Exposition on John 5, Ephesians 6 · Verse 15
VERS. 15.
And your feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of p…ace.
WHen the diuell can pr…uaile by none of the former waies, then he labours in the next place to ouerthrow vsus by afflictions, troubles, and perſecutions, which he raiſeth againſt vsus, to hinder vsus in our proceeding. Wherefore the Apoſtle, to arme vsus alſo againſt this, bids vsus to looke for troubles and affliction, and to prepare our ſelu…s againſt them with this armour heere preſcribed, viz. The ſhooes of the preparation of the Goſpell of peace.
Some vnderſtand this for the preaching of the Goſpel, as if the Apoſtle did allude to Eſa. 5 2.7. Rom. 10.15. And ſo they make the profeſſion of the Goſpell to be theſe ſhooes here meant, Pſalm. 119.105.
But the common and moſt vſuall expoſition is, that heereby is vn…rſtood the knowledge of the Goſpell of p…ace, that is, of our reconciliation with God. Which cōmeth neer…ſt to the point, for hereby come we to be fenced & prepared againſt troubles. We are then to vnderſtand by the preparation of the Goſpell of peace, not the Goſpel it ſelf, but an effect which it works in vsus. So that this preparation is that furniture, which the Goſpell of peace doth preſcribe vntounto vsus, and which it doth, it doth work in vsus, namely, a heart ſettled, and reſolued to goe boldly thorow all troubles, which is to be put on as a paire of ſhooes. So the Siriacke renders it fitly: Put on as ſhooes the preparation of the Goſpell of peace.
In handling of this piece of armour, we will go on i… this order. Firſt, to conſider what is the ſpirituall grace that is meant heereby.
2 The fit compariſon of it to this part of bodily armor.
3 The ground of this patience.
4 The benefit of it.
5 The wiles and ſubtilties the diuell vſeth to depriue vsus of this neceſſary piece of armour.
1 The grace here vnderſtood, is patience: for it is the Apoſtles purpoſe to arme vsus againſt troubles: now what ſo fit a grace for this, as patience, which in this regard among all other vertues of Iob, is only cōmended vntounto vsus, Iames 5? This is ſet down by this deſcription, (The preparation of the Goſpell of peace.) Preparation, or, becauſe by it the heart of man is ſettled, fixed, and reſolued to goe on in the way, what impediments ſoeuer are in it.
Of the Goſpel.) Becauſe it is the Goſpel that doth ſettle the heart: this brings good tidings, Luk. 2.10. Of what? That God hath giuen his Sonne for vsus, ver. 11. that his wrath is pacified towards vsus, that our ſinnes are forgiuen vsus. This is that God, which when once we know, our hearts are fully reſolued to beare all things, ſeeing that now nothing can make vsus miſerable.
Of peace) Both in regard of the ſubiect, and nature of it, in that it firſt made tender of peace to man, and ſtill declareth and publiſheth it.
2 And alſo of the effect, becauſe the Spirit of God, by the preaching of the Goſpell, pacifies the conſcience tormented with ſin: as was ſignified by the ſong of the Angels, Luk. 2.14. This is added, to ſhew the ground of true patience, viz. That it muſt bee grounded vponupon the word of reconciliation, for then onelyonly can the heart go on with courage and comfort in enduring all things.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Gouge, Exposition on John 5 (1630)