Unto which is required not only that they be valorous in fighting the Lords battles, but also prudent and skilful in the military discipline, that they may be able to teach and train others in these feats of Arms and how to use their valour, strength and weapons for their best advantage, seeing they are called of God, not to be common Soldiers but Captains and Leaders of his holy armies The consideration and conscience of which duty hath moved me (the least and unworthiest of this number) to entreat of this Christian Warfare, that for the present the weak and unskilful might have some help and direction for the strengthening of themselves and defeating of their enemies, until some of Gods greatest Worthies do undertake this task and portray perfectly this spiritual pattern of military discipline, which I (as I ⟨image 3⟩could) have rudely delineated. The finishing of which work in all the parts thereof was when I first undertook it, in regard of my weakness and other employments in the work of my ministry, so far in my conceit above my hopes, that I durst scarce aspire unto it in my highest desires, though in this kind ambitious above my strength. And yet now the Lord who taketh delight to manifest his power in the weakness of his instruments, hath enabled me to finish the last part of this work. And as in the other parts to describe the Warfare between the Christian and his foreign enemies, the Devil and the World, with the means whereby he may be enabled to overcome; so in this, the intestine war that is in our selves between the Spirit & the Flesh: wherein if we will get the victory we must after a sort flee and abandon our selves, and if we will kill our enemies, we must mortify and crucify our earthly members. The which my poor labours I humbly offer to your Honours patronage, not because I think them worthy your learned view, or so perfect that they may merit approbation in your judicious censure, but that passing as tolerable in your estimate, they may appear even commendable to weaker judgements, and (like mean servants of Honourable Lords) may be more esteemed and better entertained, when as they come abroad graced with your name.
Vnto which is required not onely that they bee valourous in fighting the Lords battailes, but also prudent and skilfull in the militarie discipline, that they may bee able to teach and traine others in these feates of Armes and how to vse their valure, strength and weapons for their best aduantage, seeing they are called of God, not to be common Souldiers but Captaines and Leaders of his holy armies The consideration and conscience of which dutie hath moued me (the least and vnworthiest of this number) to intreat of this Christian Warfare, that for the present the weake and vnskilfull might haue some helpe and direction for the strengthening of themselues and defeating of their enemies, vntill some of Gods greatest Worthies doe vndertake this taske and purtray perfectly this spirituall patterne of militarie discipline, which I (as I ⟨image 3⟩could) haue rudely delineated. The finishing of which worke in all the parts thereof was when I first vndertooke it, in regard of my weakenesse and other imployments in the worke of my ministerie, so farre in my conceipt aboue my hopes, that I durst scarce aspire vnto it in my highest desires, though in this kinde ambitious aboue my strength. And yet now the Lord who taketh delight to manifest his power in the weakenesse of his instruments, hath enabled me to finish the last part of this worke. And as in the other parts to describe the Warfare betweene the Christian and his forraigne enemies, the Diuell and the World, with the meanes whereby hee may bee inabled to ouercome; so in this, the intestine warre that is in our selues betweene the Spirit & the Flesh: wherin if we will get the victorie we must after a sort flee and abandon our selues, and if wee will kill our enemies, wee must mortifie and crucifie our earthly members. The which my poore labours I humbly offer to your Honours patronage, not because I thinke them worthy your learned view, or so perfect that they may merit approbation in your iudicious censure, but that passing as tolerable in your estimate, they may appeare euen commendable to weaker iudgements, and (like meane seruants of Honorable Lords) may be more esteemed and better entertained, when as they come abroad graced with your name.
