A Sermon by Mackintosh Mackay
Ephesians 6:15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
In already addressing you from these words, we endeavoured to bring before you the importance of the precept they contain. We attempted to explain the figure used, and to suggest the necessity of it being put into practice daily. We understand the gospel of peace to have special reference to the peace with God revealed in the gospel of Christ. Paul elsewhere calls it “the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them”. To have the feet shod with the preparation of this gospel implies that the knowledge and true belief of this must be carried into the actual conduct of our lives.
As a means towards this, we commended to your conscience that you habitually study the Word of God, in which His character is revealed and His will set before you; that you examine carefully and repeatedly the state of your hearts in the light of the doctrines, precepts and counsels of the Word of God; and that you contemplate habitually the prospects which that Word unfolds to you. Without serious attention to all this, the soul can never be prepared to run with patience the race set before it. It is through those means that the Spirit of God usually works in elevating the mind of the believer into a state of confidence in God and of love to Him, and of spiritual strength to overcome the obstacles and temptations which oppose the Christian’s way Zionward. These are the enemies of the soul – together with its own sinful inclinations, inherent in it by original sin, and strengthened by the wiles of the great adversary of God and men.
To specify the difficulties and trials which must be met in a course of life, such as the gospel of peace calls us to, would be a task for which no human ability is adequate, because no one can have practical knowledge of them all. Nor is the true Christian to be guided by any theoretical description of them. He must be guided by actually meeting them and feeling their nature and power. Nor will any description of them beforehand, of itself, strengthen his soul, to contend with them and overcome them, so much as having his soul pervaded by the preparation of the gospel of peace – the knowledge and experience of the truth and excellence of its doctrines, offers and prospects.
Our observations were formerly confined to that view of this subject which refers especially to our relation with God. We must, however, remember that the gospel of Christ includes a preparation calculated also to furnish the mind with those right and healthy principles which must guide the Christian in his relations with other people. And we would now again seek to impress on each of you that mere maxims of morality, separated from the great doctrines of the gospel of peace, are totally inadequate for fulfilling the duties we owe to those around us, in all the relations and employments of life. Such maxims will scarcely afford, however rigidly maintained, peace of mind in this life. They will leave the heart, the seat of every affection and purpose, continually exposed to the power of selfishness and numerous evil passions. When indulged, they rob man of his internal peace, and destroy the peace and happiness of many others around him.
It is unnecessary to prove, to people acquainted with the gospel record, that love towards other people forms part of gospel duty and privilege. This must be obvious to all who have even an ordinary knowledge of the Word of God. A peaceful, benevolent attitude towards all is recommended in the gospel as essential to Christian character; unless it is cultivated, there can be no real Christianity. It is true that, on this ground, the gospel of peace has been charged by its enemies – most unfairly – with the shortcomings and errors of those who profess to believe it and to obey its precepts. And there is no denying the mournful fact that, among professing Christians, both as communities and individuals, much of a contrary temper has been displayed.
This surely arises, not from any deficiency in the gospel revelation; far less from any countenance given there to hostility or personal enmity or strife – all these are reproved in the gospel. Such blemishes in the character of those who profess it, and even of those who embrace it, arise from their coming short of the duty of our text. Their souls are imperfectly imbued with the truths it contains; they are too little occupied with the glorious prospects which it reveals. Nor must we forget that, while the gospel teaches the attitude towards all men that we speak of, it also teaches us to resist sin steadily and to show our disapproval of sin.
It is true that no small part of the outcry against the character and conduct of true Christians arises from unbelievers feeling their own sinfulness reproved by the true followers of Christ. And many outwardly profess the gospel who have never in reality believed its doctrines, and so are wholly ignorant of its power in the soul. They mingle with the true people of Christ, as the tares with the wheat, and cause two evils: a bad report of Christianity among those who are its avowed enemies, and an appearance of strife among believers or those who profess to be so – when, in point of fact, the strife is between light and darkness, between Christ and Belial. While the true believer contends righteously against the evil measures pursued by others who profess to be Christians, but do not have the same spirit, he is criticised by the world for having enmity against their persons, and often against their interests, when he may only bear compassion towards them.
All this must be taken into account in forming a proper estimate of the attitudes and character of professing Christians. But taking the matter at its worst, such attitudes among those who profess the gospel can never protect from condemnation those who reject it and seek to use such differences as an excuse for refusing the Christian name themselves. This excuse for not embracing the truth is not only unfair but also unmanly. Look to the gospel and study it; by doing so you would act with common honesty. To vilify a person without hearing him in his defence is unfair and unmanly. At least give the gospel of Christ this benefit. If you demur, you can only be consistent in slighting it if you frankly confess what is the truth: that you dislike it entirely and do not wish to have anything to do with it.
If there are any here who deny the gospel, we charge you with moral cowardice on your own showing. Suppose we were to point out to you some great temporal prize, and show you a number of people who strive to gain it but seem to fail in the attempt; if you had no prospect of securing your comfort or independence in life but by attempting to face an enemy or contend with a rival, how you would spurn the man of paltry spirit who dared not do so! Yet we tell you, from the gospel of peace, of the prize of immortality and glory in heaven; we tell you of a renovation of soul into moral and holy beauty, which the gospel of peace offers to you – and you turn to us and say, We cannot see this exemplified in those who profess belief in the gospel; therefore we will not try the matter at all; it is needless. They have not attained it; so, of course, we need not try it.
Is this your boasted courage? Is this your manly bearing as one of God’s moral creatures? We must not let you go with this remark, for you will not deny that you esteem the prize. You wish to die the death of the righteous. You wish to be secure from the wrath to come, and a guilty conscience gives you some fiery forebodings of it already. Yet you will not summon up the moral courage to look the matter in the face although you are conscious that a lack of will, of purpose, of resolution scares you away from doing so.
Nor can we leave you here without reminding you that a still darker feature of your moral weakness is the feeling that to study the Word of God would awaken your feelings of guilt, and would cause many lashings of conscience to fall with wounding severity on your guilty spirit because of the deeds of ungodliness you have committed. Surely it is indeed a spirit of mental cowardice that, to avoid this present pain, you will not even look to the healing and purifying doctrines of the cross of Christ, nor seek the perfect remedy which the gospel of peace proposes. This is worse than folly, when we look to the eternal misery into which you are rushing, or to the immortal glory which you cast away from you.
O my friends, if you completely refuse to consider the gospel of peace, address for once your mind to the subject, using the rational powers which God, in His long-suffering, still grants to you. Reflect on where this course of conduct must lead! If there is an eternity, a heaven or a hell, surely it is your business to attend now to what God is saying to you. The very possibility that there may be such realities ought, in sober reason, to make you act more appropriately than to flee from God because you feel you deserve His wrath, or because you are afraid that His voice will address your soul. Think of your state if, in this condition, you shall meet God in judgement.
Come, we would entreat you, to the Word of God, with a purpose to learn what it says to your souls about mercy and peace – that what hitherto you would seek to persuade yourselves is false or doubtful is indeed real. You cannot yet persuade yourselves, notwithstanding your total unbelief and hardening of heart, that there is no such thing as the solemn realities of eternity, for there are times when you are forced, however unwillingly, to believe that, in some sense, there are such things. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, while it is yet called today. Come to Him confessing your sins and seeking to know His covenant of peace, and God will yet have mercy on you, for He will abundantly pardon.
But to return. We were advancing the idea that a peaceful and benevolent attitude was uniformly taught in the gospel, as an essential part of true Christian character. We would now observe that the text calls every believer in Christ to show kindness to their fellow creatures. The gospel of peace, which God has prepared and freely offers to sinners, is the only source for this attitude; only thus can it be truly sustained in the soul, and exemplified in conduct. We know well that there are individuals who naturally possess a more calm and benevolent attitude than others; some, as far as others can see, go through life free from strife, enmity and wrangling.
But when examined by the rule of God’s Word, even they come far short of having their feet, in this respect, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. They still have their private dislikes and personal antipathies, prejudices and coldness. There may be deep indifference to the real interests of their fellow men, to the spirit of active benevolence which the gospel of peace instils. I may imagine I wish my neighbour to be well and happy, when I would very much dislike to stretch out a helping hand to him in his time of need; if ever I did so, my strongest consideration might be: how little might I bestow and yet maintain my good name with him and others. I might look first, not to his needs, but to my own interests.
This is not the true benevolence of the gospel of peace. Christian benevolence proceeds on higher and purer considerations. God teaches the believer to know his unworthiness of the benefits He confers on him; he has constant experience of this unworthiness; it is not a mere theory with him. He feels his obligations to God’s mercy in sparing and upholding him, and to that almighty, bountiful hand which multiplies his privileges and comforts. Much more, he feels his obligations to the everlasting love of God in Christ for the blessings of salvation to his needy, perishing soul, and he is made willing to show kindness to others as God has prospered him.
The true Christian’s spirit of mind, in this respect, is not even to perform acts of charity when impressed by a scene of distress, suffering or need; it is that habit of mind which continually cherishes kindness to all – feeling himself indebted to God for all the mercies received from Him. It is a recognition that it is God, in Christ, offering you the benefits of salvation, that will originate and uphold this spirit of mind within you. Nor is it by any means confined to liberality in the good things of this life; it looks to the higher and more enduring interests of men. The believer’s mind has been impressed with the unspeakable importance of the soul’s salvation, the preciousness and glory of those blessings which constitute that salvation, and the destitution of men while ignorant of them. So he will strive to do to sinners around him all the good he can, by commending to their hearts the calling of God in Christ, and the graces and virtues of spiritual life.
Having the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is to bear this attitude into all the duties and business of this life, putting on continually this bond of charity, which attaches the true believer in love and kindness to others, in every relation in which he meets them, or in which they can either see his principles, or share in the influence of a godly example. It is this habitual feeling which will restrain the selfish and unholy passions of men, and which will produce, wherever it is manifested in some degree, peace and good will among those who are near you.
How can such a spirit be established in the individual but by learning lessons in his knowledge of God, as the author of salvation; and in looking to Christ Jesus, the perfect pattern of every virtue and grace manifested in this life, to leave us an example that we might follow His steps? “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We must be partakers of His spirit, before we can continually show forth its fruits in our habits and goings. And the diligent use of the doctrines of the gospel, in your spiritual affairs, will tend to produce this spirit in your souls. You will indeed meet many hindrances to its cultivation in the hardness of heart and in the unthankfulness and deceit of those whose good you wish to promote.
But in such cases, the true Christian knows the evil which reigns by nature in his own heart; that all the perverseness, ingratitude and opposition of ungodly men will not surprise him; nor will they hinder the continued action of that comprehensive benevolence to which the gospel of peace obliges every believer. Further, believer, the experience of the grace of the gospel – having your feet shod with its preparation – will uphold this attitude of mind in prosecuting all your worldly interests. The royal law of charity, righteousness and peace, doing to all as you would wish all to do to you, can only be attained in the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. Worldly policy and wisdom may direct you to many of its acts, in certain circumstances of life, for it is in the interest of men to do so in this life, but the attitude from which it would invariably flow can only be learned in the school of Christ, under the powerful teaching of His Spirit.
It is when the believer meets injury, oppression and deceit in others that he will especially feel his need of living near God, in communion of soul, so that this attitude may be upheld, and that the passions of the natural mind which seek to return evil for evil may be subdued and the soul freed from their power. These are deeply established in the natural heart and nothing will put them away but the preparation of the gospel of peace – the reception of its glorious doctrines. It is easy to see that the world is polluted by miserable displays of unholy passions. Even when they do not break forth into open deeds of violence, how much grudging, envy, jealousy and evil surmising between man and man may be detected in the outwardly-quiet current of your lives! My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Question your conscience on the subject. Are they not to be found with you? They do not come from above, but are earthly, sensual, devilish. How could they maintain an ascendancy over you, but as the evil and bitter fruit of living as strangers to God? If the soul had no other enemies within itself – no other obstacles to maintaining a godly life – than the power of such evil passions, it would be more than enough to make this warning necessary: ‘strive more and more earnestly to have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It is only this which can restrain the working of such evil in your own minds and withhold you from putting it into action.’
Do you not then need to strive to walk continually in the light of the knowledge of His glory? He freely forgives your sin, and has borne until now with all your rebellion, of which you have been so deeply guilty; and His everlasting love, notwithstanding your ingratitude, continues to offer you all the blessedness of an eternity with Himself. Considering Christ, the great High Priest of your profession, is the antidote to these evils of soul; you are to wait on Him for His Spirit, to support you in every time of temptation and trial and in the varied provocations you may meet in your contact with the ungodly around you. Let your principles shine forth in your habits of life and, under God’s blessing, this would do more to restrain the evil attitudes of others, and make them consider their ways, than all human means to better the world around you.
When the preparation of the gospel of peace is thus put on, as shoes on the feet, to uphold your soul in a right frame, worthy of your profession, it will manifest its power and beauty, in promoting peace within you and making even your enemies to be at peace with you. The evils seen in the conduct and character of others have little power to wound the internal peace of that mind which habitually has gospel motives and views; while the peace and comfort of the unbeliever, the worldly man, lie exposed to every inroad which the provocations, folly and perverseness of others may make on them.
The believer ought habitually to study how to promote peace and good will on earth. When he walks in the light of God’s countenance, in the belief of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, his inclinations of soul will be toward this. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Does not the precept of our text remind you of your duty who profess the gospel of Christ: to promote this peace in all your relations. It ought to reign among all those who profess the same Lord and seek the same salvation. There is no one, however humble their sphere, but may promote such peace. You can surely cease inflaming the evil passions of sinners, in your relations with them. You can surely cease circulating those evil surmises, those angry remarks, and those censorious words which you may hear spoken.
You can do more: you can also reprove them, if not by correction, yet by showing your disapproval of such things. Justice may require you to be faithful to your brethren and neighbours, in giving those warnings which may deliver them from snares and loss. But let this, when unavoidable, be done in a spirit of Christian meekness and godly forbearance and wisdom. If one practical lesson more than another is to be derived from our text, it is that the tongue should be restrained. Behold how great a fire a small spark kindles. Never shall it be restrained and made subject to righteousness until the heart is purified; for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Since the gospel of Christ reveals that you must give account to God for every word you speak, what need there is that, as you live and speak, you should be conscious of His omniscient presence. But the constrained and unwilling yoke of obedience, which principles of worldly prudence will impose, is not what the Christian is called to bear. He must learn of Christ and seek His holy attitude of love, forbearance and good will to men. Then the peace of the gospel will reign in your heart towards others, and it will be your earnest desire to pursue it. There are numerous obstacles to cultivating this temper that will tend to obstruct your progress. Your natural tendencies to earthly things will, if allowed to reign over you, make you continually deny gospel rules in practice and overlook gospel motives.
Seek then to walk in God’s light and to look to the inheritance to which the gospel calls you. With your minds set upon it, your conversation will be in heaven, and you will see God Himself, as manifested in Christ, as your exceeding great reward. You will desire conformity to Him in His imitable perfections; and you will desire it as your enjoyment and peace to exercise those graces which prepare the soul for enjoying His glorious eternal kingdom. Temptations will undoubtedly continue to assail you, but let your feet stand on the foundation of gospel principles. Then, acknowledging in your heart the truth and preciousness of the gospel’s gracious call, you will feel strength ministered to your soul to resist temptation and overcome it, and to preserve a conscience at peace both with God and men. And let the encouragements which you are given in the gospel of peace strengthen you continually in doing and enduring the will of God.
God’s faithful promises are numerous, clear and explicit, and you must continually consider them so that you may have spiritual courage in every season of danger. He promises to maintain your cause and work mightily for you – to grant you understanding, wisdom and guidance, according to your need. Remember He promises a heart to receive and regard His Word and a mind to consider Him continually. His almighty power in providence is on your side to establish your goings. Bear on your spirit unceasingly – strive earnestly to bear – the memory of the grace of God in Christ, His forgiveness of your trespasses, and His free and full offer of His choicest blessings to your soul throughout eternity. This will maintain you.
In all your trials and temptations to sin, in all provocations to wrath and enmity, call to mind your debt to the grace of Christ Jesus, and the example of His forgiving and forbearing spirit He has left you, that you might follow it. No cry to Him for help will pass unnoticed in His government of the world and His Church. He will consider your need and will supply it as the God of grace and truth, faithful in covenant. While those who do not know Him fall into snares and sorrows and wound their souls, He will maintain your goings in that peace of heart which is unspeakable and full of glory.
1The second of two sermons on this text taken, with editing, from Mackay’s Sermons on the Christian Warfare. The first appeared last month; it is difficult to know where one head ends and another begins, but the preacher intimated the following: (1) the meaning of “the preparation of the gospel of peace”; (2) to show that the Apostle’s figure answers his purpose; (3) to appeal to the believer’s conscience and experience to show his need of this defence, and its preciousness and safety for those who, through grace, have it.