WHERE there has been war, a triumph supposes a battle to have been fought, a victory to have been obtained, and the great rejoicings of the conquerors upon this occlusion. The Christian has his matter of triumph, but it is spiritual. It is always in Christ, the Captain of his salvation. So it is written: "Thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ." The apostle is speaking of his preaching the gospel. He carried the sweat savour of Jesu's name from place to place; but it was not always received as a joyful sound, nor welcomed as it deserved, lie met with great opposition. The Holy Ghost witnessed that in every city bonds and afflictions awaited him: as these abounded, grace did much more abound: for he was carried on through persecutions, imprisonment, stoning, whipping, perils of various kinds, suffered for Christ, and Christ made him victorious over them all. He not only enabled Paul to conquer, but also made him more than conqueror–he was the blessed instrument of pulling down the strongholds of sin and Satan, and of setting up in the world that kingdom of Jesus which is flourishing to this day, and which will triumph to eternity.
A poor weak man had all the Roman empire against him, but he did wonders. Through Christ strengthening him, he went on conquering and to conquer; and to Christ he gives all the glory; acknowledging that the gospel, his preaching it, and the success of it, was of God; the excellency of the power was of God. "Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph iii Christ." He, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate, that as our surety he might live, and die, and conquer for us. It was to the everlasting honour of his grace and mercy that he would engage in this war, and undertake to deliver his people from the tyranny of their enemies. They were in bondage to sin–sold under sin–enslaved to divers lusts and pleasures–living according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the wicked spirit who now worketh effectually in the children of disobedience. These tyrants were leading them captive at their will, hoping soon to have them delivered over to death, and then to everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
In this miserable state under sin–under condemnation we all were–guilty and helpless, not only without any means of deliverance in our own power, but without any desire of it; being tempted to dream of liberty while we were tied and bound with the chain of our sins, and fancying that we were free, even while our enemies were waiting to exercise their utmost malice against us, by binding us with chains of everlasting darkness. O what mercies–what compassions are in our God–in our Jesus! He remembered us in this our low estate, and manifested the exceeding riches of his grace in coming from heaven to save his people from their sins. To this and Jehovah was manifested in the flesh, as it is written, Jer. 1. 33, 34, "The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go; but their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of Hosts is his name: he shall through]y plead their cause."
He made all our enemies his own, and fought our battles against them. He obeyed, that the broken law which stood against us might be magnified by his obedience; the penalties of it he endured, when the Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all. His cross was his triumphal chariot, on which he vanquished all our foes. (Col. ii. 14, 15.) He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in that same cross. By dying on it, he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; and by his rising from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures, he overcame death, and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. And now as God-man in one Christ, the almighty Saviour of his redeemed, he is seated upon his throne of grace: all his enemies being made his footstool, he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.
Such was the battle which the Redeemer fought, such was the victory which he obtained. The important news of it is the substance of that blessed gospel, which he ordered his apostles to preach to every creature, and which he promised to assist them in, and to be with them for that purpose to the end of the world. He is as good as his word to this day: still faith cometh by hearing it. The Holy Spirit witnesses to it, that it is the truth of God; and he applies it, and makes it the power of God unto salvation. He enables the hearers to mix such faith with it, that they receive and enjoy the happy fruits of Christ's victory. Once they were dead in trespasses and sins, but now Christ hath quickened them: they were guilty, and boundover to condemnation, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin and of death; once they walked after the course of this world, but now they walk with God. Their old enemies are still fighting against them, and watching for their, destruction; but they. are enabled to gain daily victory over them, over the world, the flesh, and the devil, through the strength of Jesus, and through the power of his might. Their wants are many, and they are daily made more sensible of them; but they have an abundant supply of everything that pertains to life and godliness out of the infinite fulness of God their Saviour.
Thus far the preceding .subjects went, entitled, THE LIFE OF FAITH, and THE WALK OF FAITH: the present treatise relates to the improvement of the former doctrines, considering the Scripture motives and encouragements for the believer's rejoicing always in the Lord, and triumphing in the God of his salvation. The ground of his triumph is the work of Christ: his warrant to depend upon it is the word of Christ: and his actual dependence is the work of the Spirit of Christ. Building upon these principles, he is commanded to go on from faith to faith, still pressing forward, that he may see more clearly the glory of the person, and the glory of the work of Christ; what he is to trust in for his title to salvation, and for the things which accompany salvation; and may by every day's experience be growing into a more settled dependence upon the word of Christ, and upon his faithfulness to fulfil it; and thereby may be learning to expect constant supplies, and according as his faith increases, receiving greater supplies of the power of the Spirit of Christ: that the God of hope may fill him with all joy and peace in believing, that he may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost: and we have an encouraging example in the Thessalonians, who had great trials, and met them with great faith.
The apostle commended it highly, but by practice it had so improved, that having occasion to mention it some time afterwards, he says–"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly." We have the same promises, and the stone helps, as they had–promises exceeding great and exceeding precious, containing a free grant in Christ of all spiritual blessings–a full warrant to make use of them for life and godliness; with commands and encouragements to trust, and not be afraid of any enemies, or of any dangers; because he is faithful who has promised to be with them–to guide them with his counsel–to keep them safe by his power–to bless them with his love–and never to leave them, nor forsake them; so that in all difficulties and troubles, they may go on their way rejoicing, until faith and patience have done their perfect work.
To this purpose, a divine, whose praise is in all the churches, has given this testimony: "It is an everlasting spring of comfort and encouragement unto the people of God, both in prayer and unto prayer; they pray to him, who is mighty, mighty to do what they pray for. The Lord's promises are our richest inheritances, and that not only because he hath promised greater and better things than are in the compass of any man's power to make good, or in the compass of any man's understanding to comprehend; but because he will certainly be as good in performance as he hath been in promise; for he is in one mind concerning all that he hath promised; he will be merciful as he hath promised; and pardon sin, as he hath promised; and sanctify all our troubles, as he hath promised: he will give us his Spirit, as he hath promised; and save us eternally, as he hath promised."
A great layman thus confirms the same truth: "Were God but believed in what he says, all the temptations of Satan, and the doubtings of our unbelieving hearts, would be silenced, and brought to nothing. What exceeding folly is it in our hearts, that God, who never deceived any that trusted in him, should be distrusted by any, and not believed by all. He is the God of truth; so is his word the word of truth. And not any soul that ever tried God, by trusting him upon his word, but found him so. Oh! then take God's word, and our hearts will be quiet! Though the heathen do rage, yet they imagine Out a vain thing, in this glorious doctrine, free grace in God is the fountain, full satisfaction to divine justice the way, but perfect salvation and redemption to all his elect body in Christ the end. And truly when a soul can say, My Beloved is mine, and I am his, he hath spoken all at once. I know no other light nor rule, but the Word and Spirit, to make out anything of God to any soul; the glory of the great day will be–God is mine, and I am his."