The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 23
LECT. XXIII. March 13. 1649.
EPHES. 6. 17.
foreign, foreign. And take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, &c.
IN theſe words we have the ſixth piece of the Spiritual Armour, which the Apoſtle would have all Chriſtians to uſe for their ſafe ſtanding, and certain Victory, in the day of Temptation: In which we have two things:
Firſt, The Armour it ſelf: the Word of God.
Secondly, The Notion under which this Word of God is recommended to Chriſtians: the Sword of the Spirit.
The Sword. The Sword is a piece of Armor which the Souldier uſeth both to defend himſelf, and to wound, and offend his enemy: 'tis both offenſive and defenſive: 'tis called foreign, according to Euſtathius, foreign, becauſe it doth rejoyce in bloud; according to Stephanus, from the Verb foreign, to fight, or foreign, & foreign tollo, becauſe it is the Inſtrument of fighting.
Of the Spirit] Spirit is uſed ſometimes Eſſentially, for all the three perſons, Joh. 4. 24. Sometimes its uſed Perſonally, for the third perſon of the Trinity, the Holy Ghoſt: and ſo I ſuppoſe it's uſed in this place. The Reaſons of it I ſhall ſhew afterwards. Which is the Word of God] There's a two-fold Word of God.
1. The Subſtantial, or Eſſential Word of God, viz. Jeſus Chriſt, the ſecond Perſon of the Trinity, Rev. 19. 13. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Joh. 1. 1. He is called the Word of GOD, for two Reaſons:
Firſt, becauſe as the Word is Character mentis, in men; ſo Chriſt the Son is the Character, or expreſs Effigies of the Fathers Counſel: The word, or ſpeech, is Interpres mentis: ſo Chriſt is Interpres Patris, Joh. 1. 18.
Secondly, He is called the Word of God, in regard of his perſonal properties of working: whereas the Father workes by way of hidden counſel; the Holy Ghoſt, by way of internall virtue; the Son workes by way of Word, laying open the counſel of God, and putting it into execution by his Almighty Word; that is, by the power of his Will outwardly ſet forth.
2. The written Word: This is nothing elſe but the Writings of Prophets, Apoſtles, and other holy men of God, contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament: which, for the excellency of them, are called The Bible, or The Book, becauſe it's the moſt excellent Book, the Book of Books. This is that Word of God which the Apoſtle here recommends unto the Chriſtian Souldier: It is not foreign, as the Subſtantial word is called; but foreign, which is the name given to the written Word.
I might make many Doctrines, but I will put altogether into this one, viz.
DOCT.
He that would be enabled to withstand, and to overcome Satan in his Temptations, muſt be careful to take and uſe the Sword of the Spirit, which is the written Word of God.
By this Sword it was, that our Saviour did both preſerve himſelf, and turned the Devil to flight in his day of Temptation: He drew out this Sword Scriptum eſt, and with the power of it overcame his adverſary, Matth. 4.
In the handling of this Doctrine, I ſhall open theſe three things:
(1.) Give ſome Reaſons, to prove, that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God.
(2.) Shew you the Reaſon of this Title, the Sword of the Spirit.
(3.) Shew you how this Sword is uſeful to help a Chriſtian in the day of Temptations.
Firſt, That the Scriptures are the Word of God.
1. From the evidence of Scripture it ſelf. For this, I ſhall refer you to theſe places, 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, foreign, 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecie came not in old time by the Will of man, but holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt, Pſal, 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp to my feet: So ver. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me, then thouſands of gold and ſilver. I might give you thouſands of places to this purpoſe.
Secondly, From the nature of the Writings themſelves.
1. The matter of them is of ſuch height and ſublimity, as that Reaſon is too low to make ſuch diſcoveries. The myſtery of the Trinity, is a thing above the comprehenſion of Reaſon: Reaſon may a little illuſtrate it, now when 'tis revealed; but Reaſon could never have found it out. The great myſtery of Chriſts Incarnation; the Perſonal Union of the two Natures: this is a myſtery not onelyonly above Reaſon, but above the Angelical Underſtanding, 1 Pet. 1. 12.
The Angels pry into this myſtery: they could never have found it out, had it not been revealed in the Scriptures, vid. Eph. 3. 10. This manifold wiſdom of God is made known unto Principalities and Powers by the Church. The Doctrine of the Reſurrection of the Body, is a Doctrine too high for Reaſon to have found out. The Corruption of mans nature by the ſinne of Adam, &c.
2. The harmonious conſent, and ſweet agreement which is between one part of Scripture, and another. Though they were penned by ſeverall perſons, in ſeveral Ages, in ſeveral places farre diſtant, from one another, the Pen-men neither adviſing, nor conferring with one another; yet in nothing contradictory, but ſweetly correſponding one with another; one Prophet writing nothing contrary to another: All the Evangeliſts conſpiring and agreeing mutually one with another, as if they had been all in one and the ſame place: which is impoſſible, and was never ſeen amongſt the Writings of men.
3. The rare Predictions which are in the Scriptures, accompliſhed at the very ſeaſons. No Creature can fore-tell, or fore-know things beforehand; and the Prophecies of the Scripture are not laid down (Oracle-wiſe) with ambiguity, but with poſitive certainty, expreſſing the very times of things, the names of perſons, the period of States, &c. Gen. 3. 15. It was four thouſand years before his birth; and yet when the fulneſs of time came, God ſent forth his Sonne made of a woman, Gal. 4. 4. So that Prediction, Gen. 15. 13, 14, Thy Seed ſhall be a ſtranger, &c. This deliverance was fore-told four hundred years before-hand. So that, in 1 King. 13. 2, 3. the Prophecy againſt the Altar of Bethel in Jeroboams time, it was, as Chronologers obſerve, 330 and odd years before; and yet 2 King. 23. 16. it was fulfilled in its ſeaſon. That in Eſa. 45. 1. concerning Cyrus. Cyrus was not born of a hundred years after that. All the Propheticall Doctrines concerning Chriſt, of his Sufferings, Death, Buriall, his Crucifying with Thieves, Reſurrection; All as punctually fore-told by the Prophets, as related by the Evangeliſts afterward, who were Eye-witneſſes of them.
4. The manner of enjoyning the Doctrines therein contained: Meerly the Authority of the Speaker. Thus ſaith the Lord, Hear the Word of the Lord, &c. Other Writings go about to move men to entertain them by the ſtrength of Naturall Reaſon; ſo did the Philoſophers. It's ſaid of Plato, that when he read the firſt Chapter of Geneſis, he uſed theſe words: Hic vir multa dicit, nihil probat.
5. The Scriptures enjoyn many things which are contrary to reaſon: That a man ſhould deny himſelf, Mat. 16. 2. That when we have done all we can, we are unprofitable ſervants; that a man muſt truſt to the righteouſneſs of another; that he that will be wiſe, muſt become a fool that he may be wiſe; that he that will ſave his life ſhall loſe it, &c. This makes the Apoſtle ſay, 1 Cor. 2. 14. That a natural man cannot diſcern the things of the Spirit, &c.
6. The Scriptures doe preſcribe not onelyonly Laws for the outward man, but for the heart alſo. Thought is free from the cognizance of human Laws, but not from this Law, Curſe not the King no not in thy thought. Eccleſ. 10. 20. How long ſhall vain thoughts lodge within thee? Jer. 4. 14. God ſaw that every imagination of the heart of man was evil, Gen. 6. 5. He that lookes upon a woman to luſt after her, hath committed Adultery with her in his heart. Keep thy heart with all diligence, Prov. 4. 23. We have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine, &c. Rom. 6. 17.
7. The heavenlineſs of the Doctrine. It lifts up men above all earthly things: it calls on men to mortifie their earthly members; to ſet their affections on things above, not on things below, &c.
8. The bleſſings and rewards, puniſhments and threatnings, propounded in the Scripture, are not temporal onelyonly, but ſpiritual and eternal. Giving men up to vile Affections, Rom. 1. 24. Seeing ye ſhall ſee, and not perceive, &c. Eſa 6. latter end. I will not puniſh their daughters, when they commit Adultery, Hoſ. 4. 14. If any hear, and open, I will come in, and ſup with him, &c. Revel. 3. 20. If any man keep my Commandements, I will love him, and my Father will love him and communicate himſelf to him, &c. Joh. 14. 23.
9. The ſcope and chief aim of it is, to debaſe all Creatures, and to advance and ſet up God alone. Whether ye eat or drink, &c. do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 3. Fear God, and keep his Commandements, Eccleſ. 12, Let God be true, and every man a Lyar, &c.
III. From the rare effects of the Scriptures. They have a power to terrifie, to comfort, to quicken, to pull down ſtrong Holds, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. To open blind eyes; to convert dead ſoules, &c. Quale cauſatum, talis cauſa. Such illuſtrious divine effects, muſt needs have a divine cauſe.
4. From the teſtimony and witneſs of the Holy Ghoſt in the hearts of men. It is the work of the Holy Ghoſt, to ſubdue the heart, to believe, and ſubmit to the Word, 1 Joh. 2. 20. Ye have an unction from that Holy One, &c. John 14. 26. When the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt, is come, he ſhall teach you all things; and whatſoever I have ſaid to you, he ſhall bring to your remembrance. This perſwaſion muſt either be from Sathan, or from a mans own fancy, or elſe from God. It cannot be from Satan; for the Doctrine contained in the Scriptures overthrows him, and his Kingdom, and Deſign. It cannot be from our own fancy; the Doctrine of the Scripture is ſupra captum noſtrum: ergo. I could give other Arguments, Ex abſurdo, Ex conſenſu Eccleſiae, Ex Amanuenſibus, &c. but theſe may ſuffice.
Secondly, Why the Word of God is called, the Sword of the Spirit. Conſider four things for this.
1. 'Tis from the Spirit Originally. He is the Compoſer and Framer of this bleſſed Book, 2 Pet. 1. 21. Holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt. Herein it differs from that material Sword: That, is made and faſhioned by man: This, by the Spirit.
2. All the efficacy of it depends upon the Spirit. He it is that makes it powerfull for the working of thoſe effects which are done by it upon men. It would be but a woodden ſword, without either edge or point, if the Spirit of God did not give virtue to it. This the Apoſtle affirms, 2 Cor. 10. 4. We ſee it by experience, the ſame word is a dead letter upon ſome, and a convincing and converting word to others: the reaſon is, becauſe the word is ſet on by the Spirit in one, and not in the other.
3. It hath an effectual influence upon the Spirits of men. It doth not onelyonly reach to the body and outward man, but even to the Spirit and Conſcience alſo. This the Apoſtle teacheth us, Heb. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerful, and ſharper then any two-edged Sword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder of Soul and Spirit, and of the Joynts and Marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart. Herein it differs from all material Swords. They onelyonly pierce the body, they cannot either wound or defend the Conſcience, but this Sword hath a power, through the Spirit, both to afflict and quiet, to ſettle and unſettle the very Spirit and Soul of man.
4. The manner of the operation of this Sword is onelyonly Spiritual. It workes not as the materiall Sword, by bloudy piercings and woundings, but by Spiritual Arguments onelyonly. There is nothing viſible to the eye of the body in the working of this Sword; it doth all for which it is appointed in a ſpiritual way, by ſpirituall Convictions, and Spiritual Comforts, and Spiritual Reproofs, &c.
III. Wherein this is uſefull to help us againſt Temptations.
(1.) The Word of God helps a Christian to anſwer all Satans objections. Whatſoever ſinne he tempts you to commit; whatſoever Duty he perſwades you to caſt off; whatſoever medium he uſeth to preſs his temptation, the Word of God will be able to put full and pertinent anſwers into your mouthes againſt the ſame. When I opened the 13. verſe, I ſhewed you there were eight evill dayes, in which Satan did violently ſet upon the ſoul.
The Day of Perſonal outward Affliction.
The Day of Church-calamity, eſpecially when Hereticks and Seducers are riſen up in the Church.
The Day of ſinful miſcarriage and failing.
The Day of Spiritual Deſertion and obſcurity.
The Day of extraordinary Soul-enlargment, by Divine Manifeſtations, and Incoms from Heaven.
The Day of Temporal deliverance, and advancement.
The Day of the ſucceſs of wicked men.
The Day of Death.
I ſhewed you what temptations are moſt peculiar to ſuch a day. Now the Word of God will furniſh you with ſufficient Arguments to antidote your Soules againſt the infection of every one of thoſe Temptations. If Satan tempt to pride of heart, the Scripture will arm you againſt that ſinne by ſhewing you the miſchief of Pride. God reſiſteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, Jam. 4. 6. If Satan tempt you to Covetouſneſs, the Scripture will ſhew you the danger of that ſinne: It will tell you that The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. And that a mans life conſiſteth not in the abundance of what he enjoyeth, Luke 12. 15. If Satan tempt you to unrighteouſneſs and oppreſſion the Scripture will arm you againſt that ſinne. Know ye not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9. If Satan tempt you to Perjury and Covenant-breaking the Scripture will ſhew you the ſad effects which have followed upon that ſinne. Zedekiah for this ſinne, had his eyes put out, and was a Captive all his dayes, Ezek. 17. 18. If Satan tempt you to be heretical, or erroneous, the Scripture will ſhew the miſerable fruits of Hereſie: Becauſe they did not receive the truth in the love of it, God gave them up to deluſions to believe a Lie, that they might all be damned, &c. 2 Theſ. 2. 11, 12. If Satan tempt you to apoſtatize from the truth for fear of ſuffering, the Scripture will tell you, that if any withdraw, Gods ſoul will have no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10. ult. and he that putteth his hands to the Plough, and looketh back, is not fit for the Kingdome of Heaven Luke 9. ult. If Satan tempt you to be hypocritical, the Word of God will tell you, that Hell is prepared for Hypocrites. If Satan tempt you to caſt off Duties, as Prayer, Hearing, the Word of God will tell you the ſad conſequences of ſuch neglect, &c. And our Saviour teacheth us this uſe of the Scripture in the day of Temptation, by his own practice, Satan tempts him to work a miracle at his command, by turning ſtones into bread, in the time of hunger, Mat. 4. He anſwers that temptation, by ſhewing him out of the Scripture, That man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, ver. 4. Satan tempts him again to caſt him ſelf down from the pinacle, upon a perſwaſion of the protection of God. Our Saviour anſwers that, from the Scripture, ver. 7. Thou ſhalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Satan ſets upon him with a third Argument, to fall down and worſhip him; Our Saviour anſwers that by a Teſtimony from Scripture, ſhewing him, that Divine Adoration was due to God onelyonly, ver. 10. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him onelyonly thou ſhalt ſerve.
(2.) The Word of God strengthens and teacheth a Chriſtian how to uſe aright all the other parts of the Spiritual Armour.
Firſt, For the Girdle of Truth; if you underſtand it of the Doctrine of Truth, the Word helpes you in that: hereby we know, what is Truth, what is Falſhood. Take away the Word of God, and there is no ſtandard to meaſure Truth withall: If you underſtand it of the Grace of Truth, Sincerity and Uprightneſs of heart, the Word of God is the Preſerver of it. I was upright before him, and kept my ſelf from mine iniquity, for all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his Statutes from me, Pſal. 18. 22, 23. The Word of God, as the Sun, exhales all the vapours of hypocriſie out of our hearts.
Secondly, For the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs. The Word of God ſtrengthens, and preſerves that, if we underſtand it of the righteouſneſs of our perſons, the Word of God teacheth where it lies, and how to put it on, and to uſe it, Rom. 1. 17.
This righteouſneſs is revealed in the Word. If you underſtand it of the righteouſneſs of our courſe and converſation, the Word of God directs us for this alſo, Pſal. 119. 9. The Word is the meaſure of righteouſneſs; he hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good, Mic. 6. 8.
3. For the Shooes of the preparation of the Goſpel. It is the Word of God that helpes us to take up, and enables us to perſevere in theſe reſolutions of going through with the profeſſion of the Goſpel, againſt all difficulties, and inconveniences, and diſadvantages: the Word whets the edge of theſe reſolutions, when they grow dull and blunt.
4. For the Shield of Faith. The Word is both the Seed which breeds it, and the Nurſe which feeds it, and gives it ſuck. It's called the Word of Faith, not onelyonly becauſe it is the Object of Faith, that which is to be believed; but alſo becauſe it is the Seed of Faith, and the Food of Faith. Faith muſt have a written word to lean upon, elſe it dies.
5. For the Helmet of Hope. The Word of God, to the grace of Hope, is as the light to the eye of the body: it is the Cable of the Anchor of Hope: the Word layes the promiſe down, upon which Hope is grounded: the Word ſhewes Gods faithfulneſs, whereby Hope is cheriſhed: the Word is the fewel that keeps it burning. I have hoped in thy Word.
6. For Prayer and Supplication. We can neither tell what to pray for, nor how to pray aright, without the direction of the Word of God. By the Word of God, we come to know what we want: By the Word of God we come to know what God hath promiſed: The word of God heats the affections to pray with zeal, ſtrengthens the heart to pray in confidence, enables the Spirit to pray with perſeverance. Take away the Fewel of the Word, and the fire of Prayer will be abated, if not quenched.