Discourse of the Gospel of Peace, Tract 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
SECT. I.
WE have in these words one part or piece of that Armour, with its use, which the Apostle exhorts the Ephesian Christians, and with them all that engage in the Christian Spiritual Warfare, to put on. But that we may the better understand the sense and scope of the Text, we must look back to verse 10.Ephes. 6. 10. Here the Apostle begins that Paragraph wherewith he shuts up, and concludes this Epistle; Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. A necessary advice: And indeed such an one, without a conformity to which, there can be no engaging successfully and comfortably in our Christian duty.
Verse 11. Put on the whole armour of God, is anVerse 11. advice which gives the true exposition of being str…ng in the Lord, and in the power of his might, according to the sense of verse 10. It is not only to have▪ our dependance on the immediate Divine Grace and Assistance; but also in the due use of all that Spiritual Armature he hath provided for us, to fortify us to, and in our duty, against all dangers that threaten us in it, or allurements that tempt us to depart from it.
This Armour is called the power of his might, First, As it is a power of Gods creating and ordination, and which he hath provided and bestowed on us as his Auxiliaries, his helps and assistances, for our encouragement and ability to do our duty, and our security in it.
2dly, As this Armour put on, and in its due exercise hath an energy and efficacy to its designed ends, above and beyond all humane or natural causality, agreeable to a Divine and Supernatural Power. For tho we walk after the flesh, we do not 2 Cor. 10. 3, 4.war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, &c. Material fleshly things are weak: Their horses are flesh, and not spirit. AndIsa. 31. 3. tho this Armour is not spirit, it is spiritual, and partakes of the power of Spirits; yea, of the God of Spirits.
3dly, As there is a Divine Power annexed to every piece of this Armour in its due use, it is mighty through God: 'tis animated by his Spirit. So the Gospel is said to be the power of God to salvation, Rom. 1. 18.to every one that believeth. The preaching of the 1 Cor. 1. 18.cross to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, the power of God.
This Armour will not be found Armour of proof, if not animated by a power above it self, or him that wears it. Indeed God hath promised the concourse of his Divine Power, where 'tis diligently improved: but still its efficacy lies not in it self, or our improvements, but the Divine Power annexed to, and acting by it. The holy Apostle Paul's Grace was not, but God's Grace assisting, his was sufficient for him.
Thus much is not only expedient to be said, in the consideration of verse 10. but necessary; because it concerns, and affects the whole of that Armature whereof our Text is a part; and puts upon it that countenance which is its chief beauty, strength and glory.
This Armour of God, which is the power of his 2 Cor. 12. 9.might, is compleat Armour; not only with respect to its efficacy, but also in regard of its parts: there is some or other piece of this Armour for every part; according to the Apostles Military allusion to the body of a Soldier, armed at all points for offence and defence, Cap-a-pe: no part wanting, no part to be neglected, but taken to us, and put on: And indeed any one part unarmed, is sufficient to expose us to wounds and death. Therefore we are exhorted to put on the whole Armour of God: foreign, armaturam integram; which implies not only all its parts, but so united and compacted, as may render it (tho of divers parts, yet) one whole and well compacted Armour, leaving no space so much as between the joynts of the Harness, for an Arrow, or a fiery Dart to enter. In this Ahab's Armour was defective, and it cost him his life.
But here let me observe by the way, that tho there be Armour even for the feet in this Divine furniture, yet there is not the least provision to fortify the back, which yet is common in bodily Armour. I can guess at no better ground for it than this, That runaways and backsliders are so far out of God's protection, as to be left to smart for their Cowardice. He would have all to stand and keep their ground: 'tis to that purpose, this excellent Armour is provided for them. Stand therefore, having, &c.Eph. 6. 14.
Having said what I judged meet of the Christians spiritual Armour in general; I shall now consider that particular piece in my Text, appropriated to the feet. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. The Christian life is in Scripture often represented by a walk, a journey: But as 'tis a spiritual warfare, its motions may well be rendred a spiritual March, under the Command and Banner of our Lord Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation.
In common motions and travels, the feet are exposed to many calamities and sufferings; more especially to wounds and bruises, by length of journies; stony, thorny, rugged and uneven ways. It was a special evidence of God's care and Providence over Israel in their journyings in the Wilderness,Deut. 8. 4. Deut. 29. 5. that their Shooes did not wax old on their feet, neither did their feet swell in all the forty years they continued there. Here the Lord eked out their short store, and made there Leather wear like Iron; corrected natural infirmity, and made their tender feet travel-proof: that it might appear that God sometimes will make his ways free from pain, or penury, to those who ingage in them in sincerity, and trust in him. But in our spiritual motions, he has great variety of methods to preserve us from snares and mischiefs. That Promise made, and more particularly applied to our Lord Jesus, reaches all his followers: For he shall give his Angels charge Psal. 91. 11.over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways; and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. It is prophesied of the promised Seed of the Woman, That the Serpent (meaning the Devil) should bruise his heel; which doth imply,Gen 3. 15. that his progress in the way, and work of our redemption, should be attended with sore temptations and sufferings. And it is not without some intimation, that his Disciples and followers in the way of their duty, should meet with the same hard measures from Satan and his instruments: the proof of which hath fill'd up the Volumes of all the Ages of Christianity.
These considerations might tempt such, whose hearts are engaged to enter into, and walk in the holy ways of the Lord, to hesitate at the prospect of these unpleasing encounters: at least to take their steps fearfully and staggeringly, without that holy holdness, resolution, uprightness, thorowness, and assured Countenance as becomes the Servants of the Lord, the followers of the Lamb, and those who, in the obedience of Faith, press toward the mark, the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
But our Text furnishes us against all fears of what we may meet with in our Christian Course, with Armour for our feet, Armour of God's own hammering, and of Divine appointment for our security: which if we put on, all fears and griefs will fall off of themselves: and our temptationsforeign, a mind fitted, disposed. and adversities will no more pierce and wound, than the Swords and Bullets that aim at that Body which is inclosed in Armour of proof. We may hold on our way thorow thick and thin, and tread on the sharpest stones with as much delight and security, as on the smoothest pavement strew'd with Roses.
The next thing we have to consider in the Text, is the Armour it self, wherewith the Feet ought to be shod: and that is, The preparation of the Gospel of peace.
The Gospel of Peace is such Furniture, as is sufficient to prepare us to, and fit us for our Christian wayfare▪ and warfare: No wise man will undertake either of these▪ but he will first be prepared with what is meet to carry him thorow (if possible) both safely and comfortably.
Such an accomplishment is the Gospel of Peace to those who are shod with it. They are aforehand with whatever may happen: have prevented all dangers or disapointments. And 'tis call'd a preparation, because till we are furnished with it, we are no way fit for the profession and life of Christianity: But when this is put on, we are ready prepared to duty, and all that attends it.
All that remains for the opening the Text is, to shew what this Gospel of Peace is, that is such a necessary and blessed preparation.
The Gospel, in the Greek, foreign, signifies glad tidings, answerable to that enunciation of the coming of the Son of God in the flesh. Behold, Luk. 2. 10.I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. And it agrees most exactly, and in the highest sense, with the true design and nature of the Gospel: For the Gospel contains, declares, and tenders the medicinal remedying Law and Covenant of Grace: The cure of that sin and misery derived from the fall, the methods of Divine wisdom in the prosecuting the gracious end of reconciliation between God and sinful undone Man: than which, what can be more welcome to a rational creature, sensible of his misery, and desirous of a Recovery?
The old English Saxon expressed the Gospel by two words, viz. Gots-spel or Gods-spel: the Genuine import of which, was Gods cure or remedy. But we are not to restrain the Sense of this term Gospel, to the mere Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace, in which Sinners become interested by sincere Evangelical and saving Faith: but to extend it to all its Precepts, Doctrines, Advices: yea, to its warnings and menaces, all which in the due use of them, have some share in this Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
Three Doctrines or Propositions will take in the Sense of the Text: all which I purpose (if the Lord will) to consider, according to the interest they have in the Text, and the share they (seem to me to) contribute to our Edification in the Grace and Peace of the Gospel.