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he does； and loudly asserts that； as in the days of the Judges； every
one should think and do what is right in his own eyes； and never be
checked； mall these strange phenomena of our age give the world an
amazing additional power； and make it doubly needful for Christ's
ministers to cry aloud； 〃Beware of the world！〃
In the face of this aggravated danger； we must never forget that the
word of the living God changes not。 〃Love not the world；〃〃 Be not
conformed to this world；〃…〃The friendship of the world is enmity with
God；〃these mighty sayings of God's statute…book remain still
unrepealed （1 John 2：15； Rom。 12：2； Jas。 4：4）。 The true Christian
strives daily to obey them； and proves the vitality of his religion by
his obedience。 It is as true now as it was eighteen hundred years ago；
that the man 〃born of God〃 will be a man who； more or less； resists and
overes the world。 Such a man does not 〃overe〃 by retiring into a
corner； and being a monk or a hermit； but by boldly meeting his foes
and conquering them。 He does not refuse to fill his place in society；
and do his duty in that position to which God has called him。 But
though 〃in〃 the world； he is not 〃of〃 the world。 He uses it； but does
not abuse it。 He knows when to say No； when to refuse pliance； when
to halt； when to say； 〃Hitherto have I gone； but I go no further。〃 He
is not wholly absorbed either in the business or the pleasures of life；
as if they were the sum total of existence。 Even in innocent things he
keeps the rein on his tastes and inclinations； and does not let them
run away with him。 He does not live as if life was made up of
recreation； or money…getting； or politics； or scientific pursuits； and
as if there were no life to e。 Everywhere； and in every condition；
in public and in private； in business or in amusements； he carries
himself like a 〃 citizen of a better country；〃 and as one who is not
entirely dependent on temporal things。 Like the noble Roman ambassador
before Pyrrhus； he is alike unmoved by the elephant or by the gold。 You
will neither bribe him； nor frighten him； nor allure him into
neglecting his soul。 This is one way in which the true Christian proves
the reality of his Christianity。 This is the way in which the man 〃born
of God〃 overes the world。
I am fully aware that； at first sight； the things I have just said may
appear 〃hard sayings。〃 The standard of true Christianity which I have
just raised may seem extravagant； and extreme； and unattainable in this
life。 I grant most freely that to 〃overe〃 in the fashion I have
described needs a constant fight and struggle； and that all such
fighting is naturally unpleasant to flesh and blood。 It is disagreeable
to find ourselves standing alone every now and then； and running
counter to the opinions of all around us。 We do not like to appear
narrow…minded； and exclusive； and uncharitable； and ungenial； and
ill…natured； and out of harmony with our fellows。 We naturally love
ease and popularity； and hate collisions in religion； and if we hear we
cannot be true Christians without all this fighting and warring； we are
tempted to say to ourselves； 〃I will give it up in despair。〃 I speak
from bitter experience。 I have known and felt all this myself。
To all who are tempted in this way；and none； I believe； are so much
tempted as the young；to all who are disposed to shrink back from any
effort to overe the world； as a thing impossible； rote all such I
offer a few words of friendly exhortation。 Before you turn your back on
the enemy； and openly confess that he is too strong for you；before
you bow down to the strong man； and let him place his foot on your
neck； let me put you in remembrance of some things which； perhaps； you
are forgetting。
Is not the world； then； one of the three great foes which you were
solemnly bound at baptism to resist？ Was it for nothing that these
words were read； 〃We sign him 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 soldier and servant unto
his life's end〃？ And is it really e to this； that you mean to
renounce your obligations； and retire from your Master's service； to
desert your colours； to slink away to the rear； and refuse to fight？
Again； is it not true that myriads of men and women； no stronger than
yourself； have fought this battle with the world； and won it？ Think of
the mighty hosts of Christian soldiers who have walked in the narrow
way in the last eighteen centuries； and proved more than conquerors。
The same Divine Captain； the same armour； the same helps and aids by
which they overcame； are ready for you。 Surely if they got the victory；
you may hope to do the same。
Again； is it not true that this fight with the world is a thing of
absolute necessity？ Does not our Master say； 〃Whosoever doth not bear
his cross； and e after Me； cannot be My disciple〃？ （Luke 14：27）。 〃I
came not to send peace on earth； but a sword〃 （Matt。 10：34）。 Here； at
any rate； we cannot remain neutral； and sit still。 Such a line of
conduct may be possible in the strife of nations； but it is utterly
impossible in that conflict which concerns the soul。 The boasted policy
of non…interference； the masterly inactivity〃 which pleases so many
statesmen； the plan of keeping quiet and letting things alone；all
this will never do in the Christian warfare。 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。
The promises to the Seven Churches in Revelation are only 〃to him that
overeth。〃 We must fight or be lost。 We must conquer or die
eternally。 We must put on the whole armour of God。 〃He that hath no
sword； let him sell his garment and buy one〃 （Eph。 6：11； Luke 22：36）。
Surely； in the face of such considerations as these； I may well charge
and entreat all who are inclined to make peace with the world； and not
resist it； to awake to a sense of their danger。 Awake and cast aside
the chains which indolence or love of popularity are gradually weaving
round you。 Awake before it is too late；before repeated worldly acts
have formed habits； and habits have crystallized into character； and
you have bee a helpless slave。 When men on every side are
volunteering for war； and ready to go forth to battle for a corruptible
crown； stand up and resolve to do it for one that is incorruptible。 The
world is not so strong an enemy as you think； if you will only meet it
boldly； and use the right weapons。 The fancied difficulties will
vanish； or melt away like snow； as you approach them。 The lions you now
dread will prove chained。 Hundreds could tell you that they served the
world for years； and found at last that its rewards were hollow and
unreal； and its so…called good things could neither satisfy nor save。
Cardinal Wolsey's dying words are only the language of ten thousand
hearts at this minute；…
〃Vain pomp and glory of this world； I hate ye：
I feel my heart is opened。…
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal
I serv'd my king； He would not； in mine age；
Have left me naked to mine enemies。〃
But who； on the other hand； ever fought God's battle manfully against
the world and failed to find a rich reward？ No doubt the experience of
Christian pilgrims is very various； Not all have 〃an abundant entrance〃
into the kingdom； and some are 〃saved so as by fire〃 （2 Pet。 1：11； 1
Cor。 3：15）。 But none； I am persuaded； have such joy and peace in
believing； and travel to the celestial city with such light hearts； as
those who e out boldly； and overe the love and fear of the world。
Such men the King of kings delights to honour while they live； and when
they die； their testimony is that of old Bunyan's hero； Valiant；〃 I
am going to my Father's house； and though with great difficulty I have
got hither； yet now I do not repent me of all the troubles I have been
at to arrive where I am。〃
III。 The third and last thing which I shall ask you to notice in this
text is； the secret of the true Christian's victory over the world。 St。
John reveals that secret to us twice over； as if he would emphasize his
meaning； and make it unmistakable： 〃This is the victory that overeth
the world； even our FAITH。 Who is he that overeth the world； but he
that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God？〃
Simplicity is a distinguishing characteristic of many of God's
handiworks。 〃How beautifully simple！〃 has often been the philosopher's
cry； on finding out some great secret of nature。 Simplicity is the
striking feature of the principle by which the man 〃born of God〃
overes the world。 Perhaps he hardly understands it himself。 But he
is what he is； and does what he does；