The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…

by working in some, forgetfulness of God and of themselves, security, and careless recklessness; and turmoiling others with horrible fears, desperate doubting, and bitter agonies. Whereby it cometh to pass, that the one sort securely go on in sin, forgetting the end of their creation, redemption, and holy vocation, unto which God hath called them, until with Solomon they have found in the end of their worldly delights, nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit: and the other are so affrighted, astonished, and continually tormented with doubtings, fears, and the continual assaults of their spiritual enemies, that they go mourning all the day long, pining away in grief and anguish of mind, till at last they grow weary of their lives, thinking their souls an intolerable burden to their bodies, and their bodies to the earth. The consideration of which lamentable and too too miserable effects, as it shall move all christians to stand upon their guard, and to arm themselves with the spiritual armour, that they may not be overcome of their temptations, and fall into these great mischiefs: so should it move Gods faithful ministers (whose duty it is, not only themselves to walk in the ways of righteousness, but also as spiritual guides to lead others with them) in discharge of their conscience before God, and in christian commiseration and compassion towards their brethren, to use all good means both by speaking and writing, whereby they may be preserved and freed from these snares which their spiritual enemies do lay to entrap them; by beating ⟨image 4⟩down with the cannon-shot of Gods threatenings, the high forts of their proud presumption, and rousing them out of the deep slumber of reckless security; as also by raising up and comforting those that mourn in Zion, stooping, yea lying grovelling under the heavy burden of their sins. The which howsoever it is performed by many, in respect of their several charges committed to them; and some also have briefly touched some points in writing, which concerned the comforting and raising up of their private friends: yet not any (that I know of) have in our language largely and generally handled these controversies, and spiritual conflicts between the christian and the enemies of his salvation, for the common good of the whole Church.

by working in some, forgetfulnesse of God and of themselues, securitie, and carelesse retchlesnesse; and turmoyling others with horrible feares, desperat doubting, and bitter agonies. Whereby it commeth to passe, that the one sort securely goe on in sinne, forgetting the end of their creation, redemption, and holy vocation, vnto which God hath called them, vntill with Salomon they haue found in the end of their worldly delights, nothing but vanitie and vexation of spirit: and the other are so affrighted, astonished, and continually tormented with doubtings, feares, and the continuall assaults of their spirituall enemies, that they goe mourning all the day long, pining away in griefe and anguish of mind, till at last they grow wearie of their liues, thinking their soules an intollerable burthen to their bodies, and their bodies to the earth. The consideration of which lamentable and too too miserable effects, as it shall moue all christians to stand vpon their guard, and to arme themselues with the spirituall armour, that they may not be ouercome of their temptations, and fall into these great mischiefes: so should it moue Gods faithfull ministers (whose dutie it is, not onely themselues to walke in the waies of righteousnesse, but also as spirituall guides to leade others with them) in discharge of their conscience before God, and in christian commiseration and compassion towards their brethren, to vse all good meanes both by speaking and writing, whereby they may bee preserued and freed from these snares which their spirituall enemies doe lay to intrap them; by beating