Exposition on John 5, Ephesians 6 · Verse 14
Ver. 14.
And your loynes g…rded about with verity.
NOw followes the manner and meanes of performing the former dutie; for which end the Apoſtle doth diſtinctly d…ſcribe the armor of God, laying down the ſeuera…l parts and pieces of it; which are in number ſixe. The firſt is expreſſed in th…ſe words, (And your loynes girded about with verity.)
But before we… come to the handling of this, and the other particulars, there are three generall obſeruation… taken from all ioyntly co…ſide…ed, to be ſpoken of.
The firſt is this: that moſt of theſe pieces are defenſiue; b…t o…e off…ſiue, viz. the ſword of the Spirit, and that but in part, b…ing alſo defenſiue.
2. That heere is armour for the forepart, bu… none at all for the hinder parts of a man.
3 That eueryevery part before is couered from top to toe.
Hence wee learne three inſtructions.
1 That Chriſtians muſt more ſeeke to defend themſelues, and maintaine their owne, than to annoy their enemies. Thus did Chriſt, when hee made himſelfe our example in his firſt conflict with Satan: we ſee Satan firſt ſ…ts vponupon him, he onelyonly defends himſelfe: and thus hauehave the ſeruants of God dealt with the inſtruments of the diuell from time to time. This is an argument that our cauſe is iuſt.
2 That in this Chriſtian warre and conflict, we… muſt neuer flie away; but ſtand vntounto it face to face. There is no hope to get good by running a…a…: it i… diſhonourable to God, and dangerous to our ſelues, b… cauſe then wee l…e all op…n to the weapons of the diuell: th…refore let there be in vsus the mind of Neh…mia…, Nehe. 6.11. for the diuell fights not for glory, as me… doe, who thinke it as great a glory to put their enemies to ſlight, as to ſlay them: but it is b…ood that hee aimes at; wherefore let vsus remember Lots wife, Luk. 17. and that hee that ſets his ha…d to the p…ow, and look…s backe, is vnfit for the Kin…dome of Heau…n; hee that …ies, is vnw…rthy to be a ſoldier of Chriſt; and th…refore not to flie, hoping to come againe another time, being in the meane while naked to all the darts of the diuell, who may wound vsus at his pleaſure.
3 Heere is compl…at armour for the forepart: a helmet, comprehending the beauer and gorget, to couer the head and face downe to the neck. A breſtplate, containing vnderunder it the ſkirts or baſes, to couer all vntounto the knees. The Greaues or Bootes to couer the legges vntounto the ſole of the foot. For th… right hand a ſword, for the left a ſhield. Laſtly, a Girdle or Belt to bi…de all together. Whence the i…ſtruction is, that the graces of Gods Spirit, that hee beſtowes vponupon vsus, are ſufficient to defend and keepe vsus ſafe: So that this being compleat and ſufficient armour, wee need not ſeeke further to adde any thing to it, to make vsus bold and couragious. So much in generall.
Now wee come diſtinctly to handle the parts: wherein wee will obſerue this order:
1 To declare what are thoſe graces heere meant, by the parts of the armour.
2 To ſhew how fitly thoſe graces are reſembled vntounto the m…taphor.
3 To gather the vſes and inſtructions ariſing therefrom. The firſt, in that order, that the Apoſtle hath ſet them downe, is the Girdle of ver…ty, or truth. To omit other ſignification, there is a foure-fold truth heere meant. 1 Of Iudgement, and Opinion. 2 Of heart and affection. 3 Of words. 4 Of deeds and actions. All which are as linkes of one, and the ſame chaine, and muſt concurre, to make vp the ſtrength and beauty of this Girdle.
1 Truth of opinion and iudgement, is that whereby wee doe maintaine and vphold the Word of God and true Religion grounded thereon. In a word, it is ſoundneſſe in Religion, in Doctrine, ſoundneſſe in faith and b…lief…, as 2 Peter 1.12. Epheſ 4.15.
2 Truth of affection, is a kinde of inward honeſty and ſi…cerity, when we ſet God before our ey…s alwaies, and our ſelues in his preſence: and ſo, though we be alone, yet carry our ſelues that we may be accepted and approoued of him, Pſal. 5.6. This was in Ioſeph, when hee was tempted, and in Hezekiah, 2 King. 20.3.
3 Truth in ſpe…ch, is, when the words which wee vtter, be agreeable to our minde and intention, and alſo to the matter ſpoken of: for elſe wee tell a lye, or an vntruth. Wherefore wee muſt vtter that which wee know to be a truth, Epheſ. 4.25. Rom. 9 1. 1 Tim. 2 7.
4 Truth in action, is, when wee deale plainely and faithfully, not hypocritically; whether we hauehave to doe with God in his worſhip, or otherwiſe with men: not pretending more than in truth we doe intend, 1 Iohn 3.18. Epheſ. 4.24. (True holineſſe.) Thus is Nathaniel commended for a plaine honeſt man, Iohn 1.47.
All theſe muſt be lin…ed together: and if you take away any one, the Girdle breakes, and loſeth his ſtrength and comelineſſe. For, though the heart be ſincere, the ſpeech true, the Actions plaine and honeſt; yet if the iudgement be vnſound, and we be carried away to errour, ſuperſtion and Idolatry, all thoſe faire ſhewes will prooue but ſtubble and droſſe. Paul thought that hee had an honeſt heart, and was vnrebukeable for his conuerſation, Acts 26 9. but being miſſe-led in iudgement, what did this auaile him? He afterwards eſteemed it nothing.
Againe, though we hold the truth, if we hauehave a double heart, full of hypocriſie and diſſimulation, wee are the more odious and abominable to God, and our knowledge ſhall ſerue as a witneſſe to condemne vsus.
Moreouer, if we will ſeem ſound in heart & opinion, yet lie in word, diſſemble and deale double in our actions, what doe wee but diſgrace the truth, and plainely profeſſe our ſelues hypocrites?
Now th…ſe thr…e laſt, truth in heart, ſpeech a…d action, may be compriſed vnderunder one name of Integrity or Sync…rity, when our heart, word, and deede agree in one, and all inlightened and directed by the Word. So that truth in iudgement is the fountaine, theſe the ſtreames.
For Application to the metaphor, how fitly this grac… is re…embled to the girding of the loynes with a girdle or belt, we are to know, that this phraſe of gird…ng the loynes, is vſed in a double reſpect.
1 As it is taken from trauellers; who in the Eaſterne hot parts vſed to goe in long ſide garments, and therefore when they iourneyed, did truſſe them vp to their loynes with a girdle, as Luk 12.35. Exod. 12.11. This is not meant here.
2 As it is taken from ſoldiers, for the knitting and faſt girding of their Armour cloſe together about: as Iob 38.3. In this ſence is it here taken. Now ſoldiers vſe to hauehave a ſtrong girdle called a belt to gird their harneſſe about them, and it hath a double vſe.
Vſe. 1 For Ornament: becauſe the armour is ioyned together about the middle with ioynts; and therefore to couer thoſe ioynts which are not ſo comely, they vſe a broad girdle. 2 For ſtrength. 1 For that it ſerues to keepe the armour cloſe and faſt together, that in the ſight it fall not off, or comber him. 2 For that it doth much ſtrengthen a man, to hauehave his loynes and middle faſt girded about.
The fit reſ…mblance then of this grac…, appeareth in regard both of that grace, comelineſſ…, and ornament, as alſo that ſtrength, which truth giu…th vntounto thoſe that hauehave it.
Firſt, for truth of iudgement. What great…r ornam…nt of Religion, then the ſound euidence of the truth of that which wee profeſſ…? Antiquity, vniuerſality, ſucceſſion, grea… reuenues, &c. are nothing to this, y…a, doe more d…ſgrac… it then adorne it; for ſuperſtition, the more anc…ent it is, the more approuers it hath, th… mor… odious a…d abominable.
2 Ag…in…, for ſt…ngth. Truth in Religion is able to ma…ntaine it ſelfe againſt all oppoſers; yea although a man come far behinde his aduerſaries in reading and learning.
3 Furth…rmore, this truth maketh vsus to ſtand conſtant and firme in our prof…ſſion euen to the death: as it did the Martyres. For truth in heart, what maketh a man more amiable and gracious in the acceptance of God (for God onelyonly beho…deth this) then truth in the inward parts, an honeſt, ſingle, ſimple heart? For this cauſe was Dauid a man after Gods owne heart, Acts 13.22. becauſe hee had an vpright heart, 1 King. 15.3. For this cauſe did Noah finde fauour with God, Gen. 6 9.
Againe, what Learning, Art, or Eloquence can more grace a mans ſpeech, then truth?
Laſtly no outward comelineſſe, ſtrength of body, or beauty of face can ſo much adorne vsus, as faithfuln…ſſe and plaine dealing in all our actions.
Now, (to ioyne all theſe three together) for ſtrength▪ the conſcience of our vprightneſſe and integrity, is a great means to vphold vsus in the day of tryall. This vpheld Iob, although his wife and his friends counted him an hypocrite, and although the hand of God was heauy vponupon him. Iob. 27.5. and 31.35. This made Hezekiah to call vponupon God with that confidence, as 2 Kings 20.3.
Vſe. It teacheth vsus to be carefull to follow that precept of the wiſe man, Prou. …3.…3. To buy the truth, and not to ſell it. Where, although by truth be eſpecially meant truth of Religion, yet may it be extended to the other alſo It hath two branches,
1 Concerning thoſe that hauehave it not, they muſt buy it. 2 Concerning thoſe tha… hauehave it. They muſt not ſell it. So that they that want this girdle, muſt get it, and th…y that hauehave it, muſt …eepe it.
Firſt therefore … are to examine our ſelu…s, whether w…e …e in the truth or no, … Cor. 13.5. For that may well be applyed vntounto this, ſeeing there is no o…e thing that m…kes …o great and maine a diff…rence betw…ne the Elect and the r…probate, as this truth, it being a ſpeciall tok…n of our effe…tua…l calling.
1 Truth of Iudg…ment. Whether we be aſſured that o…r pro…eſſion be the true Relig…on of God or no? The principl…s wh…r…of wee muſt trie by the Scriptures, whi…h are the only touchſtone to try this God, 1 Theſ. 5.21. 1 Ioh. 4.1. Ioh. 5.39. Acts 17.11.
2 If vponupon tryall wee finde our iudgement reſolued in the t…uth, then are wee to examine whether this knowledge do, like the oyntment of Aaron, Pſal. 133.2. ſeaſon our heart and affections. Whether our hearts be ſound or no; for this is deceitfull aboue all things, … uen to a mans owne ſelfe, not only in groſſe hypocrites, but in many others, who knowe not the weakeneſſe of their heart, becauſe they neuer ſearched into the depth of it: as Peter.
To this end wee are to examine eſpecially what is our diſpoſition, when wee are alone in priuate and hauehave to doe with none but God: when wee may commit ſin, and keepe it cloſe from the e…es of men, then to marke what is our integrity and vprightneſſe, whether like vntounto that of Ioſ…ph, or no.
3 Finding the fountaine to be pure, we are to obſerue what cl…are ſtreames doe flow from thence in our words and actions, Luk 6.45. Wheth…r there be a correſpondency betweene them and our heart; as if w…e worſhip God, whether we doe it with our heart; if we hauehave holy conference, whether our heart moue vsus vntounto it.
For our direction in this tryall; we are to conſider,
1 The ground and motiue that ſtirres vsus vp to doe any good thing, whether it be applauſe, as in the Phariſes, whether ho…our and credit, or the auoiding of diſgrace, as in Saul, 1 Sam. 15.30. or for company ſake, or for reſpects to ſome particular men, as Ioaſh, 2 Chro. 24.2, 15, &c. or for profit and gaine: as the Shechemites, Gen. 34.23. or to auoid trouble; as the Papiſts that come to Church rather then pay a fine, and be put in priſon: In all theſe there is no truth, becauſe no reſpect vntounto God, to doe his will, becauſe it is his wi…l.
2 What is the ſincerity of our hearts, whether it be in all things, Hebr. 13.18. or onelyonly in ſome few; for many will do ſome things vponupon by-reſpects, or becauſe they are agr…able to their humors and diſpoſitions, as Herod; but this truth where it is, is like leauen that leaueneth the whole lumpe.
3 What are the things, in which we are moſt ſtrict and ſecure, to keepe a good conſcience in? Whether firſt and aboue all, in the chiefeſt things, or i… …rifles and ſmaller matters; which is hypocriſie, Math. 23.23.
4 The order of our actiōs, whether we firſt begin with our ſelues, before we ſeek to vrge the ſame things vponupon others; not as the Scribes, that lay heauy burdens vponupon others, which themſelues would not touch, Mat. 23.4.
Now vponupon this tryall, if wee finde that in any of theſe reſpects wee want truth, then muſt wee buy it, that is, vſe all meanes to attaine vntounto it, although it be with the loſſe of thoſe things which wee hauehave: as they that buy, muſt depart with ſome things: which is notably ſet foorth in two parables, Mat. 13.44, 45, 46.
Motiues to ſtirre vsus vp to get it are,
1 The excellency of this treaſure. This notably commends the excellency of it, in that nothing makes vsus more like vntounto God than this, who is truth it ſelfe; and ſo nothing makes vsus more amiable vntounto him. Againe, it makes vsus like vntounto thoſe that are like to God: as the Saints and Angels in heauen. Contrariwiſe, nothing makes ſo vsus like the diuell as vntruth, Iohn 8.44. The excellency of it appeares alſo heerein, that there is no grace (I dare ſ…y) in the Scripture ſo much vrged, as this of truth.
2 The need that wee hauehave of it; for all other graces without it, are in vaine: they are corrupt, and putrified, if they be not ſeaſoned with truth; therefore are wee exhorted to louelove vnfained, to faith vnfained, &c. So that this attribute of truth doth commend eueryevery grace, 1 Iohn 3.18.
3 The benefit that comes by hauing of it; for the leaſt meaſure of grace ſeaſoned with it, is accepted of God, Pſal. 51 6. and 145.18. yea, bl…ſſedn…ſſe it ſe…fe is promiſed vn…o it, Pſal. 15.2.
It fo…lowes to ſhew the way, how to get this truth.
1 For truth in iudgement: wee muſt doe as men vſe to do that would buy any thing, they will go to the place where it is to be had, and vſe the meanes to get it. Now the contrary, where this pearle is to be had, is the Church, the mould wherein it is hid, is the Word of God; and the miniſtery thereof, is the meanes to diſcouer and make it knowne vntounto vsus: there needs then but our attention and diligence to reſort vntounto theſe meanes. Siluer & Gold there needs none to get it, though this alſo ſometimes we muſt not ſpare for the obtaining of it.
2 For ſincerity, let our care be to doe, as Enoch did to walke with God, to ſet our …elues alwaies in his preſence: the conſideration whereof will make vsus …o be vpright, as Gen. 17.1.
Now, hauing once gotten this Girdle, let it be our care and endeauour to keepe it faſt, and not to looſe it. Not to ſe…l it, that is, not to exchange it for any thing whatſoeuer. To take nothing for it, becauſe nothing is worth it: be it eaſe, riches, or the like.
Which we are to note the more diligently, becauſe if wee once hauehave this grace, the diuell will labour by all meanes to coozen vsus of it: for this is that for which onelyonly he feareth vsus; and therefore there is nothing that hee more oppoſeth againſt, by diuers ſuttleties and temptations, than againſt truth and ſincerity.