the earth. It was so ordained, in his infinite wisdom, that the developement of his plans should be gradually made, and that the conquest should be effected, after a protracted contest. As soon as the dominion of the adversary took place, God gave sufficient indications that he did not design to leave him in peaceful possession. While the enemy was extending and strengthening his fortresses, He, to whom the kingdom belongs, retained one spot of territory, held in possession by a few of his reclaimed subjects, thus asserting his claims, while preparing the way for the coming of the great Captain of salvation, by whom a guilty world was to be redeemed.

When the song of the angels was sung in Bethlehem-Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men-when the tragedy of Calvary had been transacted-when the tomb of Joseph had resigned its charge, and the everlasting gates were opened to receive the conqueror of death-then were the preparations completed; and as he ascended to the right hand of his Father, there to reign until all things shall be put under his feet, he sent forth his disciples, to effect this mighty conquest, under his banner, with the commission, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned; and lo! I am with you always, to the end of the world.

To this little army the apostle had attached himself. It is to this contest, the instruments to be employed in it, and the ultimate result of it, that he alludes in our text. In this army every disciple of Christ enlists himself, and should be prepared to endure hard

ness as a good soldier. In this contest the church has been engaged ever since it has been erected out of the kingdom of darkness. This is the object to which the Christian world are now awaking, to put forth an energy in some measure corresponding with its magnitude. This is the object of our missionary enterprise. It is to expel Satan from the lodgments he has fortified to retain his influence over immortal minds, and perpetuate his control over the eternal destinies of men. It is to regain the world to the moral dominion

of God.

Such is the conquest.

Let us proceed to notice the strong-holds to be pulled down; and the weapons to be employed in achieving it.

A strong-hold is a place, either formed by nature, or prepared by art, to secure protection against attack or invasion by a hostile force; and which renders conquest difficult or impossible. By the expression in the text, in its figurative application, we are to understand, whatever there is in the state or condition of man, which is calculated to impede or render difficult his recovery from the dominion of sin and Satan, and to prevent his translation into the kingdom of Christ.

Such a strong-hold exists, in all that belongs to the spiritual state and moral condition of every individual of the human family. In every human bosom is a strong-hold, fortified against all the claims which God asserts, to reign in its affections, by natural, total depravity. This state of the heart is the natural and universal consequence of the fall of man. Adam, after the image of God, in which he had been created,

was defaced by sin, begat a son, in his own image and likeness; and thence through every succeeding generation, man has been shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin. The description which God gave of the internal state of the antideluvian sinners, is equally applicable to the race, in every age and place. He saw that every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And with the testimony of the prophet, that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, perfectly agrees the declaration of the apostle-The carnal mind is enmity against God, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

That such expressions as these, when considered in connection with the positive character which man has universally sustained, are designed to establish the fact of a natural depravity, transmitted from the fall, and pervading human nature, in all its extent, cannot be reasonably controverted. To interpret them as meaning only that man is naturally destitute of a religious propensity, or bias to good, is obviously inconsistent with the force of the language used. It implies not merely a destitution of grace, but a positive propensity to evil, which as necessarily brings forth sin in action, as a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Therefore the universal result, that there is not a just man on earth, that doeth good and sinneth not. This total depravity, producing hatred to God and his truth and the holiness he requires, resists every influence which is brought to bear upon it, and will continue its resistance, until a stronger power is exerted in its subjugation. Every heart, therefore, being a strong citadel in itself, and being defended by a legion,

requires that a distinct conquest be effected over it, to reduce it to the reign of Christ.

But the positive character which is formed, on this foundation of natural depravity, also presents a strong obstacle to the claims of the gospel, and the reconciliation of men to God. That reconciliation requires repentance, but man justifies himself in his transgression against God. It requires faith in Christ for his justification, but he has an evil heart of unbelief, which he is unwilling to cast away. It requires obedience, but as the leopard cannot change his spots, nor the Ethiopian his skin, so neither can they that are accustomed to do evil, learn to do well.

And this opposition of moral character is fortified by artificial barriers.

Ignorance, which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and rejects the light of Divine truth. The world by wisdom know not God. Though the invisible things of God, from the foundation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; yet how universally have men either become totally ignorant of the Deity, or changed his glory into an image, made like to man, or beasts, or creeping things? And where the highest means are bestowed, still their understandings are darkened, through the ignorance that is in them. The god of this world hath blinded the minds of those that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

We have only to trace the history of the human family from the period of the fall to the present time, and to cast our eyes over the earth, and contemplate

the condition of the nations, to learn that it is only where the written revelation of God has been given, that any correct knowledge of his nature and perfections, has been retained; and that, even there, there are few comparatively who retain it in any considerable degree. And hence the fact is accounted for, that under the most exalted advantages of religious improvement, men are to be found, of the greatest intellectual powers, and of the most extensive attainments in literature and science, who, in that which concerns their relation to God and the interests of eternity, have no definite ideas, or distinct understanding.

Prejudice. The human mind is not only indifferent to the requirements of God, but there is a positive, invincible opposition. When men have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the perfections of God, they do not like to retain him in their thoughts. The doctrines of divine truth are dismissed without examination. The understanding is closed against the admission of light, and the heart is steeled against conviction. The clearest evidence fails to discover the fallacy of errors already embraced, and the fullest demonstration is insufficient to convince of truth. Its claims being so contrary to all their feelings, and requiring an entire change of character, all their consideration of it is attended with a predetermination not to embrace it, and they entrench themselves against its influence, by becoming more confirmed in the false principles, in consistency with which they can indulge, undisturbed, in their sinful propensities.

The love of this present world.—Men, through the influence of their natural depravity, and the conscious