Wesley Corpus

inference deduced from what has been said, which is this : -• . .« ...»,.' That if we are not excluded from all pos sibility of falling from our station, forfeiting the portion of grace we have received, and missing our glorious reward, we are not at li berty to indulge ourselves in ease and security. Vigour, industry, and perseverance, become the necessary dutitis of Christians ; we must watch and pray that we enter not into temptation, and have power to overcome what we cannot escape. We must continually strive to enter in at the strait gate, and constantly oppose our spiritual adversaries. As long as we are watch ful we are safe, but if we trust to our best per formances alas! need not tell you how grievously we shall find ourselves deceived at last. There is not a more dangerous delusion than for a man to think himself beyond the power of temptation : we then become careless in our duty, negligent in our station, confident in our own strength ; till, like Samson, we " wist not that the Spirit of God is departed." Caution and watchfulness are essential cha