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…

And that their manifold foils and grisly wounds which they receive of sin and Satan may not discourage them; ⟨p. 131⟩let them consider that never any entered the battle (our chief captain Christ excepted) but they have been subject to the like.¹ Adam who was the strongest champion in his own strength that ever entered the lists, was overthrown at the first encounter, and taken captive of sin: in which bondage he should ever have remained, had not Christ redeemed him. Noah was overcome with drunkenness; and Lot added thereunto incest. David a notable soldier in fighting the Lords battles, was made a slave to his own lusts. Peter a stout champion, ran away and forsook his master. In a word there was never any that lived, who have not been foiled by Satan, and wounded with sin. One perhaps receiveth more and deeper wounds, or is longer held captive in the chains of sin than another; but none have escaped altogether. And those who have received the most grievous hurts, so they have an earnest desire to have those wounds healed which sin hath made in their consciences, to the end they may be enabled to renew the fight against their spiritual enemies; may assure themselves that Christ the good Samaritan and their most careful captain, will power the oil of his grace and mercy, and the precious balm of his blood into their wounds, which will as easily cure them, though they be many and grisly, as if they were but few, and (as it were) but small scratches.

And that their manifold foyles and griesly wounds which they receiue of sinne and Sathan may not discourage them; ⟨p. 131⟩let them consider that neuer any entred the battaile (our chiefe captaine Christ excepted) but they haue beene subiect to the like.¹ Adam who was the strongest champion in his owne strength that euer entered the lists, was ouerthrowne at the first encounter, and taken captiue of sinne: in which bondage he should euer haue remained, had not Christ redeemed him. Noah was ouercome with drunkennes; and Lot added thereunto incest. Dauid a notable souldier in fighting the Lords battailes, was made a slaue to his owne lusts. Peter a stout champion, ranne away and forsooke his maister. In a word there was neuer any that liued, who haue not been foyled by Sathan, and wounded with sinne. One perhaps receiueth more and deeper wounds, or is longer held captiue in the chaines of sinne than another; but none haue escaped altogether. And those who haue receiued the most grieuous hurts, so they haue an earnest desire to haue those wounds healed which sinne hath made in their consciences, to the end they may be enabled to renew the fight against their spirituall enemies; may assure themselues that Christ the good Samaritane and their most carefull captaine, will power the oyle of his grace and mercie, and the precious balme of his blood into their woundes, which will as easily cure them, though they be many and greisly, as if they were but few, and (as it were) but small scratches.