It is not the appearance of fighting. It is not a few faint, irresolute strokes. "So fight I," said the Apostle, "not as one that beateth the air." We must be resolute, determined, in earnest, giving our enemy no advantage. We must "not give place to the devil." We must watch against the smallest beginnings of sin. By "keeping the heart with all diligence," by putting on "the whole armor of God," by having faith as our shield, righteousness as our breastplate, the hope of salvation as our helmet, by keeping "the sword of the Spirit" bright with exercise, "praying with all prayer," standing near our Captain, looking to Him, relying upon Him, knowing that "without Him we can do nothing,"--so must we fight! All this is necessary, if we would overcome. It is not so easy to fight this fight as some suppose. It is not a true faith merely, an evangelical creed, a scriptural church, a comfortable sermon once or twice a week, a little Sabbath-keeping, an agreeable pause in your pleasures, giving to them a new relish--it is not this which constitutes Christianity. You that think religion so very easy a thing, have a care at least, lest when too late, you find that you know not what true religion meant. Easy? A depraved being to trample upon his lusts--a proud being to lie prostrate with humility and self-reproach--they that are "slow of heart to believe," to receive the gospel as little children? Easy? To "crucify the flesh," "to deny ungodliness," "to cut off a right hand, and to pluck out a right eye"? Easy? To be in the world, and yet not of the world--to come out from it, not by the seclusion of the cloister, but by holiness of life--to be diligent in its duties, yet not absorbed by them; appreciating its innocent delights, and yet not ensnared by them; beholding its attractions and yet rising superior to them? Easy? To live surrounded by objects which appeal to the sight, and yet to endure as seeing what is invisible? Easy? To pray and see no answer to prayer, and still pray on--to fight this battle, and find fresh foes ever rising up, yet still to fight on--to be harassed with doubts and fears, and yet walk on in darkness, tho we see no light, staying ourselves upon God? Easy? To be preparing for a world we have never visited, in opposition to so much that is captivating in a world where we have always dwelt, whose beauties we have seen, whose music we have heard, whose pleasures we have experienced? Easy? To resist that subtle foe who has cast down so many of the wise and the mighty?