Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 15
Vers. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
THe third piece of armour here enjoyned to be put on, is, the preparation of the Gospel of peace, that is, a prepared and resolute frame of heart to go through our Christian course with chearfulnesse and patience, notwithstanding of all the difficulties of the way (for, the word rendered preparation, is used elsewhere for such firmnesse of resolution, Acts 21. 13.) which resolute frame of heart, is wrought and begotten by the Doctrine of the Gospel, in so far as it is the mean of making peace and friendship between God and sinners: and therefore is this piece of armour called the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Now, he biddeth them have their feet shod with this preparation; and thereby sheweth it doth answer that part of the bodily armour which is called the leg or foot-harnesse, which did serve to defend the legs and feet of souldiers against cold, thornes, stones, and other roughnesse of the way. In like manner, this prepared resolute frame of heart to charge through all difficulties, doth not only guard the soul against the pollution of filthy tentations which it doth meet with in the way, Psal. 119. 105▪ but also engageth the Christian souldier to go through all the crosses, hardships and difficulties of the way with courage and chearfulnesse. Doct. 1. The Christian souldier is so to stand in the fight, as that he be also daily advancing and marching forwards in his way towards heaven. His duty is both to stand and to advance at once in severall respects: he is to withstand and stand against his spirituall adversary; and yet to advance and make progresse towards Christ, perfection in grace, and his journeys end: yea, and the more firmly he stand against the one, he advanceth with greater speed towards the other: for, the Apostle, having exhorted them to stand, ver. 14-. he insinuateth here, that they must be also advancing, while he biddeth them put on the foot or leg-harnesse of resolution: which piece of armour was usefull for souldiers chiefly when they were upon their march; And your feet shod. 2. The way wherein the Christian souldier is to march and advance towards heaven, is not plain and smooth, or free from trouble and hazard, but beset with tentations and afflictions, as with so many sharp stones, piercing briers and thorns, which make a way impassible to bare-footed travellers; for, there was no need of the foot-harnesse, to which he here alludeth, but in such a way; And your feet shod. 3. The Christian souldier therefore must arm himself with a firm and well grounded resolution and purpose of heart, to charge through all difficulties, how dear soever it may cost him; this being another necessary piece of the Christians armour, without the which we are exposed and laid open to severall deadly blows and dangerous tentations from our spirituall adversary, even all such as unexpected difficulties and crosses do easily and usually drive an unprepared heart to yeeld unto, to wit▪ impatience, Gen. 30. 1. repining against the Lord, Jonah 4. 9. a spirit of revenge against instruments, 2 Sam. 16. 9. fainting in duty, Heb. 12. 12. closing with sinfull means for attaining an outgate, 1 Sam. 28. 7. despare of an outgate, 1 Sam. 27. 1, questioning an interest in God because of the crosse, Juag. 6. 13. and such like: for, the Apostle commandeth the Christian souldier to arm himself with such a prepared and resolute frame of heart; And your feet shod with the preparation. 4. It is not every resolution and purpose which will guard the heart against these fore-mentioned blows and tentations, but such as floweth from the glad-tidings and intimation of peace and friendship made up between God and us, all our other resolutions will be at length outwearied and broken by continuall crosses and hardships, Isa. 40. 30. but the Christian, who is armed with this, endureth to the end, as knowing God is his friend, Psal. 23. 4. there is not wrath in his cup, Isa. 53. 5. his wearisome journey will at last have an happy close, Heb. 4. 9. for, the Apostle commandeth them to put on such a prepared frame of heart as floweth from the intimation of their peace with God, while he calleth it the preparation of the Gospel of peace. 5. The Gospel is only that Doctrine which bringeth peace between God and rebels, the Law indeed discovereth the feed, Rom. 3. -20. but the Gospel doth not only shew, that peace and friendship may be had, Luke 2. 14. but also the tearms upon which it is obtained, Rom. 5. 1. yea, and by means of the preaching thereof, the Lord doth work us up to imbrace these tearms, Rom. 10. 14, 15, 17. for, he ascribeth the making up of our peace with God to the Gospel, while he calleth it the Gospel of peace. 6. Where the Gospel is blessed of God, for making up of friendship and peace, it will be attended in all to whom it is so blessed, with a firm and stedfast resolution to follow God in the way of duty, notwithstanding of all difficulties and hardships: for, he maketh their putting on this prepared frame of heart, to be the native result of peace made with God by means of the Gospel, while he saith, Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.