"Shod with the Preparation of the gospel of peace."
And what this preparation is will best appear by considering the part it is designed for – the foot; and the piece of armour it is compared to, and that is the soldier's shoe, which is to be one of the strongest make, being not so much intended for finery as defence.
So necessary is this piece of armour indeed, that for want of it alone, the soldier in some cases is disabled for service, as when he is called to march far on hard ways, and those, may be, strewed with sharp stones. How long will he go, if not shod, without being wounded or foundering?
The man whose feet are well shod fears no ways, but goes through thick and thin, foul or fair, stones or straws; all are alike to him that is well shod. Thus when the will and heart of a man is prompt, and ready to do any work, the man is, as it were, shod and armed against all trouble and difficulty which he is to overcome in the doing of it.
David was never so merry as in the cave. "My heart is prepared, my heart is prepared," said he, "I will sing and give praise." If David's heart had not been shod with this preparation, he would not have liked the way he was in so well. You would have heard him sing to another tune, and heard him quarrel with his destiny, or fall out with his profession, that had put him to so much trouble and driven him from the pleasures of a prince's court, to hide himself underground from those that hunted for his life.
But why is it called "the preparation of the gospel of peace" I answer, because the gospel brings the joyful tidings of peace concluded betwixt God and man by the blood of Jesus. And this is so welcome to the trembling conscience of poor sinners, that no sooner is the report of a peace concluded between God and them sounded in their ears by the preaching of the gospel then, instantly there appears a new life in them; to the effect that they, who were before so fearful and shy of every petty trouble – knowing it could bring no good news to them (from God) – are now "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," and able to go out smilingly to meet the greatest sufferings that are, or can be, in the way before them, and say undauntedly to them, as Christ did to those that came out against him with swords and staves to attack Him, – "Whom seek ye?"
William Gurnall.
This Page Title – The Christian in Complete Armour – The Christian's Spiritual Shoes The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 71 – placed on line March 2008 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |