The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 290

hold." They are managed by force and frnud, all of them. Tho passage sui(gests that under his control they act: (l) Craftily. Hence the expression, the "wiles of tho dc,-il." All his movements are cunningly methodized, for such is the meanin" of the "w:l ". wiles." These eYil spirits attack us in ambush; they steal upon us slyly a.nu s:e.'.1,tluly. (2) In da.rl.,'fless, "The rulers of the darkness of this world." Where do t h<'y reign? Where ignorance spreads her gloom : in the cold region of atheism where the mental energies are benumbed, and in the tropic realm of superstition where the soul is stirred into an agony of fear and scared 'l\ith the horrid forms of its own crrotk1ns. Amidst the gloomy recesses of ignorance they rear their throne· throu"'h the di~tricts of intellectual darkness they prowl about in search of their l)rey. Th~y reign where dcpraYity beclouds the heart, nhere passion is stronger than principle, the s~nses than the soul, the Joye of the world than the love of God; whether that be amidst the districts of heathenism or civilized life, in the marts of business, the temples of devotion, or the flowery scenes of gaiety aud pleasure. They enshrine themselves amidst the benighted chambers of an impure imagination, they haunt the atmospher& of pollution, impregnate it with their spirit, causing it to stimulate the unrighteous zeal of the selfish, to fire the passions of the carnal, and to swell the vanity of the ambitious and the proud. They reign where sorrow and suffering darken all. They delight in misery. The wretchedness of the indigent, the sighs of the distressed, the groans of the oppressed, and the agonies of the dying gratify their maligna.nt natUies. IL THE souL's STRENGTH. "Finally, my brethren, be stroag in the Lord, and in the power of his might." The soul requires tremendous strength to grapple successfully with these mighty spirits of evil. What is the strength required? It is nothing less than Dimne. It is to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. But what kind of Divine strength is required, for strength of all kind is from the Lord? Is it muscular 1 No. Samson, with his hercnle.an physical force, fell beneath these spirits; an en! genins touched him, and the giant fell as a child. Is it mental 1 No. Men of the greatest intellect and of the loftiest genius have not been able to stand for a moment before these spirits. It is not by this "might or this power" that souls can stand before these infernal hosts. It is moral strength. l. The strength of faith in tf.e .Absoluu. Faith in that which changes not, which is true to man as man, which is independent of times and circumstances-faith in the Everlasting. With this faith men participate in the omnipotence of God, work wonders, and dare the universe. Men, through this faith, have "subdued kingdoms," etc. 2. The strength of love for the Sup'T"emely good. Love, when it is fastened even upon the frail and the imperfect, gives strength to the soul-strength to nerve a mother for the most trying services, strength tn brace a patriot for the thunders of the battle. But when centred upon the eternally Good, its strength is increased a thousandfold ; it gives the soul a power that " never faileth," a power that" endureth all things." 3. .An invincible attachment to the rig/it, To "be strong in the Lord" is to be strong in sympathy with the right. It is to prefer the right with hell to the wrong with heaven. It is this moral strength alone that will enable ns to "stand against the wiles of the devil," and to battle successfully with the host of wickedness. 'l'his strength makes a man more than a conqueror, enables him to glory in tribulation and shout tiiumphantly in tho agonies of death. ill THE soUL's WEAPOBS. 'l'he panoply is here described'. It consists of two parte-tbe defen.sive and the offensive implements. 1. '!'he defensive implements. What is the defensive? "Truth." This is the girdle which belts the loins with strength, and binds all the other parts of the panoply together so as to protect all the Yitai parts. "Righteousness." This is the" breastplate." The man who lacks integrity can offer no successful defence to the foe; the dishonest man is vulnerable at every point. "The gospel of peace." This, like the boot of the old Roman conqueror, makes the soldier firm in his step and terrible in the echo of bis tread. "Faith." This is the "shield," protecting the whole body. Faith, not in creeds, but in Christ, is the true shield of moral soldiership. "Salvation "-that is, the hope of salvation. This is the " helmet." As the helmet guarded the head of the Roman soldier, the hope of salvation protects the 59ul. Let despair come, and the hea.d of the soul is wounded and the whole syMtem enda.agered. 2. The offensive. What is the o1Tensivc? "The eword of the Spirit." 'l'he true soul has not only to stand its ground, to maintain its position, to keep its territory, but to advance, to extend its boundaries, to prosecute an err. VI. 1-24.J THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 291