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1. To fight wisely is not to fight at a venture, but with a definite aim. Ahab, indeed. was shot by an arrow sent at a venture; but this is told us to magnify the Providence of God, who, in His designs, can direct the aimless shaft whithersoever it pleases Him; not to teach us that aimless shafts are likely on common occasions to be successful. Yet what is the warfare of many Christians but the sending of shafts at a venture?

2. The first work of the politic spiritual warrior will be to discover his besetting sin, and having discovered it, to concentrate all his disposable force before this fortress. Just as each individual has a certain personal configuration, distinguishing him from all other men, so there is some sin or sins which more than others is conformable to his temperament, and therefore more easily developed by his circumstances — which expresses far more of his character than others. This bosom sin is eminently deceitful. Its especial property is to lurk.

(1) The besetting sin of many is vanity. Who knows not how it apes humility, so as really to impress its possessor with the notion that he is humble? Intensely self-satisfied in his heart of hearts, he depreciates himself in conversation. What follows? Men say to him, as in the parable, "Go up higher." He has been fishing for compliments, and compliments have risen to the hook. Is it not so? For would he not have bitterly resented it had any of the company taken him at his word?

(2) Some men cannot bear to be second. Whatever they do must be done seas to throw into the shade all competitors. The world dignifies this with the name of honourable emulation, and accepts it as a token of fine character. But, judged by the mind of Christ, how does the sentiment sound, "Because I cannot outshine all rivals, therefore I will be nothing"? It jars strangely with those words, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them," &c. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory," &c.

(3) A bosom sin, that it may the more easily escape detection, will wear the mask of another sin. Indolence, e.g., is a sin which carries with it omissions of duty. Prayer or Scripture reading is omitted or thrust away into a corner, because we have not risen sufficiently early. Things go cross during the day in consequence, and we trace it all up to the omission of prayer. But the fault lies deeper. It was indolence which really caused the mischief. One of the first properties, then, of the bosom sin with which it behoves us to be well acquainted, as the first step in the management of our spiritual warfare, is its property of concealing itself. In consequence of this, it often happens that a man, when touched upon his weak point, answers that whatever other faults he may have, this fault at least is no part of his character. It is to aid in bringing to light these secret sins that we make the following suggestions —

I. Praying heartily for the light of God's Spirit to know thine own heart, OBSERVE AND REASON UPON THE RESULTS OF SELF-EXAMINATION. When this most salutary exercise has been pursued for a certain time, you will observe that the same failures are constantly recurring. The conclusion is almost inevitable that there is something serious beneath these constantly recurring failures. What is it? — selfishness, indolence, vanity, anxiety, &c. Remember always, that in the symptom, and on the surface, it may look like none of these, and yet be really and fundamentally one of them.

II. LET US HAVE OUR EYE UPON THE OCCURRENCES WHICH SPECIALLY GIVE ITS PAIN OR PLEASURE. They will often be the veriest trifles; but yet, be it what it may, the probabilities are that, by tracing it to its source, we shall get to the quick of our character, to that sensitive quarter of it where the bosom-adder lies coiled up.

III. WHEN THE DISCOVERY IS MADE, THE PATH OF THE SPIRITUAL COMBATANT BECOMES CLEAR, HOWEVER ARDUOUS. Your fighting is to be no longer a flourishing of the arms in the air; it is to assume a definite form, it is to be a combat with the bosom sin. Appropriate mortifications must be adopted, such as common sense will suggest. If indolence be the besetting sin, we must watch against slovenliness in little things; if selfishness, we must lay ourselves out to consider the wishes of others; if discontent, we must review the many bright points of our position, and seek our happiness in our work. But the great matter to be attended to in each case is, that the whole forces of the will should be concentrated for a time in that one part of the field, in which the besetting sin has entrenched itself. Thus point and definiteness will be given to Christian effort.

IV. FOR EACH ONE OF US, NO BUSINESS CAN BE OF MORE URGENT IMPORTANCE THAN THIS DISCOVERY OF OUR BESETTING SIN. In conclusion, he who prays, "Show me myself, Lord," should take good care to add, lest self-knowledge plunge him into despair, "Show me also Thyself." The course recommended will probably lead us to the conclusion that our heart, which showed so fair without, is an Augean stable, which it requires a moral Hercules to cleanse; but the love of Christ and grace of Christ are stronger than our corruptions.

(Dean Goulburn.)

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KJV: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

WEB: I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air,