The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of the preparation of the Gospell of peace.
§. Sect. 1 THe third part of our Chriſtian armour is,VVhat the Goſpell of peace is. that wee hauehave our feete ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace; where he alludeth to the cuſtome of ſouldiers in former times, who going into the field, ſtrongly armed their legges and feete with legge-harneſſe, wargreaues or buskins, to preſerue them from the iniurie of the weather, the pearcing of briars, thornes, and ſuch other things as might hurt them in their way as they marched, and from the violence alſo of their enemies blowes when they were incountred; for all which vſes the Goſpell ſerueth in our ſpirituall warfare: for they who are armed with the true knowledge thereof, and are aſſured of the merciful promiſes therein contained, they will walke and march valiantly in the waies of godlineſſe and Chriſtianitie, though they are full of the briars and thornes of afflictions and perſecution; preferring the rebuke of Chriſt before the riches of Egypt, becauſe they hauehave an eye to the recompence of reward, which they ſhall receiue at the end of their iourney. And this maketh them little to regard the foulenes and vnpleaſantnes of the way; and though Sathan trouble them in their march, ſetting vponupon and aſſaulting them, yet they eaſily reſiſt the furie of his temptations, and goe on forward in the profeſſion and practiſe of Chriſtianitie, if they be armed with the knowledge of the Goſpell of peace; for it is therefore called the Goſpell of peace,Luk. 10.5. becauſe it bringeth peace to our ſoules, not onelyonly as it is the ambaſſage of God, whereby wee being reconciled vntounto God,Rom. 10.15. Luk. 1.7.9. hauehave peace with him, from the aſſurance whereof we hauehave the peace of conſcience, but alſo becauſe if we be armed therewith, we ſhall obtaine a finall victorie ouer our ſpirituall enemies, after which ſhall follow euerlaſting peace, which ſhall not ſo much as be diſturbed with the attempts of any enemies.
§. Sect. 2 But it is not ſufficient that we know and beleeue this Goſpell of peace, vnleſſe we be alwaies prepared to make confeſſion and profeſſion therof, though thereby we incurre worldly ſhame, loſſes, afflictions and perſecution. And this the Apoſtle ſignifieth,VVhat it is to be prepared with this Goſpell. by telling vsus that our feete muſt be ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace; that is, as thoſe who are well ſhod are in readines to goe through rough and vnpleaſant waies: ſo thoſe that are indued with the knowledge of the Goſpell, muſt alwaies be in readines to make profeſſion thereof in the middeſt of affliction and perſecution. For as with the heart man beleeueth vntounto righteouſnes, Rom. 10.10.ſo with the mouth he muſt confeſſe vntounto ſaluation, Rom. 10.10. And this is that which the Apoſtle Peter requireth of vsus,1. Pet. 3.15. 1. Epiſt. 3.15. That we doe not onelyonly ſanctifie the Lord in our hearts, but alſo that we be readie alwaies to giuegive an anſwere to eueryevery man that asketh vsus a reaſon of the hope that is in vsus.
But if we lay aſide this armour, we ſhal be as vnfit to trauell in the afflicted way which leadeth to Gods kingdome, as thoſe ſouldiers who are barefoote be vnfit to march through waies which are full of briars and thornes; neither ſhall wee be readie to make confeſſion and profeſſion of our faith in the time of perſecution and trouble, but rather to ſlide backe into a generall apoſtaſie from all religion, vnleſſe we be confirmed and comforted with the ſweete promiſes of the Goſpell, made to thoſe who ſuffer affliction for Chriſts ſake, namely, that if we confeſſe him before men, Matth. 10.32. Mark. 8.35.he will confeſſe vsus before his father in heauen, Matth. 10.32. That whoſoeuer ſhall loſe his life for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpels, ſhall ſaue it, Mark. 8.35. That whoſoeuer ſhall forſake houſes, or brethren, or ſiſters, Matth. 19.29.or father or mother, or wife and children, or lands for his names ſake, ſhall receiue an hundred fold more, and ſhall inherit euerlasting life, Matth. 19.29.