the leeks and the garlic, that the Devil offers him?  Is there any surer way of delivering a man from the temptations of his own baser nature, and the solicitations of this busy intrusive world round about him, than to make him satisfied with the goodness of the Lord, and conscious in his daily experience of ‘all joy and peace’?  Fill the vessel with wine, and there is no room for baser liquors or for poison.  I suppose that the way by which you and I, dear friends, will most effectually conquer any temptations, is by falling back on the superior sweetness of divine joys.  When we live upon manna we do not crave onions.  So He ‘will bruise Satan under your feet’ by giving that which will arm your hearts against all his temptations and all his weapons.  Blessed be God for the way of conquest, which is the possession of a supremer good!

But then, notice how beautifully too this name, ‘the God of peace,’ comes in to suggest that even in the strife there may be tranquillity.  I remember in an old church in Italy a painting of an Archangel with his foot on the dragon’s neck, and his sword thrust through its scaly armour.  It is perhaps the feebleness of the artist’s hand, but I think rather it is the clearness of his insight, which has led him to represent the victorious angel, in the moment in which he is slaying the dragon, as with a smile on his face, and not the least trace of effort in the arm, which is so easily smiting the fatal blow.  Perhaps if the painter could have used his brush better he would have put more expression into the attitude and the face, but I think it is better as it is.  We, too, may achieve a conquest over the dragon which, although it requires effort, does not disturb peace.  There is a possibility of bruising that slippery head under my foot, and yet not having to strain myself in the process.  We may have ‘peace subsisting at the heart of endless agitation.’  Do you remember how the Apostle, in another place, gives us the same beautiful—­though at first sight contradictory—­combination when he says, ‘The peace of God shall garrison your heart’?

  ’My soul! there is a country
    Far, far beyond the stars,
  Where stands an armed sentry,
    All skilful in the wars.’

And her name is Peace, as the poet goes on to tell us.  Ah, brethren! if we lived nearer the Lord, we should find it more possible to ‘fight the good fight of faith,’ and yet to have ’our feet shod with the preparedness of the gospel of peace.’

‘The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet’; and in bruising He will give you His peace to do it, and His peace in doing it, and in still greater measure after doing it.  For every struggle of the Christian soul adds something to the subsequent depth of its tranquillity.  And so the name of the God of peace is our pledge of victory in, and of deepened peace after, our warfare with sin and temptation.

Lastly, note the swiftness with which Paul expects that this process shall he accomplished.