2. THE PANOPLY.

For this conflict we must have the panoply-the whole armor-of God. This is emphasized by repetition. (10:ii, 13.) It must be the whole armor, or we are as powerless against the adversary as if we had none. The whole man can be reached through any one part exposed. A city can be taken through a single gate unguarded. And our foe is subtle, and easily discerns what is lacking in us. Moreover, the armor itself is so made, to fit together,-one part is so necessary to another, that it cannot rightly be put on except it be all put on. How can we be girt about with truth and have no "breast-plate of righteousness" ? And so it will be found all through. No wonder! for this is just "integrity" in its true meaning,-that is, entireness. Who that is upright with God can pick and choose as to His will, what to do and what he may leave undone? Let us remember at the outset, therefore, it is the whole armor we are to put on.

The order too is important, and that will appear as we go on. The order in Scripture is far too little thought of. To take it into account would be by many considered too minute; but in fact there is nothing too minute for our attention in the Word of God; and this cannot be too seriously pressed.

The first part of the armor, then, is the girdle,-what might be scarcely thought a part of it, but according to this, the very first thing to be considered. What indeed could a soldier do with flowing garments about his feet? And here the Word of God gets its right place :truth it is that girds the loins.

"Sanctify them through the truth," is the Lord's own prayer:"Thy Word is truth." (Jno. 17:17.) In the world, men walk in a vain show, and disquiet themselves in vain:holiness is "holiness of truth." (Eph. 4:24, marg.) The Word of God brings into the soul the realities which separate from what is seen to be false and merely seductive. The things unseen, but eternal, stir and energize the heart. Torpor is gone ; earnestness and diligence possess the soul. It is kept with God, and at rest,-a rest which is full activity, and makes it untiring.

It is plain that this state of soul is a first necessity for conflict, and that the wiles of the enemy can only be met by one delivered from the illusions of that world which is his great instrument. It connects also with the second part of the armor, the breast-plate of righteousness, which is, of course, practical righteousness, a conscience void of offense, as of one walking in the truth he knows. Otherwise the truth itself becomes a reproach, and we are in danger of shipwreck as to it even:"holding faith and a good conscience," says the apostle, "which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck." (i Tim. 1:19)

He who does not follow the truth he knows is sure to find, except God's mercy prevent, something that will accommodate itself, as the truth will not, to the laxity in which he indulges. The enemy here has full opportunity, and it is no wonder if the darkness should soon be proportionate to the truth once known.

The third part of the armor is, the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It is peace to which the gospel introduces,-not only through the blood of Jesus having no more conscience of sins, but God known as for us ; who can be against us? Thus in all circumstances there is peace. If God rule-our Father be the Lord of heaven and earth, to receive from His hand every thing is to be delivered from unrest, from resentment even of what is meant for harm :" As for you, ye indeed thought evil against me," says Joseph to his brethren, "but God meant it for good." (Gen. 1. 20.) To what a height of serenity can such a consciousness lift the soul ! How can one desire evil upon another for what in the hand of God had been only good ?

Israel's shoes were never worn out with all the flinty rocks of the wilderness; and such peace, maintained in communion with God, is proof against all the roughness of the way. Those who enjoy this peace are indeed armed against Satan; but it is only attainable in the order in which we find it here.

Fourthly, we have, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Some would read here, "in all things," but I believe the text is right as it stands, and that it means, not " more than all," nor " besides all," but, as Bengel reads, "over all." The shield covers even the rest of the armor, and can be moved so as to guard any threatened part. It is thus that faith is to protect all the other parts,-the faith which is not merely in the work accomplished for us, but a practical confidence in God at all times. This it is that quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one,-the suspicions of His love and faithfulness, to a believer one would say impossible, but for bitter experience. What fiery darts are these ! and how well is he called "the wicked one" who can employ them !

Still, the head needs to be provided for, and here it is, "Receive the helmet of salvation." It is not a hope, it is a positive accomplishment. Saved we are ; and this consciousness enables one to lift up his head amid the tumult of the battle-field. We are conquerors before we enter the strife. Not that there is nothing at stake, nor that there is not real meaning and importance in the conflict. There is surely much; but salvation is not at stake :it is not for it we are contending. This we have as the fruit of Another's victory. And to mark this, it would seem, the word is changed here which has just been used for "taking the shield of faith;" it is really, "and receive the helmet of salvation." It is not an attainment, not something in which we are active, as before; it is the gift of Another, a gift of grace alone.

Then we have our offensive weapon-"the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." There is a slight correction to be made here; it is rather, "The sword of the Spirit, which is the saying of God,"-that is, the particular text out of the Word which you want for the occasion. And this is the sword of the Spirit, not simply because the whole Word is inspired of Him, but also because you need to be under His guidance in order to find the text. How wise may a mere babe in Christ be if with God ! how dull the greatest student if without Him ! But let us not imagine that deep and accurate acquaintance with the Word is therefore of small account. It is far otherwise. Growth is by the truth, and if the truth be slighted, and we are babes when we ought to be grown men, then are we "carnal, and not spiritual" (i Cor. 3:i), and He will need to make us sensible of our folly. To expect the blessed Spirit of God to minister to spiritual sloth and indifference is presumption; and here again the order of Scripture is instructive:it is only when all the coat-armor is fastened on that the sword can be grasped; only thus will it be effective.

But used thus, what victories may we gain with it! there is nothing else, indeed, by which victory can be gained. Satan dreads no mere human reasoning, which lies, after all, under the darkness of this world-cannot escape from it:it is "armor of light" we need, and light is heavenly, as even nature witnesses. Here faith alone can enter. Mere human apprehension cannot lay hold of Christ; and to the knowledge of the new man " Christ is all." (Col. 3:2:)

Let it not be thought that I am decrying reason :it is impossible to get on a step without it. Man without reason would be below the beast-an idiot. Those who declaim against it use it (however irrationally) in their declamation. Scripture is full every where of the most sublime reasoning; nor can we apply a text without it. Only, among things unseen, reason must be the handmaid of faith, and not her mistress; it must work by the light of revelation, or have none.

And now, lastly, we have that which is not so much a part of the armor as it is the spirit in which alone it can be used; connected indeed especially with the Word of God, as that in which we draw near to God, as in the Word He draws near to us:-"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." No where else, perhaps, is the language as to prayer so strong and emphatic as it is here. Well it may be, here in the presence of the enemy, where, as we were at first reminded, our strength, if we are to have strength, must be "in the Lord." The exhortation of the apostle thus ends as it begins-with Christ Himself, the one absolute necessity for the soul at every moment. The consciousness of this is safety and power :its expression is in prayer; and this spirit of prayer is what the Spirit of God produces wherever He works. Let us remark, however, that where the soul is right with God, prayer becomes proportionately intercession for the saints. Christ on high is taking that place of intercession, to be in it ourselves is to be in fellowship with Him. Where the heart entertains Him, it will entertain His people also.