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their works。〃
（b） The Lord Jesus knows the works of His own people； and weighs them。
〃By Him actions are weighed。〃 （1 Sam。 ii。 3。） He knows the why and the
wherefore of the deeds of all believers。 He sees their motives in every
step they take。 He discerns how much is done for His sake； and how much
is done for the sake of praise。 Alas！ not a few things are done by
believers which seem very good to you and me； but are rated very low by
Christ。
（c） The Lord Jesus knows the works of all His own people； and will one
day reward them。 He never overlooks a kind word or a kind deed done in
His name。 He will own the least fruit of faith； and declare it before
the world in the day of His appearing。 If you love the Lord Jesus and
follow Him； you may be sure your work and labour shall not be in vain
in the Lord。 The works of those that die in the Lord 〃shall follow
them。〃 （Rev。 xiv。 13。） They shall not go before them； nor yet by their
side； but they shall follow them； and be owned in the day of Christ's
appearing。 The parable of the pounds shall be made good。 〃Every man
shall receive his own reward； according to his own labour。〃 （1Cor。 iii。
8。） The world knows you not； for it knows not your Master。 But Jesus
sees and knows all。 〃I know thy works。〃
Think what a solemn warning there is here to all worldly and
hypocritical professors of religion。 Let all such read； mark； and
digest these words。 Jesus says to you； 〃I know thy works。〃 You may
deceive me or any other minister； it is easy to do so。 You may receive
the bread and wine from my hands； and yet be cleaving to iniquity in
your hearts。 You may sit under the pulpit of an Evangelical preacher；
week after week； and hear his words with a serious face； but believe
them not。 But remember this； you cannot deceive Christ。 He who
discovered the deadness of Sardis and the lukewarmness of Laodicea；
sees you through and through； and will expose you at the last day；
except you repent。
Oh！ believe me； hypocrisy is a losing game。 It will never answer to
seem one thing and be another； to have the name of Christian； and not
the reality。 Be sure； if your conscience smites you and condemns you in
this matterbe sure your sin will find you out。 The eye that saw Achan
steal the golden wedge and hide it； is upon you。 The book that recorded
the deeds of Gehazi； and Ananias； and Sapphira； is recording your ways。
Jesus mercifully sends you a word of warning to…day。 He says； 〃I know
thy works。〃 But think also what encouragement there is here for every
honest and true…hearted believer。 To you also Jesus says； 〃I know thy
works。〃 You see no beauty in any action that you do。 All seems
imperfect； blemished； and defiled。 You are often sick at heart of your
own short…ings。 You often feel that your whole life is one great
arrear； and that every day is either a blank or a blot。 But know now
that Jesus can see some beauty in everything that you do from a
conscientious desire to please Him。 His eye can discern excellence in
the least thing which is a fruit of His own Spirit。 He can pick out the
grains of gold from amidst the dross of your performances； and sift the
wheat from amidst the chaff； in all your doings。 Your tears are all put
into His bottle。 Your endeavours to do good to others； however feeble；
are written in His book of remembrance。 The least cup of cold water
given in His name shall not lose its reward。 He does not forget your
work and labour of love； however little the world may regard it。
It is very wonderful； but so it is。 Jesus loves to honour the work of
His Spirit in His people； and to pass over their frailties。 He dwells
on the faith of Rahab； but not on her lie。 He mends His Apostles for
continuing with Him in His temptations； and passes over their ignorance
and want of faith。 （Luke xxii。 28。） 〃Like as a father pitieth his
children； so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him。〃 （Ps。 ciii。 13。） And
as a father finds a pleasure in the least acts of his children； of
which a stranger knows nothing； so I suppose the Lord finds a pleasure
in our poor feeble efforts to serve Him。
But it is all very wonderful。 I can well understand the righteous in
the day of judgment saying； 〃Lord； when saw we Thee an hungered and fed
Thee； or thirsty and gave Thee drink？ When saw we Thee a stranger； and
took Thee in？ or naked； and clothed Thee？ Or when saw we Thee sick or
in prison； and came unto Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。 37…39。） It may well seem
incredible and impossible that they can have done anything worth naming
in the great day！ Yet so it is。 Let all believers take the fort of
it。 The Lord says； 〃I know thy works。〃 It ought to humble you。 But it
ought not to make you afraid。
III。 I ask my readers to observe； in the third and last place； that in
every epistle the Lord Jesus makes a promise to the man that overes。
Seven times over Jesus gives to the Churches exceeding great and
precious promises。 Each is different； and each full of strong
consolation： but each is addressed to the overing Christian。 It is
always 〃he that overeth；〃 or 〃to him that overeth。〃 I ask you to
take notice of this。
Every professing Christian is the soldier of Christ。 He is bound by his
baptism to fight Christ's battle against sin； the world； and the devil。
The man that does not do this breaks his vow。 He is a spiritual
defaulter。 He does not fulfil the engagements made for him。 The man
that does not do this is practically renouncing his Christianity。 The
very fact that he belongs to a Church； attends a Christian place of
worship； and calls himself a Christian is a public declaration that he
desires to be reckoned a soldier of Jesus Christ。
Armour is provided for the professing Christian； if he will only use
it。 〃Take unto you；〃 says Paul to the Ephesians； 〃the whole armour of
God。〃 〃Stand； having your loins girt about with truth； and having on
the breastplate of righteousness。〃 〃Take the helmet of salvation； and
the sword of the Spirit； which is the Word of God。〃 〃Above all； take
the shield of faith。〃 （Ephes。 vi。 13…17。） And not least； the professing
Christian has the best of leaders： Jesus the Captain of Salvation；
through whom he may be more than conquerorthe best of provisions； the
bread and water of lifeand the best of pay promised to him： an
eternal weight of glory。
All these are ancient things。 I will not be drawn off from my subject
in order to dwell on them now。
The one point I want to impress upon your soul just now is this； that
the true believer is not only a soldier； but a victorious soldier。He
not only professes to fight on Christ's side against sin； the world；
and the devil； but he does actually fight and overe。
Now this is one。 grand distinguishing mark of true Christians。 Other
men； perhaps； like to be numbered in the ranks of Christ's army。 Other
men may have lazy wishes； and languid desires after the crown of glory。
But it is the true Christian alone who does the work of a soldier。 He
alone fairly meets the enemies of his soulreally fights with them；
and in that fight overes them。
One great lesson I want men to learn from these seven epistles is this；
that if you would prove you are born again and going to heaven； you
must be a victorious soldier of Christ。 If you would make it clear that
you have any title to Christ's precious promises； you must fight the
good fight in Christ's cause； and in that fight you must conquer。
Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that you have a saving
religion。 You like good sermons perhaps。 You respect the Bible； and
read it occasionally。 You say your prayers night and morning。 You have
family prayers； and give to Religious Societies。 I thank God for this。
It is an very good。 But how goes the battle？ How does the great
conflict go on all this time？ Are you overing the love of the world
and the fear of man？ Are you overing the passions； tempers； and
lusts of your own heart？ Are you resisting the devil and making him
flee from you？ How is it in this matter？ You must either rule or serve
sin； and the devil； and the world。 There is no middle course。 You must
either conquer or be lost。
I know well it is a hard battle that you have to fight； and I want you
to know it too。 You must fight the good fight of faith； and endure
hardships； if you would lay hold of eternal life。 You must make up your
mind to a daily struggle； if you would reach heaven。 There may be short
roads to heaven invented by man； but ancient Christianity； the good old
way； is the way of the crossthe way of conflict。 Sin； the world； and
the devil must be actually mortified； resisted； and overe。
This is the road that saints of old have trodden in； and left their
record on high。
（a） When Moses refused the pleasures of sin in Egypt； and chose
affliction with the people of Godthis was overing： he overcame the
love of pleasure。
（b） When Micaiah refused to prophesy smooth things to king Ahab； though
he knew he would be persecuted if he spoke the truththis was
overing： he overcame the love of ease。
（c） When Daniel refused to give up praying； though he knew the den of
lions was prepared for himthis was overing： he overcame the fear
of death。
（d） When Matthew rose from the receipt of custom at our Lord's bidding；
left all and followed Himthis was overing： he overcame the love of
money。
（e） When Peter and John stood up boldly before the council and said；
〃We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard〃this was
overing： they overcame the fear of man。
（f） When Saul the Pharisee gave up all his prospects of preferment
among the Jews； and preached that very Jesus whom he had once
persecutedthis was overing： he overcame the love of man's praise。
The same kind of thing which these men did you must also do if you
would be saved。 They were men of like passions with yourself； and yet
they overcame。 They had as many trials as you can possibly have； and
yet they overcame。 They fought。 They wrestled。 They struggled。 You must
do the same。
What was the secret of their victory？their faith。 They believed on
Jesus； and believing were made strong。 They believed on Jesus； and
believing were held up。 In all their battles； they kept their eyes on
Jesus； and He never left them nor forsook them。 〃They overcame by the
blood of the Lamb； and the word of their testimony；〃 and so may you。
（Rev。 xii。 11。）
I set these words before you。 I ask you to lay them to heart。 Resolve；
by the grace of God； to be an overing Christian。
I fear much for many professing Christians。 I see no sign of fighting
in them； much less of victory。 They never strike one stroke on the side
of Christ。 They are at peace with His enemies。 They have no quarrel
with sin。I warn you； this is not Christianity。 This is not the way to
heaven。
I often fear much for those who hear the Gospel regularly； i fear lest
you bee so familiar with the sound of its doctrines； that insensibly
you bee dead to its power。 I fear lest your religion should sink
down into a little vague talk about your own weakness and corruption；
and a few sentimental expressions about Christ； while real； practical
fighting on Christ's side is altogether neglected。 Oh！ beware of this
state of mind。 〃Be doers of the word； and not hearers only。〃 No
victoryno crown！ Fight and overe！ （James i。 22。）
Young men and women； and specially those who have been brought up in
religious families； I fear much for you。 I fear lest you get a habit of
giving way to every temptation。 I fear lest you bee afraid of
saying； 〃No！〃 to the world and the deviland； when sinners entice you；
think it least trouble to consent。 Beware； I do beseech you； of giving
way。 Every concession will make you weaker。 Go into the world resolve