d
pre-eminence over the creatures, and his spirit shall outlive all these
things he sees, and looks to, and what a dishonour must it be to spend an
immortal spirit on vanity, to have no eye beyond the span of time? As
Christ said, "What hath a man gained, if he lose his own soul?" What gain
ye in this world, though all things should befall you according to your
contentment, what gain ye, since ye prostitute an immortal soul unto the
service of the world, and have made it, to the prince of the world and all
things, a servant and slave?

Sermon XXI.

1 Pet. iv. 7.--"And watch unto prayer."

"Watch." A Christian should watch. A Christian is a watchman by office.
This duty of watchfulness is frequently commanded and commended in
scripture, Matt. xxiv. 42, Mark xiii. 33, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Eph. vi. 18, 1
Pet. v. 8, Col. iv. 2; Luke xii. 37. David did wait as they that did watch
for the morning light. The ministers of the gospel are styled watchmen in
scripture and every Christian should be to himself as a minister is to his
flock, he should watch over himself. This imports the Christian's
condition in this world, and expresses his exercise in it. Watching is a
military posture, and insinuates the Christian's case in this world. He is
compassed about with enemies, and therefore he must be a soldier, 2 Tim.
ii. 3. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ." The Christian hath a warfare to accomplish in this world, and
therefore the church here is militant, and in heaven triumphant, 1 Tim. i.
18. Every Christian should war a good warfare, holding faith and a good
conscience. What is the reason that when Christ triumphed upon the cross,
and conquered all his enemies, and is ascended on high, that he hath not
made all believers conquerors? Is the man that sits with Christ in
heavenly places, (Eph. ii. 6) and he who was dead with Christ, and also
risen with him, is he yet a soldier, when Christ hath overcome, and gotten
the crown? And the believer, hath he not the victory that Christ obtained?
Why then is he put to fight any more? Hath not Christ completely done it?
Yes indeed, Christ hath overcome by his own strength, (Col. ii. 15) and is
now on high, yet he will have the poor pieces of contemptible clay to
overcome the Archangel,(511) the immortal spirits. It was not so much for
the prince Gabriel,(512) the messenger of the covenant, the King of
saints, to overcome his own creature, but he h