The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 1
LECT. I. foreign. Mary Wolnoth, Octob. 10. 1649. Lecture Dayes.
Epheſ. 6. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Ver. 13.
foreign.
Wherefore take unto you the whole Armor of God, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evil day, &c.
THis Epiſtle was written by Paul LECT. 1.to the Church of Epheſus, the Metropolis or chief City of Aſia the leſs, where he had planted a Church, and preached the Goſpel for the ſpace of two whole years, Act. 19. 10. At his departure from them, to Jeruſalem, he did (by the Spirit) fore-tell them of a very great alteration and change that would ſuddenly happen amongſt them, by reaſon of falſe Teathers that ſhould ariſe, Act. 20. 28, 29, 30. And being now a priſoner at Rome, an Ambaſſador in bonds, as he tels them, cap. 6. 20. he writes this Epiſtle to them, perſwading them to continue ſtedfaſt in the profeſſion of that Faith of the Goſpel which he had preached to them. In which we have theſe three parts:
1. The Preface in, Cap. 1. v. 1, 2.
2. The Matter of the Epiſtle, Cap. 1. v. 2. ad Cap. 6. v. 10. In which are theſe two things: 1. He ſtrongly aſſerts and proves that Fundamental Doctrine of Juſtification by Grace, Cap. 1, 2, 3. And then afterwards, 2. He makes application of that Doctrine, in a Uſe of Exhortation, ſtirring them up to Holineſs of life, Cap. 4. cap. 5. cap. 6. ad v. 10. In which Exhortation, he preſſeth two kinds of Duties: Firſt, ſuch as concerned all Chriſtians in their general Vocation. This, from Cap. 4. 1. or Cap. 5. v. 21. And then, ſecondly, ſuch kind of Duties, as concerned Chriſtians in their oeconomical Capacity as they were Huſbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Maſters, Servants, Cap. 5. 22. ad Cap. 6. v. 10. This is the ſecond part of the Epiſtle.
3. The Concluſion, Cap. 6. v. 10. ad finem: In which he doth (1) commend to them the uſe of that Spiritual Armour, ver. 10. ad 19. (2.) He begs their prayers for himſelf. v. 19, 20. (3) Informes them of his ſending of Tychicus, v. 21, 22. (4) He concludes with his uſual Benediction and Prayer, v. 23, 24.
The Verſes which I have read are the firſt part of the Concluſion, viz. a ſhort and compendious Tractate about the Spiritual Armor: concerning which, the Apoſtle doth two things:
1. Gives them a general Exhortation to uſe them, v. 13. Wherefore, &c.
2. Gives them a particular Catalogue, both of the Names and Uſes of them, ver. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
We are firſt to begin with the general Exhortation, as it is laid down in the 13 verſe: Wherefore, take unto you the whole Armour, &c.
The Apoſtle had given this counſel, ver. 10. and yet becauſe it was a very neceſſary Doctrine, he doth here repeat it in Terminis: From whence, before we come to the particulars, we ſhall lay down this Doctrine in generall, viz.Doctrine general.
That neceſſary and uſeful Truths are not onelyonly once, but often to be preached by the Miniſters of God: Such Truths as are of ſpecial concernment, are to be repeated again and again to the ſame people. We ſhall find, that the Holy Prophets of God have done ſo: The Doctrine of Chriſt: The calling of the Ge…tiles, &c.We ſhall find the ſame Doctrine, preached by the ſame Prophet, over and over; and we ſhall find after, Prophets repeating and rehearſing, what hath been urged by the former Prophets. And the Apoſtles inculcating the ſame things. Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes; and again, I ſay rejoyce, Phil. 4. 4. If we, or an Angel from Spiritual joy a neceſſary Duty. Not hearkning to Seducers, a neceſſary Duty.Heaven, preach any other Goſpel, let him be accurſed. He ſaith it over again, Gal. 1. 8, 9. And he tels the Phi…ippians, It was not grievous to him to write the ſame things to them, Phil. 3. 1. How often doth the Evangeliſt John repeat the Doctrine of Brotherly Love? And our Brotherly love, a neceſſary Duty,Saviour himſelf preacheth the ſame Doctrine over again. And we ſhall find Solomon, in the Proverbs, often repeating the ſame things, Chriſts tender of G…ace, a neceſſary Duty. Vanity of the World, a neceſſary Duty. Saints Communion with Chriſt, a neceſſary Duty.vid. Prov. 1. 20, 21. &c, and Cap. 8. 1, 2, 3, 4. you have the very ſame thing again; and you will find the ſame in very many places of that book. And in Eccleſ. Cap. 1. 2. the very ſame words again, Cap. 12. 8. And ſo in the Canticles; as cap. 1. 15. compared with cap. 4. 1. So cap. 2. 16. compared with cap. 6. 3.
And this is neceſſary, if we conſider theſe three things; 1. The Incapacity of mens minds to underſtand the things of God. The Scripture tels us, that the mind of man is full of darkneſs and blindneſs, vid. Eph. 4. 18. The Apoſtle, in that place, deſcribes the condition of man, by Nature; telling, that there is a thick skin, a vail of blindneſs covering their hearts; and 2 Cor. 4. 4. That the God of this world hath blinded their eyes. They are blind by Nature, and they are blinded by Satan: 'Tis true, God gave man a ſeeing-eye, when he made him at firſt. Adam knew the Nature of every Creature, and gave them apt Names, anſwerable to their Nature, and he knew his God, &c. but by the Fall, the eye of the Soul is become darkned, as to ſpiritual things & very dim as to other things: Man by affecting a forbidden knowledge, fell into groſs ignorance: he would needs know as much as a God, & he became as ignorant as a Beaſt, Pſal. 49. 20. Dan. 4. 16. There is Ignorantia purae negationis, Gen. 3. 5.which is no ſinne: Chriſt knew not the Day of Judgment; the Tradeſ-man knows not Aſtrology: and there is Ignorantia pravae diſpoſitionis, when a man will be ſo, and affects it &c. This is in man by Nature. And therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, That the pure naturall man doth not underſtand the things of the Spirit, nor can he, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned, 2 Cor. 2. 14. They may, and many of them do, underſtand the matters of God Hiſtorically and Notionally; but Spiritually, & Savingly, and applicatorily, and transformingly they cannot. And as for the people of God, who are inlightened by Grace, yet even they labour under much ignorance ſtill. We find, that even the Diſciples of Chriſt, though they had been tutor'd by him who was wiſer then Solomon, yet they were often at a loſs, to underſtand tho…e things which were not very obſcure, vid. Mat. 15. 16, 17, 18. And though Chriſt had often told them of his Paſſion, &c. yet we find they were very much to ſeek in that very particular, after the death of their Maſter, vid. Luke 24. 25, 26. This makes theſe repetitions very neceſſary. If Man were as at firſt, a very hint or glympſe, would be enough: but in regard of his dulneſs, there is need of theſe Rehearſals; And know this, that it is an Act of compaſſion in God, to the blindneſs of his Crearure, to repeat the ſame things more then once. It's ſaid of Chriſt, that he can have compaſsion on the Ignorant, Heb. 5. 2. Theſe Rehearſals are one clear Teſtimony, amongſt many others, of his compaſſion to ignorant ſinners. 2. The Imbecillity and weakneſs of the memory. The Memory is the Treaſury and Store-houſe of the Soul; the peculiar Office of the memory, is to retain and keep carefully all the Notions which are apprehended and taken in by the Underſtanding, and all the Species which are drawn from ſeveral Objects by the externall and internal Senſes. 'Tis the Regiſtry of the Soul, where theſe things ſhould be faithfully recorded, and kept for after-time. Now there is a very great imperfection in this Regiſter: This weakneſs ariſeth; 1. from that Naturall Diſtemper which is in it by reaſon of ſin: The Fall of Man did ſo bruiſe and crack this golden Veſſel, that it doth leak ever ſince, and cannot hold that which is put into it. The Apoſtle in Hebr. 2. 1. ſpeakes of this Diſtemper, foreign. The memory is like a Veſſel which is rent and full of holes. Thoſe golden Hoopes, which God in the firſt Creation, did ſet about this Veſſel, are either quite broken off, or much looſened. And then there are, ſecondly, alſo other things, which make it ſo lubrick and crazy, as to the retaining of things Spiritual and Divine, viz.
Firſt, it's over-charged with too many Three Cauſes of a weak Memory.worldly and ſinful things: the world is ſo much laid up in this Treaſury, that there is very little room for Heavenly things to be ſtowed there.
Secondly, want of Meditation and recollection: by this means it comes to paſs, that many Truths which are recorded in the Memory, are as if they had never been ſet down, in regard of uſe and improvement; becauſe by meditation and diſcourſe they are not revived. There is an Act of the Memory proper unto man, which the Philoſopher calls Euſtach Phyſ. p. 261.Reminiſcentia, when a thing which hath been recorded, and is forgotten, is, by the help of Diſcourſe, and Reaſoning, recovered again, and made preſent: and without this, it is impoſſible to keep alive the remembrance of many things. Now it's a very general fault, not onelyonly amongſt wicked men, but even amongſt the people of God, that they neglect this Duty of Diſcourſe and Meditation: they do not chew the Cud, as they are required; and ſo quite loſe many things which they have heard, underſtood, and ſometimes remembred. Iſaac went into the fields to meditate, Gen. 24. 63. David uſed to meditate on Gods Statutes, as well as to read and hear them, Pſal. 119. 15.
Thirdly, the Devil he pilfers out many Truths: he comes with his falſe Key, and picks the Lock of the Memory, and ſo the ſoul is bereaved of many a precious Truth, vid. Mat. 13. 19. He comes, and ſearcheth the books, and whatever he finds there, that may be prejudicial to his Kingdom, he either quite takes it off the File, or elſe ſo blurs it with his black Lines, that in a very ſhort time the Record becomes altogether uſeleſs. Therefore, for the ſtrengthning of the weak Memory, it's not without need, that things of moment and concernment ſhould be inculcated and repeated. 3. in regard of the Will; and that 1. from the deadneſs, and ſlowneſs, and untowardneſs of the Will and Affections to embrace and give entertainment to ſaving truths, at firſt, when offered. The heart of man is like hard Marble, harder then any Adamant, Zech. 7. 12. Impreſſions are not made upon it with one blow: the Iron is not heated through, with once putting into the fire: there is a reluctancy and contradiction in the Will againſt the receiving of things of this Nature. Ye ſtiff-necked, and uncircumciſed in heart, ye have alwayes reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 7. 51. The Apoſtle ſpeakes of many Remora's and Obſtructions in the heart, which hinder the effectual working of the Word, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. Strong holds, carnall reaſonings, things exalting themſelves againſt the knowledge of God, and high thoughts, &c. The ſoul is full of ſurmiſings, prejudices, objections, and ſtrong oppoſings: the ſtrong man armed keeps the houſe, and by force of Arms contends againſt divine Truths, eſpecially ſuch as are of weightieſt concernment, And therfore there is need of urging and preſſing the ſame things over and over, and that with earneſtneſs, that theſe high Towers may be levelled.
And then (2.) After that the heart hath ſubmitted and yielded, it doth in a very ſhort time through the prevalency of indwelling corruption, revolt and grow ſtiffe again, and is very backward to practiſe Truths ſubjected unto: It was the ſad complaint of one of the Ancients, that of all Trades and Imployments, Chryſoſt.that of the Miniſtry is moſt difficult, as in other reſpects, ſo in this, that he can never finde his work as he leaves it. Let a Carpenter, or Maſon, or any other Craftſ-man, ſhape and ſquare, and poliſh his work, and when he returns he findes it ſo; but the Devil he mars a Miniſters work, as ſoone as ever he hath done. When he hath digged a well of godly ſorrow, this Philiſtine comes and ſtops it up preſently. When he hath ſtubd up the thorns, the Devill comes and plants them again, or more in their room. When he hath caſt down the Wall; in one week, yea in one night, he findes it ſet up again, &c. Every obſerving, and ſelfe-ſearching Chriſtian, knowes the truth of this by ſad experience. When any holy Reſolution hath been with much labouring begot in the heart, Satan and his own corruption working together, do ſoon cool & check: the form he brought with him, from hearing the word, is ſoon unfaſhioned again.
Oh Iſrael, thy goodneſs is as the Morning dew, and as the early Cloud, it preſently vaniſheth away. Hoſ. 6. 4. Commands are not eaſily obeyed, therefore there muſt be precept upon precept. The conſolations of the Goſpel are not eaſily preſerved: therefore there muſt be promiſe upon promiſe. Its a hard thing to go on in duty conſtantly, the heart will backſlide: Its a hard thing to keep it light, and conſtant, and cloſe, &c.
The Church of Epheſus had left her firſt love, Rev. 2. 4. 5. Ephraim was a back-ſliding heyfer, Hoſ. 4. 16. they were revolted and gone. Thy people, ſaith God to Moſes, have ſoon corrupted themſelves, &c. Exod. 32. 7. 8. Paul had faithfully preached the Doctrine of juſtification by faith, to the Galathians, when he was perſonally with them; but in a very ſhort time, they were apoſtatized by the fraudulency and craftineſs of falſe Teachers: therefore he is forced to write to them the ſame things again, vid. Gal. 1. 6. We ſee the Diſciples of Chriſt, though they were commanded and intreated by their Maſter to watch with him, when he was in his Agony, ready to die for them; yet as ſoon as he was departed, they fell aſleep again; and though he came and reproved them, yet they fell aſleep again, vid. Matth. 26. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. A man would wonder, that when Chriſt had told them, that the pangs of death were upon him, yet they ſhould fall aſleep, &c. We have a diſcovery, in them, of the hearts Apoſtacy.Vſe 2.
This ſhould be a Directory for the Miniſters of the Goſpel: That they would not be contented onelyonly once to name neceſſary truths, but to be ever and anon (as they obſerve the ſlackneſs and negligence of people, in practiſing) preſſing, and urging the ſame again, and again. There are ſome Doctrines which are as ſtanding Diſhes, as the Doctrine of faith, Repentance, &c. theſe are of neceſſary and daily uſe; and people muſt be oft put in minde of them. There are ſome ſins which are predominant in every Age: theſe the Miniſters of Chriſt muſt be often beating down and reproving: There are ſome duties to which men are very averſe, theſe muſt be often urged. Hypocriſie was a raigning ſin amongſt the Jews, therefore our Saviour at every turn was beating down that ſin. Apoſtacy from the truth of the Goſpel, by hearkening to ſeducers, was the great ſin of the Churches of the Goſpel: therefore all the Apoſtles, who writ to thoſe Churches, did urge and preſs a care about that more then once or twice, &c. OnelyOnly the Miniſters of God muſt be carefull of theſe three things, in reference to this buſineſs.
1. That they do it not becauſe of ſluggiſhnes or ſloathfulneſs of ſpirit: Idleneſs is a very great ſin in any Calling, much more in the Miniſtry, their Calling being of greater importance then any other. If the Lord of the Vineyard come and finde them ſleeping, and ſnorting, by reaſon of negligence, he will cut them aſunder, and give them their portion with the Hypocrites, Matth. 24. 48, 49, 50, 51. God hath given them a large taske, they have a broad field to walk in, they are to preach the whole Counſel of God, and therefore they muſt not inſiſt upon the ſame things, out of a ſpirit of lazineſs, but meerly out of reſpect to, and compaſſion of, the neceſſity of the people. And then, 2. That they be as careful in ſtudying the ſame Doctrines, as if they had never made any mention of them before; That if it fall into their way to ſpeak about the ſame Duty, or about the ſame ſin, concerning wch they have formerly ſpoken, they may have freſh Arguments, to recommend the ſame duty, and freſh conſiderations, to manifeſt and make evident, the vileneſs of the ſame ſin, &c. They muſt ſtill dive further into the Scriptures, and meditate more earneſtly, that they may ſpeak more convincingly then before, to the Conſciences of ſuch as hear them.
3. That they ſeek earneſtly to God by prayer, in the behalf of the people, that their hearts may ſo readily practiſe the Duty enjoyned & avoid the ſin reproved, that they may have no further occaſion to remember them any more of the ſame things.
Let the people of God be willing, when neceſſity Vſe 2.requires, to hear of the ſame duty, and of the ſame ſinne, over and over. Many men cannot endure to hear of a Duty twice, though they can be content to omit it when the Miniſter hath done all he is able; nor are they patient to hear the ſame ſin twice reproved, though they can be content to commit it an hundred times over, it may be, in one week. It is no advantage to the Miniſter; but it's a great benefit to you. It's ſafe for you, Phil. 3. 1. It's an Argument of love and care, in the Miniſters of God, over your ſouls. They are afraid you ſhould miſs the way to Heaven; and therefore they give you your direction over again. They are afraid the Sore ſhould not be well healed; and therefore they apply another Plaiſter to it, that the Cure may be perfect. They would preſent every man perfect to Chriſt, Col. 1. 28. therefore they inculcate things.
If you would hear no more of the ſame Duty, do you practiſe it carefully: If you would not hear of the ſame ſin again, ceaſe from it; break it off by repentance, and then you ſhall hear no more of it. And indeed, this is one great uſe which all Chriſtians ſhould make of theſe Repetitions. 1. To be convinced of the badneſs of their own hearts: And 2. to learn more diligently to practiſe what is frequently commended; and to avoid what is ſo often forbidden. Otherwiſe, know this, that ſuch Rehearſals will be very ſad Aggravations of ſin another day. When Conſcience ſhall bring in teſtimony, that ſuch a Duty was preached over and over, and yet you would never practiſe it; ſuch a ſinne was forbidden you many a time, yet you would not leave it. You heard it preſſed upon you (more then perhaps a hundred times) that you ſhould believe, repent, pray in your Families, and inſtruct your Children, and read the Scriptures; &c. but you could never get up your hearts to the Duty. You heard more then once, perhaps a thouſand times, that you ſhould not ſwear, nor lie, nor abuſe the Creatures to exceſs, nor break the Sabbath, &c. yet you would go on, &c. Theſe often Repeatings of your duties will be high aggravations, and ſo many Witneſſes of your contempt. And indeed, this is one End why they are uſed in the Scriptures, and commanded to be uſed in the Miniſtry, That thoſe that do not obey, after all theſe inculcations; may be left without excuſe, and condemned by ſo many Witneſſes. The Apoſtle uſeth ſuch an Argument as this to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 13. This is the third time I am He alludes to the Law, Deut. 17. 3.coming to you; At the mouth of 2 or 3 Witneſſes ſhall every word be eſtabliſhed. He had ſent them three Warnings, that he would come to uſe, againſt the ſtubborn in ſpirit. Authority Chriſt had given him for the puniſhing of their ſin; and if they did not repent before his coming, this three-fold Warning would be as a three-fold Teſtimony, to prove them incorrigible; So will all the Repeatings of the ſame Duties, both in the Scripture, and in the mouth of Gods Miniſters, be in ſtead of ſo many clear Teſtimonies of your incorrigibleneſs, when Chriſt comes to judge and puniſh the diſobedience of the World: And look how often your Admonitions and Rebukes have been repeated; ſo often ſhall the ſtripes of Gods hand be repeated alſo. He that being often reproved, hardneth his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy.Prov. 29. 1.
We find in the Goſpel, that our Saviour makes this a ſharp and clear conviction of the Jews ſtubborneſs, that they would not ſubmit to his yoke, and be brought into obedience, though they were often required, and urged thereunto. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, &c. how often would I have gathered thy Children together, as the Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not, Lukc 13. 34. behold your houſe is leſt unto you deſolate. It's damnable to refuſe any Duty, though but once commanded; and to run into any act of ſinne, though but once forbidden; but not to hearken, after a thouſand Admonitions, will be a proof of ſtubbornneſs by a thouſand Witneſſes. And the torment of the Conſcience in Hell will riſe in extremity anſwerable to the number of the Warnings you have had to have kept you out of Hell. All Admonitions ſleighted in this life, will be remembred in Hell, and not one of them forgotren; and every Admonition will be a new flame, to afflict and torment the never-dying ſoul. Conſider theſe things, and be no longer rebellious: Let not this Admonition be added as another Witneſs, to thoſe many which will appear againſt you.