The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 6 · Section 74 – Section 86
§. 74. Of applying particular promiſes.
PArticular promiſes fit for our particular eſtates and needs are added to the general,Why particular promiſes …dfull. becauſe we are weake and ſubiect to ſlip, and cannot well apply, and reſt vponupon the generall promiſes. Theſe are very many, I will endeauor to draw them to ſome diſtinct heads.
They concerne this life, or the life to come. Thoſe for this life are of temporal, or ſpirituall bleſſings. For the life to come, heauenly and glorious things are promiſed.
Promiſes of tempo…all things are to ſupply things needfull. remoue things hurtfull.
For ſupply of things needfull, it is ſaid,cPſal. 34. 9. Nothing ſhall be wanting. dMat. 6. 33.All things ſhall be miniſtred. ePhil. 4. 19.God ſhall fulfill all your neceſsitie, &c. Beſides, there are other particular promiſes fitted to our ſeuerall neceſſities: to ſuch as want meat, drinke or apparell, Chriſt hath ſaid,fMat. 6. 25. 32▪ Bee not carefull for your life, what ye ſhall eate, or what ye ſhall drinke, nor yet for your body what ye ſhall put on, &c. your heauenly Father knoweth that ye hauehave need of all theſe things. They which deſire to hauehave yet more particulars, let them reade Leu. 26. 4, 5. &c. and Deat 28. 3, 4. &c.
In the Scripture are further to be found particular promiſes for Orphans, Widowes, Captiues, &c. likewiſe for time of warre, famine, ſickneſſe, &c.
If now we want any needfull thing, the vſe of Faith is to make vsus reſt vponupon theſe and ſuch like promiſes: for if they be rightly beleeued, they will make vsus caſt our care on God that careth for vsus, and moderate our immeaſurable carking aftet them; mouing vsus patiently to waite for the accompliſhment of our deſire, or contentedly to want what God denyeth.
For remouing things hurtfull, and deliuering vsus out of troubles, God hath expreſly ſaid, hPſal. 50. 15.I will deliuer thee. i& 91. 10, 11, 12▪There ſhall none euill come vntounto thee: The Angels ha… charge ouer thee, to keepe thee in all thy wayes, le…t thou daſh th… foote, &c.
Here then the vſe of Faith is this, that if we be in any trouble, theſe and ſuch like promiſes make vsus reſt quiet▪ patiently expecting the iſſue that God will giuegive, and th… without prefixing any time (forkIſa▪ 28. 16. He that beleeueth make… not haſte,) or preſcribing any meanes to him, (as faithful Moſes when he ſaid,lExod. 14. 13. Stand ſtill, and ſee the faluation of th… Lord, &c.)
For ſpirituall matters, we hauehave many moſt comfortable promiſes, as thatmIer. 31. 33. &c. God will be our God, wee ſhall be his people, we ſhall all know him: he will forgiue our iniquities: he will write his Law in our heart: nLuke 11. 13▪he will giuegive the Holy Ghoſt to them that deſire him, &c. So there are many particular promiſes for particular graces, as for Faith, Hope, LoueLove, &c. And for growth and increaſe in theſe.
The vſe of Faith here is to vphold vsus againſt our manifold defects, infirmities, and imperfections. For firſt it giueth euidence to our ſoules, that the graces wee hauehave are the gifts of God, becauſe God promiſeth them. Secondly, it maketh vsus reſt on God for perfecting of that good worke which he hath ſo graciouſly begun;a2 Tim. 1. 11▪ I know whom I hauehave beleeued (ſaith Saint Paul) and I am perſwaded that he is able to keep that which I hauehave committed to him, &c.
For promiſes of heauenly things, the Scripture is euerie where plentifull: thatbLuke 23. 43 the ſoule ſhall at the diſſolution of the body goe immediately to Heauen, thatc1 Cor. 15. 22 the body ſhall riſe againe, anddPhil. 3. 21. be made like to the glorious body of Chriſt: and weeMat. 25. 34. enioy euerlaſting happineſſe, with the like.
The vſe of Faith in regard of theſe, is to vphold vsus with the expectation of that heauenly happineſſe which is promiſed, yea, though wee bee here deſtitute of worldly things, and in many troubles and tribulations.
§. 75. Of applying abſolute promiſes.
2 FOr the kinds of Gods promiſes,The kinds of Gods promiſes▪ 1. Abſolute promiſes. ſome are abſolute which God hath ſimply and abſolutely determined to accompliſh euen as they are propounded: as before Chriſt was manifeſted in the fleſh,fIſa. 7▪ 14. the promiſe of the Meſsiah, andh& 2. 1▪ of calling the Gentiles: ſince that time the iRom. 11▪ 26promiſe of calling the Iewes, and ofkMat. 24. 30 Chriſts ſecond comming in glory.l1 Cor. 1. 5. All ſauing, ſanctifying graces, being abſolutely neceſſary to ſaluation, are thus promiſed to all Gods children: andm8. the continuance and perſeuerance of them vntounto the end; and alſo the end and iſſue of all, nIohn 10. 28.eternall life.
The vſe of Faith in theſe, is to vphold vsus againſt all feare and doubt, euen when we hauehave not a ſenſible feeling of them: for God (who is able to performe whatſoeuer he hath promiſed; and true and faithfull in all his promiſes) hauing abſolutely promiſed ſuch & ſuch things, though all things in Heauen and Earth ſhould ſeeme to make againſt them, yet would Faith beleeue them.
§. 76. Of applying conditionall promiſes.
OTher promiſes are conditionall,2 Conditionall promiſes. which are no further promiſed then God in wiſdome ſeeth to be moſt meete for his owne glory, and his childrens good. Thus are promiſed,
1 All temporall bleſſings,oLuk. 16. 20. which Lazarus an holy Saint wanted.
2 Freedome from all croſſes and troubles. What Saint hath not had his part in ſome of them? who hath been freed from all?
3 Freedome from all temptations. As our head was tempted, ſo hauehave his members from time to time.
4 Leſſe principall graces, which are called reſtraining graces, being giuen rather for the good of others, then of them who hauehave them.p1 Cor. 12. 8, &c. Theſe the Spirit diſtributeth ſeuerally, not all to eueryevery one, but ſome to one, ſome to another.
5 The meaſure of ſanctifying graces: for though eueryevery Saint hath eueryevery ſauing grace in him, yet hath he not a like meaſure: ſome hauehave a greater, and ſome a leſſe.
Admirable is the vſe of Faith in theſe conditionall promiſes:The vſe of Faith in conditionall promiſes. for it maketh vsus ſo to truſt to Gods power, as we ſubiect our ſelues vntounto his will; asqMar. 1. 40. the Leaper, who ſaid; If thou wilt thou canſt make me cleane; andhDan. 3. 17, 18 thoſe three conſtant ſeruants of God, who ſaid; Our God is able to deliuer vsus from the hot fiery Furnace, and hee will deliuer vsus out of thine hand O King. But if not, be it knowne to thee O King, that wee will not ſerue thy gods, &c. For Faith perſwadeth vsus that God is wiſer then our ſelues, and that he better knoweth what is good for vsus then we our ſelues doe, and ſo moueth vsus to reſigne vp our ſelues wholly to Gods good pleaſure.
This is the generall vſe of Faith in reſpect of theſe conditionall promiſes, it hath alſo other particular vſes, as
1 For temporall things, ſo to reſt on Gods promiſe, as we beleeue God will either ſupply our wants, or inable vsus to beare them: as God had taught Paul sPhil. 4. 1….how to want.
2 For croſſes, ſo to beare them, as being aſſured that God will either free vsus from them, as he deliueredtIoh. 42. 10. Iob: oru1 Cor. 10. …3 aſſiſt vsus and inable vsus to beare them,*Heb. 12. 1… and turne them to our good.
3x1 Cor. 10. 1… For temptations that God will ſtand by vsus, and giuegive a good iſſue.
4 For reſtraining and common graces ſo to content our ſelues, as we doubt not but alſo to hauehave ſuch ſanctifying as ſhall be needfull to our ſaluation; which alſo is to be applied to the meaſure of ſanctifying graces, according to that anſwere of God to Saint Paul, y2 Cor. 12. 9.My grace is ſufficient for thee.
§. 77. Of applying implicit promiſes.
FOr the manner of propounding Gods promiſes,The diuers māner of ſetting downe Gods promiſes. they are either expreſly declared, or elſe by conſequence implied. Expreſſe promiſes are either generally propounded to all: of theſe we hauehave heard before; or elſe particularly applied to ſome particular perſons. Some of theſe are ſuch as are not proper to him alone to whom in particular they are directed; but for the good of others alſo. If we find ſuch needfull for vsus, it is the vſe of Faith to apply them to our ſelues with as ſtrong confidence as if they had beene directed to vsus. ThisaHeb. 13. 5. the Apoſtle teacheth vsus to doe: for where God made a promiſe to Ioſhuah, (bIoſ. 1. 9. I will not faile thee, &c.) the Apoſtle applieth it to all Chriſtians. The ground of this application is taken from Gods vnchangeable and impartiall manner of dealing: the ſame God that he is to one faithfull man, the ſame he is to all. If therefore he would not faile I…ſhuah, neither will he faile any.
By conſequence promiſes are implied, either in the examples, or prayers of faithfull Saints.
In their examples, by thoſe bleſſings which they hauehave enioyed. For that which God beſtoweth on one, he is ready to beſtow on eueryevery one to whom it is needfull: Gods giuing it to one, is a promiſing of it to all. So as we may with as ſtrong confidence depend vponupon God for ſuch needfull things, as if God had expreſly promiſed them. Thus dothcIam. 5. 11. Saint Iames vrge that end which God gaue to Iobs troubles, as a ground of our Faith, to make vsus waite for a like deliuerance in our troubles.
In their prayers, by thoſe things which they hauehave praied for in Faith and obtained. Their faithfull calling vponupon God, and Gods gracious hearing of them, are as much as a promiſe, that God in ſuch and ſuch things will heare vsus calling vponupon him: thus did Dauid make this a ground of his faith. Pſal. 22. 5.
The vſe of Faith in theſe implicit promiſes is to perſwade our hearts that God will deale with vsus as hee hath in former times dealt with his faithfull children.
§. 78. Of the true Heires of Gods promiſes.
THe laſt point to be noted for the right application of Gods promiſes, is the perſons to whom they belong. Here note two points.
1 Who are the righteous heires and children of Gods promiſes.The perſons to whō Gods promiſes belong.
2 How theſe heires are qualified.
1 For the firſt, Chriſt Ieſus the true naturall Sonne of God, as hee was Emanuel, God with vsus, our Head and our Redeemer, is properly the heire of all Gods promiſes, e2 Cor. 1. 20.In him they are, yea, and Amen. That is to ſay; In him they are propounded, ratified, and accompliſhed. This is euident by thoſe generall promiſes which are the foundation of all the reſt.fGen. 3. 15. He, (that is, Chriſt) ſhall breake thine head. g& 22. 18.In thy ſeede (hGal. 3. 16. that is, Chriſt) ſhall all the Nations of the Earth …e bleſſed. Now how is Chriſt the heire of Gods promiſes? as a priuate perſon? onelyonly in himſelfe? No verily: but as a publike perſon, as the head of a body: for Ieſus together with all the Saints, which were giuen him of his Father, make but one myſticall body,i1 Cor. 12. 12 which is Chriſt: ſo as all the faithfull together with Chriſt are heires of the promiſes; they, and they alone hauehave a right vntounto them: ſo as what the Apoſtle ſaith of godlineſſe. I may fitly apply to Faith, which is the Mother of all Godlines, k1 Tim. 4. 8.Faith is profitable vntounto all things, which hath the promiſe of the life preſent, and of that which is to come. Both generall and particular promiſes, promiſes of earthly, ſpirituall, and heauenly things; conditionall, and abſolute promiſes: all promiſes belong to the faithfull.
§. 79. Of applying Gods promiſes to the right perſons.
2 FOr the ſecond, the ſeuerall conditions and qualities of the perſons to whom ſeuerall promiſes are made, are exceeding many. Sometimes they are made to Faith, ſometimes to obedience, ſometimes to vprightneſſe, to cheerefulneſſe, to conſtancy, to louelove, to feare; to ſuch as mourne, hunger, are heauy laden; to ſuch as pray, heare Gods Word, keepe his Commandements; to the fatherleſſe, widowes, captiues, poore, ſicke, &c. It is not poſſible, neither yet is it needfull that I ſhould reckon vp all: they are here and there to be found throughout the Scripture.
The vſes of Faith in reſpect of the perſons to whom the promiſes are made, are theſe.
1 To aſſure vsus that we are they to whom they appertaine.
2 To make vsus apply them to thoſe ſeuerall qualities which we find in our ſelues, as if we hunger, to beleeue we ſhall be ſatisfied; if we mourne, that we ſhall be comforted, and ſo in the reſt.
To make vsus expect the accompliſhment of them, according to our ſeuerall needs: as when we are in any trouble, to expect deliuerance; when tempted, aſsiſtance; when in want, releefe, &c.
Thus (as diſtinctly as I can) hauehave I ſhewed how the ſhield of Faith may be vſed.
Hitherto of the manner of the Apoſtles exhortation.
§. 80. Of the meaning of the Metaphor.
THe motiue whereby hee inforceth his exhortation,8. Point. The benefit and power of Faith. followeth: wherein is contained the eight generall point to be deliuered in this Treatiſe of Faith, which is the benefit and power of Faith, in theſe words;
Wherewith yee ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Diuell.
THe Apoſtle here vſeth another Metaphor. His manner of phraſe may at firſt ſight ſeeme to bee improper, That a man ſhould take a ſhield to quench fire: A ſhield is rather to keepe off a blow. But if we well note the drift of the Apoſtle, and alſo the manner of framing his ſpeech, wee may find that it is not ſo improper as it is taken to be. For firſt, he ſaith not, By the ſhield ye quench; but aforeign.by it ye ſhall be able to quench. Againe, he ſaith not ſimply, whereby ye ſhall be able to quench darts, that had beene improper, but he addeth fiery. Thus becauſe Satans temptations are as darts, and as fiery darts, he vſeth the metaphor of a ſhield, in oppoſition to the one, and the metaphor of quenching in oppoſition to the other. Thus wee ſee that the Apoſtles ſpeech is proper enough, anſwearing two metaphors in their ſeuerall kindes: A ſhield in relation to d…rts: quenching in relation to fiery.
Beſides,A double benefit of Faith. hereby hee declareth a double benefit of Faith: one to protect vsus from Satans temptations, that they annoy vsus not: the other, (if they doe pierce and wound our ſoules,) to cure the hurt which they hauehave done.
To amplifie this benefit of Faith, the Apoſtle deſcribeth our enemy by his malicious and miſchieuous nature (the wicked) (or,foreign. as the originall with an emphaſis ſetteth it downe, that wicked one) and his temptations, by the kind of them vnderunder this metaphor Darts.
Of the nature of this wicked one, I hauehave ſpoken before on verſe 12.
For the metaphor, a Dart is a kinde of weapon that is flung, ſlung, or ſhot at a man farre off, which if it hit him, will deepely pierce him, and ſorely gall him. I ſhewed before how we were oft forced to wreſtle with Satan, and to grapple with him hand to hand. Here is ſhewed that he hath alſo Darts to ſhoote at vsus a▪ farre off, ſo as hee can pierce and wound vsus when wee ſee him not: he can ſend at vsus, though he come not to vsus. As whencReu. 12. 15. the Dragon could not come at the Woman, he caſt waters after her. This Woman is the Church; the red Dragon, Satan; Waters, his manifold temptations or darts.
Thus we ſee that
The Diuell can eueryevery way annoy vsus, Obſer. Satan can eueryevery way annoy vsus.both at hand and afarre off: when he is ſuffered to come to vsus, and when he is reſtrained and kept from vsus.
Vſe How can wee now at any time be ſecure? Doth it not ſtand vsus in hand to watch alwaies, alwaies to bee well armed, and hauehave this ſhield of Faith?
That the benefit and power of Faith may be the better diſcerned, I will ſhew more diſtinctly,
1 What theſe Darts are.
2 How they are kept off.
3 Why they are called f…y.
4 How they are quenched.
§. 81. Of Satans Darts here meant.
SOme take afflictions to be meant by Darts.What are Satans darts.
Anſwer. There is another proper peece of armo… to defend vsus from the hurt of them, namely, The preparation of the Goſpel of Peace.
Other take all ſinnes and all prouocations to ſinne, to be heere meant.
Anſw. This muſt needs be too generall: for thus ſhould the ſeuerall peeces of Armour, and their diſtinct vſes be confounded. The Breſt-plate of Righteouſneſſe is the proper fence againſt ſuch temptations.
I take the Darts here ſpoken of to be thoſe ſeueral and ſundry temptations which the Diuell vſeth to draw vsus to doubt of that helpe wee hauehave in GOD,Diabolus in varias deſper ationis cogitationes nos immittit, quo excludat in Deum expectationem. Chryſ. paren. ad Theod. and to deſpaire: for oft he caſteth ſundry thoughts of deſpaire into vsus, that he might ſhut out all hope in God, and ſo draw into perdition. Thus afflictions, ſo farre forth as the Diuell vſeth them as meanes to diſquiet and vexe the ſoule, may be here vnderſtood: and likewiſe all ſinnes and prouocations to ſinne, as they tend hereunto. Theſe temptations were they light and faſten, pierce deepe. Satan let ſtore of theſe flie againſt Iob, they fell on him as thicke as haile-ſtones: deſpaire was it which Satan ſought to bring Iob vntounto by depriuing him of his cattell, goods, children, & all that he had: by ſtriking his body all ouer with ſore botches & boiles. The contradicting ſpeeches of Iobs wife and friends (the inſtruments of Satan herein) tended to this. Theſe darts alſo he let flie at Dauid, as appeareth by the many complaints of Dauid: yea, he flung ſome of theſe at Chriſt in thedMat 4. 3. wilderneſſe, in thee& 26. 37, &c garden, and on thef& 27. 46. croſſe. No darts ſo wound the body, as theſe wound the ſoule where they faſten.
§. 82. Of the vertue of Faith againſt Satans Darts.
2 THeſe darts are onelyonly kept off by Faith: Faith onelyonly keepeth off the darts of Satan.for Faith alone giueth vsus aſſurance of Gods louelove: by it wee ſo reſt and repoſe our ſelues on the fauour of God in Chriſt, as nothing can make vsus doubt of it, or ſeparate vsus from it.gIob 13. 15. Though he ſlay me, yet will I truſt in him, ſaith Iob. Reade Pſal. 3. & 91. & Rom. 8. 38, 39. The ſtronger our Faith is, the better are we fenced againſt theſe temptations: the weaker our Faith is, the deeper doe they pierce: yea if they preuaile againſt vsus, it is becauſe we want this ſhield, or at leaſt hauehave let it fall, and ſo for the time want the vſe of it. Thereforea1 P…t. 5. 9. Saint Peter exhorteth to be ſtedfaſt in the Faith, while wee reſiſt the diuell; as if he had ſaid, Looke to your ſhield, keepe it ſafe, hold it out manfully againſt all the darts of the diuell.
§. 83. Of Satans fiery darts.
3 THey who by theſe Darts vnderſtand afflictions,What are Satans fiery darts. ſay, they are called fierie, becauſe afflictions are greeuous to the fleſh; they who vnderſtand ſins, becauſe as fire they kindle one another and ſo increaſe.
Anſw. But there is an higher matter here meant; for the metaphor is taken from malicious miſchieuous enemies who poiſon the heads of darts, and arrowes, & bullets which they ſhoot at men: theſe poiſoned things being of a fiery nature, if they pierce into a mans fleſh, lie burning, and tormenting the body, and continue to inflame it more and more, till they hauehave ſoaked out the very life of a man, if in time they be not cured. Thus the forenamed temptations of Satan, tending to doubt and deſpaire, (if they faſten) vexe, grieue and torment the ſoule, burning and feſtring therein, till they bring a man to vtter deſtruction, if the fire and heat of them bee not ſlaked and taken away. It muſt needs bee great burning, great anguiſh and vexation that made Dauid cry out and ſay,bPſal. 6. 1, 3, 6 O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath, &c. My bones are vexed: my ſoule is alſo ſore vexed, &c. I fainted in my mourning, &c▪ c& 31. 9, 10. & 32. 3, 4.I am in trouble, mine eye, my ſoule and my belly are conſumed with griefe, &c. I roared all the day. dIob 3. 3. &c. & 6. 2, &c.Much more bitter exclamations did Iob ſend forth, and yet what men were theſe? what excellent Worthies of the Lord? If the fiery venome, and burning poiſon of Satans darts ſo tormented ſuch men, men of admirable Faith, how doe they torment men of weake Faith, yea men of no Faith?fMat. 27. 5. Iudas was ſo tormented therby, that his life was an vnſupportable burden vntounto him, he could not endure it, but made away himſelfe, as many other hauehave done in all ages.
§. 84. Of the vertue of Faith againſt Satans fiery Darts.
4 THe onelyonly meanes to coole this ſcorching heare,By Faith onelyonly the fiery darts of Satan are quenched. & to aſſwage this burning, is the blood of Chriſt: and Faith onelyonly is the meanes to apply the efficacy of Chriſts blood to our ſoules: by Faith therefore, and by nothing elſe, may theſe fiery Darts be quenched. As balſom, & ſuch other medicinable oyles which Chirurgiōs hauehave for that purpoſe, being applied to that part of mans body which is in flamed with the forenamed poiſonous weapons, aſſwage the heate, driue out the poiſon, and cure the fleſh: ſo Faith, which applieth the vertue of Chriſts Sacrifice to a perplexed and troubled ſoule, diſpelleth the inward anguiſh thereof, pacifieth and quieteth it, and ſo cureth the wounds thereof. The Faith of Dauid did thus cheere vp and refreſh his ſoule after it had been perplexed; in which reſpect he ſaith vntounto his ſoule, gPſal. 42. 5.Why art thou caſt downe and vnquiet? Wait… on God, &c. Thush11. & againe,i43. 5. and againe he cheereth vp his ſoule: this alſo drew the fiery poiſon out of Iobs ſoule, as that ſpeech implieth,kIob 13. 15. Though he ſ…lay me, yet will I truſt in him.
§. 85. Of ſtirring againſt deſpaire.
ARe temptations to deſpaire,Vſe. 1. Yeeld not to deſpaire. piercing Darts? fiery Darts? Keepe them off as much as poſſibly may be. As we feare to drinke poiſon, let vsus feare to deſpaire. It will be a fiery burning poiſon in our ſoule, that wil yeeld vsus no reſt; as we ſee in ſuch as are ouercome thereby. Let vsus not dare to yeeld vntounto it; but though God ſhould ſeeme to be ſo angry with vsus as to kill vsus, yet with Iob, to truſt in him. For this end we muſt ſuffer Faith to hauehave the vpper place in vsus, euen aboue ſence and reaſon too. And for this end looke vntounto God,Qui diffidit, ſummi b…ni bonitatem maiorem ſua nequitia non ſentit. Aug. de ver. poen, cap. 5. and duly weigh both what he promiſeth, and why hee maketh ſuch gracious promiſes to vsus: and looke not to our ſelues and our own deſeruings, but rather know that Gods mercy is as an ocean in compariſon of the drops of our ſinnes: they that deſpaire, little conſider how much greater Gods goodneſſe is, then their ſinne.
§. 85. Of the need and benefit of Faith.
IN how wretched a condition doe they liue,Vſe 2. Wretched are they who want Faith. who are deſtitute of Faith! they lie open to all the fiery, burning, tormenting temptations of the diuell; they hauehave no meanes to preuent them, none to quench them when they are wounded in conſcience. This fire muſt needs either ſtupifie all their ſpirituall ſences, dry vp all the life of the ſoule, and take away all feeling: or elſe torment them intollerably without all hope of redreſſe, as Caine, Saul, Iudas, and ſuch like were tormented. It were much better for a man not to bee, then not to beleeue.
What an admirable vertue is Faith?Vſe 3. The vertue of Faith. what vertue hath it in it ſelfe? What benefit doth it bring vntounto vsus? What Chriſtian ſouldier (that is wiſe, and feareth theſe fiery darts,) dares enter into the battaile without this balſom? The maine and principall ende, for which the Apoſtle here ſetteth downe theſe benefits of Faith, that which eſpecially he aymeth at, is, to commend vntounto vsus this precious gift, ſo as it may be a ſtrong motiue to vrge all the forenamed points concerning Faith, whereof wee hauehave ſpoken before, and to ſtirre vsus vp diligently to labour and vſe all the meanes we can, Firſt to know what true Faith is, Secondly, to get it, Thirdly, to proue it, Fourthly, to preſerue and increaſe it, Fiftly, well and wiſely to vſe it.
§. 86. Of ſpirituall recouery.
BEhold here a ſure ground of much comfort and great encouragement,Vſe. 4. Spirituall wounds may be cured. euen to ſuch as are weake, and by reaſon of their weakeneſſe, or elſe through the violence of ſome temptation, hauehave let fall their ſhield, ſo as Satans fiery Darts hauehave touched their conſcience, and pierced their ſoule. Let them not thereupon vtterly deſpaire, and yeeld thēſelues ouer to Satans power, but know that yet their Faith may ſtand them in ſteed, that yet there is a further vſe of it, not onelyonly as a ſhield to keepe off, but as balſome to drawe out the fire, to quench it, and cure the wound.aforeign. The word which the Apoſtle here vſeth, implieth (as wee hauehave ſhewed) a recouering, reſuming, and taking vp againe our ſhield. Let not therefore our faintings, failings, and ſpirituall wounds put vsus out of all hope, as if death and deſtruction, without all remedy and recouery, muſt needes follow thereupon: But rather let vsus with all ſpeed hauehave recourſe to Gods promiſes, and to Chriſt Ieſus the true heire of them, and ſo renew our Faith, ascLuk. 22. 61. Peter renewed his, when he looked vponupon Chriſt.