A man's greatest & worst enemy

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"My deadly enemies, who compass me about." Psalm 17:9

How often are we defeated by our enemies! You may have many enemies; but there is no enemy—so subtle—so dangerous—so unwearied—and ever so close at hand—as that which you carry in your own bosom! The greatest enemy that we have to cope with, is that enemy self.

A man may do himself more injury in five minutes than all his enemies put together could do in fifty years! Self, therefore, is and ever must be a man's greatest and worst enemy!

 And how often are we defeated by this enemy! Self gets the better of us—pride, covetousness, fleshly lusts, carnality, worldly-mindedness, unbelief—some indulged evil, some besetting sin for a time overcomes the soul, and we are defeated by this enemy!