Preface. IN these days of conflict, one conflict is sadly overlooked. We hear enough of the conflict of humanity with evils of all kinds around it, more than enough of the various conflicts between various parts of the great human family. But we hear very little of a greater conflict still, between the two kinds of humanity, the humanity of the first Adam and the humanity of the Second Adam; the conflict between the unregenerate, and the regenerate man, between the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit lusting against the flesh. We never can sufficiently protest against the ignoring this conflict, the hankering after a rest impossible on this side the grave The incorruptible crown which is the reward of overcoming in the conflict, is laid up for the faithful soldier of Christ, but he must depart hence before he can receive it. And therefore, sermons which force upon the reader the necessity of continual effort to bear oneself bravely in the conflict, are specially useful in our day. No substitute for laborious self-examination, for incessant tiresome watchfulness, no speculative theology, no mere clearness of view, no breadth of dogmatic opinion, no diluted sentiment of general lovingness, will supply the place of active, honest, simple exertion in the war of faith against the world, the flesh, and the devil. This is the character of these sermons. Couched in a style which has the pleasant rhythm of oral delivery, ringing with the earnest desire of persuading as well as pleasing, they possess the additional merit of suddenly discharging unexpected arrows on the sluggish conscience. May the Holy Spirit of God fix these arrows where they strike, and mature for the Crown the hearts they have roused to the Conflict. All Saints, Margaret Street. Oct. 26th, 1877. B. COMPTON. CONTENTS. ROMANS XIII. 11.-"And that, knowing the time, that now X. SERMON IV. (The Last Sunday of the Year.) THE WISE NUMBERING OF OUR DAYS, PSALM XC. 12" So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." SERMON V. (Epiphany.) THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. JOHN VIII. part of v. 12.-" I am the Light of the world." SERMON VI. (Septuagesima Sunday.) PRAYER IN THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS. S. JOHN XVI. part of v. 24.-" Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name." SERMON VII. THE CONFLICT AND THE CROWN. REV. II. part of v. 10.-" Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." SERMON VIII. (Quinquagesima Sunday.) FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY. 1 CORINTHIANS XIII. v. 13.-"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." |