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32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
A great conflict and a glorious victory are here set out; a conflict not in notion, but in action; hidden from the mighty ones of the earth: known only to those, who having enlisted under the baptismal banner, are ‘manfully fighting’† against their spiritual enemies. The heart is the field of battle. All its evil and powerful passions are deadly foes. They must be met and triumphed over in the strength of God. Those who are ignorant of God and of themselves make light of them. They scarcely acknowledge them as such. Instead of being slow to anger, under provocation, they think that they “do well to be angry.” (Jonah 4:9.) It is a disgrace to put up with wrong. An hasty temper is an infirmity. They are hardly responsible for it. Nay — the indulgence is a relief, and they hope to cool down in time, utterly unconscious of any sin against God. Thus, instead of having rule over their spirit, they are captives, not conquerors.
But can a Christian do so? — he who hath “yielded himself unto God, as one that is alive from the dead”? (Romans 6:13.) “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Ib. verse 2.) Must we not vigorously “keep under the body, and bring it into subjection” (1 Corinthians 9:27); especially that “little member,” which is such a mighty instrument of evil? To bridle the tongue, so as to check the expression of passion, or “speaking unadvisedly with our lips” — is a victory (James 3:2), that can only be achieved by Almighty strength. The pains and cost of the conflict are beyond human calculation. But the victory compensates for all.
The glory of this victory is indeed far above the mighty. The taking of a city is child's play, compared with this “wrestling with flesh and blood.” That is only the battle of a day. This, the weary, unceasing conflict of a life. There, the enemy might be mastered with a single blow. Here, he is to be chained up, and kept down with unremitting perseverance. The magnifying of the conflict exalts the glory of the triumph. Gideon's rule over his spirit was better than his victory over the Midianites. (Judges 8:1-3.) David's similar conquest was better, than could have been the spoils of Nabal's house. (1 Samuel 25:33.) Not less glorious was that decisive and conscious mastery over his spirit, when he refused to drink the water of Bethlehem, obtained at the hazard of his bravest men; thus condemning the inordinate appetite, that had desired the refreshment at so unreasonable a cost! (2 Samuel 23:17.) On the contrary, the renowned conqueror of the East lived and died a miserable slave. He lost more honour at home, than he gained by his conquests abroad; famous in war, but shamefully degraded by a brutish foe.† Though valour is commendable, as a natural gift of God (Judges 6:12); yet ‘to be our own master, is far more glorious for us, than if we were the masters of the world.’† ‘Among all my conquests’ — said the dying emperor Valentinian — ‘there is but one that now comforts me. I have overcome my worst enemy — my own haughty heart.’ This then is to subdue an enemy, that has vanquished conquerors — This surely is to be “more than conquerors.” Christian! never forget the source of victory — “Through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37.)
This recollection brings us to the true point. Keep close to the glorious standard of an Almighty, most loving Savior. Never is victory severed from it. Trials may be appointed, yet only to discipline for triumph; to draw us from our fancied, to our real strength.
Often does the Christian soldier win the day, even when he has been wounded in the fight. Yet think not the war is ended, because a battle is won. No quarter can be given, no truce allowed on either side. The enemy may have been stabbed at the heart; yet will he get up, and renew the fight. Thou must walk — yea — sleep — in thine armour. It must be worn, not laid up. There is “no discharge from this war,” till thy body of sin and death is laid in the grave. Meanwhile victory is declared, before the conflict begins. Let every day then be a day of triumph. The promises are to present victory.† With such stirring, stimulating hopes, thou shalt surely have rule, if thou wilt but dare to have it. And if thou hast not courage enough to be a Christian, thou must be a slave for life to the hardest of task-masters.
This bloodless victory, so contrary to the turmoil of war (Isaiah 9:5), is the crown of Christian grace. (Romans 12:19.) No other grace of the gospel can be exercised without its influence. Yet the daily conquest anticipates the final victory, the spoils of which will be reaped throughout eternity.†
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