SECT. XI. Chap. V. 8-14. 8 BE sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom 9 he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished 10 in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle 11 you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and 12 ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God 13 wherein ye stand. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth 14 Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. Be sober, be vigilant. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.' Luke xxi. 34-36.because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. And the Lord said [unto PETER], Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren.' Luke xxii. 31, 32. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land: but put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.' Job i. 6-12. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies who compass me about.' Ps. xvii. 7-9.—whom resist. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' Jam. iv. 7. stedfast in the faith. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 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 rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.' Eph. vi. 10-18. -knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Thus St. Paul writes to the Thessalonian disciples: For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.' 1 Thess. iii. 4; and to Timothy he says: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' 2 Tim. iii. 12. And although Christians of the present day may not be called to suffer the same kind of persecution as their elder brethren in the church, yet all will find occasions for self-denial and mortification. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.' Luke ix. 23.-But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. 'God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.' 1 Cor. i. 9.———after that ye have suffered a while. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while 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.' 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 'Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.' 2 Thess. ii. 16, 17. The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.' 2 Thess. iii. 3.——To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever. Amen.' Jude 24, 25. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.' Heb. xiii. 20, 21.—By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose. Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.' Acts xv. 40. And the multitude rose up together against them [i. e. Paul and Silas]: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.' Acts xvi. 22-24.- -I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. Moreover, brethren,' writes another Apostle, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein ye stand: by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.' 1 Cor. xv. 1, 2. And we know,' says St. John, that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.' 1 John v. 20, 21. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with saluteth you, and so doth Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. you, 6 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, -Peace be with you all that And the God of love and • For this cause I live in peace.' 2 Cor. xiii. 11. bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.' Eph. iii. 14—21. |