well knows that, as long as they are unrenewed, they are fast in his chains, and incapable of any effectual exertion : " Ephraim, though armed, and carrying bows, were so enfeebled by sin, that they turned back in the day of battle :" nor could Israel stand before their enemies while an Achan was in their camp*. So neither can he resist Satan, who yields in any thing to the dominion of sin. If once we " put away a good conscience, we shall speedily make shipwreck of our faith" also". But let once the tamest of his vassals feel the influence of divine grace, and instantly he casts off the yoke under which he had groaned, and asserts his liberty. From that moment Satan is constrained to yield to that "stronger power that is come against himx," and to relinquish the prey which he can no longer retain y.
The necessity of righteousness being thus esta- blished, let us proceed to consider,
II. Its sufficiency —
The Apostle would not have been so urgent in exhorting us to put on the breast-plate of righteous- ness, if he had not believed that it would answer all the purposes for which it was designed. That it will protect us, we are well assured : that it will secure to us the victory, there can be no doubt : for it will turn depravity to sanctity, cowardice to courage, and weakness to strength.
First, it turns depravity to sanctity. It is by our inward corruptions that Satan works. He cannot force us to commit sin : he can only present to us such temptations as are suited to our natural de- sires ; and suggest such considerations to our minds, as are likely to procure our compliance with his will. When he came to assault our Lord, he could not prevail; because "he found nothing in himz," that in the smallest degree closed with his suggestions. But when he comes to us, he finds in us a predis- position to receive him. If he assault our heart, there are many secret lusts that are ready to betray
* Ps. lxxviii. 9, 10. Josh. vii. 8, 12, 24, 26. u 1 Tim. i. 19. x Luke xi. 21, 22. y Tsai. xlix. 25. z John xiv. 30.