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! — Temptation comes —

I. AS A WHIPPED FOE, and begins to say, "Oh, I am worsted; there is no danger in me." Watch it! Firemen watch the smouldering coals that the wind may again inflame. Men watch closely that place in an embankment which has once given way.

II. WITH A NEW FACE, and says, "I am not your weakness." Take heed! Faithful Abraham lost his faith, meek Moses was impatient, David became sensual, and lion-hearted Peter trembled.

III. AS A CHILD, and says, "Oh, I am so little, I cannot do anything." Watch it! Little temptations are seeds of the upas tree, eggs of the serpent, sleeping dynamite. The devil puts the little Oliver Twist through the window to open the door for him, the big robber. Hell is first lit with shavings.

IV. AS A SMILING FRIEND, and says, "You know me and love me; fear not." Watch it! The beloved Delilah betrayed the strong Samson to death. Watch and pray. The sentinel's power lies in his communication with the power that supports him, and then watchfulness. If he watch only, he can do nothing when the enemy comes He is one, the enemy is an army. But if he too can summon an army, then is his watching effective. So is prayer the Christian watchman's communication with the powers above him. If he watch only, he can do nothing, for he contends with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. But if he watch and pray, he, too, can summon powers omnipotent to his rescue. And prayer is communication with the power.

(R. S. Barrett.)

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KJV: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

WEB: so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let's watch and be sober.