leads astray through "uncleanness of the flesh," others through "filthiness of the spirit"—either inflaming sensuality, or inflating pride-provoking envy or flattering self-love-rousing into selfconfidence or lulling into security. As "the God of this world," it is by means of the world that he carries on his most successful operations; and here also his temptations assume various forms, according to the peculiar circumstances of the objects of his attack. Sometimes his bait is pleasure, sometimes honour, sometimes wealth. "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life," are all, in various ways, made subservient to his mischievous designs. On some he works most powerfully by their hopes, on others by their fears; ensnaring them by the dread of the world's laugh, or captivating them by the love of its applause. But never is the Adversary. more to be dreaded than when he is transformed into an angel of light, making religion itself the mask and in 2 Cor. xi. 14. strument of his machinations. By such pretencés has he, from the earliest ages of Christianity, beguiled the souls of the unwary and unstable, corrupting them from the simplicity that is in Christ;* putting on a zeal for Christian freedom, for orthodoxy, for morality; and thus either undermining the Gospel or perverting it; either misrepresenting it as if it were unfavourable to holiness, or dishonouring it by actually making it so. Such then, brethren, is the danger to which we are continually exposed from the power, number, vigilance, subtlety, and malice of our spiritual enemies, headed and directed by Satan their Chief. Let us not be " ignorant of his devices." Let us not by indulging a false security give him an advantage over Let us notice us. 2 II. Our duty under the perilous circumstances which have been considered; and this is expressed in one word, Resist.† But are we capable of resisting foes so * 2 Cor. xi. 3. James iv. 7.1 Pet. v. 9. numerous and so mighty? Not, indeed, in our own strength, nor by any wisdom or contrivances of our own. Small were our hope of victory, if left to combat unaided and alone; or if we went forth to the conflict in any other weapons than such as are of divine appointment and of heavenly temper. Well the Apostle knew this; and therefore his exhortation is, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Yet not as though our confidence in divine assistance were to supersede our own exertions. There are certain qualities and graces with which we must be endued, and which we must exercise. There is a specific armour provided for us, which we must "put on," and, when put on, use, constantly, vigorously, vigilantly. No part of this armour is to be omitted, unless we would leave ourselves exposed to certain danger. We must take unto us "the whole armour of God," if we wish "to withstand in the evil day" of temptation--having on the girdle of truth, the breast-plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, Not even the The back alone because always helmet of salvation, the the sword of the Spirit. feet are to be unshod. is to be defenceless, turned from the enemy. The Christian warrior must not flee. The language of the Apostle is evidently figurative; and in attempting to explain it we must neither press the figures too closely, nor divest them of their appropriateness and significancy. We may remark, generally, that the various parts of the Christian armour enumerated by the Apostle are accommodated to the more prominent features in the Enemy's usual plan of attack. Does he wish to infuse the poison of error? the antidote is truth. Does he tempt to iniquity? the preservative is righteousness. Does he excite unbelief? the corrective is faith. To guard us against despair, we must have a good hope through grace. If we would be unmoved by words of wickedness, we must be instructed in the word of God. And, lastly, if we would preserve ourselves in the posture of defence, if we would be kept from negligence, languor, and weariness, we must be sober and watch unto prayer." Such is the general outline of the Apostle's direction; a few observations may be added by way of explanation of particular parts. 1. We are to have our loins girt about with truth. "Girding the loins is an expression frequently used in Scripture to denote promptitude, alacrity, readiness for action.* It was deemed a necessary preparative for a journey, or for active service of any kind; the loose, flowing garments of the ancients being an hindrance to agility and dispatch. To the soldier a girdle was indispensable. kept other parts of his armour compact and properly adjusted. It braced and supported his sides; and thus contributed to his strength and firmness in battle, as well as to the celerity of his movements. In these respects the military belt was an apt emblem of Truth in It * Exod. xii. 11.-1 Kings xviii. 46.-Luke xii. 35. |