A Divine Legacy Bequeathed Unto All Mankind, Chapter 3

A Divine Legacy Bequeathed Unto All Mankind · Chapter 3

p. 64CHAP. III. The Redeemed are Conquerors.

THis Third Chapter doth demonſtrate that Chriſt is ſtill the ſtronger Man by his Spiritual Preſence in all his Redeemed, making them more than Conquerors, through his Love to them, Rom. 8.37. and he will continue to be ſo with them to the end of the World, Matth. 28.20. The Reaſon whereof is rendred, [For he that is in us, is greater than he that is in the World] 1 John 4.4. The Greek word is, [foreign] that is, greater in Strength; of the ſame Senſe with [foreign] the ſtronger Man, p. 65Luke 11.22. Who enabled the Apoſtle to ſay, [foreign] I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me] Phil. 4.13. And thus our Lord out of love doth ſtrengthen all his Members, (as he is their Head) to conquer and overcome all thoſe Difficulties that they meet withal in running their Race which is ſet before them, Hebr. 12.2. That no man (nor Devil) may take their Crown, Rev. 3.11. The firſt Enquiry is, What be the caſes of Difficulty, wherein the ſtrong Redeemer doth aſſiſt his weak redeemed Ones to become Conquerors by his aſſiſting Love? Anſwer, This Work of Love he worketh for us in Seven ſeveral Caſes. As

Firſt, Chriſt enables us for performing of Duties, which ſhould be wrought in God, John 3.21. both quoad fontem, from a right Principle; and quoad finem, for a right End; yea, and quoad regulam, by a right Rule alſo; otherwiſe, while we write up Service, God may write up Sin; ſplendida peccata, ſhining Sins in a ſilken Suit, &c. Zech. 7.8. When we go not forth in the ſtrength of the Lord to Preach, Pray, &c. Pſal. 71.16. The Lord helpeth the Levites to bear the Ark, &c. 1 Chron. 15.26. And God's Spirit helps our Infirmities in praying-work, Rom. 8.26. The word [foreign] which p. 66is tranſlated only [helpeth] ſignifies much more; namely, to bear up the heavier end of our praying-work. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty and freedom for performing of Duty, 2 Cor. 3.17. If Chriſt free us, we are free indeed, John 8.36.

Secondly, For exerciſing of Graces; 'tis not enough for us to have the Habits of Grace, but 'tis Chriſt's work to actuate them, and to draw them forth into acts and exerciſes, not one grace can ſuſpirare [breathe forth any fragrancy, unleſs Chriſt's Spirit do inſpirare [breathe upon them. Alas, all Habits of Grace do lay dormant in us in the caſe of Divine Deſertion (as thoſe in holy David did while God was departed from him during his ten Months, &c.] and the Spouſe was ſenſible of this danger, when ſhe ſo earneſtly prayed [Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow forth] Cant. 4.16. Never did the ground ſtand in more need of the ſweet Influences of the Pleiades, Joh 38.31. or Garden of April ſhowers to bring forth May flowers, &c. than our Hearts and our Habits of Grace do of the Spirit's Influence to come down upon us like Dew upon the mown Graſs, and like Showers that water the Earth, Pſal. 72.6. p. 67'Tis ſaid [the Spirit of God did move upon the face of the firſt deformed Chaos, and Gen. 1.2. and thereby brought forth gradually a Beautiful World: So no better are our Hearts and Habits, until the Spirit deſcends as a Dove upon us, and give more grace, James 4.6.

Thirdly, Our Lord ſtengthens us for bearing Affliction, which every good Soldier of Jeſus Chriſt ought to do, 2 Tim. 2.3. foreign] endure all evils. Now this cannot be done but by vertue of having fellowſhip with Chriſt in his ſufferings, Phil. 3.10. and where there is not firſt an Union, there cannot be any Communion or fellowſhip; we muſt firſt be united to Chriſt as to our Head, and then he communicates ability to his Members, even to truſt in a killing God, as Job did, c. 13.15. becauſe Chriſt bears up the heavier end of the Croſs, as is ſhewed in that Reſemblance of Simon's bearing the Croſs after Jeſus, Luke 23.26. The heavier end of the Croſs lay upon Chriſt's own ſhoulders, So Simon (in his fellowſhip with his Saviour in his ſufferings) did but carry the ſmall lighter end of the Croſs after him: Thus our Lord doth more than line our Croſſes for us, to make them ſofter, and leſs galling to our tender Tempers, but he hath taken away the Curſe of every Croſs, and p. 68hath made them more Medicinal than Paenal; ſo that we may now read Divine Faithfulneſs in them, as David did, Pſal. 119.71,75. 'Tis a filling up Chriſt's Afflictions, Col. 1.24. A Chip of Chriſt's Croſs doth dulcifie the bitter Waters, as that Tree did Marah, Exod. 15.25,26. That Glukuzar or Liquorice Tree, might be a Type of the Croſs whereon Chriſt was Crucified: And we find upon Record, how the ſweet preſence of Chriſt with the Three Nobles of Iſrael's Captives in Babylon, did even ſweeten to them thoſe Bitter Flames in the Furnace of Fire, as before, Dan. 3.25,28.

Fourthly, Chriſt the ſtrong Redeemer cauſeth his Redeemed Ones to be Conquerours alſo in Reſiſting Temptations; for he having before hand broken the Serpent's Head, Gen. 3.15. doth only leave Tail-Temptations for the exerciſe of their Graces, and not for the deſtruction of their Souls. He hath engaged his own Holineſs and Fidelity for aſſuring us of this great Truth, in that truly Golden Promiſe, 1 Cor. 10.13. where he ſaith [That we ſhall not be tempted above what we are able, for he is faithful, and he will make a way to eſcape, (tho' we cannot make any ſuch way for our own Deliverance) and that none ſuch Tryals ſhall come upon us, butp. 69what are common and incident to God's deareſt Children. He will not lead us into any untrodden paths, but only into ſuch ways, wherein the great Friends and Favourites of Heaven have gone before us, whoſe footſteps we are commanded to follow, Cant. 1.8. and Heb. 6.12.] Yea and he hath aſſured praying Souls, [that his Grace ſhall be ſufficient for us] 2 Cor. 12.7,8. and that he will Rebuke Satan that Reſiſts us, Zech. 3.1,2,3, &c. which he can eaſily do, as having him in a Chain; and 'tis but taking up a Link or two thereof, then our Souls are ſafe, &c.

Fifthly, He makes them Conquerours in mortifying Corruptions; from which none (even thoſe of the higheſt Form) are not exempted; Elijah, Paul and Barnabas were ſubject to the like paſſions with others, Acts 14.15. and James 5.17. The beſt of Men are but Men at the beſt: Therefore it is as great an act of miraculous Power to keep our little ſpark of Grace alive in the midſt of ſuch a vaſt Sea of Corruption, as it would be to keep a Coal-fire burning upon the ſurface of the Main Ocean. Our Graces (like the Army of Iſrael) are very ſmall, when our corruptions, like the Syrians, are ſo numerous as to fill the whole Country of the Iſle of Man, 1 Kings 20.27. therefore is it ſaid,p. 70that the Righteous are ſcarcely ſaved, 1 Pet. 4.18. that is, they have much ado, and meet with many difficulties before they can reach to Heaven; and Solomon ſaith, [He that truſts his own heart is a fool] Prov. 28.26. Notwithſtanding all this, tho' our corruptions have Iron Charets, and be too ſtrong for us, yet are they not too ſtrong for this ſtronger Man, Joſh. 17.16,18. and Judg. 1.19. We muſt ſay with John Baptiſt [He is foreign, mighty or ſtronger than I] Mat. 3.11. And what Anakims or Gyant-like corruptions were ever able to ſtand before his Mortifying Spirit? Rom. 8.13. his Promiſe, [he will ſubdue our Iniquities] Mich. 7.19. where the Hebrew word [Chabaſh] doth not ſignifie ſimply to ſubdue, but vi, & violentia ſubjugabit & conculcabit] that is, [Jikboſh Gnavonthenu, Hebr.] he will tread our Corruptions down by force and violence, and will perform with his hand, what his mouth hath ſpoken; He will do what he hath ſaid, 2 Sam. 7.25. 1 Kings 8.15. And, which is more than all this, God ſometimes doth give pardoning Mercy, where he hath denyed prevailing Grace; as this latter hath been withdrawn to humble the Saints; ſo the former is granted to comfort them, as in that double caſe of David and Peter; but then there muſt be ſome proportionp. 71betwixt ſinning and ſorrowing; Manaſſeh had greatly ſinned, and was as greatly humbled. Oh! let all bleſs the Lord for this, that [ſin hath not Dominion over us] Rom. 6.14. It may play the Tyrant, but never Rex or choſen King; it may come as a Traveller, as 2 Sam. 12.4. but it cannot be an Home-dweller, or Maſter of the Houſe, in any truly gracious Heart, &c.

Sixthly, The next Caſe of Difficulty, wherein the Redeemer aſſiſts the Redeemed to become Conquerors alſo, is in maintaining their Communion with God. Alas, how heavy are our Hearts, [Leve ſurſum, grave deorſum] heavy things hang downward, as light things preſs upward, which our Hearts cannot do, having the Stone in them, the Spouſe was ſenſible hereof, when ſhe prayed, [draw me, and we ſhall run after thee] Cant. 1.3. Anſelm's Bird with a Stone tied to its foot, is a lively Repreſentation of this Caſe, no ſooner did the Bird eſſay to mount up toward Heaven; but the Stone at her foot did preſently pluck her down to the Earth. It may well be ſaid, [Oh, how weak are our Hearts!] Ezek. 16.30. Chriſt ſaith to his Diſciples [Can ye not watch with me one Hour, the Spirit indeed is willing, but the Fleſh is weak] Matth. 26.41. As if our Lord had ſaid with the kindeſt Candourp. 72to them, ſeeing I find willingneſs of Spirit (ſo far as you are renewed in the Inner-man by the Law of the Mind) I will either ſtrengthen you againſt the weakneſs of the Fleſh, or I will pardon it; and not only ſo, but I will accept of your willingneſs to Watch and Pray, wherein your unrenewed part by the Law of your Members doth diſcover ſo much weakneſs. Thus our Lord excuſeth their frailties of Fleſh, whereof he minds them, leſt they ſhould preſume, yet he moſt graciouſly owns and acknowledges the Bent of their Spirits, leſt they ſhould deſpair: The purpoſe of our Hearts muſt be to cleave unto the Lord, Acts 11.23. and becauſe we cannot duly perform it, for we cannot ſerve the Lord without Diſtraction, 1 Cor. 7.35. Therefore we ought to pray with David, [Lord, unite my heart to ſerve thee] Pſal. 86.11. For a looſe Heart, (that is not tied faſt to God, can never abide at the Mark, but will ſtart aſide like a deceitful Bow, Pſal. 78.57. and Hoſ. 7.16. Alas, never did the unruly Bullock ſtand in more need to be bound faſt with Cords to the Horns of the Altar, Pſal. 118.27. than our Hearts do to be bound faſt to God with the golden Cords of Chriſt's Love in our Communion with him. And thus our Lord ſpeaketh,p. 73[With everlaſting kindneſs have I drawn thee] Jer. 31.3. And [I drew them with the Cords of a (or ſuitable to a) Man, even with Bands of Love] Hoſ. 11.4. Whereas God had complained of his People a little before this, [that their hearts were divided] Hoſ. 10.2. becauſe Anima diſperſa fit minor; ſaith the Philoſopher, when the Soul is diſperſed among various Objects, it is thereby much weakened in its Actings. Whereas on the other hand, [Vis unita eſt fortior] an Heart united and firmly fixed to God, [as David's Phraſe is) is thereby ſo ſtrengthened, as [to cleave cloſe to the Lord, for he is our Life, and the Length of our Days] Deut. 30.20. Oh! happy are ſuch Souls that can carry on their Communion with God, be able to ſay, [My heart is fixed] as David ſaith three ſeveral times, Pſal. 57.7. and 108.1. and 112.7. Yea, and can drive away wandring Thoughts in the Worſhip of God, as Abraham drove away the Fowls which did diſturb him in his ſacrificing Work, Gen. 15.11. And likewiſe can anſwer diſtracting Fancies, as Nehemiah did his Adverſaries, [I am about a great Work, and cannot attend you, why ſhould God's Work ceaſe, whilſt I leave it, and come down to you] Neh. 6.3. 'Tis obſervable that Honey while it is boiling hot, p. 74will not be blown upon by any filthy Flies; nor would our Hearts be fly-blown by Beelzebub, the Prince of Flies, (as the Name ſignifies). If we could but keep them in a fervent Frame, enditing good Matter, as David did his heart, Pſal. 45.1. Hebr. Margent, God commands us to be fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord, Rom. 12.11. or we cannot keep in Communion with God; but neither this Work, nor any other can we do by any ſtrength of our own, yet may we be able to do all the Works of a Chriſtian through Chriſt, the ſtronger Man) that ſtrengthens us, Phil. 4.13.

The Seventh and laſt Caſe of Difficulty in which the Redeemer ſtrengthens his Redeemed with a conquering Power, is in making their Paſſage forward, and their Progreſs perfect through the wayleſs and waterleſs Wilderneſs of this preſent evil World, (ſo called, Gal. 1.4.) even into the Heavenly Canaan, yea, and home to their Father's Houſe. 'Twas God's Command, [ſay to the Children of Iſrael that they go forward, &c.] Exod. 14.15,16. Though there be a Red-Sea before, and an Enemy behind, and mighty Mountains round about; yet was there no cauſe of fear, becauſe Chriſt in the Cloudy-Pillar went along with them, and was preſent p. 75both in the Van and in the Rear. The ſame Office of Love doth the ſtrengthening Preſence of Chriſt do ſtill unto all the true Iſrael of God. This is ſhewed in Hoſea 11.1,2,3,4: where Ephraim the Child, the Lord taught him to go, or as [foreign] the Septuagint word there ſignifies) to pace, leaving his natural Trot in ways of Sin, intimating how God put him (as it were) into the Traces, as Horſe-Maſters do young Colts to teach them to Pace, &c. So God doth here [taking the Child Ephraim by the Arms, &c. Where beſide that notable Notion of teaching to Pace or Amble from the Greek Verſion, the Hebrew Text repreſents Chriſt as a Nurſe, bearing the Nurſling by the Arms, whereby ſhe ſupports the weight of his Body, then ſhe teaches him how to move his Legs forward ſtep by ſtep. Thus our Lord is ſaid, [to guide our feet in the way of Peace] Luke 1.79. He doth ſtrengthen our feeble Knees, drawing us [fortiter tamen ſuaviter, ſtrongly, yet ſweetly] through the Quagmires of Croſſes by the Cords of a Man, Hoſ. 11.4. that is, he Drags us not along like Beaſts, but he draws us gently endways by Means and Motives, ſuitable to the rational Nature of Man, even with Bands of Love, irreſiſtibly by the effectual workingsp. 76of his Holy Spirit; which he hath promiſed to beſtow upon us, John 6.44. and 12.32. and which the Spouſe prayed for, when ſhe found ſome Back-biaſſes, that made her hang backward in her Progreſs toward Heaven, Cant. 1.4. Oh, bleſſed are they whoſe ſtrength is in the Lord, they paſs on from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 84.5,7. and grow ſtronger and ſtronger, Job 17.9. Such do paſs from Mithcah to Caſhnonah, Numb. 33.29. that is, from Sweetneſs unto Swiftneſs, as thoſe two Hebrew names do ſignify. They lift up their feet, and walk luſtily towards Canaan, as Jacob did after his refreſhing Bait of the Ladder at Bethel, Gen. 28.12, &c. with 29.1. Margent. Oh! happy is that Man [whoſe right hand the Lord upholdeth in his whole Work, as he did for Cyrus, Iſa. 45.1. though Abraham knew not whither he went, Hebr. 11.8. yet he well knew with whom he went] for he walked with God, as a Child in a Fathers hand, who hath promiſed to ſave to the utmoſt, Heb. 7.25.

The Second Enquiry is, What Conditions doth our ſtrong Redeemer require of his Redeemed, that he may cauſe them to become Conquerors, &c. Anſwer, The Conditions are Twofold.

p. 77(1ſt.) We muſt keep conſtantly in God's Arms, &c. And

(2dly.) We muſt wholly put on God's Armour.

Firſt, On the (1ſt.) of theſe briefly, we muſt keep conſtantly in God's Arms, for the Eternal God is our Refuge, and his Everlaſting Arms muſt be underneath us, Deut. 33.27. God tells us, [that our Hearts are weak] Ezek. 16.30. And David from his ſenſe hereof, crieth [Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak] Pſalm 6.2. And hereupon it is the Churches Prayer, [Lord be thou our Arm every Morning] Iſa. 33.2. otherwiſe we ſhall do nothing but ſtumble and fall, like weak Children, that love not to keep conſtantly in their Fathers Arms, but will preſumptuouſly be venturing to go alone, and ſo gets many a knock and blow, &c. oh how ſevere was God's Law againſt ſuch, ſaying, [That Soul which dare do any thing preſumptuouſly, doth reproach the Lord (as if ſuch ſcorn'd his helping hand) and ſhall be cut off from among his People] Numb. 15.30. Our Lord tells us, That [without Chriſt we can do nothing] John 15.5. that is, nothing after a gracious manner, neither acceptably or effectually, and therefore are we bid to abide in the Vine, ver. 7. and to abide in him,p. 781 John 2.28. and yet we can do all things by Chriſt's ſtrengthning prefence, Phil. 4.13. Alas, our Bow (like that of Joſeph's) cannot abide in ſtrength, unleſs it be ſtrengthened by the Arms of the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, Gen. 49.24. 'Twas not enough for Joaſh to put his hand upon the Bow alone, no, but the Prophet of God (who repreſented God himſelf) muſt lay his hands upon the King's hand alo, otherwiſe there can be no ſhooting to any purpoſe the Arrows of God's Deliverance, &c. 2 King. 13.16. We are like little Boys learning to write, who muſt have their hand guided by their Maſters hand. But Secondly, we muſt put on the whole Armour of God, Eph. 6.12, &c. The Reaſon is, our Adverſary is a ſtrong Man armed even Cap-a-pee, from head to foot; and woe to us, if at any time he aſſault us when weak men and naked, ſuch are eaſily overcome by High-way-men in their Travelling-Journeys. 'Tis ſad to be inſenſible of our own nakedneſs, Rev. 3.17,18. Woful is our caſe if this Thief in the night find us naked, Rev. 16.15. The firſt Adam made himſelf and all his Poſterity naked by eating forbidden fruit, Gen. 3.7. he loſt the Robe of Original Righteouſneſs, both for himſelf, and for all that were in his Loins, as he was a publick Perſon and Repreſentative of allp. 79Mankind, Adam's Nakedneſs made him Run from God to Satan in his ſinful excuſes of his ſin, and in his Fig-leave coverings, &c. Gen. 3.10,12, &c. Now while we remain in this corrupt Root the firſt Adam, we are eaſily taken by this mighty Hunter, and led captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. The Greek word there [foreign] ſignifies taken alive in Hunting by this Nimrod] not to be preſerved alive, but to be deſtroyed, 2 Pet. 2.12. without Repentance unto Life, Acts 11.18. Thus likewiſe we are told [How Aaron made the People naked] Exod. 32.25. ſo that a double Nakedneſs was upon them, both that from Adam's ſin, and alſo by their own ſin of Idolatry, wherein Aaron was their Inſtrument. This Golden Calf did diveſt them of Divine protection, and expoſed them to the Wrath both of God and Man, as Numb. 14.9. we become a Break-faſt to Satan, &c. And this our Nakedneſs God minds us of it. Again, Ezek. 16.22. where both Gnaram, and Gnarah Hebrew, be uſed to intimate we are (in the faln Nature) not only polluted in our Blood (as is at large expreſſed in the beginning of that Chapter) but that we are both naked and bare too, that is, without Apparel as well as without Armour alſo; oh great miſery, &c!

p. 80N.B. Note well, ſeeing we are both naked and bare in the faln Eſtate, to wit, we are deſtitute both of Apparel and of Armour; Therefore in the firſt place, we muſt look out for ſome Tight Apparel, not only to cover our Nakedneſs, but alſo ſuch as may ſecure us from thoſe Storms which Satan (that Prince of the Power of the Air, Eph. 2.2,3.) will aſſuredly raiſe up againſt us: This our Lord ſheweth in his Parable, Matth. 7.25. ſaying, [The Rain will deſcend upon our Spiritual Buildings, &c. Many a ſharp Shower will beat upon us and batter us; and becauſe the Fig-leave Aprons (which our firſt Parents made for themſelves) was not a ſufficient ſecurity to them. Hereupon the Lord made Coats of Skins and cloathed them, Gen. 3.21. which was there a ſhadowing Emblem of the Fleece and Skin of the Lamb of God, we muſt be counſelled to buy of him white Raiment that we may be clothed, and that the ſhame of our Nakedneſs may not appear, Rev. 3.17,18. We muſt be covered with a Covering of Chriſt's Spirit, Iſa. 30.1. and apparelled with the Robes of his Righteouſneſs, which is call'd the Beſt Robe, Luke 15.22. and thus the Bride the Lamb's Wife had granted to her to be arrayed in fine Linnen, clean and white, which is [foreign] the Righteouſneſſes p. 81of the Saints, to wit, the Grace of Juſtification, and the Grace of Sanctification; and therefore the Greek word is put into the plural Number, Rev. 19.8,9. Oh pray over that Promiſe [I will ſpread the skirts of my Merit over thee to cover thy Nakedneſs, &c.] Ezek. 16.8. and look upon it as a ſhameful thing, that we can (all of us) be wiſe enough to ſecure both our Bodies and our dwelling houſes from all annoyances and harms to them, yet not be ſo wiſe for our Souls, but leave them expoſed to all evil; whereas we have need to be like Noah's Ark, that was pitched within and without, that it might be able to Ride out the Storm, Gen. 6.14.

Now in the ſecond place, This double Malady muſt have a double Remedy, as we are both naked & bare, Ezek. 16.22, &c. So when we are remedied of being naked of Apparel, then may we not remain ſtill bare of Armour; and this Spiritual or Myſtical Armour wherewith we ought to be furniſhed and fortified, do fall under three diſtinct denominations in ſacred Scripture; the firſt is, 'tis call'd the Armour of Light, Rom. 13.12. ſo named, becauſe firſt, 'Tis only the Children of Light, ſo called, Luke 16.8. Epheſ. 5.8. 1 Theſ. 5.5. who are bleſt and beautified with this bleſſed Armour; all the Children p. 82of Darkneſs abide both naked and bare, and continue Slaves and Vaſſals to Satan, that Prince of Darkneſs, as before, 2 Tim. 2.26, &c. But ſecondly, Becauſe thoſe Children are (or at leaſt ought to be) careful to keep this Armour lightſom, bright, and gliſtering, as indeed all the parts of this Armour are when they come firſt to them out of God's own Heavenly Armory, and of God's own furbuſhing and poliſhment. Now this very name [Armour of Light] doth moſt clearly teach us, that we ought to Exerciſe all the parts of this Armour duly and daily, and to keep them in perpetual Uſe, and never (out of any ſecurity or preſumption) dare to let them become Ruſty or ſoiled by our careleſs Diſuſe of them. Yea and (3dly) this is called [the Armour of Light] becauſe it gives a light and luſtre to ſuch as wear it; for the light of Divine knowledge teacheth us to walk [foreign] Handſomely and of the beſt form and faſhion as the Greek word ſignifies, Rom. 13.13. Intimating, that we ought by the help of this Armour to lead ſuch convincing lives, walk as children of light, Eph. 5.8. that all who behold us, may then Acknowledge us, that we are a ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed, Iſa. 61.9. and our Light ſhould ſo ſhine before Men, ſo, &c. as that they may ſee our goodp. 83works and Glorify our Heavenly father, Mat. 5 16. We ought to ſhine as Lights in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe Generation, Phil. 2 15. & ſo, as not only to ſtop the mouths of gainſayers from Reproaching us, 1 Pet. 3.16. but alſo (to force their Mouths open in commending our comly Converſation in Chriſt.

The ſecond Denomination of this myſtical Armour is, the Armour of Righteouſneſs, which we are to put on us for our Defence both upon our right Hand, and upon our left, 2 Cor. 6.7. 'Tis ſo called there, (1ſt.) Becauſe by the Bleſſed benefit hereof we are kept and confirmed in the way of Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, Prov. 16.31. Eph. 4.24. And (2dly.) Becauſe Satan doth batter us both upon our Right hand and upon our Left, on purpoſe to drive us out of the good old and middle way, into the Extremes upon either hand; for this is the Tempter's wily Method, at the firſt to aſſault us with his Flatteries and Allurements, and when he finds himſelf baffled herein by this Impenetrable Armor, then his ſecond Aſſault is more furious with his Frowns and Affrightments; this was the Tempter's way of Tempting famous Luther, whom the Devil's Patriarch (the Pope) firſt enticed with great promiſes of preferring him to a Cardinals p. 84Cap, &c. if he would turn Papiſt, &c. but when this great promiſe, &c. could not faſten upon him, then the Pope turned his Tone and Tune, and ſent forth his Thundring Bull, and dreadfully threatned to fall upon him foully with fire and ſword, if he perſiſted in his obſtinacy, &c. But brave Luther, being fortified with this Armour of Righteouſneſs; on his Right hand and Left returns this Anſwer [Contemptus ad me Romanus & favor & furor] that is, I do cordially ſcorn both the favour and fury of that Romiſh Beaſt, &c. Yea and the ſame Heroick Soul ſaith farther, [Valdè proteſtatus ſum me nolle ſic a Deo ſatiari] that is, I have ſolemnly proteſted that my God ſhall not put me off with ſuch low things as thoſe are which the Mock-Vicar of Chriſt doth now tempt me with.

But the Third Denomination hereof, it is called [the Armour of God] Epheſ. 6.10,11,12. that we may be made ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, we are commanded to put on the Armour of God. It hath this name upon it; Firſt, Becauſe God (who is call'd [foreign] Heb. 11.10. ſignifying a moſt curious Artificer) is the framer of them, as well as of the Worlds, and of that City Celeſtial and without Foundations. What was ſaid of p. 85Moſes's Tables of Stone wherein the Decalogue was written, that All was the Workmanſhip of God, Exod. 32.16. The ſame may be ſaid of this Spiritual Armour; All the Furniture and Armory of Evangelical Graces wherewith we are defended from all our Spiritual Enemies, as they are called the Gifts of God, Eph. 2.8. ſo they are truly the Workmanſhip of God, whereby we are ſaid to be created in Chriſt, &c. verſe 10. and become partakers of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. And Secondly, We are bid to put this Armour of God upon us, becauſe we have a moſt Dangerous Devil to deal with, who is compleatly Armed to Do Evil to us (according to the Deſcant upon his name [Devil, quaſi Do-Evil] yea and he can do evil to us [eminus] that is, at diſtance with his Fiery Darts, afar off, Eph. 6.16. as well as [cominus] that is, hand to hand, by his Buffetings, that the Meſſenger of Satan is ſaid to give the bleſſed Apoſtle (as it were face to face, 2 Cor. 12.6,7, &c.) which plainly demonſtrates that the Devil …s got near at hand to us, and now doth grapple with us as a Wreſtler, who takes …old of the Arms of him with whom he wreſtles; and thus 'tis ſaid [We wreſtle …ot with fleſh and blood, but with principa…ties and powers, &c.] Eph. 6.12. ſo that p. 86he doth evil to us, not only at a diſtance, as he is Prince of the power of the Air, (and ſo hath the upper ground of us poor Worms crawling upon the Earth) from whence he throws his fiery Darts at us, as Saul did his Javelin ſeveral times at David, &c. but alſo near hand; for Job by Divine permiſſion was within Satan's Touch, Job 1.11. & 2.5. where Satan begs leave of the Lord to let him touch Job's perſon as well as his goods and children with ſome of his pernicious Touches; but tho' we be within the Tempter's Touchings (in his walking to and fro ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8.) yet bleſſed be the Lord for his Divine Grace, that this wicked one cannot Touch ſuch as are born of God with any of his Deadly Touches, 1 John 5.18,19. However is moſt highly concerns us, that we be no… found of him naked and unarmed. Alas how eaſily did Cain prevail againſt Abe… whom he found in the Field unprepare for Reſiſtance, &c? and how eaſily di… Simeon and Levi (thoſe two Brethren i… Iniquity) prevail againſt Shechem and hi… Citizens whom they ſurprized at u… awares, and altogether unable to defen… themſelves, being ſtill very ſore wit… their Circumciſion, Gen. 34.25. Solomo… ſaith [Poverty ſhall come upon Idle on… p. 87like an Armed Man, Hebr. A Man of Shields] Prov. 6.11. that is, it comes with ſo much force and violence, as it cannot be either avoided or averted, &c. Now if ſo much be ſaid of ſuch a thing as Poverty or Want; how much more may be affirmed of ſuch a perſon as this Prince of Devils, and Darkneſs, and the God of this World, Matth. 12.24. and 2 Cor. 4.4. who is ſuch a Mark's man as can ſling his Stones of Temptation even to an hair's-breadth and not miſs, as Judg. 20.16. yea and can ſhoot his Arrows with ſo much accuracy and exactneſs, as to wound us between the Joynts of our Harneſs, as as Ahab was, 1 Kings 22.34. And if ſo, then much more when he ſurprizeth us either Napping or Naked, or both: Therefore our Lord makes an open proclamation [What I ſay unto you, I ſay unto all, watch, that none be found ſleeping] Mark 13.36,37. And the Apoſtle Peter publiſheth by ſounding of his Trumpet, and crying, Arm, Arm, Arm, your ſelves, [foreign] 1 Pet. 4.1. in general to all.

This brings us to the third particular, to wit, we muſt not only Arm our ſelves, and put on the Armour of Light and of Righteouſneſs; but we muſt put on the whole Armour of God, as they are diſtinctlyp. 88deſcribed in order one after another, Eph. 6.11, to 19. where the Apoſtle having before appointed all ſorts of Chriſtians their Ranks in all their reſpective Relations, and had declared to them their Relative Duties in their ſeveral Reſpects; then he purſues his Divine Documents, how they muſt be compleatly armed Cap-a-pee, from Top to Toe, intimating, that without this whole Armour, we can neither keep our Relative Ranks religiouſly, nor do our reſpective Duties (as thoſe that are Superiour of Parents, Maſters and Husbands, &c. and Inſeriour, as Wives, Children and Servants, &c. or equal, &c.) in a way either pleaſing to God, or profitable to man, &c. from ver. 22, of Chap. 5. to ver. 10 of Chap. 6.

Now this Chriſtian Armour (ſo highly honoured with thoſe three Titles, the Armour of Light, of Righteouſneſs, and of God) the ſame Apoſtle lets us know all the parts of the whole, which he bids us to put on, particularly both thoſe parts.

1. That are Defenſive; and then,

2. Thoſe that are Offenſive: And firſt he begins with the Myſtical Belt, or Girdle of Truth, ver. 14. wherein he alludeth to that Military Belt which the Roman Soldiers did commonly wear, thatp. 89was made up of Durable Stuff, beſet with many Iron and Braſs Plates, whereby their Loins, and the upper part of the Belly (which is moſt eaſily wounded) were well armed and ſecured from Harm: By this he reſembleth that Golden Girdle of Truth and Sincerity, wherewith every True Chriſtian ought to gird up the Loins of his Mind, Luk. 12.35. 1 Pet. 1.13. The Loins of our Worldly Affections may not be looſe and hanging down, &c. like looſe Garments down to the Feet, which will hinder the nimble motion of our Feet in running the Race that is ſet before us, Heb. 12.1. Therefore we muſt gird them up with this Girdle of Truth, which makes us firm and ſtable in all our Religious Undertakings. That vulgar Proverb [Ungir… Unbleſt] doth aſſuredly hold true here, if ever; for they prove but looſe Profeſſors, who want this Golden Girdle, and only wear the Garment of Holineſs like a looſe Gown or Garment, to be put on or caſt off at pleaſure; ſuch an one is called [omnium horarum Homo] a man that can turn with the Times, and can ſhift and ſuit his Sails to all Winds and Seaſons, &c. whereas our Lord ſaith, that all his ſincere Servants muſt firſt gird themſelves, (to wit with this Golden Girdle of Sincerity) p. 90otherwiſe we can never ſerve our Maſter as we ought to do, Luk. 17.8.

The ſecond piece of Defenſive Armour is, the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, ver. 14. which is the principal Defence for the Heart, the leaſt wound whereof is mortal: 'Tis the primum vivens, and the ultimum moriens, the firſt that lives, and the laſt that dies in the ordinary courſe of Nature; and therefore extraordinary care is univerſally taken to ſecure that Fort-Royal of Life the Heart. Now ſeeing the Heart doth ſignifie the Conſcience, [if our hearts condemn us, &c. that is, our Conſciences, 1 Joh. 3.20. therefore how careful was this ſame Apoſtle to ſecure it with this Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, ſaying [I have lived in all good Conſcience] Act. 23.1. becauſe it was good with the goodneſs of Integrity, therefore was it good alſo with the goodneſs of Tranquility: And he farther tells us, how he made it his daily Exerciſe and Recreation (as foreign ſignifies) to keep his Conſcience void of offence both toward God and toward man,] Act. 24.16. Moreover he ſaith [our rejoicing is this, the Teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our Converſation in the World, and more abundantly to p. 91you ward,] 2 Cor. 1.12. but more of this after to this ſame purpoſe. None-ſuch Job ſaith [My Righteouſneſs I hold faſt, and will not let it go, my Heart ſhall not reproach me, ſo long as I live,] Job 27.6. And John addeth his Verdict to this point likewiſe, ſaying, [He that hath Righteouſneſs, is Righteous, &c.] 1 Joh. 3.7. that is, ſuch as have both the Righteouſneſs imputed in the Grace of Juſtification, and likewiſe that which is imparted in the Grace of Sanctification; theſe two are called [foreign] the Righteouſneſs of the Saints, Rev. 19.8. The original reading there is in the plural number: We all ought to be unto God what we ſeem to be unto men, and that at all times and in all places, and our Conſciences muſt bear witneſs hereof in the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 9.1. If ſo, this will be foreign, an Impenetrable Coat of Mail, and Armour of Proof, a moſt bleſſed Breaſt-plate. Thus far the Light and Law of Nature enabled the Pagan Poet to ſing,

—Hic Murus Aheneus eſto

Nil conſcire ſibi, nullâ palleſcere culpâ;

that is, a clear Conſcience is as a Brazen Wall, which will beat back the Shots of a thouſand Reproaches and Slanders, &c. p. 92and the Apoſtle better tells us, that this is an Evidence of our Election, 2 Pet. 1.5,6,7,8,9,10. If all be well within us, it cannot well be ill without us. Whereas on the contrary, if Conſcience be galled, 'tis with us, as with thoſe who have the Skin of their Backs rubbed off; or their Shoulder-blade disjointed; any lightſome load is very burdenſome to them, &c. This Conſideration cauſed Paul (who was in perils often, &c.) ſo careful of not making Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conſcience, 1 Tim. 1.19. for Faith is the Jewel, and Conſcience is the Cabinet wherein it is kept; and if this be ſafe, all loads on us will be lighter, &c.

The Third piece of Defenſive Armour is, [having our Feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace,] ver. 15. that is, ſeeing there is much hard Ground as Etham ſignifies, betwixt us and Canaan, as it was Iſrael's third Stage [from Raamſes to Succoth, and from Succoth to Etham, Exod. 13.20. and Numb. 33.6. yea, and many ſnares of Satan in our way to Heaven; and indeed every place in our paſſage thither is full of Briars and Bramble buſhes, ſo that we have great need to be well-ſhod with Goſpel-ſhoes of magnanimity and patience, or we ſhall prove unlike to the Right Brood of Travellers, p. 93who travel luſtily home to their Fathers Houſe. We read in Scripture how Goliah had Greeves or Boots of Braſs, 1 Sam. 17.6. And thus Homer charactarizeth his Graecians, not only to be foreign, Iron-ſides (as is the Phraſe of our times) but alſo foreign, well-booted Soldiers, whoſe Legs and Feet were well ſecured from Hazards and Harms by Shots. Thus Chriſtians ought to be well fortified with Goſpel-comforts, (whereby God creates peace in the Soul, Iſai. 57.19.) then may they trudge over hard ground with alacrity; yea, tread upon not only Briars and Brambles, but alſo upon Lions and Adders with ſafety; yea, that old Dragon the Devil himſelf, they ſhall trample under foot, Pſal. 91.13. Mar. 16.18. and Rom. 16.20. Paul ſhaked the Viper from off his Hand into the Fire, Act. 28.4,5. Whereas on the other hand, oh how ſoon are the ignorant, the timorous, and ſuch as become aſhamed of their Profeſſion, put to the Foil by that old ſubtle Serpent, (who hath a liberty in his Commiſſion to bruiſe the Heel of the Seed of the Woman, Gen. 3.15.) becauſe they are no better ſhod with the Shoes of Goſpel-peace: This is known by common experience, that thoſe who are tender-footed, or whoſe Feet arep. 94either beaten or bliſtered, cannot tread upon Stones or Thorns; they are Halters betwixt God and Baal.

The fourth piece of Defenſive Armour, is the Shield of Faith, verſe 16. which we are bidden [foreign] above all, or over and upon all, to take and be armed with; intimating, that whatever other part of this Myſtical Armour we want, we muſt in no wiſe want this principal part thereof, for this doth cover and defend all the other pieces of the Defenſive Armour, becauſe a firm Truſt and Confidence in God by Chriſt doth after a ſpecial manner ſhelter, and over-ſhadow the imperfections of all our other Graces: And indeed this Shield of Faith doth not only defend our other Graces, but our ſelves alſo, as it takes hold of that precious Promiſe of God to Abraham [I am thy Shield, fear not, &c.] Gen. 15.1. As if God had ſaid [thine Enemies ſhall firſt ſtrike through me thy Shield, before they can come to reach and wound thee, I will ſtand betwixt thee and all Danger] and the like priviledge of ſafety God vouchſafed unto Iſrael, ſaying, [as the Eagle beareth her young upon her wings, ſo hath the Lord born you, &c. Deut. 32.11,12. which alluſion doth imply, that no Shot can come to harm the young Eagles ſo carried, but it muſt firſt p. 95pierce and paſs through the body of the Old one. By all this it is apparent, how ſafely doth Faith lodge the Soul under the ſhadow of the wings of Almighty God, Pſal. 91.1,2,3,4, to 14. The juſt do live by their Faith, Hab. 2.4. Nor is this all that the Shield of Faith doth for us, in ſecuring us from the Aſſaults of Satan, but it alſo repels and beats back thoſe Darts that he caſts at us; yea and yet higher, it moreover doth quench that Hell fire they bring along with them; for Satan's Darts are like thoſe (that Hiſtory mentions) of the Scythians, which were not only pointed and hardened in the fire, but they were alſo dipped in the poiſon of Aſps, and in the venom of Vipers, that they might the more horribly torture and torment thoſe Bodies that were wounded with them; even ſo Satan would torture and torment our Souls with his poiſon'd fiery Darts: The Lord ſtrengthen our Faith, whereby we may quench the fire, and antidote the poiſon, &c.

The fifth peece of Defenſive Armour, is the Helmet of Salvation, verſe 17. which the ſame Apoſtle helps to interpret this place, ſaying, [Take for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation] 1 Theſ. 5.8. So that this Helmet here is the Grace of Hope, the office whereof is, to hold up our heads p. 96above Water, and raiſes up the Soul (with an out-ſtretched neck, as the Greek word [foreign] Rom. 8.23. ſignifies, which we read, waiting with groans for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of the Body. And the next words there are [for we are ſaved by hope, &c. and if we hope for that we ſee not, then do we with patience wait for it] verſe 24, 25. Hope is the Daughter of Faith, its Mother; yet is it as a ſtaff for its Aged Mother to lean upon: By Faith we believe the Truth of, and our own Title to thoſe bleſſings that we are not yet poſſeſſed of, and by Hope we patiently wait for that which we believe ſhall ſurely come to paſs: And when they but begin to do ſo, then Hope looketh up and lifts up the head, becauſe our Redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21.28. 'Tis the excellency of Hope to take her Turns in walking round about the Streets of the New Jeruſalem, and ſometimes to ſit ſtill and ſing [adhuc mea Meſſis in Herba eſt] there is yet an happy Harveſt that is haſtening in its ſeaſon for me; the Lord will haſten it in his time, Iſa. 60.22. So I will hope againſt Hope, Rom. 4.18. Yet more, this Hope is ſo excellent, that it is not only our Helmet by Land, but it is alſo our Anchor by Sea, Heb. 6.19. By Hope we have our Safety here, and our Salvation p. 97hereafter, both are purchaſed by Chriſt, who has ſecured a full Victory over this ſtrong Man for us.

Thus far the five pieces of the Chriſtian Defenſive Armour reacheth; now the two following parts, namely, the Sixth and Seventh, are indeed Offenſive Weapons, as well as Defenſive Armour. As the former five were meerly, and ſolely for our Defence; ſo theſe two latter are not only for our own Defence, but they are alſo for Offence of our Spiritual Foes, to wit, the Sword of the Spirit, and Darts of Prayer.

The Sixth Apoſtolical Direction here for our being compleatly Armed in our Spiritual Warfare, is, Take likewiſe to you the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God] Eph. 6.17. As there is a literal and a Carnal Sword, ſo there is a Myſtical and a Spiritual Sword: Which Truth may be demonſtrated, Firſt, By that Example in Scripture-Record [And it ſhall come to paſs, that him who eſcapeth the Sword of Hazael ſhall Jehu ſlay; and him that eſcapeth from the Sword of Jehu, ſhall Eliſha ſlay.] 1 Kings 19.17. the Interpretation whereof muſt moſt plainly imply, that Eliſha had his Slaying Sword, as well as Hazael and Jehu: And tho' their Slaying Swords were both of them Carnal, yetp. 98this of Eliſha muſt be Spiritual, as he was a Prophet of the Lord, and more; yea and weilded no other Sword, but that which is called here the Word of God: And in congruity with this ſenſe the Lord himſelf ſpeaketh Secondly, [Therefore I have hewed them by my Prophets; I have ſlain them by the words of my mouth] Hoſ. 6.5. Moreover a Third ſacred Inſtance gives a farther Illuſtration unto this Myſtical Interpretation, namely, [If any man will dare to hurt my two Witneſſes, I will give ſuch a power to my Servants, that Fire ſhall proceed out of their mouths, which ſhall devour their Enemies; and if any man (tho' never ſo many or ſo mighty) will hurt them, he muſt in this manner be killed.] Rev. 11.3,5. And yet to all thoſe three Quotations above-named, this Scripture is moſt expreſs for this Myſtical ſenſe, ſaying [Take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.] There be ſeveral cogent and ponderous Reaſons, why the Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit, &c.

The firſt is, Becauſe the Spirit was the Artificer, the curious Contriver, who framed and faſhioned this Spiritual Sword, the Holy Spirit hath the honour of making this excellent weapon ready to our hands; for thus we are told [That no Prophecy of Scripture came in oldp. 99Time by the will of man, but holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt, &c.] 2 Pet. 1.20,21. The word [foreign] ſignifies that the Scriptures are God's breath, God made them as well as the Heavens, &c. Heb. 11.10. with the Breath of his Mouth.

The Second Reaſon is, becauſe the word of God is ſharper than any two edged Sword, and pierceth to the dividing of the Soul and Spirit, &c. Heb. 4.12. the Greek words foreign, ſignifies 'tis quick, lively, cutting, powerful and energetical, when the power of the Spirit goeth along with it, as Luke 5.17, &c. It will then ranſack the hearts even of wicked men, as it did to Herod, Luke 9.7. it made him ſtick faſt in the mud, as the original word [foreign] ſignifies, and as it did to Foelix, who was made to tremble thereby, Acts 24.25. But as to the Godly who tremble at his Word and Judgments (as David did, Pſal. 119.120.) God promiſeth to lend a look of Love towards them, Iſai. 66.3.

The Third Reaſon why the Word is called a Sword, is, becauſe this Weapon of our Warfare, is not weak as Fleſh (oft called the old man for weakneſs) is, but it is mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, and caſting downp. 100imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the obedience of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10.4,5. Therefore Alexander's Sword wherewith he could cut the Gordian Knot, (as it is famous in Hiſtory) is nothing comparable to this Spiritual Sword that can work all thoſe Wonders before mentioned. We muſt ſay the ſame of this Sword, what David ſaid of Goliah's Sword, there is none like it, let it be given to us, 1 Sam. 21.9.

But the Fourth Reaſon above all is, this was the Weapon wherewith our Lord Chriſt did defeat and diſcomſit the Devil himſelf when he warred this good Warfare againſt Satan's very Perſon, and that upon the Devil's own Dunghil, as he is called the God of this World, 2 Cor. 4.4. We find in Matt. 4. and in the other Evangeliſts likewiſe, how our Lord (in his Duel with the Devil) made uſe of no other Weapon, but this Sword of the Spirit, the word of God, wherewith in three ſeveral aſſaults of Satan upon him, he repelled his Antagoniſt three ſundry times one after another, and that by anſwering all the three Temptations of the Tempter, only with [ſcriptum eſt, it is written] three times over: and which is remarkable,p. 101all thoſe three Scriptures wherewith our Saviour conquered Satan, were drawn out of the Fifth Book of Moſes called Deuteronomy. This, even this was the great and ſtrong Sword wherewith our Lord ſlaſhed, and cut in pieces that lofty Leviathan, that old and crooked piercing Serpent, as Iſai. 27.1. As David (our Lord's Father and Figure) did chooſe ſome ſmooth Stones out of the Water-brooks wherewith he fought the good fight of Faith againſt that monſtrous Philiſtin, &c. 2 Sam. 17.40. and he ſlings theſe Stones (out of the Sling of Faith alſo) at the very Face of the Great Goliah, and God himſelf going along with the Stone, it gave him a mortal wound, and made him fall flat down to the ground, ſo that the weight of his bulky Body, (eſpecially ſo loaded with ſo much heavy Armour) muſt make an horrible Earthquake by his fall. Even ſo our myſtical David here doth chooſe thoſe three ſmooth Stones out of the Silver Streams of the Sacred Scriptures, and with theſe, being ſlung by a Divine Art and Hand, he likewiſe knocks down the Great Goliah of Hell. All this doth teach us, that the Books of the Holy Scriptures are a bleſſed Armory, (far beyond that of Solomons, Cant. 4.4. The Tower of David p. 102was famous for a fully furniſhed Armory, as the Tower of London is now accounted the moſt famous Armory in the World for all ſorts of Armour, ſo comly fixed in a moſt beautiful order, which my Eyes have beheld with admiration) whither we ought to haſten in an hour of Temptation, and there we ſhall be furniſhed with this Sword to defeat the Devil, &c.

NB. Note well, (1ſt) That this Sword may have ſaving effects for our Souls good; we muſt learn from David to draw the Sword out of its Sheath, as he did, 1 Sam. 17.51. that is, we muſt draw this Sword of the Spirit out of the Sheath of the Letter, and not make a Charm of the bare words thereof; for 'tis ſaid [the Letter killeth, but 'tis the Spirit that giveth life, 2 Cor. 3.6. Yet 'tis the Foppery of Popery to uſe only a wooden Dagger, and a leaden Sword in undertaking to drive away the Devil, by making Spells of ſome certain Syllables of the Scripture, and by croſſing themſelves with the ſign of the Croſs, and by being ſprinkled with their Holy Water; yea, and by ringing their Baptized Bells, &c. Whereas, alas, 'tis not the dead ſign of the Croſs, but the living Word of the Croſs, 1 Cor. 1.23,24. the power of God, &c. that drives away the Devil; 'tis our being ſprinkled withp. 103Water of Life, even with Water and the Spirit, Joh. 3.3,5. and it is the ringing of Aaron's Bells, which typified the preaching of the Word of God) and which the Devil can no more abide than the Owle can abide the Light of the Sun, becauſe he is a Bird of Darkneſs. This was very apparent in New England, (as Mr. Elliot relateth the ſtory) that when the Sun-ſhine of the Goſpel firſt came into that Country, it ſo moleſted the Devil in his former quiet Habitations, that he departed thence with moſt horrible ſigns of his Diſpleaſure; and thus it is ſaid, that [God ſmites the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth,] Iſa. 11.4. and likewiſe that [the man of Sin ſhall be deſtroyed with the Breath of Chriſt's Mouth, and with the Brightneſs of his Coming,] 2 Theſſ. 2.8. 'tis the Breath, or Spirit (both which are of the ſame ſignification) of Chriſt, that goes along with his Word, which deſtroys the Devil and his Works, Heb. 2.14. and 1 Joh. 3.8. Luk. 5.17.

N B. Note well, (2ly) How highly doth it concern us all to comply cordially with that Apoſtolical command [let the Word of Chriſt dwell in you Richly, Col. 3.16. The Greek word [foreign] there doth intimate, that we ought to have an Holy Covetouſneſs of heaping up an hoard p. 104of the Sacred Scriptures, and locking them up in the Cabinet of a Sanctified Memory, &c. as we all naturally can be careful and covetous enough for heaping up the Coin of Gold and Silver, and ſecuring the ſame under Locks and Bolts, &c. As we do this latter, that we may duly and daily fetch out of our Treaſure ſo much thereof as will ſupply all our wants, [for Mony anſwers all things,] Eccleſ. 10.19. even ſo we all ought to be (as Appollos was, Acts 18.24.) mighty in the Scriptures; we ſhould have a mighty ſtock of the knowledge of them, that ſo, when-ever a buſie Devil comes to Buffet our Baſe Hearts, then muſt we have a ſmooth Stone of the Holy Scripture ready to hurl at the very Head of our Adverſary, as David did at the Head of Goliah. Now as we are told how David gathered many more ſmooth Stones than he had occaſion to make uſe of in his Sling, for he gathered five of them, and put them into his Bag, 1 Sam. 17.40. yet we find he ſlung in his Sling only one of theſe Stones at Goliah's Forehead, [he put his Hand into his Bag, and took thence only one Stone (in the ſingular number) and ſlung it with ſuch a force, that it ſunk in the Forehead of the Philiſtine, and he fell upon his Face to the Earth] v. 49. p. 105No doubt but David did ſling God himſelf along with the Stone (as before) whereby it became ſo ſpeedily effectual for the killing of that Monſter of Mankind, &c. even ſo we ought to be furniſhed with a large Stock of Sacred Scriptures in the Bag of our Minds and Memories, tho' poſſibly one ſingle ſmooth Stone of them may ſerve our preſent turn to drive away the Devil from us in an hour of temptation, eſpecially if we ſling this one Scripture at Satan's Forehead out of the Sling of Faith, and God himſelf go along with that Scripture in our behalf, as he did with the Stone in the behalf of David. May we but thus (through Grace) reſiſt the Devil, he muſt then unavoidably flee from us, Jam. 4.7. for what created Power can reſiſt the Power of the Great Creator of all Beings? [who hath reſiſted his Will?] Rom. 9.19,21. Notwithſtanding tho' one of thoſe ſmooth Stones of Sacred Scripture may thus ſerve us, and ſave us out of Satan's Hands at one time, yet conſidering that Satan is not ſlain outright in our Victories over him, as Goliah was in David's Victory over that Gyant: For as Satan did but depart from our Redeemer, (after he had conquered him in his Three ſucceſſive Aſſaults) only for a Seaſon, Luke 4.13. ſtill deſigning to return upon him p. 106again with freſh and renewed Attempts when he could eſpy out an advantage, or any opportunity: So Satan doth depart from the Redeemed (after their Victories at any time over him) only for a ſeaſon; he reſolves to return again, and hence is occaſioned the Apoſtle's caution, [leſt Satan ſhould get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his Wiles and Devices,] 2 Cor. 2.11. Upon this account therefore we ought always to keep our Bag full of thoſe ſmooth Stones, that we may have them in readineſs both as Defenſive to our ſelves, and as Offenſive to Satan in his freſh and frequent aſſaulting us, &c.

3dly NB. We muſt ſet the Word of God againſt the Temptations of Satan, (as our Lord taught us by his own pattern and practice, Matt. 4.) and then ſay to the Tempter, [I may not, I cannot, I dare not do what thou tempts me to do,] and we muſt be ſure to bring ſuch ſuitable Scriptures as afford a full Anſwer to our Tempter's Temptation, (as Chriſt did in all his Three Conflicts,) ſaying, [this Sin, (oh Satan) that thou tempts me to, is forbidden in ſuch a place, and again in ſuch a place; and we muſt be ſure to have ſuch Scriptures all at hand in our Bag ready for our hand, as David had his ſmooth Stones ready: Thus we are commandedp. 107[to be ready for every good Work,] Tit. 3.1. and [to be in readineſs to revenge all diſobedience,] 2 Cor. 10.6. yea and [the Man of God muſt be fully furniſhed for all good Works, 2 Tim. 3.17. as our Adverſary the Strong Man is fully furniſhed for all evil Works. We ſhould be as ready to Reſiſt, as he is to Aſſault; and we ſhould have this Sword of the Spirit ready and at hand, as Saul had his Spear ready at his head, [being ſtuck in the ground at his Bolſter,] 1 Sam. 26.7. but God forbid that ſuch a dead ſleep ſhould fall upon us to let this Sword be taken from us, as did upon him, whereby his Spear was taken from him, and he not ſenſible thereof; ſome Son of Zerviah will be too hard for us, as it was in his caſe, ver. 11, 12. 'Tis the practice of ſome perſons (who are Maſters of great Families) to ſtick up their Swords in the upper Floor, and there to hang it at their Beds Head all the night, that the Weapon might be ready for their hand in caſe of any Aſſault, by Robbers, in the dead time of the Night. Oh, that we could be ſo wiſe, in hanging this Spiritual Sword ſo ready Night and Day, at home and abroad, &c. more eſpecially the Decalogue, (or the Ten Commandments,) which is an Abridgment of the Law andp. 108the Prophets; wherein all ſorts of ſins are prohibited, even in the loweſt degree of them, &c. Yea, and all ſorts of Duties (both to God and to Man) are required, &c. There is none like this Sword that can cut aſunder every Knot, wherewith Satan would bind our Souls to any ſort of Sin, &c. Beſide this, let me acquaint you what other particular Scriptures (over and above the Two Tables) the Lord hath helped me to uſe as a ſharp Sword, wherewith to withſtand the violent Aſſaults of the Tempter, &c.

As (1ſt) that of Joſeph, [How can I do this great wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God?] Gen. 39.9. No, he was hedged in with contrary Principles, and ſo ſaid [I cannot do it.]

And (2ly) that of the Sons of Jacob, [we cannot do this thing, to give our Siſter unto one that is Uncircumciſed, for that would be a Reproach to us, Gen. 34.14.

And (3ly) that of Nehemiah [ſhall ſuch a Man as I, ſin, who is there, that being as I am, would do it, I will not do it?] Neh. 6.11. Here is only a ſmall variation of words, but none at all of ſenſe; for his fleeing from God's Work at that time, would have been his ſinning againſt his God. Tho' I might add many more, yet for brevity ſake I ſhall mention anotherp. 109only, which made indeed a mighty ſound in the Ears of my Inner Man, and as mighty an impreſſion upon the Tables of my Heart, to wit, the loud Outcry of God himſelf, ſaying, [Oh! do not this abominable thing which I hate,] Jer. 44.4. And indeed as to the main courſe of my Life (excepting theſe Bonds, as the Apoſtle's phraſe is, Acts 26.29. namely my manifold Infirmities) I have evermore endeavoured to obſerve this as my ſtanding Rule, [where God preſſeth, there to perform; and where God forbiddeth, there to forbear.] And to know this double Duty, what to perform, and when to forbear; 'tis even abſolutely neceſſary, that the word of Chriſt muſt dwell in us Richly, Col. 3.16. as before. The knowledge of the Holy Scriptures doth make wiſe unto ſalvation, and is profitable in all the concerns of a Chriſtian, yea, and compleateth the Man of God for his Generation-work, as before, 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17. and therefore every good Soldier of Jeſus Chriſt (ſuch as young Timothy was, 2 Tim. 2.3.) muſt by all means be girded about with this Sword of the Spirit, hanging faſt at the Golden Girdle of Truth; and I muſt ſay, that one of thoſe four Scriptures, before named, or any other ſingle Sentence of God's Word (when ſpiritually improved) p. 110may do us more ſervice in out Chriſtian warfare, than all the witty ſayings of Pagan Philoſophers, or any of the ſuperſtitious Charms of the Popiſh Mountebanks. Aſſuredly David (a man after God's own heart, 1 Sam. 13.14.) had a Divine Inſpiration, when he preſcribed that Soveraign Salve, and Sacred Antidote, and preſervative againſt ſin, ſaying, [thy word, oh my God, I have hid in my heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee,] Pſal. 119.11. All which do plainly demonſtrate, what an excellent Weapon the Word of God is, &c.

Now I come to diſcourſe upon the Seventh and Laſt piece of this Myſtical Armour, which is likewiſe the Second of the Two Offenſive Weapons, (as the Five former were meerly Defenſive) namely, we muſt not only be Armed with the Sword of the Spirit, but we muſt be furniſhed alſo with the Spiritual Darts of Prayer, ver. 18. which Duty of Praying hath here ſubjoined to it the Duty of Watching; but of that afterwards. The ſame Apoſtle tells us, that Satan hath his Darts, and thoſe fiery ones, to throw at us, ver. 16. And here he comes in ver. 18. to ſhew, that we muſt have our Darts alſo, and that fiery ones too, to throw at him; for one fire ſucks out another, asp. 111is oft tryed in Burnings, &c. ſo the fire from Heaven in Prayer, ſucks out the Fire of Hell, &c. otherwiſe we cannot retaliate, nor can our Remedy carry a proportion to our Malady.

This Seventh piece of Armour, is not only a part of our Spiritual Armour, but alſo it enableth us to make a right improvement of all the reſt, for it was at David's Prayer [that the Lord taught his Fingers to fight, and his Hands to War, &c. Pſal. 18.29,34. and 144.1.] Prayer is our City of Refuge, to which we flee when all other Refuges fail us. Prayer hath a double excellency, as it hath a prevailing power, not only over the Devil, but in ſome ſort over God himſelf.

Firſt, Over the Devil, as it is an holy Charm againſt that crooked Serpent, Iſa. 26.16. and 27.1. When Iſrael was afflicted by Satan and his Inſtruments, they then poured out their Prayers to God, Heb. ſecret Speeches as Charms, and thereby the Devil was enchanted by their Prayers. Hence Father Chryſoſtom calls Prayer [Flagellum Diaboli] a Whip to drive the Devil away, (which is more than a meer Charm, to tie his Hands from harming us.) This torments him, yea and forcibly thruſts him (as it were) into another Hell, eſpecially when our Darts of p. 112Prayer (that we caſt at him) be fiery (as his are againſt us,) and have the fire of Heaven in them, (as his Darts have the fire of Hell, &c.) 'Tis another high Expreſſion of the ſame Father, that praying Souls ſhould be [tanquam Leones ignem expuentes,] which is well engliſhed, Rev. 11.5. of the two famous Witneſſes 'tis ſaid there, [that Fire proceedeth out of their Mouths, which devoureth their Adverſary,] like the Flame that devoureth the Stubble which ſtands in its way. Thus Samſon's Fire-brands in his Foxes Tails, burnt up the Standing Corn, &c. of the Philiſtines, Judg. 15.5. and if the Fire-brands had been fixed in the Foxes Mouths, (as they were in their Tails,) it would have been in ſome reſpect a more ſuitable Reſemblance of this devouring Fire that broke forth like a Flame out of the Mouths of thoſe two Holy Martyrs, which muſt be meant of their Ardent Prayers that they poured forth for the confuſion of their Enemies; **The Queen of Scots ſaid, ſhe feared more Mr. Knock's fervent Prayers, than an Army of Twenty Thouſand Soldiers. And the Duke of Saxony once ſaid, that he durſt not fight againſt a Praying Army.and this is the more probable, becauſe all Praying-Souls are commanded to be fervent in Spirit (the Greekp. 113word is [foreign] which ſignifies Seething Hot) ſerving the Lord, and to continue inſant in Prayer] Rom. 12.11,12. And thus likewiſe David kept his Heart warm in his Praying-work, yea, boiling hot in this good Matter, as the Hebrew Margent reads, Pſal. 45.1. And could we but keep our Hearts thus in a boiling frame while we are at Praying-work, this would be the beſt, and the moſt bleſt expedient againſt wandring thoughts, &c. as before; for Beelzebub, that Prince of Flyes dare not fly-blow Honey while it is boiling hot, &c. and the Prayer-hearing God loves not to hear cold Prayers, &c. And the Rabbins render this Reaſon why the Shew-Bread in their Tabernacle-worſhip was taken off from the Table when it was cold, and the Hot Bread was placed before the Lord in its ſtead, becauſe the Lord loveth not cold Diſhes, cold Prayers, &c. 1 Sam. 21.6.

But, Secondly, As fervent Prayer hath a prevailing Power over the Devil, &c. ſo it hath by Divine Condeſcention a prevailing Power even over God himſelf, who is the Devil's maker, and will be his Rebuker for us, &c. for ſo gracious is our Prayer-hearing God, that he is pleaſed to command us, [that we ſhall command him, concerning we Work of his Hands]p. 114Iſai. 45.11. and that [the Seed of Jacob (who had power over God, and prevailed by his wreſtling with him, Gen. 32.26. and Hoſ. 12.4.) ſhall never ſeek the Lord in vain, Iſa. 45.19. I have ſhewed at large in my Chriſtian Walk upon Prayer, how it hath a kind of Omnipotency in commanding all the Four Elements, &c. yea, and over God himſelf by Moſes's Prayer for his People; at which the Lord ſaith to Moſes, [let me alone, that I may conſume them, &c.] Exod. 32.10. where God (as it were) begs his own freedom, as if Moſes's Devotion had proved too ſtrong for God's Indignation; as if Moſes's Prayer had bound up the Hands of Omnipotency it ſelf; and therefore the Omnipotent God doth (as it were) intreat Moſes to let him alone to his own liberty, &c. Now if ſo, the Argument [a majori ad minus] from the greater to the leſſer, it undeniably concludeth, that if Fervent Prayer can prevail with God himſelf, how much more may it prevail againſt Satan, who is but one of God's Creatures, and at the command of his Creator! However, this is a moſt manifeſt Truth, that when we are in any ſore Conflict with Satan, inſomuch that this Strong Man is like to prove too ſtrong for us, and in all probability will ſoon conquerp. 115us, then fervent Prayer muſt be our winged Meſſenger to ſend and call for help from Heaven; and this is our ſtrong Conſolation, that our Meſſenger will …s eaſily prevail over our Bleſſed Jeſus to come ſpeedily for ſuccouring us againſt Satan, as thoſe Meſſengers which …he Gibeonites did ſend for that Great General Joſhua, ſaying, [Slack not thy Hand from thy Servants, (who are now entred into Covenant with thee) but come …o us quickly and ſave us, for all the Kings of …he Amorites, that dwell in the Mountains, are gathered together againſt us,] Joſh. 10.6, &c. Upon this earneſt and affectionate Meſſage and Outcry, General Joſhuah immediately comes from Gilgal, (the place of rolling away Reproach, as the word ſignifies,) and falls upon the curſed Kings and Canaanites unexpectedly, and ſurprizes …hem all ſuddenly: Yea, and the Lord himſelf likewiſe threw down great Hail-ſtones out of Heaven upon them, and …hereby all thoſe formidable Adverſaries were quite deſtroyed; accordingly this is very often our own caſe. Alas! how weak …re our Hearts, Ezek. 16.30. when this Strong Man armed maketh his furious Aſſaults upon us. David did acknowledge himſelf as unable to reſiſt his ſtrong Adverſaries, (when he cried [have mercyp. 116upon me, O Lord, for I am weak, &c. … Pſal. 6.2,3,4.) as the Gibeonites did t… withſtand the Forces of the Kings of th… Mountains, &c. much more may we b… ſenſible of our own inſufficiency to ſtand before the violent ſhoks of this Strong Ma… Satan; no meer mortal man is ſufficient o… himſelf for that withſtanding work, (… not the Innocenteſt Man Adam, nor the Strongeſt Man Samſon, no nor the Wiſeſt Man Solomon (as elſewhere) [but trul… all our ſufficiency is of God, 2 Cor. 3.5▪ and therefore muſt we ſend our winged Meſſengers of fervent Prayers to him, and make out our ſtrong Cries unto Chriſt Jeſus, as the Gibeonites did unto that great General Joſhuah, ſaying, [oh our dear Lord Jeſus, ſlack not thy Hand from thy Servants, (who are, through thy Grace, brought into the bonds of the Covenant of Grace with thy bleſſed ſelf;) oh make no delay, let our extremity be thy opportunity; not only the Philiſtines are faln upon us, as upon Samſon, but even the Kings of the Mountains, even Spiritual Wickedneſſes in high Places, called Principalities and Powers do make their furious Aſſaults upon us. We have put our ſelves (oh Lord) under thy bleſſed Protection. Therefore haſten to ſuccour us, and make no long tarrying, oh our goodp. 117God, Pſal. 40.17.] then may we hope to hear the ſound of God's goings upon the Tops of the Mulberry-Trees, 2 Sam. 5.24. and we may have cauſe to ſing with the Spouſe, ſaying, ['tis the Voice of our Beloved, behold he cometh, leaping over Mountains, and skipping over Hills,] Cant. 2.8. He is coming, he is coming to bring the ſupplies of the Spirit of Chriſt to relieve our Souls, Phil. 1.19. and he will pour down great Hail Stones out of Heaven upon the Heads of our Spiritual Enemies, and diſcomfit them, tho' Satan and a whole Kingdom of Devils be engaged againſt us.

This 7th piece of Armour is called Armatura Armaturae, the Armour of Armour, named laſt, becauſe it buckles all the reſt on, and helps to a right improvement of all, both for Defence and Offence, &c. Thus David had ſuch Outcries as theſe, ſaying, [This poor Man cried, and the Lord heard him, and ſaved him, &c.] Pſal 34.6. And thus Paul had ſuch Outcries alſo, ſaying, [Oh wretched Man that I am, who ſhall deliver me? and then thanketh he his Lord Chriſt for delivering him, &c.] Rom. 7.24,25. And thus the Betrothed Damſel cried out, when ſhe was aſſaulted by one too ſtrong for her; and tho' ſhe found no Deliverer, yet is ſhe aſſured p. 118that ſhe ſhall not die, becauſe ſhe crie… out, Deut. 22.27. But the Virgin, Daughter of Sion, fared better, for ſhe had he… Saviour to come and ſuccour her at he… Outcries after Him, who put a Bridle upon that unruly Beaſt her Adverſary, and ſo comforted her heart as to make her able even to laugh him to ſcorn, &c. Iſa. 37.22,28,29. In ſhort, all theſe premiſes do abundantly demonſtrate the excellency of this laſt part of the Chriſtian Armour, namely, Darts of Prayer, which drives the Devil out of the Field (in our warring this good Warfare) and conſtrains him to flee from us as one conquered by us. NB. When our own Prayers prevail not, Note well, the Prayer of Chriſt ſaved Peter from Satan's Snare, Luke 22.31,32. more eſpecially if we join Faſting to Praying; tho' Homer tell… us, how Neſtor in the Wars of Troy muſ… take his Breakfaſt in the Morning to animate himſelf the more for his fighting-work: Yet our Lord doth better tell us, tha… there be ſome Devils of ſuch a malignan… Nature, that they cannot be caſt out bu… by Faſting and Prayer, Matt. 17.21. How well therefore doth the Apoſtle command us to be [praying always with al… Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit,] Eph. 6.18. that is, all ſorts of Prayer p. 119yea the beſt ſort of Prayer, both that which is edged and animated with Faſting, and more eſpecially that of [praying in the Holy Ghoſt,] Jude ver. 20. for fervent Prayer is a clear Stream that flows ſolely from the pure Spring of the Spirit of Grace, &c. and that this Praying-work may be the more effectually performed, the Apoſtle ſubjoins the Duty of [watching thereunto with all perſeverance, &c.] ver. 18. that we may not be ſurprized at unawares, becauſe the Devil watcheth us, and walketh his Round Night and Day unceſſantly to take us napping, 1 Pet. 5.8. ſeeking whom he may devour, as before; therefore is watching ſo neceſſary, that it is ſo often recorded in Scripture as an univerſal Duty, (as above) and moſt needful in praying work: Hereupon our Lord joins them both together, [Watch and Pray leſt ye enter into Temptation,] Matth. 26.41. as the Apoſtle doth here; for if we be not upon our Guard continually, and even Watch while we do Pray, both over Satan's Temptations without, and over our own Corruptions within, Satan will be interrupting us, as the Pythoneſs (his Inſtrument) did interrupt Paul in his Praying-work, Acts 16.16. and as the Fowls of the Air (which is the Devil's Territories, Epheſ. 1.2,3.) did interruptp. 120Father Abraham in his Sacrificing-work, Gen. 15.11. Yea, and as the Adverſaries (Sanballat, &c.) did moleſt good Nehemiah in his Building-work, Neh. 41.3. 'Tis a certain obſervation, that amongſt all Actions Satan will be buſieſt in the beſt of Actions, and moſtly moſt buſie in the beſt part of that beſt Action, as towards the cloſure of Prayer, when the Heart ſhould be cloſing it ſelf up with the ſweeteſt comforts, &c. therefore are we bid to Watch and Pray, and to Pray and Watch, that Satan may not draw us out of our Trenches, as Joſhuah did the Men of Ai, Joſh. 8.6. therefore our Lord exhorteth us to abide in the Vine, Joh. 15.4,7. and his beloved Diſciple ſaith, [little Children abide in him,] 1 Joh. 2.28. that is, keep Home, keep cloſe, under the ſhadow of your Father's Wing, Pſal. 91.1. Our Lord ſaith [O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how oft would I have gathered my Children together, even as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings, &c.] Matth. 23.37. which intimateth, that thoſe are fond Chickens that dare to ſtraggle at diſtance from under the Wing of their Dam, and expoſe themſelves to the ravenous Claws of the Kite. Naturaliſts relate of the Bird Onocratulus, which is ſo much inur'd with the Hawk's grapling with her, that ſhe alwavs ſleepeth p. 121with her Beak or Bill advanced for her own defence, &c. Now when the Law of Nature or Inſtict can teach thoſe irrational Creatures ſuch prudence to ſave themſelves from the Birds of Prey, &c. how much more ought the light of Grace to teach us [who are Rational] how to ſtand always upon our guard againſt that Prince, Fowl of the Air, &c. We read that chaſt Joſeph did ſo, Gen. 39.7, &c. where it is ſaid [after theſe things, &c] that is, after he had lived ſafe from Temptations about ten or eleven Years (riſing all along from a lower to an higher ſtation) in Potiphar's Houſe, yet then was he aſſaulted by Satan in his wanton and wicked Miſtreſs, &c. but ſtill the good Man kept conſtant upon his watch, and ſo drove away the Devil, &c. ver. 9. But ſo did not Dinah, who out of curioſity, did wander from her Father's Houſe to view the Daughters of the Land, and ſo was ſurprized by Shechem too ſtrong for her, &c. Gen. 34.1,2. nor was David likely upon his watch, when he looked on, and luſted after Bathſhebah, &c. 2 Sam. 11.2, &c. Tho' this holy David had been (all along before this) upon his watch, and kept himſelf from this his iniquity, Pſal. 18.23. both while he was many years perſecuted by Saul, and while he Reigned much p. 122longer as King, and employed in cont…nual wars; all this long time he lived i… God's fear, and had Reſpect to all God'… Precepts, Pſal. 119.6. but at laſt arriving to Eaſe and Idleneſs, (one of SODOM… ſins, Ezek. 16.49.) the Strong Man found him then neglecting his watch, and puſhe… him down, giving him ſuch a foul Fal… as broke his Bones, which cauſed his writing his famous Penitential Pſalms, &c and thus likewiſe this watchful Adverſary, Satan, found Peter neglecting his watch, got him into his Sieve, and ſhaked him to and fro to make Chaff of him, Luke 22.31,32. and this he would have effected, had not the Prayer of Chriſt for him moſt graciouſly prevented it, &c. alas, a buſie Devil and a baſe Heart did deceive him, when he ſaid, [tho' all forſake thee, Lord, yet will not I,] Mark 14.20. Matt. 26.33. (as had been Orpah's caſe before, Ruth 1.10.) therefore did Peter watch that weakeſt part of his Heart, where Satan had broke in upon him, with utmoſt care ever after; and hence is it, that this penitent Peter (who, after his ſin, went out and wept bitterly, Luke 22.63.) gives us ſo many watch words in his Epiſtles, as (1.) Be ye alway ready, &c. 1 Pet. 3.16. And (2.) Be ſober, and watch unto Prayer, Chap. 4.7. Yea, and (3) Be p. 123vigilant, becauſe your Adverſary the Devil is hunting for you, &c. Chap. 5.8. whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the Faith, &c. ver. 9. and our Lord ſaith, [I ſay unto all watch, Mark 13.35,36.37. 'Tis very remarkable how the Apoſtle Peter doth ſymbolize, keeps harmony and concurreth with his beloved Brother Paul, as he calleth him, 2 Pet. 3.14,15,17,18.) about compleating this Chriſtian Warfare, and yet with a little addition; for whereas Paul's phraſe is [give not place to the Devil,] Epheſ. 4.27. no not for an hour, Gal. 2.5. but ſtand and withſtand, Epheſ. 6.11,13,14. as the Apoſtle James ſaith downright, [Reſiſt him, and he will flee from you,] James 4.7. ſo this Apoſtle Peter ſteps higher, ſaying, [Reſiſt this roaring and devouring Lion, [ foreign ] ſtedfaſt in the Faith,] 1 Pet. 5.8,9. that is, we muſt do our utmoſt under the ſhield of Faith, not only to defend our ſelves, but alſo to offend our Adverſary, which we can never do, but firſt by right means, and 2ly In a right manner. 1ſt Of the 1ſt. Firſt, The right means are not (1ſt) Negatively, nor (1.) any wit or policy of our own to argue Satan away from us by parlying with him, for this ſubtle Serpent doth far exceed and excel us in Craft and Sophiſtry; as it plainly appeared inp. 124our Great Grandmother Eve daring to parly with him, Gen. 3.1,2,3,4,5,6. Oh, how cunning was this Tempter to begin his parlying with her who was the weaker Veſſel, which was according to that old ſaying, [where the Hedge is the loweſt, there the miſchievous Beaſt will leap over.] Alas, we do but ſhoot with Satan in his own Bow, (wherein he can eaſily beguile us) when we attempt to puſh back our Tempter only by parlying with him. If he proved too hard for Eve therein in her ſtate of Innocency, and to ſo green a Tree; how much more hard for us poor dry Trees, in the faln eſtate! 'Tis an aſſured great Truth, that Satan is better believed away, and prayed away, than parlied or argued away: Nor (2.) is it any majeſty or authority either in our awful Looks, or in our hectoring Words that will afright him away from us; the Devil is not a Dog to be ſcared away ſo, either with an angry Aſpect, or with threatning Language, ſaying, [Avaunt Satan, and Devil do thy worſt, I defie thee and all thy works.] But 2ly Poſitively, the right means we muſt reſiſt him with, is by our putting on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 13.14. and the whole Armour of God, Epheſ. 6.11,13. wherein we muſt ſtand our ground, and withſtand his Wiles, &c.

p. 125Secondly, as to the right manner, we muſt not be like ſecure Laiſh, Judg. 18.27. nor like careleſs Babylon, Rev. 18.7,8. but be always upon our watch and guard, for he comes cunningly like a ſly Serpent, with Hony in his Mouth, &c. but when he leaves us, he then leaves behind him the Sting in his Tail, and departs like a bloody Lion, tearing in pieces thoſe he overcomes. Nor can we eſcape by fleeing from him, were we like Aſahel, as ſwift as a Roe, &c. 2 Sam. 2.18. for this great old Red Dragon, Rev. 12.3. hath great Wings wherewith he can eaſily overtake us, and then is our greateſt danger upon a double Account and Reaſon.

For (1ſt) NB. Note well, Among all this Spiritual Armour before-named, there is no part or piece thereof preſcribed for protecting the Back, which when Satan finds unarmed in his purſuit after us, he moſt eaſily pierceth us with his fiery Darts through our bare Backs, even to our very Hearts, &c.

And the (2d) Reaſon is, we then do not only flee from the Devil, but from God too, who hath bid us ſtand and withſtand, and hath promiſed to protect us in doing thoſe Duties: Therefore all Apoſtates and Backſliders, who run away from under God's protection, [his Soul can have nop. 126pleaſure in them,] Heb. 10.38. the Lord will deliver up ſuch into Satan's hands, 1 Tim. 1.20. and wo to us when God departs from us, Hoſ. 9.12. then all evil comes upon us, &c. It followeth then, that the Duty of Reſiſting muſt likewiſe be done, as an additional Duty unto Watching and Praying; and we muſt ſpend our whole lives in the work of watching, praying and reſiſting to our dying day, &c. Upon thoſe few following Conſiderations, over and above the Arguments before-mentioned.

As (1ſt) Conſider well, that the Devil is like the Crocodile, of whom Pliny relateth, that if men purſue him, he will flee from them, but if men flee from him, he will then purſue after them, &c.

2ly Conſider there is indeed a playing upon the hole of the Aſp, and a putting the hand upon the Cockatrice Den, which Chriſt hath promiſed he will ſecure little Children from the danger thereof, Iſa. 11.8. when he comes to create the new Heavens and the new earth, wherein ſhall dwell all righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3.13. But we may not do ſo now; for if we dally with the Devil, in leading our ſelves into Places and Companies of Temptation, (whereas we pray that the Lord may not lead us into Temptation, in the Lord's Prayer) this is fooliſh preſumption, and a plain tempting of the Tempter.

p. 127(3ly) Conſider what is required of us …n this Reſiſting Duty, 'tis only a ſtrong …egative, reſolving in Chriſt's ſtrength to …nſwer the Tempter with an holy and pe…emptory No, No, I may not, I cannot, I …are not do it; to give Satan a flat de…ial is no difficult Duty, and 'tis not reſiſting unto blood. Heb. 12.4.

(4ly) Conſider, if we reſiſt not, but …ield, (contrary to that Apoſtolical command) [yield not your Members as weapons of wickedneſs unto ſin (as the Greek word [foreign] ſignifies,) Rom. 6.13,14,19. …hen are we taken Captives by Satan, and …ed about by him, as his Slaves, at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. and not taken to be preſerved alive (as before) but to be deſtroyed, &c. 2 Pet. 2.12. Oh woful condition, &c.

(5ly) Conſider, that he who now tempts us to ſin, will accuſe us afterward for that ſin, (as elſewhere;) yea, and thoſe very Snares of Sin (wherewith Satan at preſent doth entangle us,) will at the laſt become Chains of Darkneſs in Hell, &c.

(6ly) Conſider, this ſtriving againſt ſin, Heb. 12.4. muſt be conſtant, and laſt ſo long as life doth laſt; we ſhould reſiſt wholly with this whole Armour of God, becauſe when we have overcome the prophane Devil, a worldly Devil may prevailp. 128againſt us: Or if we have been mad… able to maſter a Swearing Devil, then … Lying Devil may prove too hard for us and if we can conquer all thoſe and man… more Devils, &c. After the ſubduing o… all theſe, then may the Devil of Prid… riſe up and prevail over us; for that ol… ſaying of Bernard's, [Tot Daemonia, qu… Crimina, ſo many ſins as do reign over us ſo many Devils do rule in us; ſeeing every ſuch ſin hath a Devil in it: Now this ſi… of Pride, as it is the firſt that is learn… ſo it is the laſt that is leſt; for there is ſomething of Pride even in the beſ… Hearts; even good Hezekiah's was lifted up in pride, 2 Chron. 32.25,31.

(7ly) Conſider for our Comfort, that ou… conſtant conflict againſt Sin and Satan is a better evidence of true ſanctifying and ſaving grace, than any perfection of Holineſs that can be found in the moſt ſanctified ſouls. Paul himſelf, who, tho' he had been rap'd up into the Third Heavens, and into Paradice it ſelf, 2 Cor. 12.2,4▪ yet he after this complaineth of a Thorn in the Fleſh, a Meſſenger of Satan to buffet him, &c. ver. 7, 8, 9. and he ſaith of himſelf, [not as tho' I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I preſs after it, &c. Phil. 3.11,12,13,14. and crys, [Oh wretched man, &c. Rom. 7.24.

p. 1298ly and laſtly, Let us conſider, and better conſider for our comfort, if we can but know that Chriſt is in us, 2 Cor. 13.5. then Chriſt in us is ſtronger for us, than this Strong Man Satan can be againſt us, Luke 11.21,22. If our Lord be for us, 'tis no matter who or what is againſt us, Rom. 8.31. Stronger is he in us, than he that is in the World, 1 John 4.4. As our Lord hath conquered Satan (as before) in his own Perſon, ſo he hath promis'd to do the ſame in all his ſincere Members; he will not loſe ſo much as one of them, John 6.39. and 17.12. Oh pray, pray, pray, that Chriſt may ſtrengthen us, Phil. 4.13. that we may ſhake this Viper (the Old Serpent) from off our Hearts, as Paul did the Viper from off his Hands into the fire of Hell, Acts 28. ver. 4, 5, 6, &c.