Exposition on John 5, Ephesians 6 · Verse 14
VERS. 14.
Stand therefore, &c.
IN this and the verſes following, is laid downe a particular exemplification of that generall direction giuen vntounto vsus, how to keepe our ſelues ſafe from all the aſſaults of our ſpirituall enemies. In which we may obſerue, how the Apoſtle la…es down. 1 Duties to be performed, which are twofold.
1 Stand, in this verſe.
2 Pray, verſe 18.
2 The meanes whereby they are performed, 1 That wee may ſtand. The meanes are expreſſed in ſixe branches. 1 The girdle of verity, &c.
2 That we may pray. The meanes are, verſe 18. Before wee come to the particular handling of theſe points, obſerue here the coherence, and ioyning together of theſe two duties, Stand and pray. Whereby we learne, that as on the oe ſide wee ſhould not be faint-hearted, timorous, and careleſſe: ſo on the other wee be hot proud a…d inſolent, truſting, and preſuming on our owne ſtrength. The firſt ſhewes that God will not helpe vsus, vnleſſe wee labour and endeauour to doe our beſt The ſecond ſhewes, that we can doe nothing without the helpe of God. We muſt pray, ſo truſting to God, to his promiſes and mighty power: that we alſo ſtand, that is, vſe the meanes that hee hath preſcribed. Againe, we muſt ſo vſe the meanes, alwaies hauing an eye vntounto God: So neither tempting by neglect of the meanes, nor preſuming on the meanes to be careleſſe in ſeeking helpe of God. This was notably repreſented vntounto vsus, in that firſt battell of the Iſraelites with the Amalekites. Exod. 17. where Ioſhua was fighting, and Moſes praying both together. See the like, 2 Chron. 14.10, 11.
Vſe is for vsus, that we doe not ſeparate thoſe things that God hath ioyned together.
1 The fi…ſt duty to be performed, is in this word Stand, a warre-like word, t…ken from the manner of ſtanding in warre. Wee heard it vſed before, verſe 13. but not in the ſame Mood nor Tenſe; and ſo not in the ſame ſignification. There it was in the Infinitiue: here it is in the Imparatiue: there is meant ſtanding after the fight; heere, in the very fight. Now this word implyes 4 things.
1 Courage in this Chriſtian warre; for timorous and faint-hearted ſoldiers are ready to fly away, where a man of valour will ſtand it out.
2 An abiding in that place and ranke wherein our Captaine Chriſt Ieſus hath ſet vsus, and not to ſtraggle from it.
3 Watchfulneſſe. Not to be ſluggiſh, to lye downe and ſleepe, but to ſtand on our feet.
4 A kinde of continuance and conſtancy. Not to be ſtill putting off and on of our armour, but to keepe it on ſtill.
From whence accordingly wee are to obſerue foure duties.
1 Chriſtian ſoldiers muſt be of a valourous and couragious minde, to ſtand againſt, and to defie their enemies. Such courage as Dauid had againſt Goliah: which how needful it is in all things, appeares, in that the Lord doth ſo often vrge to Ioſhua, euen three times together, Ioſhua 1.6, 7, 9.
Reaſons. 1 In regard of our enemies, who are daunted with nothing more, than with courage and valour, and inſult ouer vsus when wee are timorous: like the Woolfe that flies away if he be reſiſted, but if you runne away, hee ſets vponupon you eagerly.
2 In regard of other, vntounto whom our valour may be a great encouragement: as 2 Chron. 11 14.
Vſe. To be exhorted to the performance of this duty, and for motiues to ſtirre vsus vp to conſider,
1 How in our fight the Lord is with vsus, and ſtands by vsus. This motiue was vſus…d to Ioſhua, Ioſh. 1.5.9.
2 That we fight in the name of the Lord, armed with his power, which is ingag…d in our fight: this gaue Dauid t…at inuincib…e cou…ag….
3 The cauſe of our fight that is iuſt, for the ſaluation of our ſou…e…. Now the …quity or the cauſe is a great …ncourag…ment to ſoldi…rs: as vntounto Iphtah, Iudges 11. And contrarywiſe that the cauſe of our a…uerſaries is moſt vniuſt, who fight againſt God, to diſſo…ue his workes, to diminiſh his Kingdome, &c.
4 That wee fight with enemies indeed, but enemies vanquiſhed and ſpoiled, Col. 2.15. H…b. 2.14. Yea, whoſe w…apons are a…l blunted, the ſting of afflictions, of ſin, and of d…ath being taken away.
5 The promiſ… of victory, and aſſurance of it. Then which th…re cannot be a great…r incouragement.
2 That w…e muſt be carefull to abide in that place wher…in our Captaine hath placed vsus, 1 Cor. 7.20. Ephe. 4.1. But we a…e to know, that we hauehave a double place or calling. 1 Generall, as wee are Chriſtians, members of Chriſt, prof…ſſing his name.
2 Particu…ar, as we hauehave ſeuerall places in the Church. The duties th…n are two.
1 That we remaine firme and ſtedfaſt in the Church▪ not forſaking our prof…ſſion, and ſtraggling out of it; for the Church is the field, in which wee muſt fight, and r…maining in it, wee are vnderunder the protection of our Captain…: but ſtragg…ers from the armie hauehave neith…r protection of Cap…aine, nor helpe of fellow ſoldi…rs to defe…d, and ſo fall into th…ir …nemies hands: as t…e Separatiſts.
2 That wee bee carefull to abid… in t…at particular place, wherein wee a…e ſet, be we… Cap…ain…s. Li…utenants o… ſoldiers that is, Magiſtra…es, Miniſt…rs, Maſt…rs of famili…s, or the like, Rom. 1 …. 4 &c.
To be ſtirred vp hereunto, conſider wee,
1 That it is the wiſe Lord that hath appointed vsus our ſeuerall places and callings. H…b. 3.2.
2 That this ſtanding in our rankes, is the comelineſſe and beauty of the armie, yea, the very ſtrength of it; for confuſion bre…ds diſturbance, and giu…s ad…antage to the enemies. Thus in the body all the memb…rs ſtanding in their due place, make vp the com…ineſſe thereof, and are ready for the mutuall h…lpe one of another.
3 That thus wee ſhall beſt m…nifeſt the graces of God giuen vntounto vsus, whilſt we ke…pe eueryevery one his own place: as … common Souldier, though hee may well manna…e a Pike or a Gun, yet cannot well diſcharge the place o… a Ca…taine.
4 That the Lord will ſeeke for vsus, and reward vsus in our places wher… hee ſet vsus. If hee finde vsus out of our rankes, he may haply giuegive vsus a knocke, or caſhiere vsus … as he did Corah, Dathan and Abiram.
3 That wee be watchfull, and ſtand vponupon our defence againſt theſe our enemies, 1 Pet 5.8. For elſe we may be ſu…denly ſurprized. The diu…ll comes as a thiefe, hee ſends not an herald before him with defiance, hee fights not to ſhew valour, but his aime is at bloud and ſpoile; and ſo hee vſeth all treachery.
Ʋſe. Mat. 24.43.
4 We muſt ſtand alwaies armed and defenced againſt our enemies, n…u…r putting off our armour; for here is the difference betwe…ne this ſpirituall and carnall warfaring. The night, truce, ſeaſon of the yeere may cauſe a laying aſide of armes for a time in this earthly warre; but there is no intermiſſion in the ſpirituall fight.
Ob. But this ſeemes a very burdenſome and tedious matter.
Anſw. Not at all, but if we come once to hauehave this armour well fitt…d vntounto vsus; it is moſt eaſie and pleaſant for vſe. Math. 11.30. and no whit comberſome, though otherwiſe in regard of defence it be called armour.
Vſe. To reprooue thoſe that are weary and fall away: Such neuer had this armour well fitted vntounto them: as Iudas and Demas.