The True Victory

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · May 6, 1875

VICTORY over self is victory over the world. It is not the outward enemy, but the traitor within, that storms or undermines the citadel of spiritual life. Alas, that the gates are so often unbarred for the hosts of evil to enter! Alas, that the soul should so easily surrender, and suffer itself to be laid waste! As in the conflicts of nations, the conquering army re-inforces its own strength by the munitions of war taken from the vanquished foe, so does the victorious soul gather new forces from every temptation.

Yet the victory is gained—not by self-confidence and spiritual pride, but by humility and self-abnegation. The humble soul alone is truly strong, and safe from fall. What outward power can abuse him who, while he reverences the nature God has given him, still is lowly in his own eyes, "esteeming others better than himself"? What circumstances or condition of life can be adverse to him whose will is merged in the will of God? To him the tide of life flows "like a broad river's peaceful might," through sunshine and through storm, bearing steadily on its appointed course. His abundant peace is not stoicism: He is still a being of smiles and tears—tenderly alive to the joys of human sympathy, both in giving and receiving the blessed charities of life. At leisure from internal strife, he has a word of courage for the tempted, comfort for the sorrowing, reproof for the hardened sinner, hope for the penitent.—Monthly Religious Magazine.