p. 127 | The Christian's Life by Gurnall

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1856

The Christian's Life.

By Gurnall

From his conversion till his natural death the Christian's life is a continual wrestling; from the hour when he first sets his face to heaven, till he shall set his foot in heaven, there is no condition wherein the Christian here below is quiet. Is it prosperity or adversity? Here is work for both hands to keep pride and security down in the one, faith and patience up in the other; and no place which the Christian can call privileged ground. No duty can be performed without wrestling; the Christian needs his sword as much as his trowel. He wrestles with a body of flesh; he cannot go on his journey without it, and much ado to go with it. If the flesh be kept high, then it is wanton and will not obey; if low, then it is weak, and soon tires. He wrestles with a body of sin; this mutters and murmurs when the soul is taking up any duty; sometimes keeps him from duty. It is true indeed, grace sways the sceptre in such a soul; yet the unregenerate part takes advantage when grace is not on its watch to disturb its government, and shut it out from duty; and when it cannot shut from duty, yet then is the Christian wofully yoked with it in duty. Thus we see the Christian is assailed on every side by his enemy; and how can it be otherwise, when the seeds of war are laid deep in the natures of both, which can never be rooted up till the devil ceases to be a devil, sin to be sin, and the saint to be a saint? Sin will lust against grace, and grace draw upon sin whenever they meet.