can do his duty in it； and yet not be conformed to it； who can pass
through it unmoved by its smiles or its frowns； its flattery or its
enmity； its open opposition or its playful ridicule； its sweets or its
bitters； its gold or its sword！ When I think what the world is； and see
what harm it has done and is doing to souls； I do not wonder that St。
Paul says； 〃Hold fast。〃 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃
（e） For one thing more； the devil is a constant enemy to the
Christian's soul。 That great； sleepless； and unwearied foe is always
labouring to do us harm。 It is his constant object to wound； hurt； vex；
injure； or weaken； if he cannot kill and destroy。 He is an unseen enemy
who is always near us； 〃about our path； and about our bed；〃 and spying
out all our ways； prepared to suit his temptations to the special weak
points of every man。 He knows us far better than we know ourselves。 He
has been studying one book for 6000 years； the book of fallen human
nature； and he is a spirit of almost boundless subtlety and cunning；
and of boundless malice。 The best of saints has little idea how many
vile suggestions in his heart e from the devil； and what a restless
adversary stands at his right hand。
This is he who tempted Eve at the beginning； and persuaded her that she
might disobey God； eat the forbidden fruit and not die。 m This is he
who tempted David to number the people； and to cause the death of
70；000 of his subjects by pestilence in three days。This is he who
tried to tempt our Lord in the wilderness immediately after His
baptism； and even quoted Scripture to gain his end。 This is he who
opposed our Lord all throughout His three years' ministry； sometimes by
possessing the bodies of unhappy men and women in a most mysterious
manner； and at last by putting it into the heart of one of His Apostles
to betray Him。This is he who constantly opposed the Apostles after
our Lord's ascension； and tried to stop the progress of the
gospel。This is he of whom St。 Paul testifies that even 〃Satan is
transformed into an angel of light；〃 and that false teachers are his
agents （2 Cor。 11：14）。
Does any reader of this paper foolishly suppose that the devil is
asleep； or dead； or less mischievous now than in old time？ Nothing of
the kind！ He is still 〃 walking about like a roaring lion； seeking whom
he may devour。〃 He is still 〃going to and fro in the earth； and walking
up and down in it〃 （1 Pet。 5：8； Job 1：7）。 It is he who goes among
heathen nations and persuades them to shed oceans of blood in the
worship of idols； or murderous wars。 It is he who goes to and fro
amongst fallen Churches； persuading them to throw aside the Bible； and
satisfy people with formal worship or grovelling superstitions。It is
he who walks up and down in Protestant countries； and stirs up party
spirit； and bitter political strife； setting class against class； and
subjects against rulers； in order to distract men's minds from better
things。It is he who is continually going to the ears of intellectual
and highly educated men； persuading them that the old Bible is not
true； and advising them to be content with Atheism； Theism；
Agnosticism； Secularism； and a general contempt for the world to e。
It is he； above all； who persuades foolish people that there is no such
person as a devil； and no future judgment after death； and no hell。 In
all this fearful list of things I firmly believe that the devil lies at
the bottom； and is the true root； reason； and cause。 Can we suppose for
a moment that he will let true Christians go quietly to heaven； and not
tempt them by the way？
Away with the silly thought！ We have need to pray against the devil； as
well as against the world and the flesh。 In the great trinity of
enemies which the believer should daily remember； the devil perhaps is
the greatest because he is the least seen。 Nothing delights him so much
（if； indeed； he can be delighted at all） as to injure a true Christian；
and make him bring discredit on his religion。 When I think of the
devil； I do not wonder that St。 Paul said； 〃Hold fast。〃 〃Let us hold
fast our profession。〃
Now I suspect that some reader of this paper may be secretly thinking
that I am an alarmist； and that there is no need of such watchfulness；
carefulness； and 〃holding fast。〃 I ask such a person to turn with me to
the Bible for a few moments； and to consider seriously what that
blessed book teaches。
I ask him to remember that Judas Iscariot and Demas both began well；
and made a good profession。 One was a chosen Apostle of our Lord Jesus
Christ； a constant panion of our blessed Saviour for three years。 He
walked with Him； talked with Him； heard His teaching； saw His miracles；
and up to the very night before our Lord was crucified was never
thought a worse man than Peter； James； or John。 Yet this unhappy man at
last let go his profession； betrayed his Master； came to a miserable
end； and went to his own place。The other man whom I named； Demas； was
a chosen panion of the Apostle St。 Paul； and professed to be of like
mind with that eminent man of God。 There can be little doubt that for
some years he journeyed with him； helped him； and took part in his
evangelistic labours。 But how did it all end？ He gave up his
profession； and the last Epistle St。 Paul wrote contains this
melancholy record： 〃 Demas has forsaken me； having loved this present
world〃 （2 Tim。 4：10）。 We never hear of him again。
To every one who thinks I have dwelt too much on the Christian's
dangers； I say this day； Remember Demas； remember Judas Iscariot；
tighten your grasp； 〃hold fast your profession；〃 and beware。 We may
appear to men to be very good Christians for a season； and yet prove at
last to be stony…ground hearers； and destitute of a wedding garment。
But this is not all。 I ask every believer to remember that if he does
not 〃hold fast；〃 he may pierce himself through with many sorrows； and
bring great discredit on his character。 We should never forget David's
awful fall in the matter of the wife of Uriah； and Peter's
thrice…repeated denial of his Master； and Cranmer's temporary
cowardice； of which he so bitterly repented at last。 Are we greater and
stronger than they？ 〃Let us not be high…minded； but fear。〃 There is a
godly fear which is of great use to the soul。 It was the great Apostle
of the Gentiles who wrote these words： 〃I keep under my body； and bring
it into subjection； lest； after I have preached to others； I myself
should be a castaway〃 （1 Cor。 9：27）。
Does any Christian reader of these pages desire much happiness in his
religion； and much joy and peace in believing？ Let him take an old
minister's advice this day； and '： hold fast his profession。〃 Let him
resolve to be very thorough； very decided； very watchful； very careful
about the state of his soul。 The more boldly he shows his colours； and
the more unpromising and firm he is； the lighter will he find his
heart； and the more sensibly will he feel the sun shining on his face。
None are so happy in God's service as decided Christians。 When John
Rogers； the first martyr in Queen Mary's time； was being led to
Smithfield to be burned； the French Ambassador reported that he looked
as bright and cheerful as if he were going to his wedding。
Does any Christian reader of these pages desire much usefulness to
others in his religion？ Let me assure him that none do so much good in
the long run of life； and leave such a mark on their generation； as
those who 〃hold fast their profession〃 most tightly； and are most
decided servants of Christ。 Few men； perhaps； did more for the cause of
the Protestant Reformation； and shook the power of Rome more pletely
in this country； than the two noble bishops who were burned back to
back at one stake in Oxford； and would not let go their faith to save
their lives。 I need not say that I refer to Ridley and Latimer。 The
careless； thoughtless； irreligious world takes notice of such men； and
is obliged to allow that there is something real and solid in their
religion。 The more light shines in our lives； the more good shall we do
in the world。 It is not for nothing that our Lord says； in the Sermon
on the Mount； 〃Let your light so shine before men； that they may see
your good works； and glorify your Father which is in heaven〃 （Matt。
5：16）。
Let us gather up all these things in our memories； and never forget
them。 Let it be a settled principle in our minds； that it is of
immeasurable importance to our happiness and usefulness to 〃hold fast
our profession；〃 and to be always on our guard。 Let us dismiss from our
minds the crude modern idea that a believer has only got to sit still；
and 〃yield himself〃 to God。 Let us rather maintain the language of
Scripture； and strive to 〃mortify the deeds of our body；〃 to 〃crucify
our flesh；〃 to 〃cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and
spirit；〃 to wrestle； to fight； and live the soldier's life （Rom。 8：13；
Gal。 5：24； 2 Cor。 7：1； Eph。 6：12； 1 Tim。 6：12； 2 Tim。 2：3）。 One might
think that the account of the armour of God in the Epistle to the
Ephesians ought to settle the question of our duty。 But the plain truth
is； men will persist in confounding two things that differ； that is
justification and sanctification。 In justification； the word to be
addressed to man is； Believe； only believe。 In sanctification； the word
must be； Watch； pray； and fight。 What God has divided； let us not
mingle and confuse。 I can find no words to express my own deep sense of
the immense importance of 〃holding fast our profession。〃
III。 In the last place； let us consider what encouragement there is to
Christians to hold fast their profession。
The Apostle St。 Paul was singularly fitted； both by grace and nature；
to handle this subject。 Of all the inspired writers in the New