The “seven-fold shield” reference from Mrs. Eddy popped out from Kevin’s letter.. found this on actsforgod.org:
“Above all” in the context of Ephesians 6:16, is “not above all in point of importance of value, but ‘over-all,’ as a soldier holds his shield to defend himself. It constitutes a protection over every part of his body, as it can be turned in every direction. The idea is, that as the shield covered or protected the other parts of the armor, so faith had a similar importance in the Christian virtues…the shield was an ingenious device by which blows and arrows might be parried off, and the whole body defended… As long as the soldier had his shield, he felt secure; and as long as a Christian has faith, he is safe. It comes to his aid in every attack that is made on him, no matter from what quarter; it is the defense and guardian of every other Christian grace; and it secures the protection which the Christian needs in the whole of the spiritual war… By the ‘fiery darts of the wicked,’ Paul here refers, probably, to the temptations of the great adversary, which are like fiery darts; or those furious suggestions of evil, and excitements to sin, which he may throw into the mind like fiery darts. They are blasphemous and torment the soul. In regard to them, we may observe, 1) that they come suddenly,… 2) they come from unexpected quarters,…3) they pierce, and penetrate, and torment the soul,… 4) they set the soul on fire, and enkindle the worst passions,… The only way to meet them is by the ‘shield of faith;’ by confidence in God, and by relying on his gracious promises and aid. It is not by our own strength; and, if we have not faith in God, we are wholly defenseless. We should have a shield that we can turn in any direction, on which we may receive the arrow, and by which it may be put out” (Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan, p. 1014).