EPC Australia

What war is there that has nothing to depress, nothing to animate, and that does not furnish a diversity of feelings in those who carry it on?

Christians resemble these followers of Gideon and subduers of the Amalekites — faint, yet pursuing.

Yes; while engaged in this good fight of faith, they may he faint. We need not wonder at this, if we consider the enemies they have to vanquish. These are, bodily appetites, filthiness of spirit, a depraved nature, all sin and error, the present evil world, the Devil, and his angels. If we also consider the qualities of their adversaries, their number, their malignity, their power, their policy, their success, for they have cast down many mighty, yea, many strong men have been slain by them. When we think of the heroes, the statesmen, the princes, the philosophers, the divines, and all the myriads they have enslaved and destroyed, who is not ready to tremble, and exclaim, "I shall one day perish!"

There is also the length of the service. It is not for a season only, but for life. We are not allowed to receive any proposals of peace. We cannot enter into a truce, no, not even to bury the dead. Let the dead bury their dead. We are to fight on through summer and winter, by day and night, in every situation and condition. He that endureth to the end, the same only shall be saved. In conversion we throw away the scabbard; in death only we lay down the sword. While we are here, something is still to be done, something still to be avoided, in company, in solitude, in health, in sickness. And is it nothing to watch in all things; to pray without ceasing; in every thing to give thanks; to be always abounding in the work of the Lord?

There are also occasional difficulties too common to be overlooked. It is easy to suppose a few of them. What marvel if the soldier is faint, when the road is rough and thorny, and the weather is warm and oppressive — and he hungers and thirsts for want of seasonable refreshments and supplies, which are interrupted, if not cut off — and he feels a loss of strength, occasioned by a wound from without, or an indisposition from within? Is this talking parables There is not a Christian on earth whose religious experience will not easily explain it.

And if this, therefore, be my experience, let me remember that there is nothing ominous, nor even peculiar, in it. Every subject of divine grace is well acquainted with the heart's bitterness and must know it, or much of the Scripture could not be applied to him, either in a way of description, or comfort.

And let me be thankful that to will is present with me, though how to perform that which is good I find not. If I faint, I do not flee. Faint, yet PURSUING.

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay