The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

§. 86. Of spiritual recovery.

§. 86. Of spirituall recouery.

Behold here a sure ground of much comfort and great encouragement,¹ even to such as are weak, and by reason of their weakness, or else through the violence of some temptation, have let fall their shield, so as Satan's fiery Darts have touched their conscience, and pierced their soul. Let them not thereupon utterly despair, and yield themselves over to Satan's power, but know that yet their Faith may stand them in steed, that yet there is a further use of it, not only as a shield to keep off, but as balsam to draw out the fire, to quench it, and cure the wound.^a The word which the Apostle here useth, implieth (as we have showed) a recovering,⟨p. 286⟩ resuming, and taking up again our shield. Let not therefore our faintings, failings, and spiritual wounds put us out of all hope, as if death and destruction, without all remedy and recovery, must needs follow thereupon: But rather let us with all speed have recourse to Gods promises, and to Christ Jesus the true heir of them, and so renew our Faith, as^c Peter renewed his, when he looked upon Christ.

BEhold here a sure ground of much comfort and great encouragement,¹ euen to such as are weake, and by reason of their weakenesse, or else through the violence of some temptation, haue let fall their shield, so as Satans fiery Darts haue touched their conscience, and pierced their soule. Let them not thereupon vtterly despaire, and yeeld thēselues ouer to Satans power, but know that yet their Faith may stand them in steed, that yet there is a further vse of it, not onely as a shield to keepe off, but as balsome to drawe out the fire, to quench it, and cure the wound.