The Christians Apparelling, Part 3 · Section 34
Section. 34.
2 By the word of god.He againe that indeed hath this ſpirit of might, reſiſts Satan and his ſuggeſtions by making vſe generally of Gods Word, whereunto the other hath no regard. Whereſoeuer the ſpirit of Chriſt is in any, there it lookes euer vntounto Gods word, and moues only according to the directions thereof, and accordingly armes the Chriſtian againſt the fierie darts of the wicked (one) by putting into his right hand the Sword of the Spirit,Epheſ. 6.15.16.17. which is the Word of God, and into his left hand the Sheild of Faith, (whoſe generall obiect is Gods Word) and vponupon his feete, the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Theſe are the weapons of their warfare, 2 Cor. 10.4.5.mighty through God to the pulling downe of ſtrong holds, whereby, firſt, Gods Miniſters weilding theſe weapons for thē, caſt downe imaginations, (in them) and eueryevery high thing that exalteth it ſelfe againſt the knowledge of God, & bring into captiuity eueryevery thought to the obedience of Chriſt: yea, whereby, (namely by flying to the promiſes an directions of Scripture, and by Gods word dwelling in them,) Godly Chriſtians alſo make reſiſtance and ouercome that ſtrong man; for ſo ſaith Saint Iohn, 1 Ioh. 2.14.I hauehave written to you young men, becauſe you are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and yee hauehave ouercome the wicked one, that is the Deuill. Yet this is not by vertue of their owne ſtrength, either of body, becauſe they are ſtrong, or of their owne free-will, but in as much as the word of God abideth in them, and finds place with them, whiles diſtruſting themſelues, and their owne ſtrength, they flie to God and to Gods promiſe, and according to it, ſeeke ſtrength from it, and conſcionably follow the directions of the ſame:Mat. 4.6.7. thus our Sauiour avoided Satan, and ſo his ſeruants, by Gods word. It bids reſiſt and neuer yeeld to Satan whether hee ſpeake true or falſe, and they reſiſt. It bids them neuer bee ſecure but watch, 1 Pet. 5 8.and they watch. It directs them to ſtand in the Truth, and, (which Satan did not) they ſtand faſt in it. Ioh. 8.44.And it bids vſe ſuch other meanes as are next to bee named, and they vſe them, as we ſhall ſee: ſo that, for the preuentiō of Satans temptations, and arming themſelues againſt him,Rom. 6.23. they account no ſinne light, whoſe wages is death; they are diligent in their callings, they ſet themſelues euer in Gods ſight, and are in that regard affraid to offend him as was Ioſeph, and ſo,Gen. 39.9. Pro. 28.14. fearing alwaies, are kept frō falling into miſcheife; and with all theſe, diſtruſting their owne ſtrength, they pray, as wee ſhall ſee.
It is not ſo with dowe bak'd Chriſtians, whereof ſome, Whereof ſome make little reckoning.pretending in the ſpirit more then any, neglect to ſtirre it vp according to Gods word; to meditate they account a ſlauery and to bring the ſpirit into bondage;Liberties. ſtirre themſelues vp to pray daily and continually, as Gods word bids, they will not; they will expect a day, two or more, yea a monethmonth, whiles the ſpirit ſhall ſenſibly moue within their breaſts, and then they will clap downe and pray with their Families, or alone, elſe not. Theſe are our Familiſts & ſuch as ſmell that waies. But what ſtrength againſt temptation can they hauehave, whiles pretending the ſpirit, they thus neglect or diſpiſe Gods word? and how doth Satan preuaile with them euen in that regard, through ſuch neglect?
2 Papiſts.The like neglect of Gods word, & of the armour thereof, we may obſerue in our Popiſh Chriſtians, who, in reſiſting of Satans tēptations, truſt more to their owne free-will, and the power thereof, then vntounto Gods word and promiſe, and to his free grace and aſſiſtance there promiſed. It is ill ſeene in the liues of moſt Papiſts, (who eueryevery waies reiect Gods word) that they hauehave this ſtrength againſt Satans temptations. This is true alſo in common Proteſtants, and counterfeit Profeſſors, in whoſe mouthes only Gods word is,Par. 3. §. 35. Pſal. 50.16.17.it not abiding in their hearts, nor ſhewing it ſelfe powerfull in their liues.