The Christians in Complete Armor, Religious treatise · Introduction 4
VERSE 12.
For we wreſtle not against fleſh and blood, but againſt Principalities and Powers, againſt the Rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſe in high places.
THe words are coupled to the Precedent with that cauſal particle For, which either referres to the two foregoing verſes, and then they are a further reaſon, preſſing the neceſſity of Chriſtian fortitude in the tenth verſe, and furniture in the eleventh: or elſe to the laſt words of the eleventh verſe, where the Apoſtle having deſcried the Saints grand enemie to be Satan, and deſcribed him in one of his attributes, his wily ſubtilty, he in this further diſplayes him in his proper colours, not to weaken the Saints hands, but waken their care, that ſeeing their enemy marching up in a full body, they might ſtand in better order to receive his charge. Where by the way we may obſerve the Apoſtles ſimplicity and plain dealing; he doth not undervalue the ſtrength of the enemy, and repreſent him inconſiderable, as Captains uſe to keep their ſouldiers together, by ſlighting the power of their adverſary; no, he tells them the worſt at firſt. If Satan had been to ſet out his own power, he could have challeng'd no more then is here granted him. See here the difference between Chriſt dealing with his followers, and Satan with his. Satan dares not let ſinners know who that God is they fight againſt; this were enough to breed a mutiny in the devils camp. Silly ſoules they are drawn into the field by a falſe report of God and his wayes, and are kept there together with lies and faire tales, but Chriſt is not afraid to ſhew his Saints their enemy in all his Power and Principality, the Weakneſſe of God being ſtronger then the powers of hell.