Reflections on the Duties of Children and Servants, &c. 213 the Circumstances in which we are refpectively placed. Children Sect. 12. and Servants are not forgotten. Let them attend to thofe gracious Leffons which are here given by the fupream Parent and Mafter, Eph. VI. who while he teaches them, pleads their Caufe, and interpofes his high Authority to vindicate them from Oppreffion and Abuse. Much of the Happiness of Society evidently depends on the Temper and Conduct of thofe who are placed in these lower Relations. Let Children therefore learn to be fubject to their Parents with all Ver. 1, 2. dutiful and humble Refpect, from a Senfe of the Reasonableness of the Command, and of the Goodness which has annexed fuch a Pro- Ver. 3. mife to it: A Promife, which fhall ftill be efficacious, fo far as Long Life would be indeed a Bleffing to a pious Child. Let Servants, with all godly Simplicity and Uprightness of Heart, Ver. 5. revere the Authority of Chrift in them that are their Mafters according to the Flesh; and exercife a good Confcience towards them upon all Occafions, not only when under their Eye, but in their Abfence; Ver. 6. well knowing, that GOD is always prefent, and always attentive to the Conduct of every rational Creature in whatsoever Rank. Let them cherish that inward Good-will and Benevolence of Heart, which Ver. 7. renders every Act of Service uniform and fteady, and makes it in a Degree obliging, even when performed by thofe from whom Authority might have extorted it. And let the certain and important Reward that will affuredly follow every good Action, whether great Ver. 8. or fmall, and whether performed by Perfons in more elevated or inferior Stations of Life, animate us all to a zealous Diligence in well-doing, whatever Difcouragement may at prefent attend us. And as to those who bear the fuperior Relations in Life, let them remember, that the Command of a much higher Parent and Lord requires alfo of them a tender, Regard to their Inferiors. Let Pa- Ver. 4. rents therefore govern thier own Paffions, that they may not terrify and opprefs the tender Spirits of their Children; or if they are otherwife than fender, may not teach them an evil Leffon against themfelves, and by their own Example ftrengthen them in thofe Exceffes, which may be a Difgrace and Detriment to the Family, and may, when Age has broken all the Vigour of the Parents, bring down their grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave. A confcientious Care to educate and train them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, if duly attended to, will teach a better Conduct, and the Meeknefs and Gentleness of Chrift will have an happy Influence. on both. And finally, Let the Thoughts of that great impartial Master in Ver. 9: Heaven awe Mafters on Earth; and the Expectation, the certain I Expecta 214 The Apoftle urges them to be ftrong in the Lord, Sect. 12. Expectation of giving an Account to Him, engage them to make the Yoke of Servitude, which God has been pleafed to lay on those who are nevertheless their Brethren, as light and easy as they y can; chufing, even when they might command with Authority, rather with Love to intreat; not doing or faying any Thing unneceffarily rigorous or fevere, not threatening, reviling, or reproaching, but treating their Servants as thofe whom they confider as Partakers with them in the fame Hope, or whom they earnestly defire by all prudent Condefcenfion and Tenderness to lead into the Way of Salvation. Se&t. 13. Eph. VI. 10. II SECT. XIII. The Apostle concludes the Epiftle, with urging them to prepare for a frenuous Combat with their Spiritual Enemies, by putting on the whole Armour of GOD; and earnestly exhorting them to Fervency in Prayer, be recommends himself to their Remembrance at the Throne of Grace. Eph. VI. 10, to the End. I EPH. VI. 10. HAVE been exhorting you to a faithful Performance of Relative Duties, and as to what remains, my Brethren, fince every Relation in Life brings along with it correfpondent Duties, and will require Vigour and Refolution in the Discharge of them, whatever therefore be the Circumftance or Situation you are in, let me befeech you, not to rely on your own Strength, but be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might; confide in his omnipotent Protection, and fix your Dependance on the Grace he is fo ready to communicate to us, to fupport us in every Service and Struggle, to which we are called. And fince it is a ftrenuous Warfare in which you are engaged, put on the compleat Armour of GOD, EPH. VI. 10. Finally, my Brethren, be ftrong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might.. II Put on the whole Ar mour and fhews the mour of GOD, that ye may be able to ftand against the Wiles of the Devil. 12 For we wrestle not Difficulty of the Chriftian Warfare. againft Flesh and Blood, but againft Principalities, againft Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, it 215 GOD (a), that glorious Drefs fo neceffary Sect. 13. ment and Safety; that ye may, in Confequence Eph. VI. 11 For in the Warfare we are carrying on, 12 down (a) The compleat Armour of GOD.] The Word in the Original is wavordia, which includes all Sorts of Armour, whether offenfive or defenfive; confifting in the Exercife of all thofe Chriflian Graces, which we are furnished with by GOD; to be made Ufe of in his Strength, as well to annoy the Enemy as to defend ourselves: And appears by the particular Defcription which the Apofle here proceeds to give of it, to be a Suit of Armour every Way compleat, and properly adapted to the Defence Part; though, as fome obferve, none is provided for the Back, as we muft always face the Enemy, or we fhall prefently lie open, and have no Defence from Danger. of every (b) The Rulers of the Darkness of this World.] This and the following Claufe Dr. Whitby explains in his Paraphrafe, of thofe Evil Spirits that rule in the Heathen Na❝tions which are yet in Darkness," and "of thofe that have their Stations in the Regions of the Air." But I do not fee any Foundation for fuch a Diftinction, and therefore: have not intimated it in the Paraphrafe.. (c) Spirits 216 To be able to withstand their Spiritual Enemies, Sect. 13. down to them through many fucceeding World, against fpiritual Generations; and with Spirits, who became Wickedness in high Plates Eph. VI. 12. Authors and Abettors of Wickedness even while they abode in beavenly [Places] (c), where they rebelled against the God of Heaven, and drew in Multitudes who were before holy and happy Spirits, to take Part with them in their ungrateful and impious Revolt. With thefe are we ftruggling for that great celeftial Prize, which they have for ever loft; and their Nature, Experience, and Situation, give them moft formidable Advantages against the weak Children of Men, furrounded with fo many Examples of Evil, and with fuch powerful Temptations to it. 13 On this Account then let me pursue my Exhortation, that ye would take unto you the compleat Armour of GOD, that fo ye may be able to withstand all thefe ftrong and malicious Enemies in the Evil Day of extreameft Danger; and having done all, having exerted yourselves to the utmoft, which indeed it will be abfolutely neceffary for you to do, ye may be found at laft, when your Warfare is accomplished, to ftand victorious and triumphant. 14. 13 Wherefore take unto GOD, that ye may be able you the whole Armour of to withstand in the evil Day, and having done all, to ftand. 14 Stand therefore, hav with Truth, and having Stand therefore in a conftant Readiness for the Encounter, as good Soldiers of Jefus ing your Loins girt about Chrift, having your Loins girded about with the ftricteft Truth (d), Uprightnefs, and Sin cerity on (c) Spirits of Wickedness in beavenly [Places].] There is fomewhat peculiar in the Form of the Exprefion in the Original, τα πνευμαλίκα της πονηρίας εν τοις επερανίοις, which Mr. Locke has paraphrafed," the Spiritual Managers of the Oppofition to the Kingdom of GoD." There is no Doubt but it refers to thofe revolted wicked Spirits, who are continually employed in propagating Wickedness. But Dr. Goodwin would render the laft Words, Toss sepanos, about heavenly Things, as fignifying, that we wrestle with them to fecure to ourselves thofe fpiritual and eternal Bleffings, of which they would endeavour to deprive us. (See his Works, Vol. i. pag. 45.) I have hinted at this, but cannot think it a proper Tranflation: The Connection and Verfion I have followed feems much more natural and eafy: "They were wicked in Heaven, "and by that Wickedness fell from thence." (d) Having your Loins girded about with Truth.] It has often been obferved, that the Military Girdle was not only an Ornament, but a Defence; as it hid the gaping they must put on on the Breaft-plate of Righ 15 And your Feet fhod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace: 16 Above all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye cerity of Heart, which will give a Steadi- Sect. 13. nefs and Uniformity to your Conduct, and And 15 ferve, as a Girdle does, to brace on the Eph. VI. 14 And 16 pel, Foints of the Armour, and kept them close and fteady, as well as fortified the Loins of thofe that wore it, and rendered them more vigorous and fit for Action.- -The chief Difficulty here is to know, whether Truth refers to the true Principles of Religion, or to Integrity in our Conduct; and how, on the latter Interpretation to keep it distinct from the Breaft-plate of Righteousness, or on the former from the Shield of Faith. But it seems probable to me, that it may rather fignify fome Virtue of the Mind, as all the other Parts of the Armour enumerated do; and then it muft refer to that Uprightness, and Sincerity of Intention, which produces Righteoufnefs, or an holy and equitable Conduct, as its proper Fruit. (e) The Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.] Mr. Locke underftands by this, "an "habitual Readiness to walk in the Way of the Gofpel of Peace," as if it were intended as a general Injunction to obey all its Precepts. But to me it evidently appears to be defigned in a particular Manner to point out the Preparation which the Gospel makes for our Defence, by that peaceful Temper which it fo often teaches and incul cates; of which, as I take it to be the Senfe of the Place, I have explained it in the Paraphrafe; though others chufe to understand it of that Confidence which is infpired by the Gospel, in Confequence of the Peace it establishes between GoD and the Soul. VOL, V. E e (f) Upon |