742 / 808
7aß.
Ephefian.r,Chap.G.
VER.ioi
The reafon felloweth.
For
we
wraf!!e
not
againfi
flefh
and
blood,
&c.
In
which
three things
are tobe
confdered.
1.
Who
are
the
wraf{lers.
z.
The wrafllingit
felfe.
3.
The
Antagonifls that wraftle with
us.
But
the words
are difficult
:
therefore
it may be asked,
What
is
this
wreftling
e
Anfw.
s.
A fpeech
borrowed
from
an
earthly
exercife,
to fhadow
a fpirituall courfe
For
wraftling
again!!
one
is
the putting
of
a
bodily
force
forth, that I
may caft down from
his (landing, and
lay along him
againf!
whom
I wraflle:
fo
the
life
of
a
Chriltìan,
is
the
receiving
of
a
fpirituall impreffion from
the powers
of
darkeneffe,
which they
make
to
this end,
that they
may caft
us
downe from the
Date
of
faith,
righ-
teoufneffe, and bleffcdneffc;
to
an
unbeleeving, unrighteous,
and
cur-
fed
condition.
Secondly,
it
maybe
asked,
how
it
is
Laid
we
fight not
again!!
flefh
and
blood,
feeing
the Apoflle
faith, He fought
with
heafls
at
Ephe-
fr+s,
&c.
that
is, favage
men,
of
beaftly quality;
feeing againe
that
men
make
us
no ftnall exercife
r
Anfw.
The
meaning
is
not limply to exclude them; but after
a
fort:
in
this manner, we have
notonely,
or
principally
flefh and
blood.
The
like
fpeech
is
to be
found elfewhere.
God
faith
by
Samuel,
they
have
notca(l
thee
off,
but me; that is, not thee onely
or
principally,
r Sa-
muel,
8.7.
Thirdly,
it
may be asked, how the
Apoftle
can
fay,
that
thefe
doe
thus mole!t
us,
the powers
of
darkeneffe; when
Colo
f.
I.
13.
we are
faid
to
be delivered from
them,
john
s
6. r.
The
Prince
of
this
world
is
fayd
tobe catt
forth,
and judged
e
Anfw.
We
arc delivered
from the raging
power
of
them,not
power
of
tempting forexercife
fake.
2.
We
have deliverance, and Satan
is
fubdued
in
part
:
for the
Scripture fpcaketh
of
things begun
,
and
in
doing,
as
done
:
in
fome meafurewe have deliverance, but
not
perfect.
We
fee
not
all
things fubje
&to Chrift,
Heb.2.8.
and
Rom.
16.ao.
Satan
is
not,
but fhortly
(hall
he
trodden down under
our feere;
This
ferves
in
general'.
But
the
laic
part
of
the
verfe is difficult, and
there-
forerequireth
more particular examination. For the femme therefore
of
it, here
is a
defcription
of
the
Devil/
and
his
Angels,
which
are
the
aflàylants
of
us
in
the
way
of
Salvation.
Now they are defcribed three
wayes,
r.
From the
refpeól
of
power they
have
in
regard
of
this
world,
and
that
particularly
called principalities, and
powers;
generally
called
worldly governors; which
is
expounded by way
of
corre-
&ion, governours
of
the
darkneffe
of
this world. 2.
They
are
defcribed from their nature.
1.
Their
effence,
Spirits.
a. Their
quality, wicked. 3. From the place
of
them,
in
high places, or
hea-
venly
places.
The
ayre called by the name
of
heaven,
as
the
fowks
of
the
ayre
are
called
the
Fowles
of
heaven.
Now
for the meaning, we mutt open
the words.
1.
What
is
the
difference
betwixt
thefe
three
words;
Anfw.
They
doelay
downe
a
difference of degrees in
evil' Angels,
which