The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

By flesh and blood, ¹are here meant such creatures as have a bodily substance which consisteth of flesh and blood: in which respect man is termed^a flesh, and Christ is said to be made^b flesh, because he had a corporal substance: herein a^c difference is made betwixt a Spirit, and a body.

By flesh and blood, ¹are here meant such creatures as haue a bodily substance which consisteth of flesh and blood: in which respect man is termed^a flesh, and Christ is said to be made^b flesh, because he had a corporall substance: herein a^c difference is made betwixt a Spirit, and a bodie.

1. 1Who are flesh and blood.
2. aGen. 6. 3.
3. bJohn 1. 14.Iohn 1. 14.
4. cLuke 24. 39.

Have we not then any enemies that have bodily substances in this spiritual combat?¹ are spirits only our enemies?

Haue we not then any enemies that haue bodily substances in this spirituall combate?¹ are spirits onely our enemies?

1. 1Quest. 1.

^dOur own flesh is an enemy unto us.² Other men also are enemies: there are many adversaries, as infidels, idolaters, heretics,³ worldlings, all sorts of persecutors, yea and false brethren.

^dOur owne flesh is an enemie vnto vs.² Other men also are enemies: there are many aduersaries, as infidels, idolaters, heretiques,³ worldlings, all sorts of persecutors, yea and false brethren.

1. dRom. 7. 23, 24.
2. 2Answer.Answere.
3. 31 Cor. 16. 9. & 15. 32.

1. 1Quest. 2.

They are not excluded,¹ for this negative clause is not to be taken simply,² but

They are not excluded,¹ for this negatiue clause is not to be taken simply,² but

1. 1Answer.
2. 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.

1 Comparatively,¹ not so much with flesh and blood as with principalities. With these especially we wrestle. Thus the Apostle forbiddeth servants to^f serve men. Or not only with flesh and blood, but also with spirits: so saith Christ,^* call not thy friends to dinner, that is, not them alone, but the poor also. Or not with flesh and blood alone, as it is in it self, weak and frail, but set on work, assisted and guided by spirits. As if some English soldiers were in pay under the Turk or Spaniard, against whom we⟨p. 54⟩ maintain war, though they be in battle against us, yet it might be said, we fight not with English men.

1 Comparatiuely,¹ not so much with flesh and blood as with principalities. With these especially wee wrestle. Thus the Apostle forbiddeth seruants to^f serue men. Or not onely with flesh and blood, but also with spirits: so saith Christ,^* call not thy friends to dinner, that is, not them alone, but the poore also. Or not with flesh and blood alone, as it is in it selfe, weake and fraile, but set on worke, assisted and guided by spirits. As if some English souldiers were in pay vnder the Turke or Spaniard, against whom wee⟨p. 54⟩ maintaine warre, though they be in battaile against vs, yet it might be said, we fight not with English men.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
2. fVers. 7.
3. *Luke 14. 12.

2. By way of exposition, not with such as are weak, frail, foolish, visible and mortal, as flesh and blood, Thus the horses of the Egyptians are called^b flesh, that is, weak, opposed to Spirit: so as this phrase not flesh and blood, implieth more, or other then flesh and blood.

2. By way of exposition, not with such as are weake, fraile, foolish, visible and mortal, as flesh and blood, Thus the horses of the Egyptians are called^b flesh, that is, weak, opposed to Spirit: so as this phrase not flesh and bloud, implieth more, or other then flesh and blood.

1. bIsai. 31. 3.

§. 9. How our spiritual enemies exceed flesh and blood.

§. 9. How our spirituall enemies exceed flesh and bloud.

Our most mortal enemies are more then flesh and blood, ¹more in number,² greater in power, craftier in their wiles, of longer continuance, more envious, malicious, furious, cruel, not so open and visible, but invisible, close and secret, and in many other respects more fearful and dangerous.

OVr most mortall enemies are more then flesh and blood, ¹more in number,² greater in power, craftier in their wiles, of longer continuance, more enuious, malicious, furious, cruell, not so open and visible, but inuisible, close and secret, and in many other respects more fearefull and dangerous.

1. 1Doct. 4.
2. 2Our enemies more then flesh and blood.

1. Among flesh and blood, none so mighty but may be confronted: as^c Daniels visions of the beasts showeth. The great Monarchs of the world have bin destroyed one of another, but no flesh & blood can confront the Devil.

1. Among flesh and bloud, none so mightie but may be confronted: as^c Daniels visions of the beasts sheweth. The great Monarchs of the world haue bin destroyed one of another, but no flesh & blood can confront the Diuell.

1. cDan. 7. 3. &c.

2. Among flesh and blood none so politic, but they meet with some that at length match, yea and out-reach them. Ahithophel ^dwhose counsel was counted as an oracle, ^ewas over-matched by Hushai: But all the wit of all the world cannot match the subtlety of the Devil.

2. Among flesh and blood none so politike, but they meete with some that at length match, yea and out-reach them. Achitophel ^dwhose counsell was counted as an oracle, ^ewas ouer-matched by Hushai: But all the wit of all the world cannot match the subtiltie of the Diuell.

1. d2 Sam. 16. 23
2. e& 17. 14.

3. Suppose that among flesh and blood some be so mighty, as none mightier then they, so subtle as none can go beyond them, yet are they flexible, and may by fair means be persuaded and entreated to allay their fury, as^a David by wise Abigail; yea, & wicked^b Saul by Davids humbling of himself, & pleading his innocency: but there is no such flexibility in the Devil, his malice will not suffer him to be moved, unless for greater advantage.

3. Suppose that among flesh and blood some bee so mightie, as none mightier then they, so subtill as none can goe beyond them, yet are they flexible, and may by faire means be perswaded and intreated to allay their furie, as^a Dauid by wise Abigail; yea, & wicked^b Saul by Dauids humbling of himselfe, & pleading his innocency: but there is no such flexibility in the Diuel, his malice wil not suffer him to be moued, vnlesse for greater aduantage.

1. a1 Sam. 25. 33
2. b& 24. 17.

4. Grant that some among men were implacable, yet⟨p. 55⟩ their fury might be avoided by flying from them, as ^cDavid avoided Sauls fury,^d Elijah Jezebels, ^eJoseph and Mary, Herod's: From the Devils we cannot fly, they are every where, they can soon overtake us.

4. Grant that some among men were implacable, yet⟨p. 55⟩ their fury might bee auoided by flying from them, as ^cDauid auoided Sauls furie,^d Eliah Iezabels, ^eIoseph and Mary, Herods: From the Diuels we cannot flye, they are euery where, they can soone ouertake vs.

1. c1 Sam. 21. 10
2. d1 Kings 19. 3
3. eMatth. 2. 14.

5. But what if no means of escape could be gotten, but that needs we must be subject to the rage of flesh and blood, yet in their greatest pride, power and rage, they may be clean taken away by death, as^f Pharaoh and his host were drowned:^g Herod the great died, and^h the other Herod who persecuted the Apostles: but our spiritual enemies are not subject to death. I might in many other respects make comparison betwixt flesh and blood on the one side, and Spirits on the other, and show how there is no comparison betwixt them, that these are not flesh and blood, but much more fearful.

5. But what if no meanes of escape could bee gotten, but that needs we must be subiect to the rage of flesh and blood, yet in their greatest pride, power and rage, they may be cleane taken away by death, as^f Pharaoh and his host were drowned:^g Herod the great died, and^h the other Herod who persecuted the Apostles: but our spirituall enemies are not subiect to death. I might in many other respects make comparison betwixt flesh and blood on the one side, and Spirits on the other, and shew how there is no comparison betwixt them, that these are not flesh and blood, but much more fearefull.

1. fExod. 14. 28. &c.
2. gMat. 2. 20.
3. hActs 12. 23.

Use 1 This doth much aggravate the terror of our spiritual enemies: for ifⁱ the wrath of a King (a King that is but flesh and blood) be like the roaring of a Lion: ²if a man mighty in his own strength, as^k Goliath, be fearful: if a subtle man, as^l Ahithophel, cause doubt and dread: if a malicious man, as^m Doeg, be mischievous: if an host of ⁿflesh and blood be terrible; how much more these enemies which are not flesh and blood?

Vse 1 This doth much aggrauate the terror of our spirituall enemies: for ifⁱ the wrath of a King (a King that is but flesh and blood) be like the roaring of a Lion: ²if a man mightie in his owne strength, as^k Goltah, be fearefull: if a subtill man, as^l Achitophel, cause doubt and dread: if a malicious man, as^m Doeg, bee mischieuous: if an host of ⁿflesh and blood bee terrible; how much more these enemies which are not flesh and blood?

1. iProu. 19. 12.
2. 2Spiritual enemies are terrible.Spirituall enemies are terrible.
3. k1 Sam. 17. 11.
4. l2 Sam. 15 31.
5. m1 Sam. 22. 9.
6. n2 Kings 6. 15

Use 2 It is no easy matter to prevail against them, or to avoid their assaults:¹ it is not outward prowess and courage, not strength of body, dint of sword, troops of armed men, it is not state-policy, or war-like subtlety that can annoy them, or keep us safe from them. To oppose wit or power of flesh and blood against such as are not flesh and blood, is to set dry straw against flaming fire. ^aThe weapons of our warfare must not be carnal, but spiritual, and so mighty towards God, to keep us safe from these enemies. For seeing our enemies are not flesh and blood, ⟨p. 56⟩in vain is such armour as can protect us only from flesh and blood.

Vse 2 It is no easie matter to preuaile against them, or to auoid their assaults:¹ it is not outward prowesse and courage, not strength of body, dint of sword, troopes of armed men, it is not state-policie, or war-like subtiltie that can annoy them, or keepe vs safe from them. To oppose wit or power of flesh and blood against such as are not flesh and blood, is to set drye straw against flaming fire. ^aThe weapons of our warfare must not be carnall, but spirituall, and so mightie towards God, to keepe vs safe from these enemies. For seeing our enemies are not flesh and blood, ⟨p. 56⟩in vaine is such armour as can protect vs onely from flesh and blood.

1. 1No outward prowess can daunt them.No outward prowesse can daunt them.
2. a2 Cor. 10. 4.