The Christian Warfare Part 3, Book 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. An Introduction into the following Diſcourſe, wherein is ſhewed, that our enemies in the Chriſtian warfare are many, mighty and dangerous, eſpecially our owne fleſh, with the luſts thereof.
§. Sect. 1. That we are to expect no peace in this life, but to fight continually againſt the enemies of our ſaluation.IT was the errour of the Apoſtles in the infancie of their faith, that being admitted Chriſts diſciples, they ſhould abound in earthly priuiledges; for as they imagined that their Lord & Maſter ſhould like a mightie Monarch rule in the world, triumphing ouer all his owne, and the Churches enemies, and reigning in all maieſticall glory and peacefull plentie: ſo they hoped that they, who for the preſent followed him in the ſtate of affliction, ſhould afterwards ſecurely reſt from all troubles and dangers, hauehave the chiefe preferments in his glorious kingdome, and the largeſt ſhare in this worldly happineſſe. The like conceipt poſſeſſeth many at their firſt entrance into the profeſsion of Chriſtian Religion, who doe not with Abraham and the reſt of the Patriarches, ſee and beleeue the Heb. 11. 13.promiſes afarre of, but expecting preſent reward and wages for their ſeruice, imagine that now they hauehave for Gods ſake forſaken the pleaſures of ſinne, they ſhall hauehave in leiw thereof immunitie from dangers, and freedome from afflictions, fame and fauour among men for their well-deſeruing, ſecure plentie, and proſperous peace in regard both of outward and inward enemies. And therefore being ſicke of the ſame diſeaſe, the like medicines are to be vſed for their recouerie, which our Sauiour applied vntounto his Apoſtles; namely they are to be informed that (aIoh. 18. 36.) Chriſts Kingdome is not of this world, that (b& 16. 33.) in the world they ſhall hauehave afflictions, and (cAct. 14. 22.) by many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of heauen; that (dMath. 10. 34.) Chriſt came not to bring peace and ſecuritie, but fire and ſword, warres and diſſenſions, not onelyonly betweene ſtrangers and enemies, but alſo among neereſt kindred and deareſt friends. Which warres and garboiles though they doe not preſently appeare after our conuerſion vntounto God, and deliuerance out of that Aegyptian ſeruitude of ſinne and Sathan, leſt beeing diſcouraged with our rough entertainement in our firſt entrance into the Chriſtian warfare, we ſhould returne into our thraldom, and redeeme a baſe and diſhonourable peace, at the deare price of helliſh bondage; yet are wee ſure to meete with theſe difficulties and dangers, before wee can be full conquerours and enter into the poſſeſsion of the holy Land.
§. Sect. 2: That we are daily aſſaulted with forraigne forces the world and the Diuell.For no ſooner is the Chriſtian waged into Gods warfare, by receiuing the Preſſe-money of ſome ſauing graces, and taking vponupon him the colours of an outward profeſsion, whereby he is knowne to bee a ſeruant and ſouldior of Ieſus Chriſt; but preſently there ſetteth vponupon him a world of enemies, ſometime aſſaulting him in the open field, by affliction and perſecution, and ſometime out of the ſecret ambuſhments of earthly proſperitie. Beſides with viſible forces of worldly foes, hee is continually encountred with principalities and powers, ſpirituall wickedneſſes in high Epheſ. 6. 12.places, and inuiſible enemies, euen innumerable legions of infernall ſpirits, and the mighty troupes of that helliſh armie.
§. Sect. 3. That our outward enemies are not ſo dangerous, as our own fleſh and fleſhly luſts.But though theſe forraigne foes being mighty and malicious, are exceeding terrible to the Chriſtian ſouldiour; yet are they nothing ſo dangerous, as thoſe in bred enemies which we nouriſh in our owne boſomes, who like ſecret traitors diſarme vsus of our chiefe weapons and munition, when as we are aſſaulted with thoſe profeſſed enemies, and lay vsus open and naked to be ſpoiled by their inuaſions, and wounded by their blowes. For ſo were we in our creation (through Gods infinite goodnes) furniſhed with ſuch impenetrable Armour of innocencie and righteouſneſſe, that Sathan with all his helliſh armie could not hurt vsus; and therefore not being able to preuaile by force and violence, hee entertained with our firſt parent… a treacherous parley, wherein he perſwaded them to put of their armes, and to entertaine into their ſoules a troupe of his tentations, which were no ſooner entred, but preſently they vanquiſhed all their forces, ranſackt their ſoules of all ſpirituall graces, and brought them into … miſerable ſubiection through his helliſh tyrannie. And that he might the better keepe them in perpetuall obedience, hee did not onelyonly kill and ſpoile the naturall inhabitants, Gods ſauing graces, but placed, euen in the chiefe Caſtle of their ſoules, a ſtrong garriſon of carnall corruptions and fleſhly luſts, which ſhould reſerue this like a conquered citie, for his owne vſe, and as it were open the gates vntounto him and his tentations, when as he pleaſed to make an entrance.
§. Sect. 4. That Sathan and the world could not hurt vsus, were they not ayded by our owne fleſh.And this was the fountaine of all our miſerie, and the chiefe cauſe and meanes of Sathans tyrannous ſoueraigntie, and of our baſe thraldome and ſlauerie; yea this is the cauſe why he ſtill preuaileth and holdeth vsus captiue to doe his will. For thoſe forraigne forces, led vnderunder the conduct of Sathan and the world, could neuer vanquiſh vsus; vnleſſe the fleſh and the luſts thereof did betray vsus into their hands; their wiſedome could not circumuent vsus, vnleſſe theſe ſecret traytors gaue them continuall intelligence of all aduantages; their malice and power could not hurt vsus, if they had not a ſtrong partie to aſsiſt them in our owne boſomes, who by their m…nous ſedition and ciuill warres, weaken vsus and ſtrengthen them; neither could they euer conquer vsus, if theſe inteſtine rebels did not open the gates and let in the troupes of their tentations. And therefore as I hauehave indeauoured to arme and ſtrengthen the weake Chriſtian againſt the forces of thoſe forraigne enemies, ſo it now remaineth, that I ſhould adde to the former, this laſt part of the Chriſtian warfare, deſcribing this conflict betweene the fleſh and the ſpirit; and teaching the Chriſtian with what aydes and ſupplies he muſt ſupport his weakeneſſe in theſe dangerous encounters, how hee muſt keepe vnderunder theſe wicked traitors, and ſo carry himſelfe and menadge his weapons, as that he may be aſſured to obtaine the victorie.