indolent ones in self-defense give utterance. When thou oughtest to be thankful, O man,
that, if thou hast a mind, thou hast the victory over such a foe, thou art on the contrary even
discontented, and givest utterance to the words of some sluggish and sleepy soldier. Thou
knowest the points of attack,472 if thou choosest. Reconnoiter on all sides, fortify thyself.
Not against the devil alone is the conflict, but also against his powers. How then, you may
say, are we to wrestle with the darkness? By becoming light. How with the “spiritual hosts
of wickedness”? By becoming good. For wickedness is contrary to good, and light drives
away darkness. But if we ourselves too be darkness, we shall inevitably be taken captive.
How then shall we overcome them? If, what they are by nature, that we become by choice,
free from flesh and blood, thus shall we vanquish them. For once it was probable that the
disciples would have many persecutors, “imagine not,” he would say, “that it is they who
war with you. They that really war with you, are the spirits that work in them. Against them
is our conflict.” Two things he provides for by these considerations; he renders them in
themselves more courageous and he lets loose their wrath against those who war against
them. And wherefore is our conflict against these? Since we have also an invincible ally, the
grace of the Spirit. We have been taught an art, such as shall enable us to wrestle not against
men, but against spirits. Nay, if we have a mind, neither shall we wrestle at all; for it is because
we choose it, that there is a struggle, since so great is the power of Him that dwelleth in us,
as that He said, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy.” (Luke x. 19.) All power hath He given us, both of
wrestling and of not wrestling. It is because we are slothful, that we have to wrestle with
them; for that Paul wrestled not, hear what he saith himself, “Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword?” (Rom. viii. 35.) And again hear his words, “God shall bruise Satan under
your feet shortly.” (Rom. xvi. 20.) For he had him under his subjection; whence also he said,
“I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” (Acts xvi. 18.) And this is
not the language of one wrestling; for he that wrestles has not yet conquered, and he that
has conquered no longer wrestles; he has subdued, has taken his captive. And so Peter again
wrestled not with the devil, but he did that which was better than wrestling. In the case of
the faithful, the obedient, the catechumens, they prevailed over him to vast advantage and
over his powers. Hence too was it that the blessed Paul said, “For we are not ignorant of his
devices” (2 Cor. ii. 11.), which was the way moreover in which he especially overcame him;
and again hear his words, “And no marvel—if his ministers also fashion themselves as
ministers of righteousness.” (2 Cor. xi. 14, 15.) So well knew he every part of the conflict,
has come to wrestle with me,” which seems to leave the sense incomplete, and does not suit the following sentence.
See note on page 82.—G.A.]
472 λαβάς.
298
Ephesians 6:5-8