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Lord； or whether we die； may we die unto the Lord； of if He es for
us； may we be found in peace； without spot； and blameless！
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IV。
THE FIGHT
〃Fight the good fight of faith。〃1 Timothy vi。 12。
IT is a curious fact that there is no subject about which most people
feel such deep interest as 〃fighting。〃 Young men and maidens； old men
and little children； high and low； rich and poor； learned and
unlearned； all feel a deep interest in wars； battles and fighting。
This is a simple fact； whatever way we may try to explain it。 We should
call that Englishman a dull fellow who cared nothing about the story of
Waterloo； or Inkermann； or Balaclava or Lucknow。 We should think that
heart cold and stupid which was not moved and thrilled by the struggles
at Sedan and Strasburg； and Metz； and Paris； during the war between
France and Germany。
But there is another warfare of far greater importance than any war
that was ever waged by man。 It is a warfare which concerns not two or
three nations only； but every Christian man and woman born into the
world。 The warfare I speak of is the spiritual warfare。 It is the fight
which everyone who would be saved must fight about his soul。
This warfare； I am aware； is a thing of which many know nothing。 Talk
to them about it； and they are ready to set you down as a madman； an
enthusiast； or a fool。 And yet it is as real and true as any war the
world has ever seen。 It has its hand…to…hand conflicts and its wounds。
It has its watchings and fatigues。 It has its sieges and assaults。 It
has its victories and its defeats。 Above all； it has consequences which
are awful； tremendous； and most peculiar。 In earthly warfare the
consequences to nations are often temporary and remediable。 In the
spiritual warfare it is very different。 Of that warfare； the
consequences； when the fight is over； are unchangeable and eternal。
It is of this warfare that St。 Paul spoke to Timothy； when he wrote
those burning words； 〃Fight the good fight of faith； lay hold on
eternal life。〃 It is of this warfare that I propose to speak in this
paper。 I hold the subject to be closely connected with that of
sanctification and holiness。 He that would understand the nature of
true holiness must know that the Christian is 〃a man of war。〃 If we
would be holy we must fight。
I。 The first thing I have to say is this： True Christianity is a fight。
True Christianity！ Let us mind that word 〃true。〃 There is a vast
quantity of religion current in the world which is not true； genuine
Christianity。 It passes muster； it satisfies sleepy consciences； but it
is not good money。 It is not the real thing which was called
Christianity eighteen hundred years ago。 There are thousands of men and
women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday； and call themselves
Christians。 Their names are in the baptismal register。 They are
reckoned Christians while they live。 They are married with a Christian
marriage service。 They mean to be buried as Christians when they die。
But you never see any 〃fight〃 about their religion！ Of spiritual
strife； and exertion； and conflict； and self…denial； and watching； and
warring； they know literally nothing at all。 Such Christianity may
satisfy man； and those who say anything against it may be thought very
hard and uncharitable； but it certainly is not the Christianity of the
Bible。 It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded； and His
Apostles preached。 It is not the religion which produces real holiness。
True Christianity is 〃a fight。〃
The true Christian is called to be a soldier； and must behave as such
from the day of his conversion to the day of his death。 He is not meant
to live a life of religious ease； indolence； and security。 He must
never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to
heaven； like one travelling in an easy carriage。 If he takes his
standard of Christianity from the children of this world； he may be
content with such notions； but he will find no countenance for them in
the Word of God。 If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice； he
will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter。 He must
〃fight。〃
With whom is the Christian soldier meant to fight？ Not with other
Christians。 Wretched indeed is that man's idea of religion who fancies
that it consists in perpetual controversy！ He who is never satisfied
unless he is engaged in some strife between church and church； chapel
and chapel； sect and sect； faction and faction； party and party； knows
nothing yet as he ought to know。 No doubt it may be absolutely needful
sometimes to appeal to law courts； in order to ascertain the right
interpretation of a Church's Articles； and rubrics； and formularies。
But； as a general rule； the cause of sin is never so much helped as
when Christians waste their strength in quarrelling with one another；
and spend their time in petty squabbles。
No； indeed！ The principal fight of the Christian is with the world； the
flesh； and the devil。 These are his never…dying foes。 These are the
three chief enemies against whom he must wage war。 Unless he gets the
victory over these three； all other victories are useless and vain。 If
he had a nature like an angel； and were not a fallen creature； the
warfare would not be so essential。 But with a corrupt heart； a busy
devil； and an ensnaring world； he must either 〃fight〃 or be lost。
He must fight the flesh。 Even after conversion he carries within him a
nature prone to evil； and a heart weak and unstable as water。 That
heart will never be free from imperfection in this world； and it is a
miserable delusion to expect it。 To keep that heart from going astray；
the Lord Jesus bids us 〃watch and pray。〃 The spirit may be ready； but
the flesh is weak。 There is need of a daily struggle and a daily
wrestling in prayer。 〃I keep under my body；〃 cries St。 Paul； 〃and bring
it into subjection。〃'〃I see a law in my members warring against the
law of my mind； and bringing me into captivity。〃〃O wretched man that
I am； who shall deliver me from the body of this death？〃〃They that
are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts。〃〃Mortify your members which are upon the earth。〃 （Mark xiv。
38； 1 Cor。 ix。 27； Rom。 vii。 23； 24； Gal。 v。 24； Coloss。 iii。 5。）
He must fight the world。 The subtle influence of that mighty enemy must
be daily resisted； and without a daily battle can never be overe。
The love of the world's good thingsthe fear of the world's laughter
or blamethe secret desire to keep in with the worldthe secret wish
to do as others in the world do； and not to run into extremesall
these are spiritual foes which beset the Christian continually on his
way to heaven； and must be conquered。 〃The friendship of the world is
enmity with God： whosoever therefore will be a friend of th