In obedience to these rules, my brethren, consists our great security, under the guidance of infinite wisdom and the support of almighty power: the grace of God is ever ready to be bestowed, ever at hand to “preserve us from falling;” but God expects and requires us, in the use of this grace, to employ every means of prudence, and to strive with a holy and unbending resolution: this grace is afforded for the very purpose, that we may so watch and work; and if we do not thus improve it, with circumspection and diligence, it will be withdrawn. Never so much as listen to any sinful proposal, to any doubtful invitation; stay not to reason upon it at all; turn away with holy jealousy; never suffer the eye to dwell upon a forbidden object, to dwell even for a moment; through the eye it may find a passage to the heart, and inflame it with unlawful and hurtful desire: resist at once; the first victory is the easiest, as well as the surest. Say to the temptation, as your Lord said to the tempter, “get thee hence, Satan;” “flee from him and he will flee from you”—“escape for thy life.”
And here I must add an observation upon the means, by which we may be enabled to follow this momentous advice of the wisest of men. We must “watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation;” { 364} we must go forth into the world in the spirit of watchfulness and prayer; praying, not only that we may have the grace to watch, but also when the trial actually arises, when we are watching. In the presence of temptation, or if we do but perceive or suspect that it is coming, let the soul be lifted up to the “Lord of all power and might;” let the language of the heart, if not of the lips, be poured forth in pious aspiration to God; if it be but a word, a wish, or a thought, it will be clothed with strength, and minister a stedfastness to the mind and heart. We are thus animated by the assurance of divine support, and fixed in our holy determination of resistance to all evil. Much depends, for safety and success, upon this habitual spirit of devotion; it is our buckler and shield in every moment of conflict; without it, we are standing, in the feebleness of nature, before the mighty enemy of our souls; ready to “be taken captive by him at his will.” { 365a} “Be ye therefore sober (that is, be serious) and watch unto prayer;” { 365b} and thus “go forth conquering and to conquer.”