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undying hatred。 He is ever stirring up opposition against all its
members。 He is ever urging the children of this world to do his will；
and to injure and harass the people of God。 If he cannot bruise the
head； he will bruise the heel。 If he cannot rob the believers of
heaven； he will vex them by the way。
Warfare with the powers of hell has been the experience of the whole
body of Christ for six thousand years。 It has always been a bush
burning； though not consumeda woman fleeing into the wilderness； but
not swallowed up。 （Exod。 iii。 2； Rev。 xii。 6； 16。） The visible Churches
have their times of prosperity and seasons of peace； but never has
there been a time of peace for the true Church。 Its conflict is
perpetual。 Its battle never ends。
Warfare with the powers of hell is the experience of every individual
member of the true Church。 Each has to fight。 What are the lives of all
the saints； but records of battles？ What were such men as Paul； and
James； and Peter； and John； and Polycarp； and Chrysostom； and
Augustine； and Luther； and Calvin； and Latimer； and Baxter； but
soldiers engaged in a constant warfare？ Sometimes the persons of the
saints have been assailed； and sometimes their property。 Sometimes they
have been harassed by calumnies and slanders； and sometimes by open
persecution。 But in one way or another the devil has been continually
warring against the Church。 The 〃gates of hell〃 have been continually
assaulting the people of Christ。
We who preach the Gospel can hold out to all who e to Christ；
〃exceeding great and precious promises。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 4。） We can offer
boldly to you； in our Master's name； the peace of God which passeth all
understanding。 Mercy； free grace； and full salvation； are offered to
every one who will e to Christ； and believe on Him。 But we promise
you no peace with the world； or with the devil。 We warn you； on the
contrary； that there must be warfare so long as you are in the body。 We
would not keep you back； or deter you from Christ's service。 But we
would have you 〃count the cost；〃 and fully understand what Christ's
service entails。 （Luke xiv。 28。）
（a） Marvel not at the enmity of the gates of hell。 〃If ye were of the
world； the world would love his own。〃 （John xv。 19。） So long as the
world is the world； and the devil the devil； so long there must be
warfare； and believers in Christ must be soldiers。 The world hated
Christ； and the world will hate true Christians； as long as the earth
stands。 As the great reformer； Luther； said； 〃Cain will go on murdering
Abel so long as the Church is on earth。〃
（b） Be prepared for the enmity of the gates of hell。 Put on the whole
armour of God。 The tower of David contains a thousand bucklers； all
ready for the use of God's people。 The weapons of our warfare have been
tried by millions of poor sinners like ourselves； and have never been
found to fail。
（c） Be patient under the enmity of the gates of hell。 It is all working
together for your good。 It tends to sanctify。 It will keep you awake。
It will make you humble。 It will drive you nearer to the Lord Jesus
Christ。 It will wean you from the world。 It will help to make you pray
more。 Above all； it will make you long for heaven。 It will teach you to
say with heart as well as lips； 〃e； Lord Jesus。 Thy kingdom e。〃
（d） Be not cast down by the enmity of hell。 The warfare of the true
child of God is as much a mark of grace as the inward peace which he
enjoys。 No cross； no crown！ No conflict； no saving Christianity！
〃Blessed are ye；〃 said our Lord Jesus Christ； 〃when men shall revile
you； and persecute you； and say all manner of evil against you falsely；
for my sake。〃 If you are never persecuted for religion's sake； and all
men speak well of you； you may well doubt whether you belong to 〃the
Church on the rock。〃 （Matt。 v。 11； Luke vi。 26。）
V。 There remains one thing more to be consideredthe Security of the
true Church of Christ。 There is a glorious promise given by the
Builder； 〃The gates of hell shall not prevail。〃
He who cannot lie has pledged His word that all the powers of hell
shall never overthrow His Church。 It shall continue； and stand； in
spite of every assault。 It shall never be overe。 All other created
things perish and pass away； but not the Church which is built on the
rock。
Empires have risen and fallen in rapid succession。 Egypt； Assyria；
Babylon； Persia； Tyre； Carthage； Rome； Greece； Venice。Where are all
these now？ They were all the creations of man's hand； and have passed
away。 But the true Church of Christ lives on。
The mightiest cities have bee heaps of ruins。 The broad walls of
Babylon have sunk to the ground。 The palaces of Nineveh are covered
with mounds of dust。 The hundred gates of Thebes are only matters of
history。 Tyre is a place where fishermen hang their nets。 Carthage is a
desolation。 Yet all this time the true Church stands。 The gates of hell
do not prevail against it。
The earliest visible Churches have in many cases decayed and perished。
Where is the Church of Ephesus and the Church of Antioch？ Where is the
Church of Alexandria and the Church of Constantinople？ Where are the
Corinthian； and Philippian； and Thessalonian Churches？ Where； indeed；
are they all？ They departed from the Word of God。 They were proud of
their bishops； and synods； and ceremonies； and learning； and antiquity。
They did not glory in the true cross of Christ。 They did not hold fast
the Gospel。 They did not give the Lord Jesus His rightful office； or
faith its rightful place。 They are now among the things that have been。
Their candlestick has been taken away。 But all this time the true
Church has lived on。
Has the true Church been oppressed in one country？ It has fled to
another。Has it been trampled on and oppressed in one soil？ It has
taken root and flourished in some other climate。Fire； sword； prisons；
fines； penalties； have never been ab