The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

After the Apostle had used general doctrine, and in forced thereupon particular exhortations, he returneth from his specials to general exhortation• again, as we may see in these verses, wherein •ee exhorteth them to stand strongly, and therefore putteth them in m•••e of armour, without the which they must needs lye o••n to their adversaries. The peril whereof is so much the greater, by how much their adversaries were the sorer, and for that cause the Apostle falls into the description of them, with whom they must encounter. Afterward the several pieces and parts of our defence are set down, &c. More plainly these things are worthy to be noted▪ The exhortation it self in these words, Be strong in the Lord. Secondly, the way how to stand, by putting on the armour of God. Thirdly, the reason, which is, For we wrestle not with flesh and blood alone, &c. Lastly, a description of the weapons and armour it self. Finally, that is to conclude, or what remaineth, or, take this the conclusion and corollary of all, that you must not think it a small thing to profess Christ his Gospel, as some do; neither yet on the other side must •e be discouraged at the difficulties of the professio, but as on the one side you must still think of a battle, and not dream of peace; so you must know, that the Lord will harness you even with his own coat armour thereunto. Thus he noteth with two extremities incident to Christians, that is, that either they forget that they are in a warfare by security and presumption, and think it to be less than it is, or else they are too much dismayed at the first view of it, and so desperately yield ere they fight. But do any here marvel, that ⟨p. 308⟩Paul should speak thus to Gods children and well approved Christians? To them I answer, that besides other miserable experience of latter times & present time which doth declare it too openly, David a dear child of God, & Peter a professed & an approved Christian, will sufficiently teach them in this point. One would little think David had had an adulterous heart or bloody hand: if one should have told Peter, that he would have forsworn his sovereign Saviour, it had been a matter of quarrel. But seeing David in the conflict shrunk, and Peter in the trial failed, let us beware we be not daring Davids, nor proud Peters, speaking further then we try our hearts.