseen Saviour； who loved him； gave Himself for
him； paid his debts for him； bore his sins； carried his transgressions；
rose again for him； and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate at
the right hand of God。 He sees Jesus； and clings to Him。 Seeing this
Saviour and trusting in Him； he feels peace and hope； and willingly
does battle against the foes of his soul。
He sees his own many sinshis weak heart； a tempting world； a busy
devil； and if he looked only at them he might well despair。 But he sees
also a mighty Saviour； an interceding Saviour； a sympathizing
SaviourHis blood； His righteousness； His everlasting priesthoodand
he believes that all this is his own。 He sees Jesus； and casts his
whole weight on Him。 Seeing Him he cheerfully fights on； with a full
confidence that he will prove 〃more than conqueror through Him that
loved him。〃 （Rom。 viii。 37。）
Habitual lively faith in Christ's presence and readiness to help is the
secret of the Christian soldier fighting successfully。
It must never be forgotten that faith admits of degrees。 All men do not
believe alike； and even the same person has his ebbs and flows of
faith； and believes more heartily at one time than another。 According
to the degree of his faith the Christian fights well or ill； wins
victories； or suffers occasional repulses； es off triumphant； or
loses a battle。 He that has most faith will always be the happiest and
most fortable soldier。 Nothing makes the anxieties of warfare sit so
lightly on a man as the assurance of Christ's love and continual
protection。 Nothing enables him to bear the fatigue of watching；
struggling； and wrestling against sin； like the indwelling confidence
that Christ is on his side and success is sure。 It is the 〃shield of
faith〃 which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one。It is the
man who can say； 〃I know whom I have believed〃who can say in time of
suffering； 〃I am not ashamed。〃He who wrote those glowing words； 〃We
faint not；〃〃Our light affliction which endureth but for a moment
worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory〃was
the man who wrote with the same pen； 〃We look not at the things which
are seen； but at the things which are not seen； for the things which
are seen are temporal； but the things which are not seen are
eternal。〃It is the man who said； 〃I live by the faith of the Son of
God；〃 who said； in the same Epistle； 〃the world is crucified unto me；
and I unto the world。〃It is the man who said； 〃To me to live is
Christ；〃 who said； in the same Epistle； 〃I have learned in whatsoever
state I am therewith to be content。〃〃I can do all things through
Christ。〃The more faith the more victory！ The more faith the more
inward peace！ （Eph。 vi。 16； 2 Tim。 i。 12； 2 Cor。 iv。 17； 18； Gal。 ii。
20； vi。 14； Phil。 i。 21； iv。 11； 13。）
I think it impossible to overrate the value and importance of faith。
Well may the Apostle Peter call it 〃precious。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 1。） Time
would fail me if I tried to recount a hundredth part of the victories
which by faith Christian soldiers have obtained。
Let us take down our Bibles and read with attention the eleventh
chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews。 Let us mark the long list of
worthies whose names are thus recorded； from Abel down to Moses； even
before Christ was born of the Virgin Mary； and brought life and
immortality into full light by the Gospel。 Let us note well what
battles they won against the world； the flesh； and the devil。 And then
let us remember that believing did it all。 These men looked forward to
the promised Messiah。 They saw Him that is invisible。 〃By faith the
elders obtained a good report。〃 （Heb。 xi。 2…27。）
Let us turn to the pages of early Church history。 Let us see how the
primitive Christians held fast their religion even unto death； and were
not shaken by the fiercest persecutions of heathen Emperors。 For
centuries there were never wanting men like Polycarp and Ignatius； who
were ready to die rather than deny Christ。 Fines； and prisons； and
torture； and fire； and sword； were unable to crush the spirit of the
noble army of martyrs。 The whole power of imperial Rome； the mistress
of the world； proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with
a few fishermen and publicans in Palestine！ And then let us remember
that believing in an unseen Jesus was the Church's strength。 They won
their victory by faith。
Let us examine the story of the Protestant Reformation。 Let us study
the lives of its leading championsWycliffe； and Huss； and Luther； and
Ridley； and Latimer； and Hooper。 Let us mark how these gallant soldiers
of Christ stood firm against a host of adversaries； and were ready to
die for their principles。 What battles they fought！ What controversies
they maintained！ What contradiction they endured I What tenacity of
purpose they exhibited against a world in arms！ And then let us
remember that believing in an unseen Jesus was the secret of their
strength。 They overcame by faith。
Let us consider