The Whole Armor of God, Poem – Dedication 1
¶The Minde of the FRONT.
THis CONSTANT compleat Souldier doth oppoſe
The Failing World, the Infecting Fleſh, the Diuell
In Ieſuited. Angel-ſhape: Three foes
Deadly, … tempting men to Euill.
Chriſt comforts with his own name-enſign'd Enſigne;
And crowneth his owne victory in fine.
Back-ſliding IVLIAN is at peace with Hell;
Conflicts with heauen; the knowne truth doth deſpight;
Whom Chriſts victorious Banner doth compell
To yeeld the glorious Conqueror his right.
Snares, Swords, Fire, Brimſtone, are his fearefull lot;
He now feeles him, whom earſt he feared not.
Selfe-ſtrangling Iudas, and ſelfe-ſtabbing Saul,
Stand euerlaſting Pillars of Deſpaire,
To warne Succeſſion of their dreadfull fall,
Neuer to be repair'd by faithfull Prayer:
Yet Heau'ns three yeeres and ſix month congeal'd f…ſt
Elias feruent prayer thaw'd at laſt.
THE Whole Armour of GOD. OR A Christians Spirituall Furniture, to keep him safe frō all the assaults of Satan.
The second Edition corrected & inlarged: whereunto is added a Treatise of the Sin against the Holy Ghost.
By William Gouge.
Reſist ye Diuell and hee will flee frō thee. Iam. 4. 7.
Imprinted at London by Iohn Beale. 1619.
The reward of the righteous A CHRISTIAN ARMED In this victory
The reward of the wicked AN APOSTAT CONFOVNDED By This confusion
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Of Salvation Of the Spirit Of Righteousne… Truth Of the Preparatio… Of the Gospel Of Faith CONSTANTINE
Thou hast overcome a Galilean New Testament IVLIAN
The power of prayer Deceiveth Faileth Infecteth Desparation
To the right Honourable, Sr SEBASTIAN HARVY Knight, Lord Maior of the Honourable Citie of London, and to the right Worſhipfull Aldermen and Sheriffes his Brethren, and to the right Worſhipfull Mr Recorder, together with the whole eſtate of the ſaid City, all true happineſſe.
Right Honourable, Right Worſhipfull;
YOur Honour and Worſhips being (by the good guiding prouidence of GOD) the Generall, Captaines, and Liefetenants of this Metropolis, this chiefe City & Caſtle of the Kingdome, wherein (by the ſame Prouidence) I am (thogh one of the meaneſt, yet) one of the Watchmen; To whom ought I rather to preſent theſe fruits of my Watchmans function, then vntounto your Honour and Worſhips? As duty in regard of your places, ſo gratefulneſſe alſo in regard of your kindneſſes, requires as much. My Father, Grandfather, and other Predeceſſors, hauehave of old from time to time beene beholding to this Honourable City: the kindneſſe which they formerly receiued, is ſtill continued to mee. Which as I doe with all humble thankfulneſſe acknowledge, ſo from my heart I deſire the Almighty to remember your Honor and Worſhips, together with the whole eſtate of this Honourable City, in goodneſſe, and not to wipe out the kindneſſe which is ſhewed to the Miniſters of his Word, and to poore diſtreſſed people. Long hath the Goſpell beene purely, powerfully, plentifully preached in this honourable City, and great countenance and maintenance hath by many therein beene giuen thereunto. Good orders hauehave within theſe later yeeres beene taken for the better ſanctifying of the Lords Sabbath. Much reliefe is from time to time giuen to the poore. Theſe and ſuch like workes of Piety and Charity, are the beauty, honour, ſtrength, and wealth of this City. I denie not, but that in the outward politicke gouernment of this great Corporation, and the many ſeuerall Companies therein, London may be accounted the glorie of the earth. But the things which make it exceed in glory, are, the faire houſes of Prayer and preaching the Word; the great Aſſemblies of Gods people frequenting the ſame to worſhip God: the ſpacious Hoſpitals and places of Charity, together with the liberall prouiſion therein made for reliefe of poore children and orphants, of aged and impotent men and women, of lame and maimed ſouldiers, and of many other like ſuccourleſſe perſons; the thrones of Iuſtice and Iudgement, with the like, wherein London may be compared to Sion the City of God, whereof great and excellent things are ſpoken. Right Honourable and Right Worſhipfull, goe on this way, (which is the onelyonly right way) to procure the peace and proſperity of your City. Let the Miniſtry of Gods Word be more and more promoted: Let the Lords Sabbaths hauehave their due obſeruations, let the poore be releeued, and the oppreſſed be ſuccoured; let profane perſons and all euill doers (the enemies of Chriſtian Policies) be puniſhed: In a word, let Gods Ordinances be aduanced, and right iudgement executed, and ſo ſhall London be accounted the City of the great King, where he will delight to dwell, and beſtow his bleſſing. For in theſe things is God highly honoured: Now God who can and will performe it,1 Sam. 2. 30. hath ſaid it; Them that honour me, will I honour. It lieth much in the power of Magiſtrates to procure or hinder the bleſſing of God in thoſe Cities & places ouer which they are ſet. For they being publike perſons, their good deeds are by the wiſe God publikely rewarded, and their euill deedes publikely reuenged. Right Honourable and Right Worſhipfull, accept, I pray you, the duty, and pardon the boldnes of your Watchman. And, O Lord of Lords, doe good to this City of thine, continue the peace and proſperity thereof: ſo prayeth
Your Honours and Worſhips in all duty for euer bounden WILLIAM GOVGE.