Overcoming Evil with Good
Rom. xii, 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 Pet. iii, 12. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto his prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. The life of a Christian is a warfare; and the conflict between sin and holiness, and between sorrow and comfort, is often very violent. Sin, Satan, self and the world, are his daily enemies. He is also exposed to poverty, affliction, reproaches and persecutions. O my Saviour, help me to overcome every evil in the strength of thy grace; give me a heart to do good to all that may seek to hurt me. Who, my Christian friends, will harm you if you be followers of that which is good? Not the Father; for he loves you. Not Jesus; he died for you. Not the Spirit; he is to comfort you. Not good men; they love those who follow that which is good. Not wicked men, nor devils; for, though enemies, they are confined, and cannot stir one step beyond what your God and Saviour permits them. When you meet with a trial, look to no man, but to Jesus. Pray for patience to bear it, and look up for a blessing upon it. Then all things shall work together for good. Rom. viii, 28. Let every temptation make you more careful, and put you on closer watches against the enemy. Cleave to Jesus by faith and prayer, like a child to a parent, when it sees an enemy coming towards it. Behold him, flee to him, rest upon him, and then you will rejoice in him.