Exposition on John 5, Ephesians 6 · Verse 12
VERS. 12.
For wee wreſtle not againſt f…ſh and blood: but againſt Principalities, againſt Powers, and againſt th… worldly gouernours, the Princes of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſ… which are in high places.
IN this verſe is laid downe, 1 The kind of this combate, vnderunder the metaphor of wreſtling: implying that it is a very ſore combate.
2 The Parties that maintaine this ſight: who are either ſuch as defend themſelues: expreſſed in this word (We) that is, all Chriſtians whatſoeuer, the miniſters themſelues not excepted: as appeares by changing of the perſon from (Yee) to (We,) the Apoſtle thereby not excepting himſelfe.
2 Or ſuch as aſſault. Theſe are deſcribed, 1 Negatiuely: (not againſt fleſh, and blood:) where, by fleſh and blood is vnderſtood, 1 The ſubſtance of fleſh and blood. 2 Thoſe things that are as fleſh and blood, that is to ſay, weake, fraile, and mortall.
Heereby is implyed, that our ſpirituall enemies are more than fleſh and blood, of more might and valour than all the men of the world: as by comparing the malice and power of the diuell, with that of men, may appeare.
Vſe. It ſerues to ſtirre vp our dulneſſe, and to make vsus more watchfull, hauing to doe with ſo mighty enemies.
2 When wee hauehave to deale with wicked men, to conſider that wee hauehave not onelyonly to ſtriue with fleſh and blood, but alſo with the chiefe enemy the diuell, who is the principall worker, and whoſe inſtruments wicked men are: and ſo not to bite the ſtone that is caſt, but to hauehave an eye to him that throweth it. Further, from the oppoſition of theſe two parts, (Not againſt fleſh, &c. but, &c.) ariſeth this inſtruction:
Doct. That they who are quailed and daunted by fleſh and blood, will neuer be able to ſtand out againſt Principalities and powers.
Which is to be noted againſt the cowardlineſſe of men, that are mooued with eueryevery temptation. For the feare of men. Wee ſee that I…b being not moued with thoſe loſſes that hee ſuſtained at the hands of men, did alſo valiantly ſtand out againſt the malice of Satan.
2 Affirmatiuely, (but againſt, &c.) In the expoſition of which words, there is ſome difficulty.
Principalities. Property it is the Office of a Prince, or the honour of a Prince: In briefe, it ſignifieth a gouernment, and b…ing app…ied to a Pri…ce, it addes a g…eat emphaſis to it: So t…at Principa…ities, is as much as, thoſe that hauehave a gouernm…nt.
Powe…s) Some vnd…rſt…nd for an inferiour kinde of power: as Titus 3.1. 1 Tim. 2.2. 1 Pe…. 2.14. attributing principalities to the higheſt and chi…f…ſt, as vntounto th… King; and Powers, vntounto infer…o… Magiſtrates vnde… him. From which diſtin…tion of … wo…ds, ſome doe make degrees of diue…s; but though I wi…l not deny but that there is an order of … as Math. 9.34. and 25.41. which they make am…g the… …, …or the better performance of their …spand… p…ots, a…d ſo take vntounto th…mſelues offices; not that the… hauehave any aſſigned of God: yet in this place is meant no ſuch m…tter, for he…re is no compariſon made betweene the diuels, what power one hath ouer another; but betweene them and vsus, what power and gouernment they hauehave ouer vsus: So that Powers here, ſignifieth an ability, and power which they hauehave to execute their gouernment.
Worldly gouernours) foreign. This amplifies th… former concerning their gouernment, and alſo limiteth it, ſhewing that they hauehave an abſolute gouernment, but are onelyonly worldly gou…rnours, that is, ouer the men of this world: but yet leſt wee ſhould thinke that all men are vnderunder this gouernment, it is add…d, Of the darkeneſſe of this world) …hat is, of th… ignorant and wicked of the world, who are called darkne…s;e: who being blind, ſee not the danger whereinto they implunge themſelues, by ſubiecting themſelues to the diuell.
This alſo ſhe…es the cauſe how they come to be the diuels ſubiects, becauſe they are wicked, and rebell againſt God.
Spirituall wickedneſſes.) Heere they are ſet forth, 1 By their nature, they are ſpirituall things, and hauehave the properties of ſpirits: as to moue from one place to another, in a moment without reſiſtance, &c.
2 Their quality: they are moſt monſtrous vile, malicious wicked ſpirits; and therefore called ſpiritualls of wick…dneſſe, in the Originall.
Whi…h are in high places.) The word in the Origina…l is foreign. It ſignifies Heauenly, and i… tra…ſlated, chap. 1. verſe 3. Heauenly t…ings, not Plac…. But if we vnderſtand it of plac…s: then it ſhewes wh…re the diuels hauehave th… ab…ade; namely, in the loweſt heauen, in the ayre.
If wee take it for Things, then it ſhewes the cauſe of our combate that it is not for e…rthl… ma…ters that they c…ntend; but for heauenly and ſpiritua…l things, ſuch as concerne the ſaluation of our ſou…es.
The words then area deſcription of the terrour of our ſpirituall enemies: deſcribed.
1 By their Dominion, (Prin…ipali…ies, Gouerno…rs:) which is amplifi…d 1 by that Power that they hauehave to execute th…ir gouernment: (Power) 2 By the parties that are gouerned: (The darkn…ſſe of this world)
1 Doct. Our ſpirituall enemies are ſuch as hauehave a rule, dominion, and command. A point cleare, chap. 2. verſe 2.2 Cor. 4.4.
Queſt. But how comes he to hauehave this power? whether is it of God or no? for it ſeemes ſo to be, Rom. 13.1.
An…. That generall ground is there reſtrained to the gou…rnm…nts, & vntounto all lawfull gouernments ordained by God. But a… for the diuell, he could indeed hauehave no power bu… by Gods permiſsion: and although that God doe ſuffer him, yet hath he no right and title vntounto this d…gnity. The reaſon then is, 1 In regard of himſelfe, becauſe hee doth tyra…nical…y vſurpe this power, like as doth the Pope, his chiefe inſtrument, 2 T…eſ. 2.4. Deut. 18 7. See Math. 4.9. Luke 4.6.
2 In regard of his vaſſals that ſlauiſhly y…ld vntounto him, and voluntarily giuegive vntounto him this power, …o making him their Prince, Ho…. 8.4. Now, the deuill is ſo ambitious, that if any thing be g…uen, he will take it: and giuegive an inch▪ he will take an ell.
V…e. 1 To teach vsus to take heede, how wee yeeld to the deuill, or giuegive him one jo…e: for where he can get an entrance, there will hee ſet his throne: if wee giuegive him ſway a little, h…e will bee the whole prince and ruler.
2 To ſtirre vsus vp to ſubiect our ſelues to our Lord Chriſt, and to carry our ſelues to him, as to our Lord and King: for then will hee defend and main…aine vsus, and (as Kings doe) not ſuffer others to beare ru…e ouer his owne ſubiects; otherwiſe, if wee refuſe to hauehave him raigne ouer vsus, it is juſt for him to giuegive vsus ouer to theſe cruell and tyrannicall Lords.
2 Doct. As they hauehave a dominion, ſo they hauehave power to execute the ſame, and to keepe their vaſſals vnderunder them, chap. 2. ver. 2. The point is manifeſt: therefore to handle this their Power more particularly, let vsus conſider,
1 The Ground of it. It hath pleaſed God thus to arme them with power. 1 In his iuſt iudgement for the puniſhment of the wicked. 2 For the tryall of his children. 3 For the manifeſtation of his power, in the aſſiſting of them. 4 That the excellency of his graces, wherewith hee armeth his children, might be ſeene, that they are armour of proofe to defend them.
2 The Extent of it, how farre this power reacheth. To this in generall may bee anſwerd, That h… is able to doe what…oeuer is within the compaſſ… of nature vnderunder heauen, that may bee done by naturall meanes. Hee hath no power vponupon the heauens, as to alter their motion, &c. But vnderunder the Moone hee hath power, as 1 in the Aire, to…niſh it together with great violence, to cauſe windes and tempeſts: as when Iobs houſe was o…erthrowne, Iob 1.
… In the water, to raiſe vp tempeſts: likewiſe, for the drowning of ſhips and men, to make breaches, &c.
3 In the earth, to turne things top…e-turu…e, houſes, trees, &c.
4 On liuing creatures, to deſtroy them, &c. as the Swine, Mat. 8.
5 On men, to take their bodies and hurry th…m vp and downe, from place to place: as hee did Chriſts body▪ to ſmite it with diſeaſes, to enter into it and take poſſeſſion of it, to trouble the conſcience, to ſtirre vp t…e humors of luſt, choler, &c.
Qu…ſtion. But is not his power diminiſhed by his fall? Is he as powerfull as the good Angels?
Anſwer. No: for we ſee, that when there hath beene oppoſition betweene the good and the euill angels, the euill hauehave ſtill beene foiled, as Dan. 10. Reu. 12. So that if compariſon be made between them and the good Angels, their power is ſomewhat abated: but if compariſon be made betweene them and other creatures, their power ſtill remaines ſo great, that wee cannot ſee wherein it is any whit leſſened. And therefore wee are not to bee ſecure, as if his power were ſo weakned, that hee could not hurt vsus ſince his fall; but to be ſtirred vp to watchfulneſſe, and to bee ſtrengthened in faith, ſeeing God hath giuen vsus the good Angels to protect and defend vsus.
3 The reſtraint of their power. In which we are to conſider, 1 what they cannot doe.
Queſt. Whether can they goe beyond nature, or againſt it?
Anſw. They cannot, becauſe they are creatures, and muſt bee ſubiected vntounto the order ſet downe by God, who is the onelyonly Lord of nature, and only can alter it, goe aboue and beyond it. Examples in 4 points.
1 The deuill cannot do that which is ſimply, and properly a miracle: as to cauſe that flaming fire ſhould not burne, to raiſe the dead: for theſe are againſt and aboue nature. And to doe theſe, is a property of God, whereby Chriſt did declare himſ…lfe to be God, and likewiſe his Apoſt…es to … by the p…w…r of God, and to ….
Ob…t. The …, wrough… miracles, as did …, 12, 22. a…d 8.….
…. 1 … things might b…e done by naturall … bring ſerp…nts and …rogs from … them there.
2 … were done on…ly in ſhew and … and d…luding t…ir eyes: for 1 … w…re deuoured of Mo…s … that his was a true ſerpent, and … that the… made no reſiſtance, but ….
2 For th… … blood. How cou…d it be, …ith all the wat…r in …gypt was …ready turned into blood? and th…refore i… muſt n…eds be …ome of the water of …oſhen: but vponupon Goſhen came none of the plagues of Egypt.
3 Conc…rneing the …rogs. Thoſe that Moſes brought in, were gathered on heaps, ſo that they ſtanke: but no ſuch matter is record…d of th… other.
So that the deuill may do… wonders which may ſeeme …trange to vsus, becauſe wee know not the cauſe, but not miracles.
The deuill cannot directly force the will of man to yeeld to his b…nt▪ as to make him ſi…ne againſt his will: for forced will is no wil…; and … is an action of the will, elſe it is no ſinne: Hee may by thr…atnings and allurements perſwade the will, but hee cannot force it.
3 The diuell cannot ſimply ſ…arch the heart of man, for this the Lord aſcribes vntounto himſ…lfe, as a property belong…ng vn…o him onelyonly. The diuell can giuegive a neere geſſe at the g…nerall diſpoſition of the heart, by the actions, ſpeeches, inclination, &c. but preciſely to knowe what the thought of the heart is, hee cannot.
4 Hee cannot ſimply declare things to come. This alſo God takes as a property belonging to himſelfe, and th…reby doth in Scrip…ure diſtinguiſh himſelfe from Ido…s and falſe gods: and therefore among the heathen he vſed to giuegive out his anſwer in doubtfull termes, that might bee true two waies; and if it fell out otherwiſe then they interpreted it, then they ſaid they miſtooke the meaning of the Oracle.
2 What they are hindred from doing, although they can, and would doe it; for they doe nothing but by …ermiſſion, and ther…for… we reade in Scripture, 1 Pet. 2.4. Iudg 6. Reu. 20.2 That the diuell is chained and ti…d vp like a bandog, that can goe no further then his linkes will let him. So Sa…an deſir…d to winnow Peter, Luk. 22.31. But hee cou…d not. This doth make greatly for the comfort of the godly. So much of their pow…r.
2 The ſecond thing whereby their dominion is amplified, is the parti…s …hat are gouerned; who are deſcribed when it is … ▪ Th…y are gouernours of this (World, of the darkneſſ… of this World.)
1 Doct. This rule and gouernment is onelyonly heere, in, and ouer this wor…d.
Which is an enco…ragement to endure all the aſſaults that are made, b…cau… it is b…t for a time; there will come a tim… of r…d…mp…ion and full freedome from all. And 2 it is an encourag…mēt againſt the houre of death.
Yet all the men in the world are not vaſſals of the diuell, but only the d…kne…e o… this world ▪ Such men as are blinde through ignorance, and wicked through corruption within and without, 2 Cor. 4.4. 1 Ioh. 3.8. Eph. 2.2.
2 Doct. The diuels dominion is ouer blinde and ſinfull men. The former reſiſt him not, but doe ignorantly fo…low him, not ſ…ing indeed what he is. The other thi…k, his gou…rnmēt is pleaſant, & ſo beleeue not whatſo…uer is ſpoken of the diu…ll. The ignorant know not what a bleſſed & cōfortable thing it is, to be the Lords ſubiects. The wicked, they rebell againſt him.
Vſe. For tryall whether we be vnderunder the gouernment of the diuell or no: which wee are, if wee …oue and lye in darkneſſe, Iohn 3.19.
2 For direction, how we may come from vnderunder his power and dominion, namely, by comming forth from darkneſſe into light, Col. 12.13. Luk. 1.79. Acts 26.18.
3 For conſolation to ſuch as hauehave euidence in their owne ſoules, that they are light in the Lord; becauſe they are freed from the power of the diuell. And let ſuch carry themſelues as children of the light. So much of their dominion.
2 The ſecond thing whereby our ſpirituall enemies are deſcribed, is their Nature. In that they are called foreign; Spirituall things.
Doct. The diuels, the enemies of our ſoules, are of a ſpirituall ſubſtance: for they ſtill retaine the ſame ſubſtance in which they were created, that they might beare the puniſhment of their ſinne, in the ſame nature that they ſinned; and that they are ſpirituall ſubſtances and beings of themſelues, appeares alſo by their power, their offices, their place, their puniſhment which they endure. Which
1 Note againſt thoſe, them to be but qualities and affections riſing from vsus. A conceit both erro…ious and dangerous, extenuating the terrour that ought to be had of the diuell, and ſo cauſing ſecurity.
2 It greatly aggrauates the cunning of them, in theſe reſpects.
1 Being ſpirits, they are inuiſible and cannot be ſeene by fleſh and blood: and ſuch likewiſe are their aſſaults: ſo that w…e fight againſt them, as blinde men againſt ſeeing; wee cannot tell where and how they ſtrike, &c. which is a great diſaduantage.
2 Being ſpirits, they can be in eueryevery plac… with vsus, knowing our actions, and words, and g…ſſing at our thoughts: which is a great aduantage to them: as if one enemie ſhould know the counſels of anoth…r: as 2 Kings 6.12.
3 Being ſpirits, there is no bodily thing that ca… hind…r them in their enterprizes, they can paſſe ouer, and thorow all things. And hence is their vnconc…iueable ſwiftneſſe, in their paſſage from place to place: as ſwift as lightning, or as our eyeſight. This grea… quickneſſe doth likewiſe giuegive them great aduantage.
4 Being ſpirits, they are not …ubiect to fainting, weariſomen…ſſe, and d…cay: but a…er many hundred t…ouſands of exployes done, they ar… ſtil… ready for more. Whence it cōmeth that they g…t ſo great exp…rience, and do… aſſault continually without intermiſſion.
Notwithſtanding theſe diſaduantages on our part, we hauehave comfort in the Lord, the Spirit of ſpirits, who is with vsus to d…fend vsus, who hath giuen his Spirit to open our eyes, th…t we may ſee the ſleights of the diuell, to ſtrengthen vsus that we faint not, & to be That ſtrong man to keepe him from taking poſſeſsion of vsus.
3 Vſe. It ſhewes that we muſt fight againſt him, not with earthly weapons, but with the ſpirituall armour of God, here preſcribed. So much of their nature.
3 They are deſcribed by their quality and condition. (Wickedneſſe.)
Doct. They are foule, wicked, and vncleane ſpirits: ſo is the diuell called, by a kinde of propriety: foreign: That wicked one; and that in theſe reſpects:
1 Becauſe they are the authours and beginning of ſinne, Ioh. 8.44.
2 Becauſe of their nature, which is wholy impure, not one jot of goodneſſe in it.
3 In regard of their will, becauſe they delight and ioy in wickedneſſe, and hauehave no thinking to repent, vnleſſe it be, not to hauehave done more than they did.
4 In regard of the continuall practice of ſinne in themſelues, and folliciting of others alwaies vntounto euill.
Vſe. 1 For tryall, whether the ſpirit of Satan be in vsus▪ or no; for if wee giuegive our ſelues ouer to ſinne, wee are guid…d by the ſpirit of the diuell.
2 It ought to be a ſtrong mot…ue vn…o vsus to hate all impiety, becau…e herein weare like vntounto the diuell.
Now note wee how a…l a…e ſet downe in the plura…l number: Prin…ipalities, Powe…s, world…y gouernours, ſpiri…uall wi…k…dneſſes, to ſhew that they ar… not a few, but many who are our en…mies.