All GOD'S People MUST Be In The WAR

The wicked refuse to engage in this war. Instead of fighting the Lord's battles, they take up arms on the enemy's side. They spend their time in chambering and wantonness, in idleness and carnal security.
 
They are altogether ignorant of satan's assaults,and of their own danger. Oh that their eyes were opened to see their danger in time to escape it! They are not the Lord's soldiers, but the devil's revellers. They will not fight against satan, and satan will not disturb their sleep. So they are in covenant with death and hell.
 
All the people of God, from first to last, are, and must be engaged in this spiritual warfare, and can say, we do not war after the flesh, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Such has been the language of the saints in all ages; they were all in the war, even the most holy of them all. 

Job, Moses and Aaron, Lot and David: the Patriarchs and the Prophets: all had their fiery trials. And so those under the gospel: Peter was winnowed,--Paul was buffeted, and even Christ himself was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
 
Must all God's people war with devils? Then consider what religion will cost you. The christian soldiers must endure hardness. Saints must be winnowed, buffeted, tried and tempted. Wars and dangers shall be their portion. and through much tribulation must they enter into the kingdom of God. See how Paul is in labors, in stripes, in prisons, in deaths. He was always in perils, wherever he went.

Christianity will cost you much here, and save you for ever. Then be a christian, that you may be a conqueror.
 
Are we to fight against sin and satan, the world and the flesh? then, courage! Christians! Be not dismayed. Are you afraid of these formidable enemies? Go forth in the strength of the Lord God, and he will put all your enemies shortly under your feet. 

Satan's fiery darts and all your trials shall do you good, and be to you as the waves to the ark, as the whale to Jonah, as the file that brightens the iron, as the mill that grinds the wheat, or as the fire that separates the dross from the gold.
 
Do you not feel your spirits sharpened, your pride subdued, your flesh cooled, and every lust mortified, and every grace invigorated, by these temptations and trials? Tell me, are not you roused to make earnest and ardent prayers, by these wars and conflicts?
 
Are not Satan's temptations like bellows to blow the fire of devotion in your soul, and like a hedge of thorns to keep you from going astray?
 
Oh vain men! be not afraid of the war, but enlist into the armies of Christ, and fight valiantly under the banner of the cross. It is an honorable war, Christ invites you to it, and promiseth to cover your head in the day of battle, and to crown you in the end. And what more would you have? 

Put on the whole armor of God, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and he is engaged to give you the victory.

~Isaac Ambrose~