The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 15
EPHES. 6. 15. Having your feet ſhod, &c.Lect. 16. Janu. 23. 1649.
I Obſerved three things in this verſe. 1. The Title or Epithite given to the Goſpel, The Goſpel of peace. 2. the Armour enjoyned, The preparation of the Goſpel. 3. The part of the body on which this Armour is to be put, The Feet. I have done with the firſt of theſe, from whence this leſſon was gathered; That the Goſpel is a Goſpel of peace. I ſhall now ſpeak to the two other together, Having your feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel.
Having your feet ſhod: foreign. The phraſe is an alluſion to the cuſtom of Warriours in thoſe times, who when they went forth Calvin in Loc.to war did uſe boots or legharneſs, whereby they defended their legs and feet againſt cold and other things which might lie in their way. It was the manner of Souldiers in thoſe dayes, to ſtick in the way of their enemy, nails, pikes, and other ſuch things as might offend and wound the legs and feet of the enemy, and ſo hinder them in their march, and make them retire: to prevent this danger, they uſed leg Armour, which the Latines called Calligas, the Greeks foreign Goliah, its ſaid, had greaves of braſs upon his legs, 1 Sam. 17. 6. To prevent the like inconveniences in this ſpiritual war, the Apoſtle would have the Chriſtian Souldier to have his feet, that is, his affections, which are as the feet of the ſoul, ſhod with this piece of Armour, which he here cals, the preparation, &c.
With the preparation of the Goſpel: foreign. Interpreters are of different opinions about this piece of Armour.
Some underſtand it to be meant of the knowledge of the Goſpel: of this opinion is Beza, Sicut foreign milites graeci, caligas milites latini gerebant, ita ad in eundum praelium & vitae iſtius curſum inter medios hoſtes tenendum, vult Apoſtolus ut Evangelii pacis cognitione ſimus preparati.
Others underſtand it of peace of Conſcience, Rogers pract. Cat. part. 3. p. 169. So Gualter.
Others underſtand it of the Goſpel it ſelf, making it an alluſion to that in Pſalm 119. 105. Thy word is a lanthorn to my feet, &c. So Gualter, Tota inſtituenda vitae ratio ut in Evangelio curramus. Non proprii ſequendi Affectus, ſed verbum Domini. Vide Bullinger in loc. This I ſuppoſe would confound it with that piece of Armour, v. 17. the Word of God.
Others expound it of a readineſs to preach the Goſpel, making it a parrallel place with that in Iſa. 52. 7.
Others expound it of the promiſes and comforts of the Goſpel: Downham.
Others expound it of readineſs to promote the Goſpel: So Eſtius, Studium Evangelii propagandi.
Others expound it of patience: D. Gouge.
Others expound it generally of ſuch kind of furniture as the Goſpel of peace helps us to. Baynes p. 784.
Now of all theſe opinions none are contrary to the Analogy of faith, each of them afford uſeful inſtructions.
That which I ſhall pitch upon, as that which I humbly conceive to be neareſt the meaning of the Apoſtle, is this, viz. A firm Reſolution to go through with the profeſſion of the Goſpel againſt all impediments and difficulties which may lie in our way. Vide Ʋſh. Cat. p. 334. This I ſuppoſe to be his meaning.
1. Becauſe he makes mention of the feet. The feet are the inſtruments of travelling, journeying is the proper work of the feet, and the ſhooes upon the feet fit you for travel. When Moſes would have the people reſolved to march out of Egypt, he tels them they muſt eat the Paſsover with their loins girded, and their ſhooes on their feet, Exod. 12. 11. The ſhooes note, both readineſs to depart, and reſolution to go on till they came to Canaan, though they ſhould meet with oppoſitions and hardſhips.
2. Becauſe of the word Preparation, which is uſed in other places for firmneſs of reſolution to go on with the Goſpel, notwithſtanding all difficulties: Vide Acts 21 13. I am prepared, not onelyonly to be bound, but to die, &c. foreign So 1 Pet. 3. 15. ſpeaking of trouble and affliction, ſaith he, Be not afraid of their terrours, but ſanctifie the Lord in your hearts, and be ready to give an anſwer, &c. foreign underſtanding it thus, it teacheth us this leſſon: viz. That,
He that would overcome the Devil in the day of temptation, muſt be ſtedfaſtly reſolved to go through Doctrine.with the profeſsion of the Goſpel, notwithſtanding all impediments and oppoſitions which he ſhall meet withall in the world.
In the handling of this Doctrine I ſhall open theſe two things.
1. That God requires this reſolution.
2. That this is very neceſſary for him that would ſtand in the day of temptation.
1. That God requires that every Chriſtian ſhould have theſe ſhooes upon his feet, is expreſly taught in the Scriptures: Vide Luke 9. 22, 23, 24. he foretels his own ſufferings, and the ſufferings which thoſe that profeſs his Goſpel muſt expect, and then he armes them with this reſolution. To take up the croſs and to follow him. This is that for which the Angel of the Church of Pergamus is commended, Revel. 2. 13. Thou holdeſt faſt my Name, and haſt not denied my faith, &c. This Reſolution is that which was in Peter and the reſt of the Apoſtles; Chriſt tels them, that they ſhould all of them be offended becauſe of him, and they ſhould all be ſcattered from him, Math. 26. 31. Peter tels him, that for his part he was reſolved that though he ſhould die with him, yet he would never forſake him or deny him, and all the other Diſciples were of the ſame mind, v. 35. here they had theſe ſhooes upon their feet, though they ſhortly after fell off when the ſtorm came.
2. Wherein the uſefulneſs of this Armour lies, as to the reſiſting of temptation.
1. Theſe reſolutions will exceedingly ſtrengthen the ſoul in the day of temptation. He that wants theſe ſhooes will be weak when Satan ſets upon him; whereas he that hath theſe upon his feet will be bold and valiant. There is not any better bulwark in the day of battel then Reſolution of heart before the day of battel. Oppoſition may come ſuddenly and violently, but it will not come ſo terrifyingly upon him that hath armed himſelf with Reſolution to ſtand it out. Our Saviour ſets out this by a double Parable, Luke 14. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. which of you intending to build a Tower, &c. A man will never be able to finiſh, that doth not reſolve to be at the full coſt of the building.
2. Theſe Reſolutions will weaken and diſcourage Satan in his Aſſaults. Where he ſhall perceive theſe ſhooes upon the feet of the ſoul, he will be much danted and diſhartened in his undertakings. When the Rulers, and Elders, and Scribes, the inſtruments of State, ſaw the reſolvedneſs of Peter and John to go on in their way, notwithſtanding all their threatnings and perſecutions, they were much aſtoniſhed, ſaith the Text, Act. 4 13. and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jeſus. They thought that there was ſomething more then man in them, which made them ſo regardleſs of their power; and this for the preſent abated their fury, they threatened them and let them go, v. 21. had they ſeen that they had been bare-footed their carriage would have been more fierce, but ſeeing them ſhod with theſe ſhooes, they were glad to be rid of them.
Information. 1. This lets us ſee why it is, that Ʋſe 1.Apoſtates and Back-ſliders are ſo eaſily carried captive by Satan in the day of temptation. They want theſe ſhooes upon their feet, and therefore they cannot ſtand. The Heretick fals into the net of Satan, becauſe he wants the girdle of the Truth of Doctrine. The hypocrite he fals, becauſe he wants the girdle of Sincerity. The prophane perſon cannot ſtand, becauſe he wants the breaſtplate: and the Apoſtate is overcome, becauſe he is without the ſhooes of the preparation of the Goſpel, either he hath no reſolution, or no well-grounded reſolution. The Apoſtate is the ſtony ground, he may hear the Word, and receive it with joy, but when perſecution ariſeth becauſe of the Word, he is preſently offended, Math. 13. 20, 21. if you would be preſerved from falling by temptation, you muſt labour to be preſerved from backſliding from profeſſion.
2. This lets us ſee, that it is a difficult and hard thing to keep the right profeſsion of the Goſpel, eſpecially in times of oppoſition. It were needleſs to commend this unto Chriſtians, if it were not an hard work, to go on with it at ſuch a time. They all forſook him and fled, Mar. 14 50. When ſtorms were high, and perſecution hot, the Diſciples of Chriſt were offended: he whoſe profeſſion is but counterfeit will fall off quite, he whoſe profeſſion is in truth may be offended with Chriſt and his Goſpel. I note this for two reaſons. 1. That none might be too confident of themſelves: 2. That none be too cenſorious againſt thoſe who retreat and ſhrink in ſuch a time.
3. The excellency of perſeverance in the profeſſion of the Goſpel. Its excellency, as in other reſpects ſo in this appears clearly, that its a mighty defence in the day of temptation.
4. What cauſe they have to bleſs God, who find ſuch Reſolutions wrought in their hearts. Theſe ſhooes are not onelyonly their beauty, but their ſafety. How beautiful are thy feet with ſhooes, O Princes Daughter, Cant. 7. 1.
Exhortation. To perſwade all Chriſtians to Ʋſe 2.arm themſelves with theſe Reſolutions. Get theſe ſhooes upon your feet, reſolve that whatever trouble come, whatſoever ſtorms ariſe, yet you will go through with your profeſſion, and never forſake it. It is neceſſary for thoſe that live in ſuch black dayes as theſe of ours are, to ſet themſelves to this work. The winds begin to grow loud, the skie is dark and lowring, perſecutions may come ſuddenly, and they are like to fall violently; its time to get, and neceſſary to keep theſe ſhooes on their feet. I ſhall lay down ſomething by way of Motives: ſomething by way of meanes.
1. Mot. All the promiſes are made to them that perſevere. It is not he that beginneth, but he that continueth unto the end, that ſhall be ſaved, Math. 10. 22. When the even was come the Lord of the vineyard ſaith unto the Steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire, Math. 20. 8. Nemo coronatur ante quintum Actum. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee the crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for honour and glory, and immortality, eternal life, Rom. 2. 7.
2. Mot. Tis difficulty and oppoſition that diſtinguiſheth true profefsion from falſe profeſsion. Math. 13. 20, 21. A rotten ſhip may ſail very faſt, and carry the paſſengers ſafe in a calm Sea, but onelyonly a ſound veſſel will hold out when tempeſts ariſe. Perſecutions are called, the tryal of our faith, 1 Pet. 1. 7. becauſe when a ſoul is under perſecutions, then it appears whether his profeſſion was gold or droſs. A temporary profeſſion is like the houſe built upon the ſand, it ſtood all the ſummer time, but when the winds blew, and the rain came, and the flouds lift up their voice, then it fell, Math. 7. 24, 25, 26, 27.
3. Mot. Adhering to the profeſsion of the Goſpel in times of oppoſition, doth moſt of all honour the Goſpel. Obed Edom honoured the Ark of God much by taking it into his houſe in a time of danger, 2 Sam. 6. 9, 10. It was no great thanks to David to fetch the Ark into the City of David, when it brought proſperity with it, v. 12. any one would entertain a proſperous Ark, but he that is a right Chriſtian will make room for it when it brings affliction.
4. Mot. The Goſpel will abundantly recompence all their ſufferings. The Ark did make good ſatisfaction to Obed Edom for taking it in in a boyſtrous time, 2 Sam. 6. 11. Its a Goſpel of comfort at every time, but never ſo full of comfort as in a time of affliction. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1. 5. The Goſpel is alwayes a Goſpel of peace, but the peace of it is moſt diſcovered in a time of trouble. He that forſaketh father or mother, &c. for my ſake and the Goſpel, ſhall have an hundredfold in this world with perſecution, and in the world to come everlaſting life, Math. 19. 29.
5. Mot. All the ſufferings which ariſe for the Goſpel are for this end, to try whether men will adhere to it or no. There muſt be hereſies, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt, 2 Cor. 11. 19.
6. Mot. Tis a priviledge to ſuffer for the Goſpel. Unto you it is given in the behalf of Chriſt, &c. Phil. 1. 29. foreign All the elect are called to be believers, but not to be ſufferers: ſuffering for the Goſpel is in ſome reſpects a priviledge above beleiving the Goſpel.
7. Mot. He that is not willing to cleave to the Goſpel in a day of ſuffering, ſhall have no benefit by the Goſpel in the other world. He that will not ſuffer for it, ſhall not be ſaved by it, Mark 8. 38.
8. Mot. He that is not willing to ſuffer for the Goſpel, ſhall ſuffer without the Goſpel, Mar. 8. 35.
Thus much for motives.
The Meanes or Directions are theſe,
1. Study the excellency of the Goſpel. A thorough perfect knowledge of the Goſpel will make a Chriſtian reſolved to goe through with profeſſion of it whatſoever follow. Beza expounds the preparation of the Goſpel to be the knowledge of the Goſpel. The knowledge of it will help us to the preparation of it. He that knows the effects of it, and the comforts of it, and the priviledges of it, will not onelyonly live with it, but be content to die with it. Its a Goſpel of peace: Its a Goſpel of grace, Its a Goſpel of holineſs: Act. 20. 24.Its a Goſpel of ſalvation: Its a Goſpel of life: Its a Goſpel of glory.
2. Learn perfectly that chriſtian Leſſon of ſelf-denial. This will make you cleave to the Goſpel in the worſt condition, Math. 16. 24. He that knows not how to deny himſelf will be eaſily induced to deny the Goſpel, eſpecially when the croſs and the Goſpel go together, he may follow Chriſt when he can take up Chriſt and pleaſure, but he will never be able to take up the croſs, unleſs he be able to lay aſide himſelf.
3. Get your hearts above the world, and all worldly entanglements. No man that warreth intangleth himſelf with the things of this life, 2 Tim. 2. 4. It is not poſſible to embrace the Goſpel and the world together, eſpecially when the world and the Goſpel are at variance Sell all thou haſt, and give to the poor, and follow me, ſaith Chriſt to that young man, Luke 18. 22, 23. Abiice terram, accipe Caelum? you know what the iſſue was, he went away ſorrowful, for he was very rich. He that would go through with the profeſſion of the Goſpel, muſt ſay to life, and friends, and all worldly things, get ye hence, when theſe things and the Goſpel ſtand in competition. Demas hath forſaken me, having embraced this preſent world, 2 Tim. 4. 10.
4. Get a great meaſure of Chriſtian patience. He that hath not patience to enable him to ſuffer for the Goſpel, will forſake the Goſpel when ſuffering comes. In your patience poſſeſs ye your ſoules, Luke 21. 19. and Hebr. 10: 36. Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promiſe.
5. Have your eye often upon the cloud of witneſſes. Study the examples of the ſervants of God, who have gone through with the profeſſion of the Goſpel, notwithſtanding all oppoſitions. They have followed Jeſus Chriſt, and ſtuck to the Goſpel, in contempt, in poverty, in reproach, in nakedneſs, &c. and by the Goſpel of peace through Jeſus Chriſt they are now laid up in everlaſting peace. They were ſtoned, they were ſawen aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the ſword, they wandred about in ſheep-skins, and goatskins, being deſtitute, afflicted, tormented, Heb. 11. 37.
1. Conſider the danger of Apoſtaſie. Many dreadful things are ſpoken againſt backſliding from the profeſſion of the Goſpel.
2. The Apoſtate is in a worſe condition than he The Goſpel is worſe for him, and he for the Goſpel.that never made profeſſion of the Goſpel. It had been better not to have known the way of truth, than after they have known it to turn aſide from the holy commandement, &c. 2. Pet. 2. 22. He loſeth all the benefit of his former profeſſion.
2. The backslider in heart ſhall be filled with his own wayes. Prov. 14. 14. God will give him up to himſelf, to be his own guide, to be his own rule, he ſhall be given up to his own paſſion, to his own luſt, to his own pride, &c. of all ſinners the backſliders are uſually greateſt, God takes his hand from them, and lets them follow their own counſels, and he who is his own guide will ſoon work his own ruine, Rom. 1. ver. 24, 26, 28, 29, &c. The ſoul of God ſhall have no pleaſure in him. Heb. 10. 38. As he takes no delight in the Goſpel, ſo God will take no delight in him. Yea, its a Mejoſ…s. God will take diſpleaſure in him here, and he will take vengeance on him hereafter to the full. No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God, Luke 9. 62.
7. Make your reſolutions in the ſtrength of Chriſt, and by daily fervent prayer give up your ſelves to the keeping of God, that he would preſerve you to the end. Take heed with Peter of reſolving in your own pride, Math. 26. 33. And then pray that God would keep theſe reſolutions in your hearts, and your hearts in theſe reſolutions: theſe ſhooes will fall off if you doe not tie them on, and keep them on. Davids prayer, 1 Chron. 29. 18. ſhould be yours every day.
So much for the third piece of Armour.