The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 58
Meditation LVIII. VponUpon the Spirituall Warfare.
WHo can either think or read what a Slaughter was made by one Angel in the numerous Army of Sennacherib, who in a night deſtroyed a hundred fourſcore and five thouſand Men, without reflecting upon the vaſt diſparity that is between the ſtrength and power which is in Angelicall and Humane beings? Great things are recorded in Sacred Hiſtory to be done by ſome of Iſraels Judges, and Davids Worthies, which would be looked upon as impoſſibilities, if the Spirit of God were not the Voucher of the Truth of them. Shamgar ſlew ſix hundred Philiſtims with an Ox Goad; Sampſon with the Jaw-bone of an Aſs laid Heapes upon Heapes; and Adino the Tachmonite lifted up his Spear againſt eight hundred, whom he ſlew at one time. But if theſe, and the like remarkable Acquiſts, which others alſo are famed for, and have their Names Enrolled in the Liſt of Worthies, were as ſeveral Parcells brought into one Totall, how far ſhort would the foot of the Account be, in regard of this number which fell by the Sword of one Angell? Well then may the Scripture give to them the Names of Mighty ones, of Principalities and Powers, ſuch as excell in ſtrength. How quickly would a Legion of ſuch Elohims turn the whole World into a Charnel-houſe, filled with the Sc…lls and Bones of its Inhabitants, when a ſingle Angel can in a ſmall ſpace of time Change ſo many living Perſons into dead Carcaſes? How ſoon could they cloy and ſurfet the Grave it ſelf, which is as unſatiable as any of thoſe four things, that ſay, It is not enough? Doth not all this therefore greatly heighten the wonder of the Spiritual Warfare, in which a f…ail Chriſtian, who hath not put off the infirmities of the Fleſh, doth yet go forth to Fight and War with the Combined Hoſts and Powers of Darkneſs? If young David were looked upon as an unequal Match by Saul, and all Iſrael, to Combate with Goliah, the vaſtneſs of whoſe Stature, and Warlike Armes had ſtruck a terror into the whole Camp; how ſtrange muſt it needs be deemed, that one, who to the outward view, is as any other Man, ſhould Conflict not with Fleſh and Blood, but with Spiritual Wickedneſſes, which are for number many, and for Power great? What is one weak Lamb to reſiſt the Lyons of the Forreſt? or one harmleſs Dove to encounter with the Birds of Prey? as impotent as either of theſe, may the ſtrongeſt of Men ſeem, to do ought to deliver themſelves, or to offend any of their Spiritual Enemies when they aſſault them. But yet the reſolved Chriſtian, who is called to an holy Warfare by God, he doth ſuch noble Exploits againſt Sin and Satan, as cauſe both a ſhout and Wonder in Heaven. Angells are affected to behold what a great fight of Aſflictions he endures; what Repulſes he gives to the reiterated Aſſaults of enraged Fiends; and when at any time worſted, how he Rallies again, recovers his Ground, and comes off both with Victory and Triumph, putting to Flight whole Armies of thoſe Infernal Anakims. It is worth our enquiry and knowledge then, to underſtand wherein this great Strength of a Chriſtian lieth, which is not a Naturall, but a Myſticall and Sacramentall ſtrength, like Sampſons? But it lies not in his Hair, but in his Head, and in his Armor, which for the Efficiency of it, as well as for the Excellency of it, is called the Armour of God.
Firſt, The Head of every Believer is Chriſt, who derives an influence of life and power worthy of himſelf. I can do all things (ſaith Paul) through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me: There is a continued Efflux of vertue that goes from him, which to every Chriſtian communicates a kinde of Omnipotency: He, who without Chriſt can do nothing, can in him do every thing. What a Catalogue of forces doth the Apoſtle m…ſier up in the Eighth of the Romans, from which he ſuppoſeth an oppoſition may come? Life, Death, Angells, Principalities, Powers, Things Preſent, Things to Come, Heighth, Depth? And that he may leave out none, addes, nor any Creature: And yet pronounceth of them, that in all theſe We are conq…erors, yea more then conquerors: Which, as Chryſoſtome Interprets it, is to overcome them with eaſe, without paines, and without ſweat. O then that Chriſtians did but underſtand their own ſtrength, that they War in the Power of his Might, who ſpoiled Principalities, and Powers, and made a ſhew of them openly, leading them as ſo many Pinioned Captives after the Chariot of his Croſs, whereon he ſhewed many ſignal Teſtimonies of a Glorious Victory, in ſaving a Thief without Meanes; in Rending the Vail of the Temple from the top to the bottom; in Shaking the Earth, Cleaving the Rocks aſunder, opening the Graves, and cauſing many Bodies of Saints to ariſe. How greatly would theſe thoughts keep us from being weary and faint in our Spiritual war, and make our hands ſteady like the hands of Moſes, untill the going down of the Sun of our Life.
Secondly, A Chriſtians ſtrength lies in his Armour, which when rightly put on, is able to preſerve him, that the evill one touch him not: There is no ſtanding in the Bat…ell without it, and there no fear of periſhing in it. When did ever Satan bruiſe or wound the head of him, that had the Helmet of Salvation for his Covering? or endanger the Vitals of him, who had put on the Breſt-Plate of Righteouſneſs, and had his loynes girt about with truth? What one fiery dart of the wicked did ever ſo burn, that the Shield of Faith could not quench? or what way of ſufferings could not he walk in, whoſe feet are ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace. Methinks when I conſider that God who beſt knowes the utmoſt both of Satans Power and Policies, is the Maker of the Armour: It is a voice becoming every Souldier of Chriſt, to ſay, of whom ſhould I be afraid? If he call us to Fight, and furniſh us with Armes that are unable to defend us, or to offend our Enemies, he would ſuffer in his Glory, as well as we in our Comfort; he would then have his champions to be Satans captives, and the Banner which they ſpread in his Name, to become Hells Trophie. And can he, do you think, endure at once to ſee the deſtruction of his People, and the diſhonour of his Name? VVhoſoever therefore thou beeſt, that art clad in this Armour of Proof, let me ſay unto thee as the Lord to Gideon, Goe in this thy Might, and fight the Battels of Jehovah. Take unto you that Sword of the Spirit, that will kill Luſts, and make the Devils to flee: It hath wrought VVonders in all Ages, and its Edg is ſtill as ſharp as ever it was. By the Word of thy Lips (ſaith David) I have kept me from the pathes of the deſtroyer. It is written, ſaid our Saviour, when he Foyled his and our Adverſary, and put him to flight after his repeated Aſſaults. And in that great Battel that we …ead was fought between Michael and his Angels, and the Dragon and his Angels, he and his Hoſt were overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of their Teſtimony. Let every Man then have his Sword upon his thigh, becauſe of fear in the night: Put not off your Armour till you put on your Robes. It is made to be worn, not to be laid up, nor yet to be laid down, becauſe our VVarfare and our Life are both finiſhed together; till then there is not a Truce, much leſs a Peace for to be expected? Sooner may we contract a league with Poyſons, that when taken down they ſhall not kill; or with fiery Serpents and Cockatrices, that they bite nor, then obtain the leaſt reſpit in this VVar, in which the Malice of Curſed Devils is as unquenchable as the fire of Hell, to which they are doomed. Lord, therefore do thou, who art the Prince of Life, the Captain of Salvation to all thy People, who haſt finiſhed thine own VVarfare, and beholds theirs, enable me to VVraſtle, that I may neither faint nor fall, but prevaile unto Victory; ſhew fo…th thy VVonders in Me, whoſe Strength is Perfected in VVeakneſs, that I may overcome the VVicked One. And though the Conflict ſhould be long and bitter, yet make me to know, that the ſweetneſs of the Reward will abundantly Recompenſe the Trouble of the Reſiſtance; and the Joy of the Triumph, the Bloodineſs of the War.