The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

§. 6. The danger of a Christians combat.

§. 6. The danger of a Christians combate.

1. 1Doct. 2.
2. 2The Christians were a fierce war.The Christians werre a fierce warre.
3. dMat. 4. 4. &c.
4. aLuke 22. 31.
5. b2 Cor. 12. 7.

Thus God ordereth our estate,¹ 1. The more to manifest and magnify the power of his might, and the sufficiency of his armour. For the sorer the fight is, and the more dangerous,^c the greater doth that strength appear to be, and the more excellent the means whereby we are supported.

Thus God ordereth our estate,¹ 1. The more to manifest and magnifie the power of his might, and the sufficiencie of his armour. For the sorer the fight is, and the more dangerous,^c the greater doth that strength appeare to be, and the more excellent the meanes whereby we are supported.

1. 1Reasons.
2. c2 Cor. 12. 9.

2. To make us with greater and stronger confidence to depend and rely upon him, as^d David, and ^eJehoshaphat.

2. To make vs with greater and stronger confidence to depend and relye vpon him, as^d Dauid, and ^eIehosaphat.

1. d1 Sam. 30. 6.
2. e2 Chr. 20. 12.

3. To use the means appointed more carefully, as the^f Jews who while they were working, were prepared against their enemies.

3. To vse the meanes appointed more carefully, as the^f Iewes who while they were working, were prepared against their enemies.

1. fNeh. 4. 16. 17

Use 1 This may serve as a means to make trial of our estate: if all be quiet within us,¹ that there be no wrestling, no fighting; or if any, now and then a light skirmish, it is to be feared that our enemies have gotten possession of us, and we slavishly have yielded to them, and so made^g a covenant with them. Fierce combats do give us more assurance that the Lord is still our God, and we his soldiers, then light or no assaults: for if the Devil be our Lord, he can let us be quiet; but if our enemy, assuredly we shall feel his hand.

Vse 1 This may serue as a meanes to make triall of our estate: if all be quiet within vs,¹ that there bee no wrestling, no fighting; or if any, now and then a light skirmish, it is to be feared that our enemies haue gotten possession of vs, and we slauishly haue yeelded to them, and so made^g a couenant with them. Fierce combates doe giue vs more assurance that the Lord is still our God, and we his souldiers, then light or no assaults: for if the Diuell bee our Lord, he can let vs be quiet; but if our enemie, assuredly we shall feele his hand.

1. 1Trial.Triall.
2. gIsa. 28. 15.

Use 2 This showeth the reason why so many faint, and are foiled:¹ for it were no great matter to endure light and easy combats: but when we come to be shaken indeed, then to stand fast is a token of extraordinary courage: this was it which proved the^* patience and courage of Job.

Vse 2 This sheweth the reason why so many faint, and are foiled:¹ for it were no great matter to endure light and easie combates: but when wee come to bee shaken indeed, then to stand fast is a token of extraordinary courage: this was it which proued the^* patience and courage of Iob.

1. 1The cause of fainting.
2. *Job 2. 3.Iob 2. 3.

Use 3 ⟨p. 51⟩Think not that we have done enough, when we have passed over some light trials,¹ but prepare for greater; we must come to a wrestling. Mark what the Apostle saith of them which had^a endured a great fight, Ye have need of patience; and again,^b Ye have not yet resisted unto blood.

Vse 3 ⟨p. 51⟩Thinke not that we haue done enough, when we haue passed ouer some light trials,¹ but prepare for greater; we must come to a wrestling. Marke what the Apostle saith of them which had^a endured a great fight, Yee haue neede of patience; and againe,^b Ye haue not yet resisted vnto blood.

1. 1Prepare for great conflicts
2. aHeb. 10. 32, 36.
3. b& 12. 4.

Use 4 For our comfort, note, that though wrestling imply a sore combat, yet it implieth not a conquest over us: of this there is no fear: for Christ our head hath overcome our enemy, and^c destroyed him that had the power of death, that he might deliver all them, which for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage: he ^dhath led captivity captive, and ^cdelivered us from the power of darkness, that we might be free from being overcome, though not from wrestling.

Vse 4 For our comfort, note, that though wrestling imply a sore combate, yet it implieth not a conquest ouer vs: of this there is no feare: for Christ our head hath ouercome our enemie, and^c destroyed him that had the power of death, that he might deliuer all them, which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage: hee ^dhath led captiuitie captiue, and ^cdeliuered vs from the power of darknesse, that we might be free from being ouercome, though not from wrestling.

1. cHeb. 2. 14. 15
2. dEphes 4. 8.
3. cCol. 1. 13.

§. 7. None exempted from fight.

The Defendants who maintain this wrestling are comprised under this particle we, ¹which includes himself and all like to himself, together with them to whom he wrote, and all like unto them: so that

THe Defendants who maintain this wrestling are comprised vnder this particle we, ¹which includes himselfe and all like to himselfe, together with them to whom hee wrote, and all like vnto them: so that

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

All of all sorts are to wrestle and fight this spiritual combat. ¹Neither Ministers,² nor people, poor nor rich, male nor female, newly planted, nor old grown, none of whatsoever rank, condition, estate, age, quality, &c. exempted. ^gWhosoever is of the seed of the woman, must look to have his heel bruised. There is enmity betwixt the two seeds; the^h Devil spared not the woman which was the weaker vessel, andⁱ he feared not the head, Christ himself, who was the strongest of all. Who may think to be spared? who can imagine that Satan will fear to wrestle with him?

All of all sorts are to wrestle and fight this spirituall combate. ¹Neither Ministers,² nor people, poore nor rich, male nor female, newly planted, nor old grown, none of whatsoeuer rancke, condition, estate, age, qualitie, &c. exempted. ^gWhosoeuer is of the seed of the woman, must looke to haue his heele bruised. There is enmitie betwixt the two seeds; the^h Diuell spared not the woman which was the weaker vessell, andⁱ hee feared not the head, Christ himselfe, who was the strongest of all. Who may thinke to be spared? who can imagine that Satan will feare to wrestle with him?

1. 1Doct. 3.
2. 2All must fight
3. gGen. 3. 15.
4. hGen. 3. 1.
5. iMatth. 4. 3.

God will have all of all sorts to be tried:¹ and the Devil beareth a like hatred against all:^a he seeketh whom to⟨p. 52⟩ devour: so he may devour them, he careth not who they be: as a Wolfe spareth none of the flock, ram, sheep or lamb that he can come by.

God will haue all of all sorts to be tried:¹ and the Diuell beareth a like hatred against all:^a hee seeketh whom to⟨p. 52⟩ deuoure: so he may deuour them, he careth not who they be: as a Wolfe spareth none of the flocke, ramme, sheepe or lambe that he can come by.

1. 1Reasons.
2. a1 Pet. 5. 8.

Use 1 Let all, Ministers and people, strong and weak, all of all sorts apply all the exhortations & directions here delivered unto themselves.¹ Let not the weaker sort put them off upon conceit that fierce combats belong to strong Christians; Satan having greatest hope to prevail against the weakest, will not fail to set on them: nor yet let the stronger put them off, upon conceit that the devil dareth not meddle with them: for though there may be some difference betwixt them and the weaker Christians, yet the strength of the strongest is nothing in comparison of the devils might, if they come in confidence of it, and not of the Lords strength, Besides, Satan, knowing that their fall will prove a discouragement to others, will make the greatest assaults against them.

Vse 1 Let all, Ministers and people, strong and weake, all of al sorts apply all the exhortations & directions here deliuered vnto themselues.¹ Let not the weaker sort put them off vpon conceit that fierce combats belong to strong Christians; Satan hauing greatest hope to preuaile against the weakest, will not faile to set on them: nor yet let the stronger put them off, vpon conceit that the diuell dareth not meddle with them: for though there may be some difference betwixt them and the weaker Christians, yet the strength of the strongest is nothing in comparison of the diuels might, if they come in confidence of it, and not of the Lords strength, Besides, Satan, knowing that their fall will proue a discouragement to others, will make the greatest assaults against them.

1. 1All must apply the directions of the word.