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overes the world。 Perhaps he hardly understands it himself。 But he
is what he is； and does what he does； acts as he acts； behaves as he
behaves； for one simple reason； he BELIEVES。 He realizes the existence
of unseen objects； pared to which the frowns or smiles； the favour
or blame of the world； are trifles light as air。 God； and heaven； and
judgment； and eternity； are not 〃words and names〃 with him； but vast
and substantial realities； and the faith of them makes everything else
look shadowy and unreal。 But； towering far above all other objects； he
sees by faith an unseen Saviour； who loved him； gave Himself for him；
paid his debt to God with His own precious blood； went to the grave for
him； rose again； and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate with the
Father。 SEEING HIM； he feels constrained to love Him first and
foremost； to set his chief affection on things above； not on things on
the earth； and to live not for himself； but for Him who died for him。
SEEING HIM； he fears not to face the world's displeasure； and fights on
with a firm confidence that he will be 〃more than conqueror。〃 In short；
it is the expulsive power of a new principle； a living faith in an
unseen God and an unseen Jesus； that minimizes the difficulties of a
true Christian； drives away the fear of man； and overes the world。
This is the principle that made the Apostles what they were after the
day of Pentecost。 When Peter and John stood before the Council； and
spoke in such fashion that all men marvelled at their boldness； their
vivid faith saw One higher than Annas and Caiaphas and their
panions； who would never forsake them。 When Saul； converted and
renewed； gave up all his brilliant prospects among his own nation； to
bee a preacher of the gospel he had once despised； he saw far away；
by faith； One that was invisible； who could give him a hundredfold more
in this present life； and in the world to e life everlasting。 These
all overcame by FAITH。
This is the principle which made the primitive Christians hold fast
their religion even to death； unshaken by the fiercest persecution of
heathen emperors。 They were often unlearned and ignorant men； and saw
many things through a glass darkly。 But their so…called 〃obstinacy〃
astonished even philosophers like Pliny。
For centuries there were never wanting men like Polycarp and Ignatius；
who were ready to die rather than to deny Christ。 Fines； and prisons；
and torture； and fire； and sword failed to crush the spirit of the
noble army of martyrs。 The whole power of imperial Rome； with her
legions； proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with a few
fishermen and publicans in Palestine。 They overcame by FAITH。
This is the principle that made our own Reformers in the sixteenth
century endure hardships even unto death； rather than withdraw their
protest against the Church of Rome。 Many of them； no doubt； like
Rogers； and Philpot； and Bradford； might have enjoyed rich preferments
and died quietly in their beds； if they would only have recanted。 But
they chose rather to suffer affliction； and strong in faith； died at
the stake。 This was the principle that made the rank and file of our
English martyrs in the same agelabourers； artisans； and
apprenticesyield their bodies to be burned。 Poor and uneducated as
they were； they were rich in faith； and if they could not speak for
Christ； they could die for Him。 These all overcame by BELIEVING。
But time would fail me if I brought forward all the evidence that might
be adduced on this subject。 Let us look at our own age。 Let us consider
the men who have made the greatest mark on the world for Christ's cause
in the last hundred years。 Let us remember how clergymen like
Whitefield； and Wesley； and Romaine； and Venn stood alone in their day
and generation； and revived English religion； in the face of
opposition； slander； ridicule； and real persecution from nine…tenths of
the professing Christians in our land。 Let us remember how men like
William Wilberforce； and Havelock； and Henry Lawrence； and Hedley
Vicars； and George Moore； the Christian merchant； have witnessed for
Christ in the most difficult positions； and displayed Christ's banner
even in the House of mons； in the camp； at the regimental mess
table； or in the counting…house in the city。 Let us remember how these
noble servants of God were neither frightened nor laughed out of their
religion； and won the respect even of their adversaries。 These all had
one principle。 〃Give me；〃 said that strange dictator who rode
rough…shod over England's Church and Crown in the seventeenth century；
〃Give me men that have a principle。〃 These Christian soldiers of our
own day had a principle； and that ruling principle was faith in an
unseen God and Saviour。 By this faith they lived； and walked； and
fought the good fight； and overcame。
Does any one who reads this paper desire to live the life of a true
Christian； and overe the world？ Let him begin by seeking to have the
principle of victory within。 Without this； all outward show of
spirituality is utterly worthless。 There is many a worldly heart under
a monk's cowl。 Faith； inward faith； is the one thing needful。 Let him
begin by praying for FAITH。 It is the gift of God； and a gift which
those who ask shall never ask in vain。 The fountain of faith is not yet
dry。 The mine is not exhausted。 He who is called the 〃Author of faith〃
is the same yesterday； to…day； and for ever； and waits to be entreated
（Heb。 12：2）。 Without faith you will never war a good warfare； never set
down your foot firmly； never make progress on the ice of this slippery
world。 You must believe if you would do。 If men do nothing in religion；
and sit still like uninterested spectators of a show； it is simply
because they do not believe。 Faith is the first step towards heaven。
Would any one who reads this paper fight the Christian battle with
constantly increasing success and prosperity？ Then let him pray daily
for a continual growth of faith。 Let him abide in Christ； get closer to
Christ； tighten his hold on Christ every day that he lives。 Let him
never forget the prayer of the disciples； 〃Lord； increase our faith。〃
Let him watch jealously over his faith； and never let its fire burn
low。 According to the degree of his faith will be the measure of his
peace； his strength； and his victory over the world。
（a） And now let us leave the whole subject with the solemn
self…inquiry； 〃What do we know of that great test of religion which
this text supplies？ What do we know of overing the world？。 Where are
we？ What are we doing？ Whose are we； and whom do we serve？ Are we
overing or being overe？〃 Alas； it is a sorrowful fact； that many
know not whether they are Christ's freemen or the world's slaves！ The
fetters of the world are often invisible。 We are dragged downward
insensibly； and are like one who sleeps in a boat； and knows not that
he is drifting； gently drifting； towards the falls。 There is no slavery
so bad as that which is unfelt。 There are no chains so really heavy as
those which are unseen。 Wise is that petition in our matchless Litany：
〃From all the deceits of the world； good Lord； deliver us。〃
I press this inquiry in all affection on my younger readers。 You are
just at that generous and unsuspecting age when the world seems least
dangerous and most inviting； and it stands to reason you are most
likely to be ensnared and overe。 Experience alone can make you see
the enemy in his true colours。 When you have as many grey hairs on your
heads as I have； you will place a very different estimate on the good
things； or the praise or the hatred of this world。 But； even now；
remember my caution： 〃If you love your souls； hold the world at arm's
length。 Beware of the world。〃
（b） Reader； you and I meet over this paper for once in our lives； and
are parting in all probability to meet no more。 You are perhaps
launching forth on the waves of this troublesome world。 My heart's
desire and prayer to God is； that you may have a prosperous voyage； and
be found at length in the safe haven of eternal life。 But； oh； take
heed that you are well equipped for the stormy waters you have to
cross； and see that you have a pass to steer by； that you can depend
on； and a pilot who will not fail！ Beware of making shipwreck by
conformity to the world。 Alas； how many put to sea in gallant trim；
with colours flying； and brilliant prospects； and are lost at last with
all on board！ They seem at first to begin with Moses； and Daniel； and
the saints in Nero's household； but they end at last with Balaam； and
Demas； and Lot's wife！ Oh； remember the pilot and the pass！ No
pass like the Bible。 No pilot like Christ！
Take the advice I give you； as a friend； this day。 Ask the Lord Jesus
Christ to e and dwell in your heart by faith； and to 〃deli