A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare, Postscript
A Poſtſcript.
CYPRIAN in his Exhortation to Martyrdome hath theſe words:
PArum eſt, &c. It is a ſmall matter, that wee ſtirre vp the people of GOD with the Trumpet of our voice, vnleſſe alſo, by leſſons taken out of Gods Word, wee ſtrengthen the faith of Beleeuers, and their vertue which is dedicated and deuoted vntounto GOD. And what doth more ſuit with our (Paſtorall) care, than that, by continuall exhortations, wee fence the Congregation committed to vsus of God, and the Armie gathered together in the heauenly camp, againſt the batterie and darts of the deuill? For a ſouldier cannot bee fit for warre, if he be not firſt trained in the field; And hee that would get the garland by wreſtling, yet ſhall not bee crowned, if he doe not firſt practiſe, and trie his skill, and ſtrength. It is an old Aduerſarie, and an ancient Enemie, with whom wee muſt combat. Six thouſand yeers are almoſt finiſhed, This he wrote about the yeere of the world 5457. Euſeb. Auguſt. Oroſ. Sulpit. Scuerus. But there ſeemes to be an errorſince the deuill did ſet vponupon mankind. So that now, by his long ſtanding, and great experience, he hath learned perfectly all ſorts of temptations, and all the feats and ſnares of deſtroying. If hee ouertake the ſouldier of Chriſt vnprepared, or ignorant, or not carefull, and watchfull with his whole minde, he circumuents him vnawares, and deceiues him in his ſimpleneſſe. But if a man keepe the Commandements of God, and ſtoutly cleaue to the footſteps of Chriſt, and then ſhall withſtand & reſiſt him, he muſt needs bee ouercome; becauſe Chriſt whom wee profeſſe, is inuincible.
See heere (Chriſtian Reader) the conſent of this ancient Father, and glorious Martyr of Chriſt, to the former doctrine. If thou receiueſt the teſtimony of man; know the teſtimony of God is greater. But bee ſure by all theſe admonitions, to buckle on thy harneſſe, & looke for this grand enemie, and reſiſt him. Leaue this intermedling ſo much with matters of State, and petty aduerſaries, and attend this principall principally. For, what will it auaile thee, to be free from men, and in bondage to the deuill? what good, to Lord it in earth, and be guilty of hell fire? to conſpire with thine owne deceitfull heart, abuſed by the deuill (where the end will bee death eternall) and diſcouer the treacheries of men, to their vtter diſappointment and diſgrace? Will this quit coſt? Call therefore thy thoughts and affection… homeward. Looke to thine owne houſe, 2 Sam. 6.20.and bleſſe it. Marke the poſſeſſions and ſtrong holds of the ſtrong man, and caſt him out. If he deceiue thee, how great is that deceit? Thrice vnhappy is that man, and more, who liues too well knowne to others, and dies vnknowne to himſelfe. It had beene good for that man, if he had neuer beene borne.
One alarme more, and ſo I lay aſide my Trumpet. Reſiſt the deuill, reſiſt, reſiſt: not ſcorne, but reſiſt: and reſiſt him in all wicked motions whatſoeuer: reſiſt him by the weapons appointed, the armour of God; reſiſt him early, ſtoutly, vniuerſally, wiſely, conſtantly: Bee carefull herein, and iealous, that thou reſiſteſt not aright: And remember that thou haſt not yet reſiſted vntounto bloud, ſtriuing againſt ſin; and prouide ſo to doe. The Lord giuegive thee a heart and courage hereunto, and afterward ſet the crowne of victory on thy head. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Jemmat, A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare (1624)