But the sincerity required in a good soldier of Jesus Christ, implies an honest endeavour to understand the will of God; a prompt obedience to the word of command; and an entire devotion to the cause of truth and righteousness.
Sincerity may consist with very defective views of divine truth; but it will not consist with allowed deviations from truth or duty. The wisdom that is from above is "without partiality and without hypocrisy." It is allowed, that Paul, before his conversion, "verily thought that he ought to do many things against the name of Jesus;" but it does not appear that he took pains to examine the claims of Christianity as he might have done; and, but for the abounding mercy of God through Christ, his ignorance and unbelief would have formed no cloak for his sin. It could not be for want of opportunity that he did not attend the ministry of Christ himself. Why did he not first search the Scriptures as the Bereans did, to see whether things were as the apostles affirmed them to be? Nathanael of Galilee was the subject of a popular prejudice when he said, with an air of indifference and distrust, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Yet he went to examine for himself; and when he saw, he believed with the heart, and confessed with the mouth, and obtained that honourable testimony that he was "an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile."
Nor is it less essential to sincerity that the soldier yield a prompt obedience to the word of command. No intelligence, nor skill in armour, will make up for the want of integrity manifested by the disobedient. Who does not see the insincerity of those Jews who, it is said, believed in Christ, but were afraid to confess Him? Or of that amiable youth who turned back from following Him, rather than part with his possessions? Or of him who would follow Christ, but must wait for the death of his father? Or those to whom He said, with a degree of severity not usual with the Saviour, "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" but added, "Then are ye my disciples indeed, when ye do whatsoever I command you."
The sincerity of Paul, when converted, was evident to all, and remains as a model for every honest-hearted inquirer. Observe, how inquisitive! "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" What resolution to obey! "Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood." And what perseverance! "What mean ye, to weep and break my heart? I am ready, not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus." This decision of character cleared his course, and brought other disciples to a better mind; for it is added, "When he would not be persuaded, they ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done!"
In the same interesting character we have exemplified that entire devotion of heart and life which demonstrated the sincerity of his profession, the purity of his motives, and the strength of his attachment to the Author and Finisher of his faith.
On no occasion did he discover the feebleness usually attendant upon a divided heart, or the selfish pride which, under the garb of zeal for God, so often seeks its own glory:—not like Jehu, who, it is admitted, exterminated the family of Ahab at the command of God, yet was actuated by a spirit of vain-glory; and as what he did was not to please God, so the ambitious cruelty from which he acted was avenged on his posterity:—not as the Jews, who, in keeping religious fasts and feasts, did it to themselves and not to God. The apostles could say, "Whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to the Lord." So that the one universal rule of action which gave simplicity to their aim and unity to their efforts, was, "Whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God."
From the important nature of this branch of armour, we may infer its extensive usefulness.
To compact together the various graces of the Spirit; and to strengthen the soul under great and long-continued conflicts. Thus the Lord strengthened David, and prepared him for conflict, Ps. xviii. 39: "Thou hast girded me with strength to the battle." Alluding to this, he expected preservation in the evil day, Ps. xxv. 21: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me." In prophesying of the Messiah, he employs a similar expression, Ps. cxiii. 1: "The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded himself."
The worth of this may be learned by the want of it. How many "faint in the day of adversity," showing that "their strength is small!" For want of this, Peter and Luke were carried away with dissimulation; and were recovered by means of a painful exposure, and public rebuke.
Through insincerity the children of Judah carrying bows turned back in the day of battle; and Demas forsook the apostles, and returned to the bosom of the world. Unhappy man! For a time he appeared to give up earth for the hope of heaven, then turned from the holy commandment for the sake of the world; and, for aught that appears, was finally cast away!