satisfied every demand of Law, and is perfectly proof against all assaults from within or from without. Let us not show the bare breast of our right.eousness to the tempter, but rather the righteousness of God himself, imputed to us and received by faith. 'l'his breastplate was purchased by Christ at a dear rate; none are his soldiers who have not put it on; without it, God himself will fight against you; if you have it, you arc sure of ultimate triumph (Rom. viii. 31, 32), ill. SANDALS. "Having your feet ghod with the preparedness of the gospel of peace." The legs of the Roman soldiar were covered with greaves, and below these were the sandals, or oo,lig~. Swiftness of foot was of great consequence in military movements. Christians are to show a readiness, a celerity, an alacrity of movement, in doing God's will. This preparedness is the effect of the gospel of peace, which inspires us with severity and courage, and liberates us from those doubts which gene- rate weakness. The unready warrior is liable to sudden and secret attacks. The Christian ought ever to be prepared to advance against the enemy, to obey his great Captain, to fight, to suffer, and to die in the cause of God and truth. IV. THE SHIELD. "Above all, taking the shield of faith." The shield covered the whole body, as well as the armour itself. Faith is a shield in the spiritual warfare. It is that faith of which Christ is the Object, at once " the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen;" that confidence which defends the understanding from error, the heart from weakness or despair, the will from revolt against Divine command. It is, in a word, "the victory that overcometh the world" (1 John v. 4, 5). Its special service is "to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Satan showers his burning arrows upon the soul of the Christian, either in the shape of blasphemous suggestions, or unholy thoughts, or dark despair; but faith makes the soul impenetrable to such destructive missiles, because it falls back upon the Divine Word, and apprehends the mercy of God, the merits of Christ, and the help of the Spirit. V. THE HELMET. "And take the helmet of salvation." The helmet protects the head, the most exposed part of the body, enables the soldier to hold it up without tho fear of injury, and to look calmly round upon the enemy's movements. Salvation, and not the mere hope of it (1 'l'hess. v. 8), is the helmet that covers the head, is our true defence against the devil. It will make you active in all duties, courageous in all conflicts, cheerful in all conditions, and constant to the end of life. VI. THE SWORD. "And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." The other parts of tho armour were defensive; this is both offensive and defensive. 1. The Word of God is a sword, because it pierces llke a sword into the heart (Heh. iv. 12), because it pierces through all disguises of error, because it lays bare the " wiles " of the devil. It was wielded by Christ himself in his great temptation. It is still the saint's only weapon of offence. Whether the tomptation is to atheism, to impiety, to despair, to unbelief, to covetousness, to pride, to hatred, or to worldliness, the legend, "It is writtcu," stands clearly revealed on the handlo of this sword. 2. It is the sword of the Spirit, because he is its Author, its Interpreter, and he who makes it effectual to the defeat of all enemies.-'!'. C. Ver. 18.-The duty of prayer. We are not to regard prayer as a seventh weapon, but rather as exhibiting tho spirit in which the Divine armour is to be assumed and the warfare carried on. It is easy to see tho intimato relation existing bet\,eon prayer and each individual part of the Christian's armour. 1. It is to be prayer of all kinds- public and private, oral and mental, formal and ejaculatory. 2. It is to be spiritual prayer: "In the Spirit;" for" He makes intercession for the saints with groaniogs which cannot be uttered" (Rom. viii. 26). We must "pray in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 20). 3. It is to be persevering prayer: "At all times;" at every suitable season. "\Ve must cultivate an habitual frame of prayer. 4. It is to be watchful prayer: "Watching there- unto." We must watch against watchlessness, watch for occasions of prayer, watch for answers to prayer. 6. It is to be intercessory prayer: "For all saints." It is most comprehensil·e in its character. It is based on the communion of saints. We have every heavenly motive for continuing in prayer. "\Ve have no ground to expect blessing without it (Ezek. xxxvi. 37). It is a means of getting all blessings, temporal, and spiritual (Matt. vii. 7 ; xxi. 22 ; Jas. i. 6). It is in itself the most heavenly duty we can perform (Phil. iii, 20).-'1'. C. 270 THE EPIS1'LE 'l'O 'l'HE EPHESIANS. [on. v1. 1-24.
Vers. 19, 20.-Prayer for an ambassador in bonds. The apostle feels his need of the prayers of the saints, because be has a true appreciation of the difficulty anc importance of his work. I. THE BLESSING HE ASKS FOB, It is no temporal blessing, not even release from impriso_nment t~at he mi11;ht more widely preach the gospel. It is simply that "utter- snce _nnght be g1sen to him" to preach the myster~ of the gospel with boldness. This 1mphes (1) that courage was neecled for the declaration of a gospel which was an offence to the world ; (2) that e,en an apostle was dependent upon God for simple utterance. II. .A lX't"BLE ARGt'llE~'T TO BESPE.U: AN AFFECTIONATE INTEREST IN THEIR PRAYERS. "For which I am an amb.'lsssdor in bonds." 1. HB was an ambassador. 'rhe apostle ne,er forgets the dignity of his office. Htl knows he is the representntive of a great King, though he is immured in Rom1111 pri~oni;. Ministers are Christ's ambassndors. "We are 11mh.'ls,,""3dors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's ~tmd, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Cor. v. 20). 2. He was an ambassador in "bunds. The ambassadorn of emihly sovereigns come with pomp and splendour. Their persons· are sacred and inviolable; to touch them is to declare war. But this amba..,;sador of Christ is in prison and afflicted. Brave ambassador in bonds I He is worthy of the prayers of the saints.-T. C.