Page:Sermons for all the Sundays in the year.djvu/412

 goods, and thus forgets the divine judgments. ” And they perverted their own minds, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments." (Dan. xiii. 9.) He even hates the light, because he fears that it will interrupt his criminal pleasures. ” Every one that doth evil hateth the light.  ” (John iii. 20.) Hence, he becomes miserably blind, and goes round about continually from sin to sin.  ” The wicked walk round about." (Ps. xi. 9.) He then despises admonitions, divine calls, hell, heaven, and God. "The wicked, when he is come into the depth of sins, comtemneth." (Prov. xviii. 3.) 5. ” He hath," says Job,  ” torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant." (Job xvi. 15.) By conquering one temptation, a man acquires not only additional strength to repel future assaults, but also diminishes the power of the devil. And, on the other hand, when we yield to any temptation, the devil becomes like a giant, and we become so weak, that we have scarcely strength to resist him any longer. If you receive a wound from an enemy you lose strength. If to this new wounds be added you shall be exhausted, and rendered unable to defend yourself. This is what happens to the fools who say: "I will here after give myself to God." How can they resist the attacks of the devil, after they have lost their strength, and after their wounds have mortified? ” My sores are putrefied and corrupted, because of my foolishness." (Ps. xxxvii. 6.) At its commencement a wound is easily healed; but when it becomes gangrenous, the cure is most difficult. Recourse must be had to the cautery; but even this remedy is in many cases ineffectual. 6. But further, St. Paul teaches, that God ” will have all men to be saved ” (1 Tim. ii. 4); and that Jesus Christ came on earth for the salvation of sinners: ” Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners." (1 Tim. i. 15.) God certainly wills the salvation of all who desire it: he wills the salvation of those who wish to save their souls; but not of those who labour for their own damnation. Jesus Christ has come to save sinners. To save our souls, two things are necessary: