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,…

Hitherto we have heard thus much, first we must provide that we fight in Gods harness, not with Satan's weapons, whether they be wit, reason, policy, education or such like. We fight against a Prince and principality, who wants not wit, knowledge, civill gifts, or any such things, which things have been given even unto the heathen, for they were wise and learned men, yet many of them lay in great sins, in idolatry, some fearfully ended their lives. Let not Christians then say, have I not wit, reason, and education beseeming a man? Well, so did the Philosophers and Poets, and yet behold their fruits, behold their ends: but let us deny reason, and withstand wit, for it will surely fa•le in the hour of death, and in the hour of temptation. No gift of nature, no gift of bringing up can withstand Satan or sin, unless from heaven God change us Neither is this the sin only of the unregenerate, but in the regenerate, who still sliding to reason or overweighing of God his power are foiled; and therefore we see many overcome, who purpose to withstand, yet striving in their own wisdom they are spoiled, be their purpose never so great. Many will say, why this is a monstrous temptation, I will never yield to this, yet ⟨p. 310⟩they fall. This we shall see both in temptations and accusations, when ••en strive and dispute with reason with so subtle a sophister: so the more they strive, the more they are entangled, for they want strength to fight with the strong man, who will not be subdued unless we put on the armour of the stronger man, which is Christ Jesus; which armour is afterward set down. Neither is it enough to have a piece of harness, but we must have all the whole armour, for what is it to cover the head if the breast be bare? what if the arms be armed when the back is unharnesse•? we cannot avoid the darts which come against every place. So we must not have one grace and want another; for then Satan comes in the open place, who observes whether we want a head-piece, • gauntlet, a breast plate, or whatsoever: wherefore we must think that Satan as a politic soldier looks not so much to the armed part, as to the naked part. If he seeth us afraid of him, the•• will he tempt us to despair; if we will not be pierced with uncleanness, then he will shake[…]s with covetousness.