HOMILY XXIV.

CHAP. vi. 14-17. Stand therefore, having your loins girt HOMII. about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righte- XXIV. ousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Having your loins, saith he, girt about with truth. What can be the meaning of this? I have stated in the preceding discourse, that he ought to be so lightly accoutred, as that there should be no impediment whatever to his running.

And having on, he continues, the breastplate of righteousness. As the breastplate is impenetrable, so also is righteousness, and by righteousness here he means a life of universal virtue. Such an one no one shall ever be able to overthrow; it is true, many wound him, but no one cuts through him, no, not the devil himself. It is as though one were to say, having righteous deeds fixed in the breast;' of these it is that Christ saith, Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after Mat.5,6. righteousness, for they shall be filled. He that has this fixed in his breast, is firm, like a breastplate. Such a man will never be put out of temper.

And having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. This is somewhat obscure in this expression. What then is its meaning? They are noble greaves, doubtless, with which he invests us; the preparation of the Gospel. Either then he means this, that we should be prepared for the Gospel, and should make use of our feet for

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EPHES. this, and should prepare and make ready its way before it; or VI. 17.: if not this, at least that we ourselves should be prepared

for our departure. The preparation, then, of the Gospel

of peace, is nothing else than a most virtuous life; accordPs. 10, ing to what the Prophet saith, Thine ear hearkeneth to 17.(=9, 37.) the preparation of their heart, that is, the preparedness. Sept. Of the Gospel, he says, of peace, and with reason; for inasmuch as he had made mention of warfare and fighting, he shews us that this conflict with the evil spirits we must needs have for the Gospel is the Gospel of peace; this war which we have against them, puts an end to another war, that, namely, which is between us and God; if we are at war with the devil, we are at peace with God. Fear not therefore, beloved; it is a Gospel, that is, a word of good news; already is the victory won.

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Over and above all, taking the shield of faith.

By faith in this place, he means, not the knowledge of the faith, (for that he never would have ranged last,) but that gift by which miracles are wrought. And with reason does he term this faith a shield; for as the shield protects the whole body, as if it were a sort of rampart, just so is this faith; for all things yield to it.

Wherewith ye shall be able, saith he, to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

For this shield nothing shall be able to cleave asunder; Mat. 17, for hearken to what Christ saith to His disciples, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove. But how are we to have this faith? When we

have rightly performed all those duties.

By the darts of the wicked one, he means, both temptations, and vile desires; and well does he add the epithet fiery, for such is the character of these desires. Yet if faith can command the evil spirits, much more can it also the passions of the soul.

And take the helmet, he continues, of salvation, that is, of your salvation. For he is casing them in armour, as about to lead them out to battle.

And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. He either means the Spirit, or else, by the spiritual sword:' for

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by this all things are severed, by this all things are cleft HOMIL. asunder, by this we cut off even the serpent's head.

Ver. 18, 19, 20. Praying always, saith he, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.

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As the word of God has power to do all things, so also has he who has the spiritual gift. For the word Heb. 4, of God, saith he, is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Now mark the wisdom of this blessed Apostle. He hath armed them with all security. And now he instructs them how they are to call upon the King, that He may stretch forth His hand. Praying, saith he, always, with all prayer, and supplication in the Spirit; for it is possible to pray not in the Spirit, when one uses vain repetitions; and watching thereunto, he adds, Mat. 6, that is, keeping sober; for such ought the armed warrior, he that stands at the King's side, to be; wakeful and temperate :—with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me that utterance may be given unto me to open my mouth. What sayest thou, blessed Paul? Hast thou need of thy disciples? And well does he say, that I may open my mouth. He did not then, it seems, study what he used to say, but according to what Christ said, When Mat. 10, they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak: so truly did he do every thing by faith, every thing by grace. With boldness, he proceeds, to make known the mystery of the Gospel; that is, that I may answer for myself in its defence as I ought. And art thou bound in thy chain, and still needest the aid of others? Yea, saith he, for so was Peter also bound in his chain, and yet nevertheless was prayer made without ceasing for him. For which I am Acts 12, an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak; that is, that I may answer with confidence, with courage, with great prudence. Ver. 21. But that ye may also know my affairs, and how

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The Christian armour makes men bold and active. EPHES. I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in VI. 22. the Lord, shall make known to you all things.

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As soon as he had mentioned his chains, he leaves something for Tychicus also to relate to them of his own accord. For whatever topics there were of doctrine and of exhortation, all these he explained by his letter: but what were matters of bare recital, these he entrusted to the bearer of the letter. Hence it is he adds further, that ye may know our affairs, that is, may be informed of them. This manifests both the love which he entertained towards them, and their love towards him.

Ver. 22. Whom I have sent unto you, saith he, for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

This language he employs, not without a purpose, but in consequence of what he had been saying previously; having your loins girt about, putting on the breastplate, &c. which are a token of a constant and unceasing attendance on sacred Ps. 109, duties; for hear what the Prophet saith, Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually; and the Prophet Isaiah again Is. 59, saith, that God hath put on righteousness as a breastplate; by these expressions instructing us that these are things which we must have, not for a short time only, but continually, inasmuch as there is continual need of warfare. So again another in another place saith, The righteous is bold as a lion. For he that is armed with such a breastplate, it cannot be that he should fear the array that is against him, but he will leap into the midst of the enemy. And Is. 52, again Isaiah saith, How beautiful are the feet of them that publish good tidings of peace. Who would not run, who would not serve in such a cause; to publish the good tidings of peace, peace between God and man, peace, where men have toiled not, but where God hath wrought all?

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But what is the preparation of the Gospel? Let us Mat. 3, hearken to what John saith, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. And this then John did by his Baptism. But since there is need also of another preparation after Baptism, this our Apostle here points out, and says,

Doubts are Satan's fiery darts.

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with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, intimating HOMIL. thereby that we are to do nothing unworthy of peace. And then since the feet are usually a token of the way of life, hence he is constantly exhorting in this language, See that c. 5, 15. ye walk circumspectly; where he speaks of the way of life. Oh then let us have our conversation worthy of the Gospel, Phil. I, let us display purity of conduct and actions, throughout the whole course of our life. The good tidings of peace have been proclaimed to you, give to these good tidings a ready way; since if ye again become enemies, there is no more preparation of peace. Be ready, be not backward to embrace this peace. As ye were ready and disposed for peace and faith, so also continue. Faith is a shield, the first thing that receives the assaults of the adversary, and preserving the armour uninjured. So long then as faith be right and the life be right, the armour remains uninjured.

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He discourses, however, much concerning faith in other places, but most especially in writing to the Hebrews, as he does also concerning hope. Believe, saith he, in the good things to come, and none of this armour shall be injured. In dangers, in toils, hold out thy hope and thy faith to protect thee, and thou wilt preserve thy armour uninjured. He that cometh to God must believe that Heb. 11, He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Faith is a shield which protects those who believe without curiosity; but wherever there are subtilties, gέργως and reasonings, and scrutinizings, then is it no longer a shield, it only impedes us. Let this our faith be such as shall cover and screen the whole frame. Let it not then be scanty, so as to leave the feet or any other part exposed, but let the shield be commensurate with the whole body.

Fiery darts. For many doubtful reasonings there are, which set the soul as it were on fire, many difficulties, many perplexities, but all of them faith sets entirely at rest; many things does the devil dart in, to make our soul in a blaze, and bring us into uncertainty; as, for example, when some persons say, 'Is there then a resurrection?' Is there a judgment?' 'Is there a retribution?' But if thou hast the shield of faith, thou shalt with it quench the