Neither let Satan's power consisting in his might and strength, and in his craft and policy, compared with our weakness and simplicity, discourage us from serving God in the duties of holiness and righteousness. But when we have set our faces towards the heavenly Canaan, and are travailing unto it in the ways of godliness, though we see mountainous difficulties, impossible in respect of our own strength to be overpassed, on either hand, a sea of troubles and dangers before us, and an huge host of spiritual enemies armed at all points with hellish tentations, pursuing us at our backs; let us go on in our course without dread, seeing those which are on our side are more, and more mighty, then those which are against us. And first, when we see our own wants and weaknesses opposed with such malicious might and hellish fury, let not this dismay us, seeing it is a great part of our strength to see our weakness, and we are best armed, when we see, acknowledge and bewail our own nakedness. For this will make us more careful to provide and put on the spiritual Armour, especially the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, whereby we shall be enabled to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and to stand fast and 1firm against all his tentations in the evil day, wherewith if we be thoroughly armed, we can never be foiled. Or if through our frailties and infirmities, we find herein many wants and imperfections, this must not discourage us, seeing our armour hath not so much sufficiency to defend us in its own strength, as from the Author that made it, and gave it for our use, who being Almighty, to make good his own work, and to be of high proof against all tentations, will never suffer those to be vanquished, who are of his arming, but will manifest his power in their infirmities, and glorify himself in their victory. Again, the sight and sense of our weakness, and our enemies power, must not so dismay us, as that we should desist in our course, but drive us unto the God of our strength, crying with Moses unto him for help and deliverance, when we are pursued by our spiritual enemies. 2And acknowledging with Asa our own impotency to resist them, 3let us make it our ground, to implore Gods help.
Neither let Satans power consisting in his might and strength, and in his craft and policy, compared with our weakenesse and simplicity, discourage vs from seruing God in the duties of holinesse and righteousnesse. But when wee haue set our faces towards the heauenly Canaan, and are trauailing vnto it in the wayes of godlinesse, though wee see mountainous difficulties, impossible in respect of our owne strength to be ouerpassed, on either hand, a sea of troubles and dangers before vs, and an huge host of spirituall enemies armed at all points with hellish tentations, pursuing vs at our backes; let vs goe on in our course without dread, seeing those which are on our side are more, and more mighty, then those which are against vs. And first, when wee see our owne wants and weakenesses opposed with such malicious might and hellish furie, let not this dismay vs, seeing it is a great part of our strength to see our weakenesse, and we are best armed, when wee see, acknowledge and bewaile our owne nakednesse. For this will make vs more carefull to prouide and put on the sprituall Armour, especially the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, whereby we shall bee enabled to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and to stand fast and 1firme against all his tentations in the euill day, wherewith if wee be thorowly armed, we can neuer be foiled. Or if through our frailties and infirmities, we finde herein many wants and imperfections, this must not discourage vs, seeing our armour hath not so much sufficiency to defend vs in its own strength, as from the Author that made it, and gaue it for our vse, who being Almighty, to make good his owne worke, and to be of high proofe against all tentations, will neuer suffer those to be vanquished, who are of his arming, but will manifest his power in their infirmities, and glorify himselfe in their victory. Againe, the sight and sense of our weakenesse, and our enemies power, must not so dismay vs, as that wee should desist in our course, but driue vs vnto the God of our strength, crying with Moses vnto him for helpe and deliuerance, when we are pursued by our spirituall enemies. 2And acknowledging with Asa our owne impotency to resist them, 3let vs make it our ground, to implore Gods helpe.
- 1Eph. 6. 16.
- 2Exod. 14. 15.
- 32. Chro. 14. 11.
