The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 6
LECT. 6. Novemb. 14. 1649.
1. THat its a very difficult and hard taske LECT. 6for a Chriſtian to oppoſe Satan, when he comes in a way of Aſſault. This is naturally infer'd from hence, All the Armour of God muſt be taken, and all little enough to furniſh us for this day. Many an ignorant and ſelf-confident Chriſtian thinks it one of the eaſieſt works in all the world, to repell Satan, and put him to flight: 'tis but bidding him defiance, and he is preſently gone. This Text will teach us another leſſon, if we mark it well.
We may gueſſe at the difficulty of oppoſing a contrary power, by the proviſion made for that oppoſition: When we ſee many hundreds of Souldiers liſted, and ſtore of Artillery and Ammunition provided, and many dayes ſpent in fitting the Souldier for his work, we preſently imagine, that all this preſuppoſeth more then an ordinary adverſary: ſo when we hear the Apoſtle charging theſe Epheſians once, and again to take to themſelves, and to put upon them the whole Armour of God: we cannot but conclude, that there is like to be more than ordinary contentions before ſuch an Adverſary be overcome. Look but upon that deſcription which is made of this Adverſary, in the 12. v. of this Chapter, Not with fleſh and blood, but with Principalities and Powers, &c. I name this difficulty, not to diſcourage any Chriſtian but to ſtir up watchfulneſs, and diligence in all Chriſtians, that knowing the difficulty before-hand, they may be the better fitted to entertain him when he comes. Three things well conſidered, beſides this in the Text, will diſcover the difficulty of withſtanding Satans temptations.
1. He is a very potent enemy, Epheſ. 4. 12. Principalities, Powers, Spiritual wickedneſses in heavenly places.
2. He is a very ſubtle enemy, Gen. 3. 1.
3. He is a very diligent and induſtrious enemy: He compaſſeth the earth to and fro, Job 2. 2.
He turnes every ſtone, and leaves no meanes unattempted, that may promote his miſchievous deſign.
Now I add this Note, for theſe three Reaſons:
1. That we may ſee, How much compaſſion we owe to ſuch as are aſſaulted by him.
2. How much we ought to pitty ſuch as are ſurpriſed, overtaken, and for a time overcome by his ſtrong aſſaults: Be not over-harſh, nor over-rigid in cenſuring, & condemning them who are captivated by the power of Satan, vid. Gal. 6. 1.
3. That all who are inabled to keep the field in this war, may confeſs how much they owe to God, who inableth them to be Conquerors in ſo difficult a battel.
Secondly, This ſheweth us the inſufficiency, weakneſs, and emptineſs of our ſelves, and of every thing in our ſelves, to carry on the ſpirituall Warfare. We muſt take, not our own Armour, that's quickly broken into pieces, but the Armour of God. Had we any thing of our own, there would be no need of ſending us to another treaſury. There is ſo much Atheiſme, Pride, ſelf-Idolatry, and vain confidence in the heart of man, that he is very deſirous to magnifie himſelf, and unwilling to acknowledge his own poverty. We are ready to ſay as that proud King of Aſſyria did, Iſa. 10. 13, 14. By the ſtrength of my hand I have done it, and by my wiſdome, for I am prudent; I have removed the hounds of the people, and have robbed their Treaſures, and I have put down the Inhabitants like a valiant man. And my hand hath found as a Neſt the riches of the people, &c. never minding that all his ſucceſs and ſtrength was from God who had made him his Battle-axe to do all that work. We are ready to aſſume all to our ſelves, in our ſpirituall warring againſt Satan. I have put the Adverſary to flight; I have reſiſted him by my own ſtrength and induſtry: whereas it is GOD that furniſheth us with Armour, and that girds this Armour upon us, and that makes our endeavours ſucceſsfull by his own grace. Our ſword would ſoon be broken in pieces; our heeles would ſoon be tript up from under us, if God did not under-gird our ſoules with his ſtrength. My grace is ſufficient, ſaith God to Paul, when Satan made war againſt him, 2 Cor. 12. 9. God's grace was Paul's ſufficiency, elſe he had been the Devils Vaſſal. By thee, ſaith David, have I run thorow a troop, by my God have I leaped over a wall; it is God that girdeth me with ſtrength, and maketh my way perfect. He teacheth my hands to war, ſo that a bow of ſteel is broken by my arms. Thou haſt alſo given me the ſhield of thy ſalvation, thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleneſs hath made me great. Thou haſt girded me with ſtrength unto the battel, thou haſt ſubdued under me, thoſe that roſe againſt me, Pſal. 18. 29, 34, 35, 39. Whenſoever thou readeſt this Text, that thou art ſent to Gods Armory, ſit down, and make acknowledgment of thy own poverty; and ſay, All my ſprings are in thee. God will never have the glory either of thy oppoſing, or overcoming, till thou ſee it to be him that worketh all thy works in thee, and for thee, Eſa. 26. 12.
Thirdly, That God hath made ſufficient proviſion for his people to ſafeguard and defend them againſt all the attempts of Satan. Here is a Panoplia, not only one ſort of Armour but Armour of all kinds. The treaſury is richly furniſhed, the chriſtian ſouldier needeth not to want any thing, if he be not defective to himſelfe, here is proviſion for the head, for the breaſt, for the heart, for the hand, &c. tis a perfect Armour, (Cap a pe) there's nothing wanting for the full accoutring of ſoul and boby. Let Satan uſe what way of Aſſaults he pleaſeth, here is defence made againſt him, my grace is ſufficient for thee, 2 Cor. 12. 9. As the hills ſtand about Jeruſalem: So the Lord is, round about his people, Pſal. 125. 1, 2. There's no ſide lies undefended if the Chriſtian do not voluntarily omit his Armour. There is none like unto the God of Jeſurun, who rideth upon the heaven for thy helpe, and the eternall God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlaſting Armes, &c: Deut. 33. 26, 27. If Satan come over their heads to aſſault them, God rideth upon the sky in his excellency: If Satan get beneath them to undermine them, there is proviſion alſo: underneath are the everlaſting Armes, Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing, go ye out of the mid'st of her, &c. For ye ſhall not go out with haſte, nor go by flight for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Iſrael will be your rereward, Eſa 52. 11, 12. If Satan ſet upon them in the Front, they ſhall be defended there, God will go before them; And if he fall upon the Rear, to cut off the hind-moſt of them, as Amaleck did on Iſrael when they came out of Egypt, even there alſo ſhal be ſufficient proviſion; the God of Iſrael wil be their Rereward. Earthly Generals are many times conſtrained to call the Souldiery to fight, unarmed or half armed; they have not all ſorts of Weapons at all Encounters. God never bids any of his Souldiers fight, but he firſt layes out for them all kind of Weapons. I add this Note, for this conſideration: To let a Chriſtian ſee, that if he be at any time foiled in theſe diſputes, he is not to blame Gods Armour, which is very compleat and perfect; but either his own negligence, in not putting on his Arms, or his cowardize in not uſing them aright. We may ſay of the Spiritual Armour, as the Apoſtle doth of the Scripture, 2 Tim. 3. 17. All Scripture, &c. So is the Armour of God, profitable for Offence, for Defence, to make the Chriſtian Souldier compleat, throughly furniſhed for every kind of temptation.
Fourthly, That Chriſtian endeavour is abſolutely neceſſary for thoſe who would be preſerved and ſecured from Satan in the day of Temptation. This is gathered cleerly from the Apoſtles charge of Taking unto us, and of Putting on this Armour. God hath provided us compleat armes; but if we deſire either to defend our ſelves, or to offend our enemies, there lyeth an abſolute Neceſſity upon us, that we take them, and uſe them. Work out your ſalvation, ſaith the Apoſtle, with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you, both to will, and to do of his good pleaſure, Phil. 2. 12. Our working is not the cauſe of our ſalvation: but it is abſolutely neceſſary, that we work, if we will be ſaved: We cannot be ſaved, without our endeavour, though we are not ſaved for our endeavour. Qui creavit te ſine te, non ſervabit te ſine te. Paul had a promiſe, that both himſelf, and all that were with him in the ſhip, ſhould come ſafe to Land, Act. 27. 23, 24, 25. but yet both he, and the reſt, muſt work for their own preſervation: and therefore when ſome of the Mariners were about to deſert the ſhip, he tels them, That except thoſe men ſtayed in the ſhip, they could not be ſaved, v. 30, 31. That of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 127. …, 2. Except the Lord keep the City, &c. is very conſiderable to this purpoſe. All humane endeavours are to no purpoſe…, unleſs God crown their endeavours with his bleſſing; and yet it's as true, that God will not effectually give his bleſſing, without the concurrence of humane endeavour. When Satan would have perſwaded our Saviour to have caſt himſelf down upon the Pinacle of the Temple, upon confidence of Divine Protection, He ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep, &c. Mat. 4. 5, 6. Our Saviour repels his temptation with this anſwer, ver. 7. It is written, Thou ſhalt not tempt the Lord thy God. It is not religious truſting, but preſumptuous tempting of God, for a man to think that God will preſerve him from deſtruction, though he neglect the means of his own ſafety▪ The Souldier cannot think, that the Armour in the Magazine will defend him; it's the Armour upon the body that will preſerve him. A man may periſh at a full table, if he do not eat of that which is provided; and a Chriſtian may be overcome, notwithſtanding all his Armour, if he do not uſe it, as God requires: Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it upon the boyl for a plaiſter, and he ſhall recover, Eſa. 38. 21. A lump of figs would not immediatly have cured a Plague-ſore without a ſpeciall bleſſing; and yet if that playſter had not been apply'd, Hezekiah had not recovered. God can work without meanes, and againſt meanes oftentimes; but he hath no where ſaid, that he will do ſo when Creatures neglect meanes afforded. If David had gone againſt Goliah without his ſling, he might have returned without victory. If the people of Iſrael had neglected to encompaſs Jericho, they could not have expected the ſpoyl of that City: their ſhouting was not the cauſe of the falling down of the Walls of Jericho; and yet if they had not ſhouted, the walls had never fallen; vid. Luk. 8. 35. Though Chriſt raiſed her by a Miracle, he would not preſerve her by a Miracle. A Chriſtian muſt uſe all lawfull meanes to accompliſh Gods Promiſes; and when he hath done, muſt wait for the accompliſhment of the Promiſe, as if nothing had been done.
(5.) That the Ordinances of God, and the graces of God, are not weak, but ſtrong things. This is gathered from the Notion of Armour, under which theſe things are here repreſented: Armour hath ſtrength in it. The Apoſtle tels us, concerning the Ordinances, that they are mighty, through God, for the pulling down of ſtrong Holds, 2 Cor. 10. 4. and the ſame Apoſtle tels us elſe-where, that the Goſpel in the publike preaching thereof is the power of God to ſalvation to every one that believeth, Rom. 1. 16. And for the graces of God, they alſo have a mighty ſtrength in them. We read of the power of Faith, 2 Theſ. 1. 11. Faith is a very powerful grace, it enableth the ſoul to do, and bear many things, which it could neither do, nor ſuffer, without this grace: it's that by which a Chriſtian obtaines victory over a mighty world, 1 Joh. 5. 4. Hope, another grace of the Spirit, hath great ſtrength in it: it is therefore called the Anchor of the ſoul, Heb. 6. 19. An Anchor is a ſtrong thing; by the ſtrength of the Anchor, the ſhip rides ſafe and ſtedfaſt in ſtormy and tempeſtuous raging weather. By the Anchor of Hope, the ſoul is kept ſtedfaſt in times of ſhaking and confuſion. There is indeed this difference between the ſtrength of the ſpiritual Armour, and material Armour. The ſtrength of other Armour, is not from him that wears it, nor from him that appoints it; but from the natural frame and contexture of it: but the ſtrength of the ſpirituall Armour is not from any thing naturally in it, but onelyonly from the Inſtitution of him that hath appointed it. And therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, that the Weapons of our Warfare are mighty through God: of themſelves they are feeble, and very weak; but, through God, they become potent and mighty. If either Graces, or Ordinances, ſhould be left to work by the force which is naturally in them, and ſhould not be ſtrengthened, and managed by a power from God, without themſelves, they would be no better then broken Armour: they would be but like bruiſed Reeds, quickly ſhaken to ſhivers by the leaſt wind of temptation: hereby weak Chriſtians have waxed valiant in battel, and turned to flight the armies of the Aliens, Heb. 11. 34.
(6) That 'tis no wonder to ſee Satan ſo to prevail over graceleſs perſons by the power of his Temptations. The Apoſtle tels us, that the Devil worketh in the hearts of the children of diſobedience, Epheſ. 2. 2. A Child of diſobedience is not one that ſometimes doth an act of Diſobedience, for ſo do the very Children of God. I find, that when I would do good, evill is preſent; and that the evill I would not, that I do, Rom. 7. 19. But a Son or Daughter of Diſobedience, is the denomination of ſuch as make diſobedience their trade; ſuch a one as willingly fulfills the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind; as he is deſcribed, v. 3. one that is a ſervant unto ſin, That ſerveth divers luſts and pleaſures, Tit. 3. 3. In ſuch a one the Devil doth effectually and powerfully work: he is acted and moved by the Devil, as the body is by the ſoul; and that not once, or now and then onelyonly, but conſtantly, and continually, as the Particle (now) notes; it ſignifies a continued act. The ſoules, and minds, and conſciences, of ſuch men, are the ſhops in which Satan continually workes, and that ſucceſsfully. And the ſame Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 2. 26. ſpeaking of the ſame perſons, tels us, that they are taken captive by Satan at his will. If we conſider this text, we ſhall find it a thing not much to be admired at, for they have not the graces of the Spirit whereby they ſhould make effectual oppoſition againſt his aſſaults: and therefore 'tis no wonder if they be vaſſalizd to do all the deſires of the Devils heart. A ſtrong King, with a multitude of men well appointed, may eaſily do his pleaſure upon a few naked and unarmed men; eſpecially, if they have no deſire to make reſiſtance: graceleſs perſons they have no mind to oppoſe the Devil: ſinne is as pleaſant to them, as it is to him; and if they had a mind to withſtand, yet they have no armes; and therefore, volentes nolentes, they muſt obey. If Satan tempt them to Blaſpheme, to Murther, to be Rebellious, to break holy Engagements, to ſubſcribe wicked Engagements; they want armour to withſtand, and therefore they muſt of neceſſity yield obedience.
(7) 'Tis no wonder to hear of Satans prevailing upon thoſe perſons, and in thoſe places where the Ordinances are not planted. Some of the Heathens, they are contented to worſhip the Devil as their God; and many in our own Land, in the dark corners of it, they are tempted to Sorcery, Witchcrafts, and to Divinations, and ſuch Diabolicall Arts. This is a condition to be much lamented, but 'tis certainly not much to be admired, unleſs it be, that it is no worſe; for they are deſtitute of that which is, and ſhould be for the defence againſt ſuch aſſaults; they are unwalled Villages, which lie open to the Devil at his pleaſure. The Ordinances of God, are a guard, to prevent the incurſions and invaſions of Satan; this guard they want: and therefore no wonder, if Hell be amongſt them. Where there is no Viſion, ſaith Solomon, the People periſh, Prov. 29. 18. Piſcator reades it, Nudatur populus, the people is naked; and the word in Hebrew ſignifieth, as well to uncover, and make bare, as it doth ceſſare, or rebellis eſſe, or diſſipare, as others render it. The Ordinances of God are a very great part of a peoples defence; and if this defence be removed, or not erected, Satan muſt needs rage very furiouſly amongſt ſuch a People.
(8) This let's us ſee why Satan is ſuch an enemy both to the grace of God, and to the Ordinances of God. That he is an enemy to grace, will appear from all the endeavour he uſeth, both to hinder the planting of it, where it is not; and to root it up, where it is planted and eſtabliſhed.
Never did the Lord go about to work ſaving grace and converſion in the heart of any Creature, but Satan uſed all his power and policy to hinder this Conception, either by himſelf immediatly, or by ſome of his Inſtruments. When Paul by the preaching of the Goſpel at Paphos, began to work ſome ſaving effect upon the Deputy Sergius Paulus, Elymas the Sorcerer, the Devils Inſtrument, labours by all meanes to turn him from the Faith, that he might not be converted, Act. 13. 8. And when he cannot hinder the effecting of the work, he uſeth all meanes to deſtroy it, as ſoon as it is wrought. The Devil is like unto Pharaoh, if he cannot hinder the conception of grace in the heart at firſt, yet he will endeavour that the Manchild may be utterly deſtroyed, as ſoon as ever it is born. He ſtands vigilantly before the woman, which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her Child as ſoo… … it was born, Rev. 12. 4. And if he cannot hinder it from living, yet he doth what he can to keep it from thriving, by reproach, by perſecution, by quenching the motion of Gods Spirit, and all other wayes. And he is no leſs an enemy to the Ordinances of God, then he is to the graces of God. When Paul and Silas were going to prayer, a Spirit of Divination met them to take them off from that Duty, Act. 16. 16. When Paul endeavoured to ſet up the Goſpel and the Ordinances at Theſſalonica, Satan ſtirs up the unbelieving Jews to raiſe perſecution, that the work might be hindred, Act. 17. 5, 6, 7.
And when he endeavoured to have come to the Theſſalonians, afterwards Satan took him off, and hindred him once, and a ſecond time, 1 Theſ. 2. 18. Nothing doth he deſire to overthrow more earneſtly then the Ordinances: he knowes he can never ſet up his golden Calves, till he hath taken down the golden Candleſticks: The reaſon of his endeavors, is this; Theſe Graces and Ordinances are the ſoules Armour, by which he is hindred in his Temptations; and if he can but deſtroy this Armour, he knowes he ſhall invade the ſoul at his pleaſure, without diſturbance. When an enemy would be Maſter of a City, we know they take away that which may hinder them: they firſt ſeize upon the place of Ammunition, remove the Guards, and Gates, and Ch…ns, out of their places; and ſo bring the Inhabitants into perfect ſlavery. Graces and Ordinances are the Ammunition of the Soul: when the Devil hath removed theſe, he hath nothing to oppoſe him: he may then come when he will, to rifle and plunder the ſoul. In order to the accompliſhment of this, it is, that he hath ſuch an aching tooth againſt the Miniſtry, and Miniſters, that deſire to be firm and faithful; he knows, the Ordinances and they, muſt fall together: therefore he endeavours either to corrupt them; or if that cannot be, utterly to deſtroy them, that ſo he may rule and bear ſway without controll.
(9.) What great Adverſaries are thoſe to themſelves, that have quite caſt off the Ordinances of God? Amongſt many other ſoul-deſtroying Opinions which prevail in our licentious times, this is one, That the fulneſs of time is not yet come for Ordinances, That Ordinances are but fleſhly and carnall things, and that Chriſt is crucified in all theſe things to a Chriſtian, &c. and hereupon ſome have quite laid them aſide. They will neither pray, nor hear, nor communicate in the Sacraments; but are above all theſe things. Theſe men have done the Devills work for him, they have diſarmed themſelves: and its juſt with God to leave them to the Devills cruelty, to deal with them as he pleaſeth, that he ſhould hurry them into Atheiſme, profaneſſe, and all kinde of ungodly practices here; and into Hell hereafter. Certainly, Satan hath not truer friends to his cauſe and Crown, in all the world, then theſe men are.
(10.) How neceſſary it is for Chriſtians, to uſe all care for the proving of their graces, and for the ſtrengthening of their graces. The Scripture calles much upon us, to make tryall of the truth of our graces. Examine your ſelves whether ye be in the faith or no, &c. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Graces are our Arms, and if our graces be counterfeit, Satan will ſoon pierce them in the day of temptation. To fight with falſe graces, is as dangerous, as to fight with painted Armour, inſtead of true Armour: never be contented therefore, till you come to the certain knowledge of the truth of every grace.
And as its neceſſary to prove them, ſo its good to be ſtrengthening them againſt the day of aſſault. This God calls for as well as the other. Add to your faith vertue, and to your vertue patience, &c. 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6, 7. & 2 Pet. 3. 18. Growe in grace, &c. Thinne Armour is almoſt as unſerviceable as falſe Armour: a Sword without an edge will not be much better in a day of temptation, then a woodden Sword. Weak graces will make but weak defence, and not ſtrong offence neither, eſpecially againſt ſuch an enemy as we have to do withall. (1.) Jeſus Chriſt hath received for Chriſtians, not onelyonly variety of grace, but fulneſſe of every grace alſo. Of his fulneſs we have all received grace for grace, John 1. 16. one degree of grace after another. Now the ſtrengthening of our union with Chriſt, will be the ſtrengthening of our graces: the further a Chriſtian gets into Chriſt, the more life and vigour will there be in his graces. (2.) The Ordinances of God are not onelyonly for the begetting of grace, but for the nouriſhing of grace; and though all Ordinances be not for converſion, yet all are for edification and confirmation, Eph. 4. 11, 12. Frequent and conſcionable u…e of the Ordinances, will make weak graces ſtrong. (3.) Exerciſe is the way to increaſe: labouring men are uſually ſtrongeſt men, if they have all other things anſwerable. Your labouring Chriſtians, will certainly be the ſtrongeſt Chriſtians: want of uſe ruſts your armour, and weakens it. VVant of uſe, makes ſtrong graces weak; but exerciſe and labour makes weak graces ſtrong, John 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth, that it may bring forth more fruit. To him that hath ſhall be given, and he ſhall have abundance; but from him that hath not, ſhall be taken away, that which he ſeemeth to have. Luke 8. 18. having is put for uſing, as the ſcope of the parable ſhews.
11. What great cauſe we all have to magnifie Gods goodneſs, in continuing amongst us his Ordinances, and in keeping the work of Grace ſtill alive in our hearts? That we have Armour to fight with againſt Satan, when very many lie open to his Incurſions, and have no defence. The Bulwarks of Gods Ordinances are demoliſhed, and caſt down in many Churches, and there Satan rangeth at pleaſure; And we ſhall ſee cauſe to have our hearts inlarged the wider, to prayſe the Lord: if it be conſidered, what endeavours we have uſed to pluck theſe walls down with our own hands, by caſting much reproach upon them, and by being barren under them, and by withdrawing our ſelves very much from them. And ſo for our graces, what means have we not uſed to uncloath and deveſt our own ſouls of this Armour: We have neglected to fortifie and ſtrengthen them when they have been weak. We have undermined them with our own hands, and gone about to heave them off with our own hands, and yet God keeps them on us ſtill.
(12.) What a wicked thing is it, to endeavour to quench and kill the graces of God in the hearts of men? He that takes a ſtaffe out of the hand of a man, or Child, when a Lion is coming with open mouth upon him, would he not be guilty of his death? Grace is all the Armour a Child of God hath to defend himſelf againſt the aſſaults of that roaring Lion, and to ſeek to ſtrip him out of that Armour, is to make your ſelves guilty of all his ruine. Solomon ſaith, He that taketh away a Garment in cold weather, is as he that ſingeth Songs to an heavy heart, Prov. 25. 20. The graces of God are as the Bladders, which keep us from ſinking in the Sea of Temptation: now to take away the bladders from a man ready to drown, is no ſmall cruelty, &c.
Exhortation. That all Chriſtians would, 2. Ʋſe.when they are beſet with temptations, betake themſelves to theſe Arms. Your hearts may think of running ſome other way; but it will be to no purpoſe. All other Arms will be but encouragements to this Aſſaylant, and will betray you into his hand. I ſhall need no other motive but this, in the Text, viz. certain hope of overcoming, for ſo the Text ſaith, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evill day, and having done all to ſtand. Which brings in the 4th Doctrine.