SERMON V.

THE CHRISTIAN'S SANDALS.

EPHESIANS, vi. 15.

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."

The Christian character consists not of one, but of all the graces of the Spirit. Christian duty requires the observance of every Christian precept; insomuch that all the promises of God in Christ are requisite for our encouragement. And he that knows all our necessities, will supply all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Thus, as one means of assisting us, his Word describes each one and all our spiritual dangers; and it is from this circumstance that it "is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

We spoke of the dangers that surround the Christian, which he may be disposed through infatuation to court, or into which he may be ensnared through ignorance. Now diseases are not always indicated by the same symptom; nor are coming storms always anticipated from the same presages. The physician and the

sailor must be familiar with all these intimations of danger, that they may guard against that fatal termination which commences, and first exhibits itself in so many different ways. So, again, the soldier knows not, when he enters the campaign, to what military efforts he may be called, nor in which of them he may fail for want of the requisite preparation, nor in what direction the deadly weapon may be sent forth against him, nor what precaution he may more specially need in order to guard against the future, and perhaps certain, but by him unforeseen wound.

Applying therefore this illustration to the various circumstances and dangers of the Christian life, describing that life as a warfare, and the Christian as a warrior, the apostle exhorts him to take to himself "the whole armour of God"; for not to be equipped with the whole, may be to leave ourselves unprovided with that one particular part of it which, if not solely, yet specially, was needful for us. He must provide both for offensive and defensive operations, both "to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand";—to stand firm, courageous, prepared, defended, and safe, so far as the possession of the weapons of warfare can make him so;-at the same time ever remembering that the Captain of his salvation must teach him to use them, and that God only can cover his head in the day of battle, subdue his enemies under him, and make him more than conqueror.

Will he not need to have his "loins girt about with truth"? Truth shall be the girdle of the loins of his mind. He will then not be encum

bered and entangled with the loose and inconvenient robes, however splendid, of worldly lusts, false principles, and earthly affections; he will be sober-minded; feeling indeed less at liberty, yet more prepared for action, and better able to know, to resolve, and to accomplish his purpose. He must have on "the breastplate of righteousness. Those holy purposes, those righteous resolves, that tender sensibility of conscience, that hardihood of decision, which the sincere lover of Divine truth possesses, will be as a breastplate to guard his heart and vital powers from injury and extinction. He is, and he will thus remain, alive to God; and his heart will thus continue to beat, uninjured and unwounded, with devoted loyalty and affection to his God and King. His head as well his heart, his understanding as well as his affections, must also be guarded. "The helmet of salvation," called elsewhere "the hope of salvation," will ward off all groundless doubts, despair, delusion, and fear. And above all these, as an ever ready and moveable defence against the fiery darts of the

wicked one, whencesoever and whithersoever directed and aimed, he will carry “the shield of faith," not idly slung on the back, but buckled to one arm; while with the other he wields "the sword of the Spirit," to return the attack in a close combat with the adversary of his peace. "The Word of God," that sword with which the Saviour vanquished Satan, and at length laid him prostrate, shall be found never to lose its temper; its two edges will never be blunted; and if its use be understood, and its keen stroke skilfully applied by the Christian, no temptation shall prevail, no foe shall overcome, no lust be unsubdued.

But the soldier has not only to defend the garrison, or to stand in the battalion, but to move, as occasion may require, both in the citadel, and in the field; and also to travel all the length of the celestial road. Throughout every march along the rough and thorny path, he must indeed be ever ready to employ his offensive and defensive weapons against the foe, whether lying in ambush, or harassing him by skirmishing