A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare, Title page – Dedication
A Spirituall Trumpet: EXCITING AND preparing to the Chriſtian WARFARE.
Sounded firſt in the vtmoſt parts of the Lords Campe, to one wing of the Armie, now in the midſt for the benefit of all.
By WILLIAM IEMMAT, Maſter of Arts, and Preacher of Gods word at Lechlade in Glouceſter ſhire.
Cyp. epiſt. ad Cornel.
Qui in pace militibus ſuis futuram praenunciat pugnam, dabit militantibus in congreſſione victoriam.
LONDON, Printed by I. H. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheape-ſide. 1624.
To all the LORDS Captaines and Souldiers, W. I. wiſheth courage and victorie.
GOod friends, my purpoſe in publiſhing theſe few leaues, is, to rub vp the memory of thoſe many good Treatiſes, already extant, concerning Temptations and the Chriſtian Warfare, M. Taylor, M. Downam, &c.and to bring them into vſe. Pitie it is to ſee, how ſo many and ſo good helps are generally neglected; and people for moſt part liue, as if they had neuer heard of ſpirituall enemies, neither in the Miniſterie, nor otherwiſe. Certainly it is one maine ſtratageme of our aduerſary, the deuill: perſwading, either that there are no ſuch blacke fiends to be feared, or that they hauehave no power to tempt or corrupt them, through the goodneſſe of their hearts, and the ſtrength of their faith: and working them to buſie themſelues about other matters, worldly affaires, luſts, vanities, and the treacherie of pretended friends, true enemies. While they run at large in theſe things, they ſhall neglect him, and his vndermining. Whereto if we adde the ſenſualitie of carnall men and women, who cannot looke vp to things aboue ſenſe, and will not when they are called on, wee hauehave (I thinke) the full cauſe of this vniuerſall ſecuritie.
One of theſe rocks is commonly run vponupon. The moſt thinke not on it, whether there be any deuill or no. Many eſpie a deuill, but rather in others than themſelues: And after the ſin is committed, not before: And it muſt be a foule, groſſe, open ſinne too, or elſe it goeth without obſeruation. The multitude is of opinion, that bare ſpetting at the mention of the deuill, and defying of him, is ſufficient: And ſo I hauehave marked in the very treating of theſe things publikely. This is an vnreproueable reſolution, and muſt not be called into queſtion. And in other places, where this is laughed at for great ſimplenes (as indeed it is) yet through careleſneſſe, or worldlineſſe, or voluptuouſnes, or other profaneneſſe, the deuill keepes vp his ſtrong holds, and ſuffers in no manner as hee ſhould. The ſtory of theſe wars is all they affect and regard. Yea Gods owne people doe not acqu… themſelus ſo generouſly as they ought, in this cōbat; but, by the former euills, take great foiles, and hinder their progreſſe in grace exceedingly. And ſome of them who reſiſt the deuill well and carefully in reſpect of ſanctification and the exerciſes thereof, yet in reſpect of conſolation and thoſe bleſſed priuileges which their heauenly Father allowes them in Chriſt, doe not reſiſt him, but paſſe their daies vncō fortably. But theſe are more to be pitied, than blamed: Yet withall muſt bead moniſhed, to reſiſt in this kinde as well as the other: becauſe the deuils malice is ſeene in this, as in that, and God hath promiſed victory, as well as enioyned reſiſtance.
If I may (as a Trumpeter) ſtir vp the Lords Campe to conſider better of theſe enemies, I hauehave my deſire. For mē of the former ſort is the former voice of this Trumpet, in the Direction: For thoſe of the latter ſort, the latter voice, in the Cōſolation. Take both together, & you ſhall acquit your ſelues like men, like men of God.
Lately I endeuoured by a ſmall watchword to arme Gods people againſt the malignity of the world, S. Matthewes contierſion.which at the worſt, can but put vsus to the loſſe of all worldly comforts, and muſt ſtill leaue vntounto vsus God, and Chriſt, and our great Comforter, & our graces, & integrity of our conſciences, & the glory of heauen. And now I attempt the like concerning this Arch-enemie, the god of the world, 2 Cor. 4.4.the prince of darknes. He hath many waies to aſſaile vsus, and we hauehave many weapons to repel him, with promiſe therof, and victory, and a crowne of triumph. There is no one thing that can diſcourage vsus, if we be not wanting to our ſelues, in watchfulneſſe, in conſcionable vſe of the meanes, and holy endeuours. Therfore let vsus vp and bee doing, and our God will goe out with vsus, to aſſiſt vsus, and foile our enemies.
But I will not pre…et my ſel…e in the enſuing exhortations Take thē (good Reader) as they are; and though they giuegive not ſo ſtrong and ſhrill a ſound, as in the hand of the Lords other Trumpeters, yet a diſtinct ſound they giuegive (I truſt) & ſuch as may prepare good Chriſtians to the battell.
The Lord of hoſts who hath ordained theſe conflicts, & hath ſaid to his Prophets & their ſucceſſors, Eſa. 58.1Cry aloud, lift vp thy voice like a Trumpet, and Set the Trumpet to thy mouth, Hoſ. 8.1.vouchſafe a bleſſing to theſe my endeuours, and giuegive his people a heart to looke about them, that, while we keepe out carnall enemies, we admit not ſpirituall, and loſe not our ſoules by ſecurity while wee preſerue our bodies and outward eſtates by magnanimity. What will it proſit a man to win the whole world, and loſe his owne ſowle? So I reſt, thirſting for a good iſſue of all theſe trialls and skirmiſhes, to you and al the Lords Warriors, that I may reioyce with you in the day of our full Triumph.
Lechlade. Nouemb. 27. 1624. W. IEMMAT.