The time mentioned in the text as " the evil day," refers to those particular periods when Satan makes his most desperate attacks. Sometimes he retires from us for a season, as he did from our Lordh ; or, at least, gives us somewhat of a respite from any violent assaults. But he watches his opportunity to renew his efforts, when by bringing a host of devils to his aid1, or finding us off our guardk, he may exert his power to more effect. Such a season was that wherein David complained, that "his enemies, com- passing him like bees, thrust sore at him that he might fall1 :" and especially that wherein the Lord Jesus Christ himself was so weakened by him, as to rieed an angel from heaven to administer strength and consolation"1. All who know any thing of " Satan's devices," must have noticed this in their own experience : there have been times when the enemy appeared unmindful of his work, and other times when " he has come in like a flood ; so that if the Spirit of the Lord had not lifted up a standard against him11," he must have utterly overwhelmed them. The hour of death is a season when he usu- ally puts forth all his power, " having great wrath because his time is short0."
Now what shall we do in such seasons, if not clad in the whole armour of God ? What hope can we have of withstanding such an enemy ? If he should find us unarmed, would he not sift us as wheatp, and reduce us to mere chaff? Would he not scatter us as smoke out of the chimney, or chaff driven by a whirlwind0-? Would he not precipitate thousands of us, as he did the swine, into instantaneous destruc- tion1, and into the bottomless abyss of hell ?
But if we be armed with the divine panoply, we need not fear ; he can have no power against us any further than it is given him from above s : and, " howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart
h Luke iv. 13. » Matt. xii. 44, 45. * 1 Pet. v. 8.
1 Ps. cxviii. 12, 13. m Luke xxii. 43, 53. n Isai. lix. 19.
0 Rev. xii. 12. P Luke xxii. 31. <J Hos. xiii. 3.
r Matt. viii. 31, 32. s John xix. 11.