---

I. INQUIRE WHO MAY BE SAID TO BE CHRIST'S ENEMIES. In general we may observe that He has as many enemies as there are devils in hell and irregenerate men upon earth. Should it then be inquired, What way do men evidence their enmity at Christ? We answer —

1. By setting up their own wisdom and carnal reasoning in opposition to the revelation He has made of His Father's will to us in the Gospel.

2. By refusing to submit to His righteousness revealed in the Gospel (Romans 10:3).

3. By declining His yoke, and refusing to take on His burden.

4. By neglecting and despising His ordinances.

5. By persecuting His servants and people, both by tongue and hand.

6. By unbelief.

7. By raising, propagating and defending error.

8. By apostatizing from Christ after professing subjection to Him and kindness for Him.

9. By affecting to be neither His friends nor His foes; they do not choose to oppose religion, and as little can they think to be seen taking part with it. There are many other ways whereby the natural enmity of the heart exerts itself against Christ, which we cannot insist upon; such as resting on a form of godliness without seeking acquaintance with the power of it; living in the neglect of known duty when the Lord gives them an opportunity to perform it. Taking up with the hope of the hypocrite, and retaining a heart enmity to Christ under the cloak of pretended friendship. This is, indeed, a way of exerting the enmity of the heart against Christ, that eludes the eye of man; but He sees it, who will in a little make all the Churches know that "He searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men."

II. SPEAK OF THAT WORK OF CHRIST WHICH CONSISTS IN HIS MAKING HIS ENEMIES BECOME HIS FRIENDS BY MEANS OF THE GOSPEL.

1. When our Lord Jesus is about to bring a person into u state of friendship with Himself, He convinces the man of the sinfulness of his condition, persuading him both of the reality of his enmity against Him, and the danger to which he is exposed on account of it.

2. Our Lord having thus convinced the sinner of his sin, He also shows him the danger to which it exposes him, letting him see that they who do the things with which He stands chargeable are worthy of death.

3. As our Lord Jesus convinces the man of his danger on account of his sin, He also causes him to see the vanity and fruitlessness of every attempt he is ready to make in order to recommend himself to the Divine favour by his own works of righteousness.

4. The Spirit of God enlightens the mind of the convinced and awakened sinner in the knowledge of Christ; He destroys the veil of ignorance: wherewith the man's understanding was covered, and shines into his heart, giving him the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as it is displayed in the person of our glorious Immanuel.

5. Christ having made Himself known to the sinner, the Spirit apprehends the man for Christ, works faith in his heart, with all the other saving graces which are inseparably connected with it; and having implanted faith in the soul by means of the promise, He draws it forth into exercise SO as that the soul is brought actually to embrace the Saviour and close with Him.

III. OFFER SOME THOUGHTS UPON THE EFFECT OF THAT WORK WHICH CONSISTS IN CHRIST'S MAKING HIS ENEMIES BECOME HIS FRIENDS.

1. A real sense of the person's error and mistake in taking up the weapons of rebellion against God.

2. Falling in subjection under Christ includes in it faith's views of forgiveness, notwithstanding all the provocations the man sees himself chargeable with.

3. A sinner's falling under Christ by kindly subjecting the heart and soul to Him, has in it a holy blushing and confusion of face on account of sin the man has done.

4. This falling under Christ includes in it a cordial renouncing and giving up with every other lord and lover lisa. 26:13).

5. It includes a hearty embracing of, and closing with, Christ as our Saviour, Head and Husband.

6. It has in it a solemn giving up of the Whole man unto Christ, to be saved by Him, and also to serve Him.

IV. THE APPLICATION.

1. Of information.

(1) We may see from this subject the woeful condition which all men are in by nature; they are enemies to God in their minds, and daily discovering they are so in their life and conversation (Colossians 1:21).

(2) We may see that men are not only enemies to God, but obstinately so; they are disposed to continue in that unhappy condition until Divine power is exerted in their behalf.

(3) We may see the kindness and love of God toward sinners of mankind in devising means to have them brought back into a state of favour and friendship with Himself.

(4) We may see the power and efficacy of the Word of Christ when accompanied by the Spirit.

(5) We may see that there is no standing it out against the Captain of salvation; His arrows are sharp and piercing. All must either bow to Him, and yield Him the subjection of faith, or be broken by the iron rod of His irresistible power.

(6) We may from this subject infer the safety and preservation of the Church and every particular believer. Zion's' King is a man of war; He fights for Mount Zion and the hill thereof. He is never at a loss to strike a blow with success upon His adversaries; for strong is His hand, and high is His right hand.

2. Of examination. Have you really seen the contrariety of your nature and practice to the image, will, and holy law of God? Has the Holy Spirit convinced you of sin, because ye believed not on the only begotten Son of God? Have you really received Christ Jesus the Lord in all His offices?

3. Of exhortation.

(1) We exhort such of you as are brought over to Christ, by the all-conquering power of His Spirit and grace, to bless the Lord, that ever He was pleased to make a saving revelation of His powerful arm to you, determining you to give up with the service of sin and Satan, and take on the yoke of Christ.

(2) We exhort you, who have had, it may be, some experience of what is affirmed concerning the arrows of Christ in the text, but have not as yet been brought to fall under Him, in a kindly manner, taking Him as the Captain of your salvation; we intreat you to beware of stifling your convictions and quenching the motions of the Holy Spirit.

(3) We exhort all who may be labouring under convictions to be on their guard against giving way to despondency or despair, though for the present you may not see anything but blackness, darkness and tempest, attended with the trumpet sounding loudly from Mount Sinai; yet you know not how soon the day may break and the shadows flee away.

(4) It may, perhaps, be the case with some that they cannot say but they have had some convictions; yet they have not had experience of so many strong and lasting convictions as they have heard and read of in the case of others, and so labour under doubts and fears whether or not they are yet brought over to Christ. If Christ be precious to you, if your souls cleave to the covenant of promise in faith and love; and if sin be the object of your real hatred, you have reason to conclude you are passed from death to life and shall never come into condemnation.

(5) We exhort you who are yet in the camp of Satan, and so acting the part of enemies to Zion's King to consider the sinfulness of your conduct. You are engaged in a most unrighteous, dangerous and soul-ruining war.

(T. Bennet.)

---

---

KJV: Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

WEB: Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king's enemies.