Howbeit, as S. Paul▪ though ohe were assured that all who sailed with him should escape alive: yet psaid, that they could not escape except the mariners abode in the ship: so, though it be certain that Antichrist and his members shall be consumed, yet cannot that be, except they be set upon by warriors. For god doth work by means ordinarily. And this is the means that he hath ordained for the achieving of that conquest, as we saw before in qthe Ambassadors message, Arise & let ⟨p. 13⟩us rise up against her to battle. The warriors, whose service the Lord doth use thereto, are all his servants in a sort; rhis people most willing in the day of his army: but specially Preachers and Ministers of his word. For his word is sthe rod of his▪ mouth, tthe breath, uthe sword, whereby he doth destroy his enemies: & ministers are soldiers, by whose hand he wieldeth it. For which cause their function is compared to warfare, in that it is written by S. Paul, xWho goeth to warfare any time at his 9own cost? And, No man that warreth entangleth himself with affairs of life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier, And God saith of them by the Prophet Isaiah: zI have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which all the day, and all the night continually shall not cease. The watchmen and warriors therefore of the Lord, the keepers of his Church, the conquerors of his enemies▪ the spoilers of the Idumaeans, the consumers of Antichrist, and Antichristian imps▪ are ministers of his word, Pastors & Teachers, who to please him by whom they are chosen soldiers, should not be entangled with affairs of life; to discharge their duty, should ⟨p. 14⟩be sent forth and kept on public cost; to preserve their flock, should watch day and▪ night continually over it. The less marvel is it, if in our English Churches Antichrist and Edom be not consumed yet; nay, if they attempt to consume us; if by Popish policies, by superstitious tokens, by blasphemous writings, by traitorous libels and conspiracies, they undermine our state; if athey take crafty counsel against the people of God, and say, bLet us possess his habitations by inheritance; if they look for a day when they may cry once again, craze it, raze it to the foundation thereof; in a word, if they range through the land like wolves, & suck the blood of sheep and lambs:
Howbeit, as S. Paul▪ though ohe were assured that al who sailed with him sheuld escape aliue: yet psaid, that they could not escape except the mariners abode in the ship: so, though it be certaine that Antichrist and his members shalbe cōsumed, yet cannot that be, except they be set vpō by warriours. For god doth worke by meanes ordinarily. And this is the meanes that he hath ordeined for the atchieuing of that conquest, as we sawe before in qthe Ambassadours message, Arise & let ⟨p. 13⟩vs rise vp against her to battaile. The warriours, whose seruice the Lord doth vse therto, are all his seruants in a sort; rhis people most willing in the day of his armie: but speciallie Preachers and Ministers of hys worde. For his worde is sthe rodde of his▪ mouth, tthe breath, uthe sword, wherby he doth destroy his enemies: & ministers are souldiours, by whose hand he weeldeth it. For which cause their function is cōpared to warfare, in that it is written by S. Paule, xWho goeth to warrefare any time at his 9owne cost? And, No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with affayres of life, that hee may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldiour, And God saith of thē by the Prophet Esay: zI haue set watchmē vpon thy walles, O Ierusalem, which all the day, and all the night continually shall not cease. The watchmen and warriours therefore of the Lorde, the keepers of hys Church, the conquerours of his enemies▪ the spoylers of the Idumaeans, the consumers of Antichrist, and Antichristian impes are ministers of his word, Pastors & Teachers, who to please him by whō they are chosen souldiours, should not bee entangled with affaires of life; to discharge their dutie, should
- oAct.. 27. 24.
- pVer. 31.
- qObad. 1.
- rPsal. 110. 3.
- sEsa. 11. 4.
- t2. Thes. 2. 8.
- uReve. 19 15. Ag. 1. 1.Reue. 19 15. Agge. 1. 1.
- x1▪ Cor. 9. 7.
- 9y. 2. Tim. 2▪ .4
- zIsaiah. 62. 6.Esay. 62. 6.
- aPsal. 83. 3
- bver. 12.
- cPsal. 137. 7.
