The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

§. 5. Exposition of the words.

IN this verse is a Description of a Christian combat.¹

IN this verse is a Description of a Christian combate.¹

1. 1Verse 12. Sum.Verse 12. Summe.

In the second are set forth the Combatants, or the Persons, which on either side maintain the combat. These⟨p. 49⟩ are on the one side Defendants; on the other side Assaulters, which are largely described; & that both negatively, not flesh and blood, and affirmatively, but principalities, &c.

In the second are set forth the Combatants, or the Persons, which on either side maintaine the combate. These⟨p. 49⟩ are on the one side Defendants; on the other side Assaulters, which are largely described; & that both negatiuely, not flesh and blood, and affirmatiuely, but principalities, &c.

The first point in order to be handled, is the kind of combat, implied under this word wrestle. In the original it is thus set down word for word,^a There is a wrestling. We may not think that hereby is meant a matter of sport, as our English word, wrestling, may seem to imply: for though the^b Greek word, as well as the English, be sometimes attributed to a strife of sport, yet is it also used for a serious and fierce fight and combat. The Greek word according to the proper^c notation of it, signifieth such a strife as maketh the body of him that striveth to shake again.

The first point in order to be handled, is the kinde of combate, implied vnder this word wrestle. In the originall it is thus set downe word for word,^a There is a wrestling. Wee may not thinke that hereby is meant a matter of sport, as our English word, wrestling, may seeme to imply: for though the^b Greek word, as well as the English, be sometimes attributed to a strife of sport, yet is it also vsed for a serious and fierce fight and combate. The Greek word according to the proper^c notation of it, signifieth such a strife as maketh the body of him that striueth to shake againe.

1. a[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
2. b[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
3. c[Greek or Hebrew] dicitur quia corpus [Greek or Hebrew] i, quatitur.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 dicitur quia corpus 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 i, quatitur.

It implieth then that the combat here spoken of, is not a light skirmish, with enemies aloof off, but a grappling with them hand to hand; & in that respect the more fierce and dangerous. If they were far off from us, and aloof should shoot or throw their weapons against us, we might think to espy their darts before they fall on us, or that they might miss of their aim: But the combat being, as it were, a grappling hand to hand, all such hopes are taken away: for they are near us to espy where to annoy us, and so may assault us the more fiercely.

It implieth then that the combate heere spoken of, is not a light skirmish, with enemies aloofe off, but a grapling with them hand to hand; & in that respect the more fierce and dangerous. If they were far off from vs, and aloofe should shoote or throw their weapons against vs, we might thinke to espie their darts before they fall on vs, or that they might misse of their ayme: But the combate being, as it were, a grapling hand to hand, all such hopes are taken away: for they are neere vs to espie where to annoy vs, and so may assault vs the more fiercely.

§. 6. The danger of a Christians combat.

§. 6. The danger of a Christians combate.

Our spiritual war is a sore, fierce and dangerous war. ¹It is a kind of combat which will try our prowess and courage,² whereby proof will soon be made whether our armour be armour of proof or not, or whether we have put on this whole armour.^d The truth of this was manifested in Christ our head, whom the devil hurried from wilderness to pinnacle, from pinnacle to mountain: what the devil⟨p. 50⟩ did to Christ outwardly, and visibly, he useth to do to others inwardly and secretly. The estate and condition of Christ while he lived on earth, is a lively representation of the estate and condition of his Church in this world. ^aPeter felt such a wrestling, so did^b Paul, so do all that slavishly yield not themselves to the power of the Devil.

OVr spirituall war is a sore, fierce and dangerous war. ¹It is a kinde of combate which will trie our prowesse and courage,² wherby proofe will soone be made whether our armor be armor of proofe or not, or whether we haue put on this whole armour.^d The truth of this was manifested in Christ our head, whom the diuel hurried from wildernes to pinacle, from pinacle to mountain: what the diuell⟨p. 50⟩ did to Christ outwardly, and visibly, he vseth to doe to others inwardly and secretly. The estate and condition of Christ while hee liued on earth, is a liuely representation of the estate and condition of his Church in this world. ^aPeter felt such a wrestling, so did^b Paul, so doe all that slauishly yeeld not themselues to the power of the Diuel.

1. 1Doct. 2.
2. 2The Christians were a fierce war.The Christians werre a fierce warre.
3. dMat. 4. 4. &c.
4. aLuke 22. 31.
5. b2 Cor. 12. 7.

Thus God ordereth our estate,¹ 1. The more to manifest and magnify the power of his might, and the sufficiency of his armour. For the sorer the fight is, and the more dangerous,^c the greater doth that strength appear to be, and the more excellent the means whereby we are supported.

Thus God ordereth our estate,¹ 1. The more to manifest and magnifie the power of his might, and the sufficiencie of his armour. For the sorer the fight is, and the more dangerous,^c the greater doth that strength appeare to be, and the more excellent the meanes whereby we are supported.

1. 1Reasons.
2. c2 Cor. 12. 9.

2. To make us with greater and stronger confidence to depend and rely upon him, as^d David, and ^eJehoshaphat.

2. To make vs with greater and stronger confidence to depend and relye vpon him, as^d Dauid, and ^eIehosaphat.

1. d1 Sam. 30. 6.
2. e2 Chr. 20. 12.

3. To use the means appointed more carefully, as the^f Jews who while they were working, were prepared against their enemies.

3. To vse the meanes appointed more carefully, as the^f Iewes who while they were working, were prepared against their enemies.

1. fNeh. 4. 16. 17

Use 1 This may serve as a means to make trial of our estate: if all be quiet within us,¹ that there be no wrestling, no fighting; or if any, now and then a light skirmish, it is to be feared that our enemies have gotten possession of us, and we slavishly have yielded to them, and so made^g a covenant with them. Fierce combats do give us more assurance that the Lord is still our God, and we his soldiers, then light or no assaults: for if the Devil be our Lord, he can let us be quiet; but if our enemy, assuredly we shall feel his hand.

Vse 1 This may serue as a meanes to make triall of our estate: if all be quiet within vs,¹ that there bee no wrestling, no fighting; or if any, now and then a light skirmish, it is to be feared that our enemies haue gotten possession of vs, and we slauishly haue yeelded to them, and so made^g a couenant with them. Fierce combates doe giue vs more assurance that the Lord is still our God, and we his souldiers, then light or no assaults: for if the Diuell bee our Lord, he can let vs be quiet; but if our enemie, assuredly we shall feele his hand.

1. 1Trial.Triall.
2. gIsa. 28. 15.

Use 2 This showeth the reason why so many faint, and are foiled:¹ for it were no great matter to endure light and easy combats: but when we come to be shaken indeed, then to stand fast is a token of extraordinary courage: this was it which proved the^* patience and courage of Job.

Vse 2 This sheweth the reason why so many faint, and are foiled:¹ for it were no great matter to endure light and easie combates: but when wee come to bee shaken indeed, then to stand fast is a token of extraordinary courage: this was it which proued the^* patience and courage of Iob.

1. 1The cause of fainting.
2. *Job 2. 3.Iob 2. 3.

Use 3 ⟨p. 51⟩Think not that we have done enough, when we have passed over some light trials,¹ but prepare for greater; we must come to a wrestling. Mark what the Apostle saith of them which had^a endured a great fight, Ye have need of patience; and again,^b Ye have not yet resisted unto blood.

Vse 3 ⟨p. 51⟩Thinke not that we haue done enough, when we haue passed ouer some light trials,¹ but prepare for greater; we must come to a wrestling. Marke what the Apostle saith of them which had^a endured a great fight, Yee haue neede of patience; and againe,^b Ye haue not yet resisted vnto blood.

1. 1Prepare for great conflicts
2. aHeb. 10. 32, 36.
3. b& 12. 4.

Use 4 For our comfort, note, that though wrestling imply a sore combat, yet it implieth not a conquest over us: of this there is no fear: for Christ our head hath overcome our enemy, and^c destroyed him that had the power of death, that he might deliver all them, which for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage: he ^dhath led captivity captive, and ^cdelivered us from the power of darkness, that we might be free from being overcome, though not from wrestling.

Vse 4 For our comfort, note, that though wrestling imply a sore combate, yet it implieth not a conquest ouer vs: of this there is no feare: for Christ our head hath ouercome our enemie, and^c destroyed him that had the power of death, that he might deliuer all them, which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage: hee ^dhath led captiuitie captiue, and ^cdeliuered vs from the power of darknesse, that we might be free from being ouercome, though not from wrestling.

1. cHeb. 2. 14. 15
2. dEphes 4. 8.
3. cCol. 1. 13.