they know into what close connexion ye have been brought to the Lord Jesus Christ, and how " mightily his Spirit has wrought within you :" and they will readily receive the mystery which they cannot see, when they are constrained to acknow- ledge the mystery which they do see. They will be forced to confess that ye are a people whom the Lord has blessed, and that he is with you of a truth.]
Eph. vi. 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
THE Christian's life is frequently represented in the Scriptures under the metaphor of a warfare. Christ is called "the Captain of his salvation3;" and they who have enlisted under his banners, and " quit themselves like men," " fighting the good fight of faith V and enduring cheerfully all the hardships of the campaign, are called " good soldiers of Jesus Christ0." " Like warriors, they do not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life, that they may please him who has chosen them to be soldiersd;" but they set themselves to " war a good warfare6," and they look for the rewards of victory, when they shall have subdued all their enemies f.
In the chapter before us, this subject is not slightly touched, as in the detached passages above referred to, but is treated at large ; and that which in other places is only a metaphor, is here a professed simile. St. Paul, standing, as it were, in the midst of the camp, harangues the soldiers, telling them what ene- mies they have to combat, and how they may guard effectually against all their stratagems, and secure to themselves the victory. He begins with an animating exhortation, wherein he reminds them of the won- derful talents of their General, and urges them to
a Heb. ii. 10. b 1 Cor. xvi. 13. 1 Tim. vi. 12.
c 2 Tim. ii. 3. li 2 Tim, ii. 4. e 1 Tim. i. 18.
f 2 Tim. iii. 7, 8. Rev. iii. 21.