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William Gurnall "The Christian In Complete Armour".
A Sweet and Powerful Encouragement to the War
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.’ — Eph. 6:10
The apostle begins his speech with the word of encouragement to battle: 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord;’ the best way indeed to prepare them for the following directions. A soul deeply possessed with fear, and dispirited with strong apprehensions of danger, is in no posture for counsel. As we see in any army when put to flight by some sudden alarm, or apprehension of danger, it is hard rallying them into order until the fright occasioned thereby is over; therefore the apostle first raiseth up their spirits, 'be strong in the Lord.’ As if he should say, Perhaps some drooping souls find their hearts fail them, while they see their enemies so strong, and they so weak; so numerous, and they so few; so well appointed, and they so naked and unarmed; so skilful and expert at arms, but they green and raw soldiers. Let not these or any other thoughts dismay you; but with undaunted courage march on, and be strong in the Lord, on whose perÂformance lies the stress of battle, and not on your skill or strength. It is not the least of a minister's care and skill in dividing the word, so to press the Christian's duty, as not to oppress his spirit with the weight of it, by laying it on the creature's own shoulders, and not on the Lord's strength, as here our apostle teacheth us. In this verse (under four heads or branches), We have first, A familiar appellation, 'my brethren.’ second, An exhortation, 'be strong.’ third, A cautionary direction annexed to the exhortation, 'in the Lord.’ fourth, An encouraging amplification of the direction, 'and in the power of his might,’ or in his mighty power.
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