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DISCOURSE V.

THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR.

EPHESIANS, VI. 11.

Put on the whole armour of God.

IN the foregoing parts of the epistle, St. Paul had enforced the duties resulting from the various relations of life. These are easily stated, but, as all sadly experience, not so easily performed. An opposition often arises within, excited by our own passions; and there are still more formidable enemies who attack us from without; endeavouring either to prevent us from forming proper resolutions, or from carrying them into execution when formed. Engaged as we are necessarily engaged in this perilous warfare, what is to be done? We are weak; how shall we become strong? We are without armour, either to defend ourselves, or to resist and put the enemy to flight: from what magazine shall we be provided? These questions are answered at large, and perfectly to satisfaction, in the portion of Scripture, which it shall be the design of the following discourse to explain, being the portion appointed for the epistle of this day.

"Finally, my brethren," says the apostle, having finished his scheme of duty, "be strong." If the

sentence closed here, the exhortation would be to little purpose. He who only exhorts a weak man to become strong, only mocks and insults him, unless the means are pointed out by which this change may be effected; unless the source be discovered from whence strength is derived.

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." That which was wanting, is now fully supplied. What the power of God's might is, we very well know. Mountains tremble, and rocks melt before it; the sea feels it, and flies; Jordan is driven back. Armies are discomfited, and cut off by a blast, in the night. The world itself was produced by this power in one instant, and may be destroyed in another. All created power, if opposed to that of the Creator, withers and falls like a leaf in autumn, when shaken by the stormy wind and tempest. It is "in the power of this might," that the apostle exhorts us to be strong.' But how is this? "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder "with a voice like him?" Yet St. Paul would never enjoin us to seek after that which could not be obtained. Our Redeemer is Almighty; he is with us by his Spirit, and his strength is ours. Look at his apostles in their natural state; ignorant and fearful of every thing: view them "endued with power from "on high;" acquainted with the whole counsel of God, and bold to proclaim it through all the nations of the earth. During the persecutions of the church, in her infant state, numbers of the weaker sex, receiving strength and courage from above, in the hour of trial, patiently endured all the torments which the

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malice of men and devils could invent. They triumphed gloriously. "Now are they crowned, and receive palms from the Son of God, whom they "confessed in the world." The promise of assistance in time of need is to us all; to us and to our children, and to as many as the Lord our God shall call. From thee, blessed Jesus, we learn our duty to thee must we look, and to thy all-powerful grace, for strength to perform it. Not in ourselves, but in thee, and in the power of thy might, we are strong. Without thee we can do nothing: with thee we can do all things.

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It is this consideration which alone can support us, when we take a view of the enemies whom we must encounter. Attend to our apostle's description of them. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, "but against principalities, against powers, against "the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The meaning is, that our own desires, carrying us on through the corruption of our nature towards forbidden actions, are not the only enemies with whom we are to contend; that there are others, not the less to be dreaded because we cannot see them; namely, evil spirits, who having been cast out of heaven, are permitted for a while to disturb the earth; to stir up against us either our own passions within, or the passions of other men without us; thus keeping the world in perpetual agitation, as the waves of the sea are driven and tossed by the wind. Such is our state, and the danger of it calls upon us diligently to learn and to practise all the rules which will presently be given us.

Men in our days, however, have found out a much shorter method, than that prescribed by the apostle, of dealing with these our spiritual enemies. They either disbelieve the existence of any such; or, if they believe it, agree to think no more of them. Too often, indeed we hear the name of our great adversary pronounced; but it is only as a kind of expletive in common conversation. No point is less seriously thought of; and it seems as if Christians were disposed to lay it by, as an antiquated fable. Yet, if the Scriptures are not to be laid by at the same time, this adversary is there represented as something real, and something formidable. To him are ascribed the force of a lion, and the subtlety of a serpent; he is said to deceive the whole world; to have put it into the heart of Ananias to tell a lie, and of Judas to betray his Master; to work in all the children of disobedience. We are told, in short, that "the Son of God was manifest"ed to destroy the works of the devil." And can we then calmly and sedately let it pass, that there are no such works and no such person; or, that it is a matter of indifference whether there be or not? Rest assured that such enemies we have, and that we shall fail in the combat, unless aided by a strength far superior to our own.

But since the strongest man enters not into battle without his armour, proceed we to consider that which, as the soldiers of Jesus Christ, the apostle directs us to provide.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of "God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, "and having done all, to stand."

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We must not so rely on the divine assistance, as to neglect our own exertions. Besides the strength communicated, as occasion requires, from above, there must be certain fixed and lasting dispositions wrought in the mind, which may render it at all times prepared and qualified to resist the enemy. These are represented as so many different pieces of armour, which all together compose what is styled "the whole armour of God." From him we receive it, and by him we are enabled to use it. It is to be put on and worn constantly; no more to be laid aside than our limbs or our faculties. Nor must any part be omitted: "Put on the whole armour of God." It is elsewhere called "the armour of light;" as serving, among other purposes, to discover to us the position, strength, and designs of our adversaries, "the rulers "of the darkness of this world," who love darkness, and work in darkness. They must be discovered, before they can be conquered, or indeed attacked. Otherwise, approaching unseen, they may suddenly attack and conquer us. Even when we have a sufficiency of light, the day of battle is, as the apostle says of it, "an evil day," a day of toil, of labour, of hazard; a day which all must wish to be well over; a day in which nothing but the armour of God, and the power of God, can enable us to brave the fury of the conflict; and having performed every thing expected of us as soldiers, to be found, unrepulsed, on our station, when it shall be happily end

a Arma enim membra militis esse dicunt. Cic.