The Spiritual Armor, Text (2 of 3)

The Spiritual Armor · Text (2 of 3)

p. 107This we may ſee by experience, what is the cauſe, when wee are in the beſt liking, the Diuell doth bring p. 108vsus downe and moyle vsus in ſinne; and yet, when by ſin wee lie vnderunder him, hee can do nothing till we are riſen by dayly repentance: hee is at his chaines end, and can goe no further: if we were in the mouth of this roring Lion, hee could not couch his fangs without Gods permiſſion. 3Thirdly, notwithſtanding all his power, hee can doe nothing with vsus but by our owne leaue, hee hee muſt knock and ask our leaue before he enter. Now a tyrant that raignes by entreatie, is not much feared: and an enemy Qui non poteſt vincere, niſi volentem, is not much dreadfull. 4Fourthly, Chriſt hath vnarmed, and bound him. Coloſ. 2.15. and p. 109hath ſpoyled the principalities and powers.

His Panoplia is gone. Now for a man in compleat harneſſe to feare a naked bound Gyant, were too much daſtardiſe. 5Fiftly, We hauehave the good Angels with vsus, fighting againſt them. Pſa. 91.11. For he ſhall giuegive his Angels charge ouer thee, &c. Heb. 1.14. Are they not all miniſtring ſpirits ſent forth to miniſter for their ſakes, which ſhall be heires of ſaluation? So that if our eyes were opened, vve might ſee (as Eliſha ſaide) there are more with vsus, then againſt vsus. 6Laſtly, our Captaine, the Lord Ieſus, the Lord of Hoſtes, the Firſt & the Laſt, is with vsus for our encouragement. p. 110If one Ioſuah could ſtand againſt one and thirtie Kings, of Canaan, what principalities, powers, vertues, ſhall be able to ſtand before our Iehoſhuah, the Lord of Hoaſts? Wherefore though they be mighty, yet we may ſay as he, Num. 14.9. They are as bread for vsus, & let vsus take heed how we let our hearts be daunted, & ſpeake of our ſinnes, and other ſuch infirmities, as if we neuer ſhold out-grow them, and wiſh our ſelues dead, rather then ſo yoaked. For if God would take vsus at our wordes, it were enough to keepe vsus out of that glorious reſt of his. Num. 14.28. As I liue ſaith the Lord, I will doe vntounto you euen as p. 111yee hauehave ſpoken in mine eares. But we ſerue a gracious Lord.

Doct. The ſecond thing to bee marked, is, We must prepare our ſelues before the day of temptation commeth. Take vp, that when it commeth you may reſiſt. It is good for vsus to be appointed aforehand, when we know that we ſhal be ſet vponupon with euills. Iob. 3.25. Hee when it was faire weather looked for a ſeaſon of temptations. Paul, Acts 20.24. hee cared for nothing but this, that he might finiſh his courſe with ioy, ſhoot the vp-ſhot well, and in the euill time ſurrender a comfortable ſpirit to his Creator. And this duty is enioyned, when wee are bid p. 112be ſober and watchfull. For firſt, Anſw. in preparing to warre, is the continuance of peace. If a nation grow ſecure, and let fall the care of all warlike munitions, it is a whiſtle that calleth, vponupon them, ſom forrain enemy: when men goe naked it maketh knaues ſet vponupon them, that would not ſtirre were they weaponed. 2Againe, wee cannot diſpatch ſmal things to com off happily, without prouidence before they come: If one put off things to the point of time in which they are to bee vſed, how many difficulties doe they meete with, which with forecaſt are happily contriued? As it fared with thoſe Virgins Mat. 25. who brought not p. 113oyle, till their Lord was come: they then came too late, the day after the Fair: ſo a thouſand to one, that who neglecteth the preſent time, and prouideth not, ſhall neuer in the euill day bee able to compaſſe it.

Vſe 1 This then rebuketh the way of many, who take no care for the time to come, let to morrw care for it ſelfe; who may be ſent to School to the Ant, Pro. 6.6.8. ſhee doth in ſummer ſtore vp for winter; who may bee checked by their owne courſes in things earthly. If they hauehave a iourney to make of pleaſure, they will be weeks aforehand prouiding for it: if they feare hard times, they will lay vp ſomething p. 114againſt the dear year. Which wiſedome in earthly things may euince their folly, who wil not get a ſtock of grace, on which to ſpend in hard times, when it is no eaſie gathering. Vſe 2 Secondly, it muſt teach vsus to hauehave our eyes in our head: and foreſeeing, euill times are to come, let vsus hide our ſelues vnderunder the wings of the Almighty. Let this this be one of our petitions, That we may finde grace from the throne of grace, in the times of need. In Anno 88. when vve had intelligence of the the ſhips comming againſt vsus, the Drum was ſtricken vp in our ſtreets, preſſe money walking, muſtering eueryevery vvhere, all kinde of p. 115prouiſion, that wee might be able to meet them victoriouſly: ſo it becometh, that hauing certain intelligence, that theſe times will come, though it is vncertaine when, wee ſhould put our ſelues alwayes in a readineſſe.

Thirdly, it is to bee marked, That when hee biddeth all the faithfull prouide againſt the euill day, hee taketh this for granted, tho whoſoeuer are the Lords, in this courſe of their liues ſhall know ſome hard ſeaſons. Hee doth not ſhoot off falſe fires, making them afraid of moon-ſhine in water, but forewarneth them of that which ſhould befall them. Neither doth hee tell them of euill times, on this p. 116particular ground, that perſecutions were hard at hand only, which are not alwaies; but on this ground, that the powers of darkneſſe doe fights againſt vsus, which is common to all ages. Wherfore the doctrine is plaine, that the Lords ſhall knowe in the courſe of their liues, ſom times full of difficulty. We muſt not think that hony moones will laſt all the year. True it is, there is great diuerſitie: yet this alſo is true, that in all liues they hauehave their euill dayes in them. Some are very dripping euer and anon ſhowrs, like Iacobs: ſome faire in the fore-part, and ending, but hauing a ſound ſhower at noon-time, like Iob: ſom p. 117in the ending clowdy and ſtormy, as Iohn 20.18. It is ſaid of Peter, that when he was young, hee went whither hee would, &c. when theſe days ſhal com it is hid. Iob 24.1, How ſhould not the times bee hidden from the Almighty, ſeeing who know him, ſee not his daies. But that ſuch doe abide vsus is reuealed. EueryEvery one that will liue godly, muſt ſuffer perſecution. Wee muſt thorogh many afflictions, Acts 14.22. If wee hauehave not our chaſtiſing wee are baſtards, Heb. 12. Ʋſe 1 This then doth check the ſecurity of many, who becauſe it is, and hath been well, they thinke the hand of the Almighty will neuer alter: think they ſhall p. 118die on their neſts. Iob 29.18. Then I ſayd, I ſhall die in my neſt, I ſhall multiplie my dayes as the ſand; thinke they ſhall neuer bee moued, neuer ſee euill, Pſal. 10.6. That their mount ſhall not be ſhaken. They might as well ſay, the ſunne ſhines, they ſhall neuer ſee raine againe.

Ʋſe 2 Secondly, we muſt learne to walke in fear. The more proſperous our eſtate is, the more we muſt feare. We are ſure to knowe euill times, ſooner or later: ſuppoſe thou ſhouldeſt eſcape till death, it wil be an euill hower. For looke as enemies beſieging a place, if ſome come to remooue them, they will deſperately make on-ſet, as p. 119knovving, that if they vvin it not preſently, they ſhall never prevaile: ſo Satan in death, then or never muſt he get the day of thee. Thinke therefore hovv furiouſly hee vvill aſſault: feare therefore thoſe times; and the rather, becauſe if you fear, and your hearts melt; God wil be mercifull. As Ioſias vvhen his heart melted at Gods threatnings, God tould him, they ſhould not come to paſſe in his daies. If a rod ſhaken be enough, a parent vvill not ſtrike vvith it.

Fourthly, that hee ſaith, having finiſhed all things, that is, outwraſtled all the evils wherwith in thoſe hard times you ſhall be exerciſed; obſerue hence, that when p. 120times of temptation come, wee muſt look for many things wherin wee are to bee tryed. Doct. Having finiſhed all things, wee muſt not looke to hauehave done: when ſome one trouble is outwraſtled, one woe paſt, two follow, aſwell in perſonall as publike viſitations, Apoc. 9.12. Iob when GOD brought the euill dayes on him, how many things, one in the neck of another, did exerciſe him? changes, armies of ſorrow did beſet him, Iob 10.17. Wherefore broughteſt thou mee out of the wombe? oh that I had periſhed, and no eie had ſeen me. So Chriſt: the divell came to him with a threefould temptation, and then gaue back but for a ſeaſon. p. 121The particular evill day is deſcribed thus, Eccleſiastes, 12.2. that after raine commeth clouds: that is, it is like this April-weather, as one ſhower is vnburdened, another is brewed: euē as in the euill day, when GOD doth muſter his iudgements againſt the wicked, to conſume them, God hath a pit, ſnare, feare; as Eſay 24.17.

Or as Amos 5.19. as if a man did flee from a Lyon, and a Beare meet him; or went into the houſe, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a ſerpent bit him; that is, hee hath one euill in the necke of another to deſtroy them: ſo in the day of temptation hee hath many exerciſes, that his children may p. 122bee throughly tryed, as gold in the furnace. Ʋſe 1 Therefore men muſt not thinke, when one euill is paſt, all their bitterneſſe is ouer; as children, if they hauehave had their payment, thinke all ſure for a time after: neither yet muſt wee bee ſo ſhort of ſpirit, as to wexe weary when God dealeth with vsus, though wee like weather-beaten birds would ſun our wings quickly: for, vvee are all like Ephraim, Hoſ. 10.11. vvee louelove to threſh, but endure not the yoak eaſily. Ʋſe 2 Again, there being many trials in our euill dayes which abide vsus, vvee hauehave need to begge at Gods hand, that hee would teach vsus to deny our ſelves, that he would ſtrengthen vsus in the p. 123inner man, to all long-ſufferance with ioyfulnes. Thirdly, Ʋſe 3 vvee muſt learne to reckon on the vvorſt: the beſt vvill ſaue it ſelfe. It is good to thinke; I ſee vvhere the hand of God hath begunne vvith mee, I knovve not vvhere it vvill end vvith me. Caſt the vvorſt; Short ſhooting heere may loſe all. That is a vvorthy reſolution of Iob in his day, 13.15. If thou vvilt kill me, yet vvill I truſt in thee. Hee that beleeueth, maketh not haſte.

Doct. Laſtly vvee ſee, that Wee muſt not onelyonly hauehave care to outwraſtle euils for the preſent, but to perſeuere after; that is, hold our owne in grace, yea hauehave grace increaſed; ſhewing it ſelf in a holy defiance of all enmity, p. 124if the houre of death be at hand: or in further reſolution to encounter new enmities, if life continue. Wee faint not, ſaith the Apoſtle, nay vvee are more then conquerers, Rom. 8.37. Heereto muſt bee recalled the glorious exulting, Rom. 8.38. I am perſvvaded, that neither life, nor death, &c. I hauehave fought a fight, vvhat is laid vp for me but a crovvne of righteouſneſſe? And vvhile life continueth, vvee muſt bee ſtrengthened for further reſiſtance. 1. Pet. 5.10, And the God of all grace, vvhichwhich hath called vsus to his eternall glory by Ieſus Chriſt, after that yee hauehave ſuffred a little, make you perfect, confirme, ſtrengthen, and ſtabliſh you; Where, he p. 125maketh our confirming and ſtrengthening of vsus, a fruit follovving our ſubduing of temptations: as trees ſhaken, root more firmly; and cities beſieged, vvhen the enemie prevaileth not, they grovve euer after more invincible.

This then muſt teach vsus, Vſe. vvho hauehave endured many things, vvee muſt hauehave care ſtill to perſeuere. What vvould be more pitiful then to ſee a ſhip, having paſſed all the billovves of the ſea, runne vponupon rockes in the mouth of the hauen? ſo vvhen vvee hauehave paſſed many ſurges in this vvorld, and novv ſhould come into the hauen; then, not to go on, and caſt our anchor in a ſafe road, vvere too too pittifull. p. 126Againe, marke vvhat minde vvee ſhould hauehave to perſevere, that hauehave ſuffered; ſeeing, vvhen vve giuegive ouer to endure, all our former ſuffering is in vaine. Novv if a man had laid much money forth on a thing, vvould hee loſe his former charge for a trifle? no; he vvould rather double the coſt hee had been at: for, we muſt carry minds rather to double all our ſufferings, then to giuegive ouer before our end. Againe, the more we hauehave gon through, the more the Lord giueth vsus theſe mindes; the more vvee ſhou…d be fleſhed againſt further aſſaults. Many faile in this: the ſtanding after many trials hauehave beene vvell endured, as Dauid fought all the p. 127Lords battels, and paſſed avvay his daies happily, yet aftervvard fell moſt grievouſly.

Now follow the ſeverall peeces of armour, of which in generall two things muſt be marked; 1Firſt, that vve muſt not ſo preciſely difference theſe things, as to think that one may not ſerue for the vſe of another, as that the ſhield may not doo in ſome ſort what the breaſt-plate doth: for; 1. Theſ. 5.8. Paul calleth faith a breaſt-plate. Secondly, 2for the diſtinction of defenſiue and offenſiue armor, the truth is, that though ſom part may with more property and eminēcy be tearmed offenſiue: yet they are al ſuch weapons as doo ſtrike down p. 128aduerſary power, aſwell as ward the blowes which the diuell reacheth vsus. Faith therefore is called our victory, 1. Iohn 5.4. This is the victory that ouercometh the world, euen our faith. Now then to conſider of the ſeuerall parts as they be in order, Firſt he ſaith, Stand, beeing girded about with the girdle of truth. For the maner of proceeding, before we proceed to the doctrines and word of exhortation, we will ſeek out foure things: firſt, what is meant by eueryevery one: ſecondly, what is the vſe of it: thirdly, how the diuell doth labour to diſarme vsus of it: fourthly, how we may hold our owne againſt him. The girdle of truth then cometh p. 129firſt: Now truth ſomtime ſignifieth the doctrine of truth, Iohn 17.17. But that it cannot heere ſignifie; the ſword of the ſpirit, beeing thus to bee conſidered. Truth therefore heere, is ſoundneſſe: which is alwaies accompanied with conſtancie, For which cauſe the Hebrewes doe in one word ſignifie both.

For the ſecond, this girdle hath three vſes. Firſt, it doth adorn vsus: for this was the vſe of the Studded belt, which the ſouldiers did weare, to hide the gaping ioynts of their armour, which would hauehave been vnſeemely: and nothing doth adorne a ſoule more, then vprightneſſe: as our Sauiour p. 130commending Nathanael, gaue out this ſpeech of him; Beholde a true Iſraelite in whom there is no guile, Iohn 1.47.

Secondly, a girdle doth tie other cloathes about vsus, cloſe to vsus, which otherwiſe the winde would blowe about, and would hang but looſe vponupon vsus: ſo this girdle of truth doth containe and holde together all other graces, wherewith the ſoule is arrayed; and without truth to keepe them together, in time all of them are borne away with winds of temptation. Mat. 13.20.21. That grace that was not knit together with honeſty of heart, came to nothing in the end: as appears in the p. 131Parable.

Thirdly, a girdle truſſing vp the loynes of a man moderately, doth ſtrengthen a man; whence is the exhortation ſo often vſed of girding vp the loynes: ſo this grace addeth great ſtrength to the inner man, as wee may ſee in Iob; who when God ſeemed, and men did fight againſt him, when heauen & earth ſeemed to conſpire againſt him, yet this did ſtick by him, Chap. 27.5, Vntill I die, I will neuer take away mine innocency from my ſelfe. Now the works of it are exerciſed in our daily courſe, or in the evill times of greater exerciſe then ordinary. Dayly it doth make vsus ſtrike at the p. 132roots of hypocriſie, we diſcerne in vsus, and reſiſt the temptations of the Diuell, which tend to make vsus corrupt our actiōs in their end, or manner of pe…formance: but eſpecially it doth ſtrengthen vsus in the euil time, whē the Diuell ſhall bee ready to bear vsus down, that we hauehave been but hypocrites. Now for the third thing, The Didoth by foure meanes eſpecially ſeeks to wipe vsus of this girdle. He will from the example of others,Ob. reaſon thus: Such, & ſuch as Iudas, hauehave had greater things then you, and gone further then you, yet they were but hypocrites, How canſt thou tell? is it otherwiſe with thee? Many firſt are laſt, &c. Anſw. Wee p. 133muſt auoide this obiection, Anſ. by learning to diſtinguiſh true conſtant grace, from fained and and temporary: which is fitly done by theſe two differences. 1Firſt, the wicked hauehave ſtreames of graces often, but they hauehave no communion with Chriſt as the godly hauehave; and therefore their graces wither when heate commeth. Epheſ. 3.17. It is a true liuing faith that maketh Chriſt to dwell in the heart, and this is the cauſe why our grace laſteth: as wee finde by dayly experience ebbes. And this water runneth exceedng lowe: yet hauing the well-head in vsus, and renewing our faith on him the quickning Spirit, riuers doe afreſh runne p. 134out of our bellies, and the current of grace as high as before. The temporiſer, though he hauehave a ſtreame of grace, yet wanting the foū tain to feed it, it muſt needs dry away; as thoſe ſtreames, or ponds which hauehave no ſpring, nor head of water to maintaine them, cannot continue. 2Secondly, theſe hypocrites receiue the grace they hauehave, retayning ſome notorious ſinne, or courſe in leſſer euils, wherein they hate reformation: as Herod, Mat. 8. Now this maketh grace it cannot be held with them. For as a ſtomack ill affected thorough choler, though neuer ſo wholeſom meats bee receiued into it, yet it cannot holde them, p. 135but is prouoked to caſt: ſo where there is this obſtruction of the ſoule, the wilfull louelove of any ſinfull courſe, whatſoeuer grace is receiued into the heart, it will not let it reſt, but maketh the ſoule caſt it vp vponupon all occaſions.

Secondly, the Diuell will from our vnſound performance of duties thus reaſon againſt vsus: Ob. 2 Thou knoweſt thou haſt often looked more at man then God, and haſt propoūded indirect means when thou ſhouldeſt hauehave eyed his glory onelyonly: therefore thou haſt not this truth. Anſw. Anſ. We muſt diſtinguiſh of hypocriſie, as of other ſinnes: for as ſinne is raigning, or not; ſo is hypocriſie. p. 136Now there may be this, not raigning hypocriſie in the hearts and conſciences of Gods people. Dauid, Pſal. 31. when hee ſaid, Bleſſed is hee, in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile, did take him ſelfe tardy in this evill: and Bradford, with other of thoſe moſt holy Martyrs, doe much ſeeke pardon of hypocriſie and carnall goſpelling: but no ſinne that raigneth not, muſt diſcourage vsus. Queſt. How may we know it raigneth not? Anſw. Anſw. If we hauehave purpoſe againſt it. Secondly, if we hauehave griefe for it. Thirdly, if we ſeeke for ſtrength againſt it.

Ob.Thirdly, the Diuell will through croſſes wee beare, and from the preiudicate opinion p. 137of other men beare vsus downe that vvee are not ſound hearted. Anſw. Anſ. The book of Iob is but a canuaſe about this; where it is determined, that no calamities can proue a man an hypocrite, nor no opinion of men, though wiſe and holy: The ſelfe ſame thing befalleth him that ſweareth, and him that feareth an oath. Eccl ſ. 9 1 2.

La…tly, the Diuell will labour to foiſt in this leauen of hypocriſie in our dayly courſe, that thus by little & little, hee may picke this good ſe…d of righteouſneſſe out of our hearts. Here our reſiſtance is to holde vsus to our owne, and pray to God to rebuke him. And this p. 138way is made for the fourth queſtion, How we may keepe this truth.

Firſt, by conſidering the woefull curſe that belongeth to the contrary: For God deteſteth nothing ſo, as hypocriſie: and abhorreth thoſe duties that are not done to him in ſoundneſſe. 2. The bleſſedneſſe of it. Bleſſed is hee whoſe heart is vpright, Pſal. 119. it is the delight of God; and hither belong all the vſes aboue named. 3. In our cō mon daily duties to labour this: 1. To performe them with our heart. 2. As in the ſight of God. 3. To his glorie, for this will make the grace of truth to be deepely rooted in vsus.

p. 139Now thē for the Doctrin, Doct. and Vſe; this is it that wee are taught: That we muſt get vprightneſſe of heart for the ſtrengthning of vsus. Luke 12.35, Let your loynes alſo be girded about. 1. Pet. 1.13, Gird vp the loynes of your minde. Now this is the chief girdle that adorneth vsus, keepes all our cloathes together, ſtrengthens the loins of vsus: thus Dauid girded him ſelfe, I will walke in the vprightneſſe of my heart, in the midſt of my houſe. Pſal. 101. 2. King. 20.3. Hezekiah. 2. Cor. 1.12, For our reioycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicitie and godly pureneſſe, & not in fleſhly wiſedome, but by the p. 140grace of God: we hauehave had our conuerſation in the world, and moſt of all to you wards: and it muſt not bee a naturall truth which may cauſe men to hate halting with their own knowledge, but hath a fruit of the ſpirit: ſuch as muſt make vsus not only look to the outward dutie, but to the invvard performance of it; ſuch as muſt make vsus ſeeke to glorifie God. Ʋſe 1 Therefore, ſuch as walke onelyonly, giving their outward man in an outward cōformity to God, they bee counterfeits, and ſlippes in religion: ſuch as, whoſe righteouſneſſe commeth like a tertian Ague, & is as a morning deaw; theſe are vvithout this girdle: and p. 141a man may bee bolde to ſay here, as to childrē; Not girt, not bleſſed: but many that hauehave girdles, yet keep them ſluttiſhly: who are here likewiſe to bee reprooued; and fewe of vsus can waſh our hands, we being all hollow peeces, if due examination be taken. Conſider but theſe foure things, and you ſhall bee better able to ferret out the guile of your ſpirits. Firſt, how careleſſe vve are of the ſpirituall action, in thoſe things we perform: as in praier. To the ſpiritual doing of this dutie, is required, firſt, preparation, or keeping the heart fit for it. 2. A deuout inward deſire, groaning to God. 3. An awayting, after we hauehave done, to p. 142ſee how God anſwereth vsus. But who doth not lightly paſſe ouer theſe duties? which is no better then a vviping the out ſide of the diſh, not looking to that vvithin. 22. Mark, that in reſiſtance of ſin, we more are ſorry, & deale againſt this or that branch of corruption, which ſhooteth out to our diſgrace, thē againſt the root it ſelfe. Now Rom. 7. in Paul we ſee, the law of euil, which did dwell within him, was his principall matter of conflict. 33. Marke the courſe of our affections, and wee ſhall ſee how vnſound wee are towards God. If a thing touch our ſelues, our blood will quickly be in our nails: if a man doe knowe this or p. 143that by vsus amiſſe, it is grieuous, the ſhame of it much vpbraids vsus: but things that offend God, and vvhichwhich vve knovve hee ſeeth amiſſe in vsus, vve can let theſe paſſe nothing affected; a ſigne, our louelove to him is not ſo ſound; our feare of him, and deſire of praiſe vvith him, not ſo vnfained.

Laſtly, 4let vsus obſerue how frequently our actions are corrupted. As, ſometime wee vndertake to deale for ſome that ſpeaketh to vsus, but doo it without any hearty wellwiſhing to him; ſometime not ſticking to ſay to our friend, I muſt ſpeake to you for faſhion, but doo as you pleaſe: wee viſit ſicke ones, but not ſtirring vp our bowels p. 144of mercy, wee ſpeake a great many phraſes of courſe, our conſcience telling vsus it is otherwiſe. So is our behaviour: wee make a ſemblance of reverence, but how far it is from the heart, this may teſtifie; that we can (abſent from the parties) vſe their names proverbially, we ſhal not hauehave ſuch a one breake into ſiniſter ſuſpicions, as if the fift & ſixt commandements were blankes with vsus. So in fruits of louelove: wee can do this party good ſometime, but it is to keepe another vnderunder, who would elſe ſprout forth ſo far, that his ſhade would dimme our lights: as, I will doo for ſuch a one, they knowe good behauiours, they will do their p. 145homage, ſuch a one will thanke mee for it, I am ſure it will not bee giuen cleane away. In leaving ſin, many leaue it not becauſe they hate it as ſin, but it hath often broken out to their reproach; which is more, confeſſe their owne ſinnes, not deſiring to giuegive glory to God, and gaine a teſtimony of a ſound heart; but becauſe worldly wiſdome doth tell them, It is the beſt for them to tell their owne tale, or it were double folly to make dainty of that all the world knoweth. Thus in taking vp good duties as orders in our family, many often look not ſo much at the conſcience of Gods commandement as at this; The eyes of men are p. 146vponupon vsus, all the world vvill cry ſhame, if ſuch things bee neglected altogether. But you that wil keep truth, take heed of this haulting: for though there may bee ſome reliques of hypocriſie in a good man, yet the nature of haulting is, it will goe quite out of the way if it bee not heald. Heb. 12.13, And make ſtraight ſteps vntounto your feet, leſt that which is haulting be turned out of the way. And hee that limpeth thus ſtill, may hauehave a lame leg by it to his graue. Ʋſe 2 Secondly, vvee muſt ſtirre vp our ſelues to keepe this girdle cloſe to vsus, which is of ſuch excellent vſe: this is wouen in heauen, no ſhop can ſerue you vvith this, but that onelyonly. Wee p. 147buy vsus girdles for the body; and if coſtly ones, vvee keep them carefully, O bee vviſe for your ſoules.

Novv follovveth the ſecond part of our furniture; Hauing put on the breaſt-plate of righteouſnes. To follovv the ſelf ſame order: firſt, 1for that vvhichwhich is meant heere, there is a threefould righteouſnes. One imputed by faith, but this can not bee meāt, for this is the ſhield of faith. 2Another righteouſnes inherent in vsus, vvhichwhich is part of the divine quality begun in vsus, Eph. 4.24. 3The third, a righteouſnes of courſe, or converſation, or vvorke: thus the thing don is called righteouſnes. 1. Iohn 3.7, He that doth righteouſnes, p. 148is righteous. Pſal. 112.3. Riches and plentiouſnes ſhall be in his houſe, and his righteouſnes endureth for euer. Novv the ſecond is not ſo fitly meant heere, becauſe the Apoſtle bringeth in the nevv creature armed: therefore it is ſ…t to diſtinguiſh him from his armour. Neither is truth properly the nevv creature, but the quality of him: neither is faith and louelove, properly taken in their differences, the nevv creature: for they ſhall ceaſe. Though therefore I vvill not ſtriue againſt it, yet I take the righteouſnes of the courſe and converſation, heere principally to bee intended. Now into this part of our furniture, three pares are p. 149enfoulded: for this righteouſnes hath theſe three branches: Firſt, for the time paſt, a teſtimony excuſing vsus, vvhichwhich is the teſtimony of a good conſcience, 2. Cor. 1.12, For our reioycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, &c. 2Secondly, for the time to come, a purpoſe to auoid all euil, and to do that is good. Thus Paul and Barnabas exhorted the Antiochians vvith purpoſe of heart to cleaue vntounto the Lord. Thirdly, 3in reſpect of our daily vveaknes, vvhichwhich doth dint and bruiſe this breaſt plate, there muſt bee ſorrovv and humble confeſſion of ſinne, vvith ſeeking pardon: this doth beat it forth ag…ine, & vnderline it▪ that it is as ſeruiceable p. 150to vsus as euer. Forgiue vsus (vvee ſay) daily our treſpaſſes: for, our righteouſnes is rather in purpoſe then performance, rather in confeſſion of imperfection, then in any perfection vvee can attaine. Secondly, for the vſe of this: it is daily, or more extraordinary: the daily vſe is this, that vvhen the diuell doth tempt vsus to ſin, if the breaſt be couered with this purpoſe not to offend, then his ſuggeſtions will fall downe like paper-ſhot, and ſhall not pearce vsus. How can I doo this great wickedneſſe, and ſo ſinne againſt God? The more extraordinary, when men ſhal load vsus with preiudicate opinions, condemning vsus: this will beare p. 151it off; I know nothing by my ſelfe, I care not for mans iudgement, 1. Cor. 4.3. As touching mee, I paſſe very little to bee iudged by you. When the divell telleth vsus, Thou art not elected, thou haſt no faith, thou art not ſanctified, all doth come before the tribunall of righteouſnes; this confirmeth to vsus our election. 2. Pet. 1.10, Wherefore brethren, giuegive rather diligence to make your calling and election ſure. This aſſureth vsus that vvee are iuſt, our ſinnes forgiuen, and vvee ſanctified. Iohn 3.7, He that doth righteouſnes, is righteous.

The more beneficiall it is, the more ſtudious Satan is to diſarme vsus of it. Firſt p. 152therefore, the Diuell will keep vsus from getting this, in this manner: Ob. 1 What doe you betake you to ſuch care of your life? God is mercifull, Chriſt hath dyed to redeem you, hee vvill not loſe what hee hath bought ſo deare. Anſw. Anſ. God is mercifull to them that feare him, Chriſt redeemeth thoſe whom hee ſanctifieth, to be a peculiar people vntounto him, zealous of good workes. Titus 2.14, Who gaue himſelfe for vsus, that hee might redeeme vsus from all iniquity, and purge vsus to be a peculiar people to himſelfe, zealous of good workes. If wee will hauehave ſome kinde of righteouſnes, hee will perſwade vsus to ſuch a kinde of breaſt-plate, as is p. 153not of a right metall: Ob. 2 that is, a generall profeſſion, and an honeſt carriage, in this manner; Though it were requiſite you ſhould hauehave all righteouſneſſe: yet what nedeth all this, adoe? God ſpareth you as a father ſpareth his children. All the people of God are holy, it is not for righteouſneſſe you ſhall be ſaued. Anſw. Anſ. Wee muſt hauehave ſound righteouſneſſe, and endeuour of perfection. If your righteouſneſſe exceed not the righteouſneſſe of the Scribes and Phariſees, yee ſhall not enter into the kingdome of heauen, Mat. 5.20. Though Iſrael bee as the ſand of the Sea, yet a remnant only ſhall be ſaued. Not all that ſay Lord, Lord, p. 154ſhall enter into the kingdom of heauen. Rom. 11. Mat. 7. Bee yee perfect, as your Father in heauen is perfect. Mat. 6.2. Deſire and endeauour to follow after it. 3. If wee vvill enter it, hee will breake vsus off by difficulties, diſcomforts, diſtractions, and make vsus yeeld our weapon, as wearie. But heere the power of Chriſt, the authour and finiſher of faith, the beginner & perfecter of his owne good work, doth carry vsus on: and the ſeed of God is of ſuch force, that it will not let vsus fall to ſinning. Secondly, the conſcience of Gods commandement on one hand, and the comfort of his acceptance on the other ſide, do encourage p. 155vsus: ſo that this aſſault is fruſtrate. 4. He ſheweth himſelfe a Diuell indeed; and by aggrauating our imperfections, will offer to wreſt from vsus the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, in this wiſe. Gods eye is too pure to beholde any euill, thou ſhouldeſt louelove the Lord thy God with all thy heart, &c. But thy beſt deeds hauehave be…n ſprinkled with filthineſſe, thy owne conſcience hath condemned thee in them; God is greater then thy conſcience. The anſwer is, by getting a ſound knowledge how farre vvee are to ſtand vponupon the righteouſneſſe of our courſes; of which mark theſe things. Firſt, wee doe not account of it as able to p. 156abide the tryall of iuſtice, or to ſtand for our full righteouſneſſe before God. This wee account is droſſe and dung; theſe things may diſmay a Papiſt, they cannot …iſmay vsus. 2. We place the ſtrength of our righteouſneſſe in two things. 1. That it doth teſtifie of our true faith: for a worke good in a…y meaſure, doth argue a heart good in ſom meaſure; for you cannot hauehave a figge of a thiſtle: now a heart in any meaſure good, doth argue a true faith, for that only can purifie the heart. 2. In this that wee know they are pleaſing vntounto our God: not that they can endure the tryall of his iuſtice in themſelues, but becauſe fa…th p. 157on Chriſt doth couer their imperfections: and therefore are iuſtly accepted thorough grace, when the defect is couered; they being not ſo much ours, as the worke of the ſpirit (Coloſ. 1.11. ſtrengthened with all might through his power vntounto all patience, &c.) the wants ſet aſide.

Now wee ſhall ſtrongly holde this part of our armour, if we exerciſe theſe things. 1. Labor to giuegive obedience of faith, in the leaſt things: for there muſt be preciſeneſſe in keeping Gods cōmandements, & we muſt count nothing little that he commandeth. Salomon will hauehave vsus keepe his precepts as the ſight of our eye. Pro. 7.2.

p. 158And little ſinnes liued in will make way to greater. Men growe from ſtealing pinnes, to points, from points to pounds. 22. Wee muſt renew dayly a ſorrow for our ordinary and ſmaller offences: for though it bee the weakeneſſe of the ſtomack, that is able to beare with nothing that is a little offenſiue to it; yet it is a bleſſed frame of the ſoule, when it cannot digeſt the leaſt ſinne, but is ready to turne at it. 33. Wee muſt think what ſecure and comfortable courſes wee hauehave, while we keep this purpoſe, and practice of a good conſcience: and what a bitterneſſe it is, when wee hauehave our conſciences accuſing p. 159for any more grieuous ſweruing, the beſt is when it commeth home by weeping croſſe: but how wofull is the ſtate of the ſoule, till repentance be giuen? For as a ſtomack ſurcharged, which hath neither vent vpward nor downward, ſo is a ſoule clogged with guilt, but wanting repentance. Now then to ſpeake to the doctrine: we that are Chriſtians, muſt all labour to ſtrengthen our ſelues with the teſtimony of a good conſcience, and a righteous cōuerſation. Thus Hezechiah vvalked, dooing that which was good in the ſight of God, neither turning on right hand, nor left, from all that God had commanded. Thus Zacharie p. 160and Elizabeth walked, Lu. 1.6. But we hauehave Paul by precept and practice, teaching the point. Phil. 4.8, Furthermore brethren, what ſoeuer things are honeſt, whatſoeuer things are iuſt, whatſoeuer things are pure, &c. thinke on theſe things. And we may ſee, firſt, how his conſcience did not accuſe him for time preſent. 1. Cor. 4.3, As touching me I paſſe little to bee iudged of you. How he endeauoured for the time to come to keep it ſo. Acts 24.16, and herein I endeauour alwaies, to hauehave a cleere conſcience toward God, and towards man. 3. That hee was not without his exerciſe of repentance. Oh miſerable man p. 161that I am, Rom. 7. This will keep vsus in our daily courſe, and in the euill houre; wheras if theſe bee not renewed, wee ſhall come by ſcare: as Iudah going foorth without harneſſing himſelfe, by renewing this purpoſe, we ſee how ſoon he was wounded with euill. Ʋſe 1 This then being the dutie of Chriſtians, doth rebuke ſuch, who either content themſelues with a falſe armour, or hauehave none at all. Some there are, that are good Church men, honeſt, righteous, iuſt dealing men; but becauſe they lay not a good foundation of faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and of repentance from dead works, becauſe they care not for the ſpirit and power of p. 162godlineſſe: therfore, brown paper ſhall as well keepe out Musket ſhotte, as this vvill helpe them, when the Diuel ſhall let fly his murdring bullets. Many hauehave none at all, but naked breaſts ſhot through already, their conſcience being able to accuſe them, that they hauehave liued in profanenes, contempt of Gods ordinances, in pride, vvrath, couetouſneſſe, pleaſures: their purpoſes hauehave beene to walke after their owne hearts luſts, dooing that which is good in their owne eyes. In ſteed of ſorrowe neuer to be repented of, they can tell you, they vvere at ſuch a place, where they vvere frolick, had entertainment with ſports, &c. p. 163Poore thralls of the Diuell that hauehave no armor of God vponupon them. Ʋſe 2 2. Wee muſt learne our dutie, not to run on at aduenture, but looke to theſe rules: wee are all Prieſts of God, we muſt not goe without this breſt-plate enameled with Ʋrim and Thummin. Wherefore looke that our conſciences ſpeake with vsus, God is greater then they, renew your purpoſes eueryevery day, ſtrike ſure couenants with God: take vp the bleſſed exerciſe of broken hearts, bewaile your dayly vvants: for wee ſhould not let a thought which is awry, no not a dream, which ſauoureth corruption, paſſe without a cenſure. Iob rather ſanctified his houſhold p. 164on ſuſpicion, and iealouſie, then neglected matters already apparantly euill.

Now followeth the third, which anſwereth to the greaues, or legge-harneſſe, [and your feet ſhod] 1. For the meaning: Some doe conſtrue the preaching of the Goſpell of peace, the readineſſe to confeſſion; but this is rather a fruit of our being ſhod, then the ſhooing it ſelf. And this is a more particular thing, as which agreeth with times of perſecutions, and perſons called to make confeſſion. But all the parts of this armour agree to all times, and to all perſons. The ſenſe is; being ſhod with ſuch furniture, as the Goſpell of peace doth p. 165help vsus to.

Now the goſpell of peace doth tell vsus two things, that make vsus fully appointed for all aduerſities; that God is through Chriſt a mercifull Father: for, all enmity is killed in his Croſſe. Secondly, it doth aſſure vsus, that every thing that can befall is made for vsus 1. Cor. 3.22.23, Whether they be things preſent, or things to come, all are yours, and ye Chriſts, & Chriſt Gods. Not life onelyonly, but death is ours; that is, is made to ſerue for our good. So the ſoule, knowing theſe things, is harneſſed to goe in the waies of tribulation. Secondly for the vſe: it ſerueth in vndergoing our d…ily afflictions: for, eueryevery da… p. 166hath his miſery. Secondly, in paſſing theſe extraordinary euils which ſhall betide vsus: through many afflictions wee muſt looke to enter into the kingdome of God, Acts 14.22: as the vſe of boots and greaues is againſt all roughneſſe of the vvay, that wee may tread on flinty paths, or thornes, and that without taking hurt. Ob. 1 Now the diuell will firſt labour to keepe vsus from ſeeking after this peace, by lulling vsus aſleepe with a falſe peace, as this; If God did not louelove thee, thou ſhouldeſt not thus proſper, thou haſt no troubles, nothing but peace ſhall follow thee. But wee must learne to distinguiſh betweene a true and falſe peace. Firſt, this is groū ded p. 167on no outward thing, but on forgiueneſſe of ſinne. Rom. 5.1, Then beeing iuſtified by faith, wee hauehave peace towards God through Ieſus Chriſt: this is brought to vsus, and applied by the goſpell, by praier, the goſpell of peace, Phil. 4.6, Be nothing carefull, but in all things let your requeſts be ſhewed to God, in praier and ſupplication. Now, the worldlings peace is ſo much the greater, the leſſe the goſpell is preached to him: for, this light will not let him ſleepe; and for wading to it by prayer, by beleeving the mercy of God, and promiſe that all things ſhall worke for hi… good, he knoweth not wha… theſe things meane. Secondly, p. 168the divell will tell vsus that hauehave our part in this peace, Ob. 2 There is no peace to the wicked, Eſay 48. vlt. Thou haſt much wickednes which God cannot but hate. Anſ. Anſ. The wicked, who is not iuſtified through faith, canne hauehave no peace: but Chriſt hath covered mine imperfections. Ob. 3 Thirdly, thou never kneweſt what trouble meant, till thou cameſt to this goſpel: Since, thy own heart, men, ſpirituall vvickedneſſes, thine own friends hauehave hated thee. Anſ. Anſ. Iohn 16.2. They ſhal excommunicate you, &c. this peace ſtandeth with all kinde of diſturbance. As the weather frieſing neuer ſo aegrely, a man well booted and appointed p. 169in that kinde, may ride as warme as wooll: ſo a man ſhod with this, may be quiet in the midſt of diſquietnes: for, this is his peace; in hauing our mindes prepared with knowledge of our peace which the goſpell revealeth: not that he ſhal not hauehave euill many waies, but that Gods mercy ſhall not be taken from him, and that all of them ſhall work together to his good. Fourthly, Ob. 4 Satan will ſay; God is angry with you, which the effects doo teſtifie. Anſ. Anſ. By diſtinguiſhing anger as thus, anger and louelove ſtand together in parents, the more they louelove, the more they are moved at the dangerous courſes of their children: Therfore p. 170it followeth not, God is angry, therfore he loueth thee not, therefore this or that ſhall hurt thee. Now for the fourth thing, 1How wee may preſerue our peace. Anſ. Firſt, if euer wee knew it, this will help vsus, to aſſure vsus we hauehave it ſtil, To remember the couenant of peace with vsus, is an eternall couenant; not for a day, but for euer. Pſal. 54 10, For, the mountaines ſhall moue, &c. but my mercy ſhal not depart from thee, neither ſhall my couenant of peace fall away, ſaith the Lord. I hauehave compaſſion on thee; the whole chapter to this purpoſe: and Chriſt ſaieth, the world cannot take away this peace from vsus: if therefore it ſeem otherwiſe, p. 171it is but hid in a cloud for a ſeaſon. Secondly, 2if we will keep this peace, we muſt not iudge according to ſenſe, but righteous iudgement, vvee muſt controule our ſenſe by ſanctified reaſon; which aſſureth, that all things are for good to vsus. When heer below there are pitchy clouds, ſtormes, and ſuch like impreſſions of the air, the ſtarry firmament hath no chāge, the ſun hath the ſame brightnes when it is hidden from vsus, that it hath when it ſhineth moſt gloriouſly: ſo vvhen wee alter, and there is nothing but thunder, lightning, and ſtorme in our sky, God is the ſame, the faithful mercies of the couenant are not changed. Thirdly, 3vvee p. 172muſt, if our ſoules bee out a little, ſchoole them, as Dauid doth, Pſal. 42. Why art thou caſt downe my ſoule? and why art thou ſo diſquieted within me? There is an art of rocking the ſoule, and ſtilling it if out of quiet: the Lord teach it vsus.

Now for the doctrine: Doct. vve ſee how wee are to ſtrengthen our ſelues with learning the doctrin of our peace through Christ: Paul was thus ſhod. Rom. 8.38.39, I am perſwaded, nothing ſhall ſeparate mee from the louelove of God. All things, I knowe, worke together for the good of them that are beloued of God, Rom. 8.28. And this furniture made him goe ſuch hard vvaye cheerfully; in p. 173vvhichwhich, ſhowrs of afflictions did fal as thick as hailſtones. The Church in the Canticles 7.1. is commended, that her ſteps in theſe ſhooes are comely. This doth make Gods children, though not in the letter, yet in ſom ſort, tread vponupon the Adder, Baſilisk, ſhake off Vipers, and receiue no hurt; vvhereas if the feet be bared a little with the abſence of this (in ſenſe or faith) any thing ſmarteth ſore on vsus. Iob 13.14, Wherfore doo I take my fleſh in my teeth? And 6.3, Therefore novv my vvords are ſvvallovved vp. Ezechias, ſeeing God like a Lion, his peace ſomevvhat clouded, chattred like a Crane. Vſe 1 Where fore vvee beeing to gette our p. 174ſelues thus fenced againſt the craggednes of the vvay, how are they to bee blamed, that neuer labour to hauehave part in this peace vvhichwhich the goſpel bringeth? They vvould be loth not to provide their bodies againſt vveather & difficulties of the vvay they go, but their ſoules they care not for. But look, as it is pitifull vvith one that goeth vponupon ſharp flints, barefoot, &c. or amongſt the thorns and buſhes, ſo as the blood trickleth dovvne at eueryevery ſtep: ſo pitifull ſhall thy naked ſoule bee, vvhen adverſitie ſhall …eet thee▪ if thou be not fenced with this knovvledge of peace, through Ieſus Chriſt.

Vſe 2 Secondly, wee muſt labour to ſee this our peace. p. 175Oh that wee knewe theſe things concerning our peace! What could hurt? If the ſting be pulled forth of an Adder, vvee may play with it in our boſome: If vve know eueryevery thing is for our good, as Iob ſaith, wee may laugh when deſtruction comes. Aboue all things hauehave a care, that it be a ſoūd peace; for there is in nature, and bodies, a double ſleepe; one ſicke, another ſound: now it is ſeene in the wakening. For ſick ſleep maketh vsus when we awake ſo much the more ſicke, the other ſtrengtheneth vsus: ſo peace is the ſoules ſleepe. Now if thy peace bee not ſound; when God ſhall waken thy conſcience, the p. 176more thou haſt ſlept, the more ſhall thy griefes be increaſed, nay nothing ſhall ſting thee more then thy peace; woe to thee that art at peace: but if thou art at quiet, by knowing the doctrine of peace, by the Goſpell, then it ſhall refreſh and ſtrengthen thee.

Now followes the fourth thing, the ſhield of faith. Firſt, wee handle it generally, in order as before. Secondly, particularly from the circumſtances. Firſt, the manner of exhorting: aboue all things. Secondly, the cōmendation of it; that it can quench all the fierie darts, &c. Firſt, the thing here meant is, a true liuely faith, laying holde on Chriſt p. 177for iuſtification; and in the reſt of Gods word and ſpeci…ll promiſes, for the paſſ…g o… this preſent life: for not onelyonly faith on Chriſt, but on the ſpeciall promiſes of God, is neceſſary for vsus: not that theſe are two ſeuerall kindes of faith, but one imployed diuerſly: as the ſoule in man working in the ſeuerall faculties of nature, is not three ſoules, but one, exerciſing three diuers functions. Secondly, for the vſe of faith, it ſerveth not onelyonly to iuſtifie vsus, but to make vsus endure in all afflictions, without making haſte. The iuſt liueth in time of his afflictions, by faith. Hee that beleeueth maketh not haſte. 2. It doth worke p. 178in vsus, and guide the courſe of our obedience. Rom. 1 5. To the obedience of faith, not onelyonly in beleeving the Goſpell, but the other word of command and promiſe. 3. It doth preuail againſt all enemies. This is the victory that ouercometh the world, euen our faith, 1. Iohn. 5.4. The Vſe ſhall be more particularly branched out heereafter. Thirdly, we must mark how the Diuell doth practice againſt vsus in this point. 1. Hee will labour to put vponupon vsus, and ſerue vsus with a counterfait faith. Ob. 1 You beleeue that God is mercifull, and ſent his Sonne, to be the Sauiour of mankinde: you meane well, and hauehave good hope to God-ward, that is p. 179enough; Hee that beleeueth ſhall be ſaued, Marke 16.16. And all that can be ſaid for the Popiſh faith may bee brought hither. Anſ. Anſ. That faith that ſaueth vsus, muſt worke by louelove, Galat. 5.6. It muſt purge our hearts, Acts 15.9, And hee put no difference betweene vsus and them, after that by faith he had purified their hearts. It muſt make vsus to knowe, Chriſt hath giuen himſelfe for vsus. Galat. 2.20, Thus I liue, yet not I now, but Chriſt liveth in mee: and in that I now liue, I liue by the faith in the ſonne of God, who hath loved me, and giuen himſelfe for mee. And bring Chriſt into our harts. Epheſ. 3.17, That Chriſt p. 180may dwell in your hearts by faith; that yee being rooted and grounded in louelove, &c.

Now, to hauehave a faith without good workes, a knowledge onelyonly of a Saviour giuen to man-kinde: this will profit nothing. Iames 2.14, What availeth it my brethren, though a man ſay he hath faith, when he hath no workes? Ob. 2 can the faith ſaue him, &c. Secondly, He will labour to wreſt our faith from vsus, more violently or craftily: the firſt, in this wiſe; Simon Magus beleeved, Acts 8.11. Herod, &c. Faith in temporiſers doth not availe them: that faith is no better, for they hauehave done many things, had ioy, kept the Apoſtles company, and gone p. 181as farre as thou. Anſw. Anſ. Wee muſt beare off this blowe, by learning to diſtinguiſh true faith from falſe faith, by foure things. 11. For the nature of it; True faith doth apply Chriſt in particular, & ſaith, with Paul and Thomas, My Lord, and my God. Who hath loued mee, and giuen himſelfe for me. Secondly, 2it doth increaſe in the miniſtry of the word and prayer, which did as Gods inſtruments, beget it. Now falſe preſumptions are careleſſe of theſe helpes. Thirdly, 3It is perfected & groweth vp, through temptations, wraſtling with doubting feares. For if our faith bee a true fruit of the ſpirit; our luſt will fight againſt it, though p. 182we out-growe theſe things, in proceſſe of time. And therefore it is to be marked, that all other faiths, the Diuell neuer ſifteth them: for either they are ſuch as vvill not perfect the parties; as luſts, temptations, &c. or elſe ſuch as are his owne coyne, bearing his inſcription: as for example, carnal preſumption. And therfore hee letteth them paſſe for currant. 4Laſtly, a true faith is ſeene by this effect, It purgeth the heart, ſo that i… doth not retaine the louelove of any ſinne wherein it hateth to be reformed: the others come ſhort; as Herods did reach to many things, but not to leaue his H…rodias.

Secondly, the Diuell will p. 183thus ſhake our faith; True faith is with many fruits, Iam. 2. Is accompanied with ioy. 1. Pet. 1.8, Beleeuing wee reioyce, with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious. Without doubting. Abraham doubted not, Rom. 4.20. neither did hee doubt of the promiſe, &c. Now thou haſt no fruits, thou art without feeling, comfort, full of doubting. Anſ. We muſt examine, whether wee hauehave any fruits of faith vppon vsus, or none appearing: if wee hauehave few fruits, it argueth a weak faith; not that there is no faith, dead trees hauehave not any fruit at all vponupon them. If we hauehave none, it muſt bee conſidered, whether it was ſo alwaies with p. 184vsus, or by occaſion of ſome fall; hauing before beene otherwiſe. Now, if in the firſt kinde, it is plaine, vve never had a true faith; if in the later, it argueth faith is in a ſwoone, or as a tree in the nipping froſt of winter. 2. For ſenſe of ioy wee muſt knowe, that it is a a fruit may be ſeuered from faith: as in Chriſt, vvhoſe beliefe vvas firme, yet all comfort eclipſed: as in that ſpeech, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? And the reioycing of faith, is chiefly diſpenſed in three ſeaſons: Either in the firſt breeding of a Chriſtian, that the ioynts of him may bee knit, the ſtronger: or after great tēptations out-wreſtled, that p. 185the broken bones may bee comforted: or in times of perſecution & martyrdome, that wee may bee heartened in it, to conſtant ſuffering. Witneſſe our reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus dayly. Ob. 4 4. The Diuell will ſay, true faith groweth from faith to faith, Rom. 1.17. Grace is like a graine of muſtard ſeed. Now thy faith hath no growth, nay thou art now more doubting then thou haſt beene. Anſ. Anſ. True faith groweth: it is true with theſe limitations. Firſt, that it is not felt in him alwaies, in whom it groweth. 2. It doth not growe in all times, it may decreaſe in ſome degree: the meaning thereof is, that the grace which is in the end, p. 186ſhall be more then at the beginning, ſhall hauehave his growth. Now, if the Diuell ſaith to any beleeuer, thy faith never had, nor ſhall hauehave any growth; The conſcience may eaſily anſwer it, Faith hath two ſeaſons: One of peace and building it healthfully, the other of temptations. In the firſt it groweth, and often is diſcerned by him, in whom it is. 2. It is in temptations. Now theſe are of two ſorts. Firſt, ſuch in which faith is exerciſed, and maketh reſiſtance: as in outward croſſes. Secondly, feares, doubting of his pardon, gripes of conſcience. Thirdly, lawes of evill, that play the Lord of miſ rule in our members. p. 187Now theſe (faith cauſing vsus flie to prayer) ſeeke the word of promiſe, renew repentance: theſe, I ſay, faith doth thriue by: as there are ſome growing ſickneſſes, in which the body ſhooteth out, and when men hauehave beene awhile exerciſed they perceiue it: there are other temptations of ſpirituall ſlumber, whether the heart be halfe waking, or by ſome grieuous ſinne fallen into a dead ſleepe. In theſe, faith may bee diminiſhed: as the holy Ghoſt ſaith of their louelove, they had loſt ſome degrees. Ob. 5 5. The Diuell will tell vsus, where there it true faith, there the word is powerfull and profitable. Theſ. 2.13, The word is effectual in p. 188you that beleeue. Heb. 4.3, The word did not profit where there is no faith to mingle it with. But thou ſeeſt not the words power, & doſt not profit by it. Anſ. The inefficiency of the word is two-folde. Simple, when it hath no ſaving worke: or preparatiue; vvhen it is ſaid to worke nothing as it ſhould, as we deſire, as wee ſometime hauehave felt it.

Now the firſt ſtandeth not with faith, the later doth: as for example, put Aquavitae into a dead mans mouth, and all the reſtoratiues that may be, they doe nothing vvith him: but giuegive food, or reſtoratiues to a man in a dropſie, or conſumption, though hee p. 189ſtill vvalke vveakely, and hauehave no appetite before, and hath flaſhing after, and qualms riding ouer the ſtomacke, yet hee is preſerued by thē: now we ſay, things doe no good, when they do not ſo healthſomly nouriſh, as they vſe in ſound bodies. Now this later is the ſtate of a Chriſtian ſoule, not the former: hee may anſwere therefore by denying the ſecond part of the reaſon; It is effectual, though it do work nothing vvith him, as he hath knowen it. Ob. 6 6. The Diuell will thus ſuggeſt to thy conſcience: If euer thou didſt truly beleeue, God would heare thy prayers: but thou askeſt, and receiueſt not. Anſ. Anſ. The forme p. 190of the reaſon is naught, as which runneth from hearing to receiuing. The anſwer is, we muſt diſtinguiſh betwixt hearing, and ſignifying, that we are hard-by the effect. The firſt (in lawfull things asked, in the name of Ieſus, 16. Ioh. 23.) is alwaies: the ſecond not-alwaies. For God when he heareth, often maketh as if he heard not, nay as if he were contrarily minded. Lam. 3.44, Thou haſt couered thy ſelf as with a cloud, that our prayer ſhould not paſſe thorough, that is, thou ſeemeſt ſo in effect. Dauid. How long wilt thou ſmoake againſt prayer, &c. open thy eares.

Daniel 10. God made him ſee, hee heard him a good p. 191ſpace after: yet he did heare him from the firſt requeſt. This then is the ſtate of gods people. But God when hee heares doth make as though hee did not heare, yea vvere turned from them and their praiers in diſpleaſure.

Ob. 7 Seauenthly, true faith faileth not: thine doth often faile, and thou art ſo weak, thou ſeeſt thou canſt not hould out. And the truth is, Anſ. the beſt faith tried long, will limp a little. Pſal. 116.10.11, I ſaid in my feare, All men are liers, &c. 1. Sam. 27.1, And Dauid ſaid in his heart, I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of Saul, &c. Is it not better for me that I ſaue my ſelfe in the land of the Philiſtines, &c? And vvee by p. 192experience finde, that often through vnbeleefe and impatiency, vve yeeld the buckler, and leaue awhile claſping that promiſe which onelyonly can releeue vsus. But the anſwer is, by learning what it is to hauehave true faith faile: there is a double failing; one of the grace, another of the worke: now this later, the worke, may ceaſe while faith doth not faile: as Luke 22.32, But I hauehave praied for thee, that thy faith faile not. Yet compared with the end, Peters confeſſion, vvhichwhich was the worke of faith, failed in his mouth, and yet the grace was ſafe in his heart: for Chriſt was heard in that hee praied for. So that if the reaſon he thus framed, That p. 193faith which faileth in the worke is a falſe faith, this is a falſe ſentence. If hee ſay to mee, Thine faileth in the grace, it is falſly ſpoken to a true beleeuer, to make his grace extinct when the work faileth: for vve might aſwell ſay a man is dead when hee ſleepeth. And for his threatning that it ſhall faile, vvee muſt remember, that hell gates ſhall not preuaile. Hee hath praied, &c.

Ob. 8 Eightly, the diuell he will from ſenſe and reaſon vveaken our beleefe: Thus hee kept Sarah in vnbeleef. Gen. 18.12, She laughed, becauſe the thing ſpoken was againſt reaſon. Anſ. For anſwer vvhereof, vvee muſt knovve, They are bleſſed that beleeue and p. 194ſee not, Iohn 20.29. that vve vvalk by faith, not by ſight. Againe, Heb. 11.1, Faith is the euidence of things not ſeene: vvee muſt therefore ſhake hands vvith this follovving ſenſe and reaſon, if vvee vvill make vvay to beleefe.

Laſtly, the divel vvill muſter many troubles againſt vsus, and thus labour to ſhake our faith. Luke 22.31, Hee vvinnovved Peters faith, by bringing him into ieopardy of his life. So vvhen many beleeue, he ſtirs the tongues of naughty ones to vvhippe them; if God giuegive leaue, he croſſeth them in their ſubſtance, and othervviſe: not that he plaieth ſo ſmal games as to blot their name, or careth p. 195for their money; but he ſhooteth at this, to vnſettle them in the vvay of faith, which they hauehave entred. But we muſt reſiſt thus, by getting knowledge, that Chriſt vvill not let our ſmoking vveek be put out; that theſe things ſhall vvorke to our good, Rom. 8.28. I but vve feele the contrarie, they vvorke ſo vponupon vsus. Anſ. He that beateth a torch, ſeemeth to put out the light for a ſeaſon, yet it maketh it burne more cleerly: the ſhaking of trees maketh them root deeper. Secondly, by learning the means of holding our faith: vvhichwhich follovv. Theſe are his more violent practiſes; vvreſting of our faith from vsus: novv his more ſubtill ſleights p. 196are, his making vsus to preſume on outward helps, & withdrawing our hearts by them. Thus, 2. Chron. 16.7. he did preuail againſt Aſa: for vvhen hee ſeeth vsus hould the rocke where vve are ſafe from him, hee vvill ſet before vsus other things, ſutable to our corrupt natures; knovving, that ſo much as vve come to leane on theſe, ſo much vve come to leaue our GOD. Thus hee houldeth out our Lady, Saint Peter, and Paul, in the Romiſh Church; and by the creature, vvithdravveth the hearts of the people from their Creator. In which and other like practices, the divell is like a Fovvler that hath calls ſo like the natural notes, that birds come vntounto p. 197them: ſo theſe ſpeake our mother tongue, and hauehave a note ſo liking to the reaſon and ſenſe of vsus, that we cannot heare it, but wee are ready to flee vntounto it. But wee muſt preuent this miſchiefe by christian caution: the diuells exchange will proue robbery, wee ſhall change a rocke for a ſplitted reed, which wil hurt vsus in the end. Hee that leaveth his God, forſaketh his mercy. Ionah 2.8, They that wait vponupon lying vanities, forſake their owne mercy. Againe, Ier. 17.5, Curſed is hee that maketh fleſh his arme, truſting in any outward thing. Secondly, vve muſt know, that theſe things cannot do ought for vsus, further then the Lord of Hoſts p. 198ſhall command them: he vſeth them at pleaſure. The horſe and chariot is prepared, but victory is from the God of battell: many ſeeke the face of the Iudge, but iudgement is from the Lord: men riſe vp early, but GOD builds the city: we may vſe meat and medicine, but God is our life, and length of our daies: and it is ſeen, the ſwift hath not the race, the vviſe wanteth bread.

Secondly, the diuell will labour to ſupplant our faith by indirect wayes leading to a releaſe, and ſeeming to put an end to our euils: for, ſeeing that vvee are weary in enduring, and would fain ſee reſt from troubles, he then will open poſtern doors, indirect p. 199vvaies of deliuerance; like Fowlers, when all is hard froſt and ſnovve, they ſhew meat, that birds ſharply ſet, may flee on murder. Thus Sarah, Gen. 16.2, And Sarah ſayd, Behold novv the Lord hath reſtrained mee from childe-bearing, I pray thee go-in vntounto my maid, it may be that I ſhall receiue a child by her. Dauid, 1. Sam. 27.1, Is it not better for me that I ſaue my ſelfe in the land of the Philiſtines, &c? Chriſt, Mat. 4, Command theſe ſtones to bee made bread by miracle, novv thou art hungry. We muſt therefore take heed, that vvee often thinke on that in Eſay, Hee that beleeueth, maketh not haſte: and conſider againe, that the p. 200eaſe of ſuch meanes, is like to a draught of drinke to a hot ague, it maketh the fire burne worſe after: your iſſue in this kinde, is but breaking the iaile which maketh vsus ſubiect to double puniſhment.

Now followeth the fourth conſideration, how we may keep our faith againſt all aſſaults, & encreaſe it. Firſt, by expelling ſelf-confidence, and vnbeleefe: Secondly, by conſiderations that lead directly to the ſtrengthening of our faith: Thirdly, rules of either. Firſt, he that will beleeue, muſt deny all truſt in his owne wiſdome: for, ſelfe-confidence is a choak-weed of beleefe. Pro. 3.5, Truſt in the Lord with all thy heart, and leane not p. 201to thy owne wiſedome. We are the circumciſion, vvho hauehave no confidence in the fleſh, but reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus. And as we can growe downe, denying our wiſedome and all ſtrength wee can make: ſo ſhall faith on our great God growe vp. 2. Wee muſt ſtrike at vnbeleef, with the ſword of the ſpirit, taking vp our ſelues for halting, with ſuch like places as theſe. Heb. 10, Now the iuſt ſhall liue by faith: but if any vvithdrawe himſelfe, my ſoule ſhall hauehave no pleaſure in him. As the murmuring and vnbeleeuing Iſraelites, who would not beleeue the Lords oath giuen them, that he vvould make them dwell in the temporall Land Canaan, p. 202were accordingly ſhut out of it: ſo faithleſſe ones, who beleeue not Gods promiſes, concerning the true Land of Canaan, the heauenly kingdome, ſhall be barred from entring that holy place. See Numb. 14.29.30.31.32. Chewing on ſuch words, will tame the fierceneſſe of vnbeliefe.

Thirdly, wee muſt conſider the iniurious effects vvhichwhich this ſinne doth to God, and vsus. For vnbeliefe giveth God the lie. 1. Ioh. 5.10. Hee that beleeveth not in God, maketh him a lyer: then which, what can bee more reproachfull? and it doth vsus all the harme: for nothing could hurt vsus, if this were not. Heb. 4 vlt. p. 203They could not enter for vnbeleefe, they were a churliſh lewd people, beſides other diſtempers: but this did them the miſchiefe, for it reiecteth the medicines, that would cure vsus, taken; and pulleth off Gods plaiſters, which lying on would ſalue our miſeries,: thus purging out this malignant humour, we ſhall ſtrengthen faith the more commodiouſly. Firſt, by looking vp to Chriſt, when vve feel our faith weake, calling him the beginner, the finiſher of faith in vsus: praying him to encreaſe our faith, and to helpe our vnbeliefe; thou muſt giuegive it, and worke it in me, or I cannot hauehave it. A fainting bodie will taſte p. 204ſomething that is cordiall, and reſtoratiue: and a fainting ſoule muſt baite it ſelfe, with looking to Ieſus, who is our cordiall, and reſtoratiue, and every thing. Againe, wee muſt conſider whom we truſt, for this will ſtrenghten beleefe: it is not with God as with man, who is better knowen often, then truſted. The mother of our vnbeleefe is, the ignorance of the affectionate knowledge of God. Pſal. 9. Thoſe that knowe thee, will truſt in thee: this confirmed Paul in faith, becauſe hee knew him, hee truſted to. 2. Tim. 1.12, For I know whō I hauehave beleeued, &c. and I knowe that hee is able to keepe that I hauehave committed p. 205vntounto him, vntill that day. Now concerning God, two things muſt be known. Firſt, his power. Secondly, his truth. Rom. 4.21, Being fully aſſured, that hee which had promiſed, was able alſo to doe it. Abraham was thus ſtrengthened. Heb. 11.11. Sarah beleeved, for hee was faithfull that had promiſed: and for example, I by faith beleeue my ſpirituall liberty in Chriſt, ſanctifification, my life, ioy, &c. How ſhould I ſupport my ſelfe, when I ſee nothing but thraldome, and ſinne raigning in mee, nothing in me but deadneſſe of heart? Anſw. Thus: hee that hath ſpoken this to mee, Holde me, I will ſet thee free, I wil p. 206circūciſe thy heart, waſh it, purge it, heale it of all rebellions: hee that hath ſpoken it, is God Almighty, that giueth Beeing to all creatures wee ſee, and that inuiſible world of ſpirits; that calleth the things that are not, as if they were: that if there were no print of theſe things in mee, can increaſe them gloriouſly: and as hee is able, ſo he is true & faithfull to keep touch, his word being purer then ſiluer ſeauen times refyned. Thirdly, wee muſt labour to ſee the preciouſneſſe of our faith: and this ſeene, vvill make vsus holde hard, ere vvee part with it. 2. Pet. 1.3, To you vvhichwhich hauehave obtained like precious faith with vsus. A p. 207man that hath great charge, his whole ſtate about him, will as ſoone loſe his life as part with his treaſure. Now, in marking what it dooth, vvee ſhall ſee how precious it is. For what a grace is that, which when vve are buffetted vvith Satan, doth make vsus to ſtand? when our weapons are beaten on our heads, our prayers leſſe comfortable, when vve are laid along, doth raiſe vsus? vvhen ouer charged with affliction…, doth ſtill lift our head to Chriſt our Lord? and maketh vsus ſay, hee is ours, wee a…e his, fire and water muſt not diuorce vsus. And this for the generall handling of the verſe.

p. 208Now for the particular. Firſt, from the manner. 1. Aboue all. 2. The fruite or vſe of faith: with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Diuell. Firſt, then wee heare, that aboue all things wee muſt labour after faith, our care muſt bee chiefly about this. 1. Iohn 3.23, This then is his commandement, that wee beleeue in the name of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt. This is Gods cōmandement wherewith wee are charged. For nothing is ſo glorious to God. Iohn 3.33, It doth giuegive God a teſtimoniall, as it were, of his truth, and ſealeth that he is true: and for our ſelues, the holy Ghoſt maketh all our riches to p. 209come in of it. Iam. 2.5, The poore God hath choſen to bee rich in faith; not onelyonly that faith it ſelfe is a precious pearle, but becauſe that by faith vvee hauehave all thoſe vnſearchable riches of Chr. our Lord: and the manner of our deliuerie doth ſhew vsus plainely, what care wee muſt hauehave of it. For if wee bidde a ſeruant buy many things, but aboue all ſuch a thing; hee would gather vvhat hee ſhould bee moſt carefull in: So heere get other things, but aboue all, faith. Thus Paul, Gal. 2.20, Thus now I liue by the faith, &c. and Heb. 11, All thoſe Saints pleaſing God, had this beleefe towardes him. Now then to the dooing p. 210of this, wee muſt labour to ferret out our vnbeleefe. Secondly, to enkindle and renew our dying faith, & encreaſe it: the first wee ſhall finde theſe waies. Firſt, marke how vve are aff…cted to the worde of threatning; vvhether it breed in vsus feare, and carefull declining of ſinne. If we ye liue after the fleſh ye ſhal d…e. If this were beeleeved, vve durſt as well take a Bear by the tooth, as give the raines to our corruptions. Who is ſo hardy as to thruſt his finger into the fire? but vve often though vve know nothing, let our ſelues bee carried vvith luſts through vnbelief…. Secondly, let vsus marke how vve are aff…cted to the promiſe. We ſee, becauſe p. 211by a civill faith vve beleeue man, therefore, if vvee hauehave a mans word, for this that vvas deſperate, vvee are glad, wee ſeeke to get ſecuritie. If vve hauehave bonds we box them vp; we knowe, vvhen they expire, vvhat to chalenge by vertue of them. Now for the promiſe of God, which ſecureth vsus of all good temporall, and eternall, who enquireth after it, who ſeeketh it in his hart, vvho reioyceth in it, vvho ſaith, I look for ſuch a thing, by vertue of ſuch a word, my God hath ſpoken? which argueth wee are full of vnbeleefe. Thirdly, our reſting in mean…s, and leaning to them. For, ſo much as …he heart doth reſt o… t…e … p. 212is by ſin withdrawen from the Creator. But how may wee finde this? By marking how it is with vsus three waies. Firſt, if wee vſed meanes, as not vſing them, what means ſoever we had, our fear and truſt to God would bee the ſame as if we vvanted them: For vve would knowe, that further then God did ſend forth his vvord, they could doe nothing. Secondly, if vvee did our duties, and meanes were vvanting, vvee vvould bee confident; ſtill remembring that of Ionathan, It is all one with God, to ſaue with many, or vvith few; with ſmall means, as great. Thirdly, when we hauehave things vvee vvould thinke little of any meanes; p. 213but aſcribe all to Gods bleſſing. Now vve do the contrarie to theſe: For if vvee hauehave meanes, vponupon them we are ſecure; as a man is friended, hee hopes to hauehave his cauſe ended, though iudgement is to come from the Lord: if the Iudge him ſelfe were made for vsus, and if all meanes be at hand, vvee can reſt; vvee are ſo fledge that till ſomething croſſe vsus, the Lord is not cloven to, and ſought to by vsus. Againe, if this or that (requiſite in our Iudgements) cannot be obtained; though we vvere neuer ſo diligent, wee diſtruſt, and ſuſpect the ſucceſſe, ſaying, that it cannot proue vvell. And againe, in the third place, when vvee hauehave p. 214things, our affections doe more liuely vvorke on this or that, vvhichwhich fell out (as men ſpeake) more luckily, then on Gods bleſſing, which is all in all. Which ſheweth our ſecret reſting in the creature. Fourthly, our tottering vvhen vv… are tryed; If we did vvalk, truſting on God, vve ſhould be like mount Sion, foure ſquare; men, howſoeuer throwen downe, ſtanding firmely, vvheras the leaſt thing doth vnſettle vsus. Shall God offer to paſſe his vvord, yea giuegive his Indenture to me, for all good things, ſhal I not look after it? the points of our hearts ſtill turned to the povver, goodneſſe, faithfulneſſe of our God, which was p. 215and is the matter of our cō fidence? If weather faile avvhile, men are, as if God vvould quite forget them: if doings doe decay, ſuch a vvorld for taking they hauehave not known the like: if croſſes ouertake vsus, wee are at our wits ends. He that hath crutches, if hee learne not on them walking, take away his crutches, hee walketh ſtill: but take away a cripples crutches, that goeth on them, and hee commeth to the ground preſently. So if wee did not like to cripples lea…e on theſe things, vve ſhould not be ſo eaſily throwen dovvne in their remoueall: ſo the impatient breaking off in holding the promiſe, the double diligence p. 216and exceſſiue care. Mat. 6.3, Shall hee not do much more for you, O yee of little faith? The ſhifts and ſinfull courſes vvhichwhich men admit to thriue by, all proue, that there is not right faith in vsus tovvards God.