OUR life, saith the Apostle, is a warfare, & every day we are more or less to encounter with our adversary. And therefore is the Church of God upon earth called Militant, because the members thereof are prest soldiers, stā ding continually upon their guard, knowing, that their enemy is an old wily Serpent, and a fierce ravenous Lion, continually seeking whom he may devour. But amongst many snares he hath laid to entrap the soul of man, either presuming too much of himself, or derogating too much from the graces of the spirit in him, this is not the meanest, that he laboureth, to divide the kingdom against it self, and to use men as his instruments for their own destruction. For well he knows, that where cumming in his own likeness, he should seem odious and be valiantly resisted; there, masked under a veil of humility, he may more secretly encroach upon the fearful spirit; & if the Lord doth not put the bit into his mouth, to curb him with, he may at length display his banners in the heart. But we have a valiant leader, let us stick unto him, even Jesus Christ the righteous, who is a Serpent also lift up in the wilderness to cure all whose hearts are scorched with the venomous heat of the fiery serpent; who is a Lion of the Tribe of Judah, • mighty prince, and the king of peace, who shall subdue all things under him that he may be all in all. I might here enter into a large discourse, but in this argument ⟨image 4⟩this present book is so copious, as I doubt (gentle Reader) whether thou shalt find any want; much less of that which I am able to afford thee. Only it had been to be wished the Author of these Treatises, had himself survived to the publishing of them, that the same might have come more full & perfect into thy hands. But since it hath pleased the Lord, for cause best known unto himself, to bereave his Church in this land, of so excellent a pillar, there remaineth nothing for us, but to submit ourselves unto his providence, & to take up that complaint of Elisha for Elijah, when he was taken from him into heaven. My Father, my Father, the Chariot of Israel & the horsemen thereof.
OVR life, saith the Apostle, is a warfare, & euery day we are more or lesse to incoūter with our aduersary. And therfore is the Church of God vpō earth called Militant, because the mēbers therof are prest soldgiers, stā ding continually vpon their garde, knowinge, that their enemy is an olde wily Serpent, and a fierce rauenous Lion, cōtinually seeking whom he may deuoure. But amongst many snares he hath laide to intrappe the soule of man, eyther presuming too much of himselfe, or derogating too much from the graces of the spiritt in him, this is not the meanest, that he laboureth, to deuide the kingdome against it selfe, and to vse men as his instrumentes for their owne destruction. For well he knowes, that where cumming in his owne likenes, he should seeme odious and be valiently resisted; there, masked vnder a vayle of humilitie, he may more secretly incroch vpō the fearful spirit; & if the Lord doth not put the bitt into his mouth, to curbe him with, he may at length display his banners in the heart. But we haue a valiant leader, let vs sticke vnto him, euen Iesus Christ the righteous, who is a Serpent also lift vp in the wildernes to cure all whose hearts are scorched with the venemous heat of the firie serpent; who is a Lion of the Tribe of Iuda, • •mightie prince, and the king of peace, who shall subdue all thinges vnder him that he may be all in all. I might here enter into a large discourse, but in this argumēt ⟨image 4⟩this present booke is so copious, as I doubt (gentle Reader) whether thou shalt finde any want; much lesse of that which I am able to afforde thee. Onely it had beene to be wished the Author of these Treatises, had himselfe suruiued to the publishing of them, that the same might haue come more full & perfect into thy handes. But since it hath pleased the Lord, for cause best knowne vnto himselfe, to bereaue his Church in this land, of so excellēt a piller, there remaneth nothing for vs, but to submit ourselues vnto his prouidence, & to take vp that cōplaint of Elisha for Elias, when he was takē frō him into heauen. My Father, my Father, the Charet of Israell & the horsemen therof.
