record on high。
（a） When Moses refused the pleasures of sin in Egypt； and chose
affliction with the people of Godthis was overing： he overcame the
love of pleasure。
（b） When Micaiah refused to prophesy smooth things to king Ahab； though
he knew he would be persecuted if he spoke the truththis was
overing： he overcame the love of ease。
（c） When Daniel refused to give up praying； though he knew the den of
lions was prepared for himthis was overing： he overcame the fear
of death。
（d） When Matthew rose from the receipt of custom at our Lord's bidding；
left all and followed Himthis was overing： he overcame the love of
money。
（e） When Peter and John stood up boldly before the council and said；
〃We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard〃this was
overing： they overcame the fear of man。
（f） When Saul the Pharisee gave up all his prospects of preferment
among the Jews； and preached that very Jesus whom he had once
persecutedthis was overing： he overcame the love of man's praise。
The same kind of thing which these men did you must also do if you
would be saved。 They were men of like passions with yourself； and yet
they overcame。 They had as many trials as you can possibly have； and
yet they overcame。 They fought。 They wrestled。 They struggled。 You must
do the same。
What was the secret of their victory？their faith。 They believed on
Jesus； and believing were made strong。 They believed on Jesus； and
believing were held up。 In all their battles； they kept their eyes on
Jesus； and He never left them nor forsook them。 〃They overcame by the
blood of the Lamb； and the word of their testimony；〃 and so may you。
（Rev。 xii。 11。）
I set these words before you。 I ask you to lay them to heart。 Resolve；
by the grace of God； to be an overing Christian。
I fear much for many professing Christians。 I see no sign of fighting
in them； much less of victory。 They never strike one stroke on the side
of Christ。 They are at peace with His enemies。 They have no quarrel
with sin。I warn you； this is not Christianity。 This is not the way to
heaven。
I often fear much for those who hear the Gospel regularly； i fear lest
you bee so familiar with the sound of its doctrines； that insensibly
you bee dead to its power。 I fear lest your religion should sink
down into a little vague talk about your own weakness and corruption；
and a few sentimental expressions about Christ； while real； practical
fighting on Christ's side is altogether neglected。 Oh！ beware of this
state of mind。 〃Be doers of the word； and not hearers only。〃 No
victoryno crown！ Fight and overe！ （James i。 22。）
Young men and women； and specially those who have been brought up in
religious families； I fear much for you。 I fear lest you get a habit of
giving way to every temptation。 I fear lest you bee afraid of
saying； 〃No！〃 to the world and the deviland； when sinners entice you；
think it least trouble to consent。 Beware； I do beseech you； of giving
way。 Every concession will make you weaker。 Go into the world resolved
to fight Christ's battleand fight your way on。
Believers in the Lord Jesus； of every Church and rank in life； I feel
much for you。 I know your course is hard。 I know it is a sore battle
you have to fight。 I know you are often tempted to say； 〃It is of no
use；〃 and to lay down your arms altogether。
Cheer up； dear brethren and sisters。 Take fort； I entreat you。 Look
at the bright side of your position。 Be encouraged to fight on。 The
time is short。 The Lord is at hand。 The night is far spent。 Millions as
weak as you have fought the same fight。 Not one of all those millions
has been finally led captive by Satan。 Mighty are your enemiesbut the
Captain of your salvation is mightier still。His arm； His grace； and
His Spirit shall hold you up。 Cheer up。 Be not cast down。
What though you lose a battle or two？ You shall not lose all。 What
though you faint sometimes？ You shall not be quite cast down。 What
though you fall seven times？ You shall not be destroyed。 Watch against
sin； and sin shall not have dominion over you。 Resist the devil； and he
shall flee from you。 e out boldly from the world； and the world
shall be obliged to let you go。 You shall find yourselves in the end
more than conquerorsyou shall 〃overe。〃
Let me draw from the whole subject a few words of application； and then
I have done。
（1） For one thing； let me warn all who are living only for the world；
to take heed what they are doing。 You are enemies to Christ； though you
may not know it。 He marks your ways； though you turn your backs on Him；
and refuse to give Him your hearts。 He is observing your daily life；
and reading your daily ways。 There will yet be a resurrection of all
your thoughts； words and actions。 You may forget them； but God does
not。 You may be careless about them； but they are carefully marked down
in the book of remembrance。 Oh！ worldly man； think of this！ Tremble；
tremble and repent。
（2） For another thing； let me warn all formalists and self…righteous
people to take heed that they are not deceived。 You fancy you will go
to heaven because you go regularly to church。 You indulge an
expectation of eternal life； because you are always at the Lord's
table； and are never missing in your pew。 But where is your repentance？
Where is your faith？ Where are your evidences of a new heart？ Where is
the work of the Spirit？ Where are your evidences of regeneration？ Oh；
formal Christian； consider these questions！ Tremble； tremble and
repent。
（3） For another thing； let me warn all careless members of Churches to
beware lest they trifle their souls into hell。 You live on year after
year as if there was no battle to be fought with sin； the world； and
the devil。 You pass through life a smiling； laughing； gentlemanlike or
lady…like person； and behave as if there was no devil； no heaven； and
no hell。 Oh； careless Churchman； or careless Dissenter； careless
Episcopalian； careless Presbyterian； careless Independent； careless
Baptist； awake to see eternal realities in their true light！ Awake and
put on the armour of God！ Awake and fight hard for life！ Tremble；
tremble and repent。
（4） For another thing； let me warn every one who wants to be saved； not
to be content with the world's standard of religion。 Surely； no man
with his eyes open can fail to see that the Christianity of the New
Testament is something far higher and deeper than the Christianity of
most professing Christians。 The formal； easy…going； do…little thing
which most people call religion； is evidently not the religion of the
Lord Jesus。 The things that He praises in these seven Epistles are not
praised by the world。 The things that He blames are not things in which
the world sees any harm。 Oh； if you would follow Christ； be not content
with the world's Christianity！ Tremble； tremble and repent。
（5） In the last place； let me warn every one who professes to be a
believer in the Lord Jesus； not to be content with a little religion。
Of all sights in the Church of Christ； I know none more painful to my
own eyes than a Christian contented and satisfied with a little grace；
a little repentance； a little faith； a little knowledge； a little
charity； and a little holiness。 I do beseech and entreat every
believing soul that reads this tract not to be that kind of man。 If you
have any desires after usefulnessif you have any wishes to promote
your Lord's gloryif you have any longings after much inward peacebe
not content with a little religion。
Let us rather seek； every year we live； to make more spiritual progress
than we have doneto grow in grace； and in the knowledge of the Lord
Jesusto grow in humility and self…acquaintanceto grow in
spirituality and heavenly…mindednessto grow in conformity to the
image of our Lord。
Let us beware of leaving our first love like Ephesusof being
lukewarm like Laodiceaof tolerating false practices like Pergamosof
tampering with false doctrine like Thyatiraof being half dead；
ready to die； like Sardis。
Let us rather covet the best gifts。 Let us aim at eminent holiness。 Let
us endeavour to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia。 Let us hold fast what
we have already； and continually seek to have more。 Let us labour to be
unmistakable Christians。 Let it not be our distinctive character that
we are men of scienceor men of literary attainmentsor men of the
worldor men of pleasure； or men of businessbut 〃men of God。〃 Let us
so live that all may see that to us the things of God are the first
things； and the glory of God the first aim in our livesto follow
Christ our grand object in time presentto be with Christ our grand
desire in time to e。
Let us live in this way； and we shall be happy。 Let us live in this
way； and we shall do good to the world。 Let us live in this way； and we