blood,
but against the principalities, against the powers, against the
world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual _hosts_ of
wickedness in the heavenly _places_. Wherefore take up the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and,
having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins
with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with
all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the
saints, and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in
opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak
boldly, as I ought to speak.

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St. Paul does not only exhort Christians to pray, but he gives them
abundant examples. In this epistle there are two specimens[11] of
prayer for the spiritual progress of his converts, mingled with
thanksgivings and praise. We habitually pray for others that they may
be delivered from temporal evils, or that they may be converted from
flagrant sin or unbelief. But surely we very seldom pray rich prayers,
like those of St. Paul's, for others' progress in spiritual
apprehension.

[1] Col. i. 16.

[2] Acts xiii. 6-12; xvi. 16-18; xix. 13-20.

[3] This is akin to St. Paul's word in the Greek, iv. 14; vi. 11.

[4] Rom. xiii. 12.

[5] Rom. vi. 13; xiii. 12; 2 Cor. vi. 7; x. 4; 1 Thess. v. 8. Cf. Isa.
xi. 4, 5, and Wisd. v. 19.

[6] Luke xi. 21, 22.

[7] By the use of the articles. Contrast Is. lix. 17 which he is
quoting.

[8] Isa. lix. 17.

[9] 'Salvation' is sometimes viewed as already accomplished, i.e. in
the victory of Christ: sometimes as still to be realized at 'the
redemption of our bodies': so in 1 Thess. v. 8 the helmet is 'the hope
of salvation' yet to be attained.

[10] Rom. viii. 26; 1 Cor. ii. 11.

[11] Eph. i. 15 ff.; iii. 14 ff.

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CONCLUSION. CHAPTER VI. 21-24.

[Sidenote: _Conclusion_]

But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved
brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to