But let us see what are the pieces of the spiritual armour. The apostle begins with ' the girdle of truth,' by which is meant, not truth of doctrine (for that is the sword of the Spirit), but sincerity, or an honest intention ; when a man endeavoureth to be both to God and man what he seems to be. Now, it is the Lord that must renew the right spirit within us. Satan he assaults us with wiles, but our armour of proof against him is the girdle of truth. We stand against the wiles of Satan, but we must not fight against him with his own weapons, and put off" wiles %vith wiles ; sincerity and honest intention, that is our strength ; this is the girdle to the loins, it gives strength and courage to the soul. And then there is ' the breastplate of righteousness,' or that grace which puts us upon a holy conversation, suitable to God's will revealed in his word, whereby we endeavour to give God and man their due ; it secures the breast and vital parts, the seed of inherent grace in the heart ; an honest fixed purpose to obey God in all things. The next thing, the feet must be shod ; we shall meet with rough ways in our passage to heaven, and what is that which is armour of proof for our feet ? ' The preparation of the gospel of peace,' a sense of our peace and friendship made up between God and us through Christ. Without this we shall never follow God in the way of duty when we meet with difiiculties and hardships. But ' above all, take the shield of faith.' A shield covers the body, but that which gives defence to all is faith : without this a man is naked. Destitute of Christ's imputed righteousness, he wants his covenant- strength ; it applieth Christ's righteousness, and engageth the power of God on our behalf Then there is " the helmet of salvation,' which is hope : 1 Thes. v. 8, A well-grounded hope of salvation, it makes us hold up the head in the midst of all waves and sore assaults ; that is, it is our great motive and encouragement in the work of sanctifi- cation. Then there is ' the sword of the Spirit,' which is both offen- sive and defensive ; it wardeth off Satan's blows, and makes him fly back from us as one wounded and ashamed. These are the graces. Now God gives them to us, and therefore he is called ' The God of all grace,' 1 Pet. v. 10. Why ? because he requires it only ? No, but because he giveth it also. And it is called ' The armour of God,' ver. 11. God is the author, God is the maker, God is the inventor of
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this armour, and he doth freely bestow it upon us. The apostle bids us ' take the whole armour of God,' ver. 13, that is, take it out of God's hand. This armour is not of our making and procuring, but made to our hands by God himself.
Secondly, He actuates these graces by putting good motions into our hearts, or sweet and gracious thoughts, whereby all the fore- mentioned graces are drawn out. When we are conflicting with sin in an hour of temptation, faith is set a-work: * That God may fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power,' 2 Thes. i. 11 ; that is, by a divine power and influence quick- ening it into acts. Joseph, when he was assaulted by a grievous temptation, he had a gracious motion and thought put into his mind : ' How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God ?' Gen. xxxis, 9. Still there is a seasonable remembrance of things by the Spirit, whose office it is to bring all things to remembrance : John xiv. 26. The Spirit doth not only teach us all things, but brings things to our remembrance, when we have need of any truth to be set home upon the heart ; either such a truth as forbids the evil to which we are tempted, or that speaketh comfort and encouragement to us under such a cross ; or pressing such a duty as we hang off from. The seasonable remembrance of truths is the great actual help which we have from God. Jesus Christ himself, by seasonable urging the scriptures, defeated the temptation wherewith he w^as assaulted: Mat. iv. 10, 11. The word quickeneth in affliction: Ps. cxix. 50. Some proper comfort is borne in upon the soul by the power of God. It is not the bare remembrance of truth, but the secret power of God which enliveneth it, and makes it efiectual in its season to defeat the temptation.
Use. It directs you what to do in temptations, to go to God for help and strength against them. Briefly, when you treat with God, it should be under a threefold notion : —
1. As the author and giver of grace.
2. As the sovereign giver and disposer of it, according to his own will.
3. As a judge, by temptation correcting some foregoing sin by the present temptation.
1. Treat with God as the author and giver of grace : James i. 17, ' He is the father of lights, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh down.' And so —