Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

And most sure it is, to him who will look into it, that all other good helps to godliness, as prayer, reading, conference, though in themselves very profitable; yet they do Christians the less good, if they be without the armour. And therefore when the Apostle had taught the Ephesians to practise the particular duties of Christianity, he sendeth them to this armour, to enable them to stand fast therein, without the which, the devil (he telleth them) would with his subtle baits and delusions, draw them from whatsoever he exhorteth them unto; yea although they had desire to be obedient to the §Isame.¹ Thus he writeth, saying: Take unto you that whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day: that is, in the hard time, when Satan bendeth all his force against you, and proclaimeth (as it were) open war; as well as when the danger seemeth to be smaller: and having done all things, that is, resisted your enemy, stand by the strength thereof, and keep your selves armed still against new assaults. By this it is clear, that seeing the devil is a professed enemy of ours, and one that woundeth us secretly, when we are not aware, and is at hand to do us most harm, when we do not so much as dream of any such matter: it is clear, I say, that if we be not prepared against such dangers, we must needs be sore hurt. Who goeth forth naked §Kand unarmed unto the battle, where so many kinds of weapons are ready to take away his life? nay all is little enough, though he be armed in every part.

And most sure it is, to him who will look into it, that all other good helps to godlines, as prayer, reading, conference, though in themselues very profitable; yet they doe Christians the lesse good, if they be without the armour. And therefore when the Apostle had taught the Ephesians to practise the particular duties of Christianitie, he sendeth them to this armour, to enable them to stand fast therein, without the which, the diuell (he telleth them) would with his subtill baites and delusions, draw them from whatsoeuer he exhorteth them vnto; yea although they had desire to bee obedient to the §Isame.¹ Thus he writeth, saying: Take vnto you that whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the euill day: that is, in the hard time, when Sathan bendeth all his force against you, and proclaimeth (as it were) open warre; as well as when the daunger seemeth to be smaller: and hauing done all things, that is, resisted your enemie, stand by the strength thereof, and keepe your selues armed still against new assaults. By this it is cleere, that seeing the diuell is a professed enemie of ours, and one that woundeth vs secretly, when wee are not aware, and is at hand to doe vs most harme, when we doe not so much as dreame of any such matter: it is cleere, I say, that if wee be not prepared against such daungers, we must needes be sore hurt. Who goeth foorth naked