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,…

Now to show how we must be strong, it is added, Put on the whole armour of God, &c. It is a pleasant and profitable comparison here used, to show the estate of Christians. As silly soldiers going into the camp cannot hope for any good issue if they be naked and unarmed; so we, if in our daily conflicts we remain unfenced, cannot think of any better end than to be overcome. But three things here offer themselves First, it must be God his armour. Secondly, it must be a whole armour. Thirdly it must be put on. There are some in the pride of their wit, and opinion of their learning and policy, that marvel that silly souls lye so weakly under Satan's hand. But alas if one temptation shake them, if one wound of conscience bruise them, they see no learning but learning from heaven, no wisdom, but the wisdom of the spirit can help them; Satan will overcome them in his own armour, and Gods cause is defended with his own strength. Now that we must put on all it is plain; for as he were worthy to be counted a fool, that with one piece, or with a few would venture into the battle, seeing the enemy strikes rather at one part not fenced than at all the other covered; so what were it to have one grace of God, what to leave one sin, what to see one want, what to hate one corruption, and yet to lye open in a great many? Lastly, we must put on our harness. Admit a man had his armoury never so well stored, and his weapons never so tried, if either he cannot put on his armour, or being armed, wants skill to use it, what doth it profit when the enemy knocks at his gate•so if I have never so good things, if either in temptation I know not how to use them, or to deal in them, how shall I stand at Satan's assaults? This courage must be neither mean nor in our selves, but in God, and in the power of God, and in the might of his power. And to add to the former examples moe, consider how Noah presuming proved weak; how Hezekiah after many distresses not suspecting himself did fall, for the Lord leaving him he was vainglorious even before Gods enemies. So far have even Gods servants been deceived in an opinion of their strength, not that they were gross hypocrites, but that they saw not the corruption of their own hearts, and therefore when they came to handy strokes, they were foiled.

Now to shew how we must be strong, it is added, Put on the whole armour of God, &c. It is a pleasant and profitable comparison here vsed, to shewe the estate of Christians. As silly souldiers going into the camp cannot hope for any good issue if they bee naked and vnarmed; so we, if in our daily conflicts we remaine vnfenced, cannot thinke of any better end than to be ouercōmed. But three things here offer thēselues First, it must be God his armour. Secondly, it must be a whole armour. Thirdly it must be put on. There are some in the pride of their wit, and opinion of their learning and policie, that maruell that silly soules lye so weakely vnder Satans hand. But alas if one temptation shake them, if one wound of conscience bruise them, they see no learning but learning from heauen, no wisedome, but the wisedome of the spirit can helpe them; Satan will ouercome them in his owne armour, and Gods cause is defended with his owne strength. Now that we must put on all it is plaine; for as he were worthy to be counted a foole, that with one peece, or with a few would venture into the battel, seeing the enemie strikes rather at one part not fenced than at all the other couered; so what were it to haue one grace of God, what to leaue one sinne, what to see one want, what to hate one corruption, and yet to lye open in a great many? Lastly, wee must put on our harnesse. Admit a man had his armorie neuer so well stored, and his weapons neuer so tried, if either he cannot put on his armour, or being armed, wants skill to vse it, what doth it profite when the enemie knocks at his gateso if I haue neuer so good things, if either in temptation I knowe not how to vse them, or to deale in them, how shall I stand at Satans assaults? This courage must be neither meane nor in our selues, but in God, and in the power of God, and in the might of his power. And to adde to the former examples moe, consider how Noah presuming proued weake; how Ezekiah after many distresses not suspecting himselfe did fal, for the Lord leauing him he was vaineglorious euen before Gods enemies. So far haue euen Gods seruāts bene deceiued in an opiniō of their strength, not that they were grosse hypocrites, but that they saw not the corruption of their owne hearts, and therefore when they came to handy strokes, they were foyled.