First, The oppositions made by sinners against the assaults of §1the Gospel: viz. imaginations or reasonings as the word [Greek or Hebrew] may be fitly rendered. He means the subtleties, slights, excuses, subterfuges and arguings of fleshly minded men: in which they fortify and entrench themselves against the convictions of the word.1 Yea and there are not only such carnal reasonings, but many proud high conceits with which poor creatures swell, and scorn to submit to the abasing, humble, self-denying way of the Gospel. These are the fortifications erected against Christ, by the carnal mind.
Secondly, We have here the conquest which the Gospel obtains over sinners, thus fortified against it. It casts down, and overthrows, ⟨p. 194⟩and takes in those strong holds. Thus Christ spoils Satan of his armour in which he trusted, by showing the sinner that all this can be no defence to his soul against the wrath of God. But that's not all, in the next place,
§3Thirdly, You have here the improvement of the victory. Christ doth not only lead away these enemies spoiled, but brings them into obedience to himself: (i. e.) makes them after conversion Subjects of his own Kingdom; obedient, useful, and serviceable to himself: and so is more than a Conqueror. They do not only lay down their arms and fight no more against Christ with them; but repair to his Camp, and fight for Christ, with those reasons of theirs that were before employed against him: as it's said of Jerome, 2Origen and Tertullian that they came into Canaan, laden with Egyptian gold. That is they come into the Church, full of excellent learning, and abilities, with which they eminently served Jesus Christ. O blessed victory, where the Conqueror and conquered both Triumph together. And thus enemies and rebels are subdued, and made subjects of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ. Hence the Doctrinal note is.
First, The oppositions made by sinners against the assaults of §1the Gospel: viz. imaginations or reasonings as the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 may be fitly rendred. He means the subtilties, slights, excuses, subterfuges and arguings of fleshly minded men: in which they fortifie and entrench themselves against the convictions of the word.1 Yea and there are not only such carnal reasonings, but many proud high conceits with which poor creatures swel, and scorn to submit to the abasing, humble, self-denying way of the Gospel. These are the fortifications erected against Christ, by the carnal mind.
Secondly, We have here the conquest which the Gospel obtains over sinners, thus fortified against it. It casts down, and overthrows, ⟨p. 194⟩and takes in those strong holds. Thus Christ spoils Satan of his armour in which he trusted, by shewing the sinner that all this can be no defence to his soul against the wrath of God. But that's not all, in the next place,
§3Thirdly, You have here the improvement of the victory. Christ doth not only lead away these enemies spoiled, but brings them into obedience to himself: (i. e.) makes them after conversion Subjects of his own Kingdom; obedient, useful, and serviceable to himself: and so is more than a Conqueror. They do not only lay down their arms and fight no more against Christ with them; but repair to his Camp, and fight for Christ, with those reasons of theirs that were before imployed against him: as it's said of Ierome, 2Origen and Tertullian that they came into Canaan, laden with Aegyptian gold. That is they come into the Church, full of excellent learning, and abilities, with which they eminently served Jesus Christ. O blessed victory, where the Conqueror and conquered both Triumph together. And thus enemies and rebels are subdued, and made subjects of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ. Hence the Doctrinal note is.
- 1Munitions eleganti metaphorausurpat pro omni •o, in quo hostes evangelii co fidunt. Et contra veritatem coel• tis verbi sese muniunt, efferuntqu•. Qualia sunt carnalis sapientia, cruditio & eloq entia. S. Glassius.Munitiones eleganti metaphorausurpat pro omni •o, in quo hostes evangelii co fidunt. Et contra veritatem coel• tis verbi sese muniunt, efferuntqu•. Qualia sunt carnalis sapientia, cruditio & eloq entia. S. Glassius.
- 2O beata victoria, ubi victi cum victoribus simul triumphant. Meyer in Loc.
