So must we daily arm our affections, the feet of our souls, with all the sweet comforts and gracious promises of the Gospel, made ⟨p. 197⟩unto those who hold out unto the end, and fight until they overcome, without which we shall soon be wearied, and faint in the way, seeing it is rough and unpleasant to flesh and blood, and full of the thorns and briers of afflictions and persecutions. The fourth piece of the Christian armour is, the shield of faith, which also we must daily put on, applying afresh unto our selves Gods mercies in the merits of Christ, the gracious promises of the Gospel, and the satisfaction and obedience of our Saviour and Redeemer, whereby, though we be never so weak in our own strength, we shall be enabled to resist all Satan's tentations, and to quench and beat back all the fiery darts of the wicked one, so as they shall not be able to wound or do us any harm. The fifth piece which we must daily put on, is, the helmet of salvation, that is, we must continually renew 1and revive our hopes, and expect and wait for with patience, the accomplishment of all Gods gracious promises, which by faith we believe and apprehend. And this will notably encourage us in all Christian duties of a godly life, seem they never so irksome and tedious unto us, when as we have daily an eye to the recompense of reward; and to endure any hard measure at the hands of the world, and to drink the deepest draught in the cup of affliction and persecution for Gods sake and the Gospels 2which we profess, when as we assuredly hope, that the greatest crosses and calamities are not worthy the glory which shall be revealed, because they are light and momentany; but the crown of happiness which they help to set upon our heads, most excellent and eternal. The sixth and last piece, is, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which being rightly managed, is sufficient to defend our selves, and offend and drive back the Enemy, as we see in the example of our Saviour Christ, who used no other weapon to vanquish Satan and all his tenons. We must therefore daily exercise our selves in reading and meditating in the holy Scriptures, which will serve as a light to guide us in all our ways, as a goad in our sides, if we be sluggish; as cordial water, if we be ready to faint with feebleness;
So must we daily arme our affections, the feete of our soules, with all the sweete comforts and gracious promises of the Gospell, made ⟨p. 197⟩vnto those who hold out vnto the end, and fight vntill they ouercome, without which we shall soone be wearied, and faint in the way, seeing it is rough and vnpleasant to flesh and blood, and full of the thornes and briers of afflictions and persecutions. The fourth piece of the Christian armour is, the shield of faith, which also we must daily put on, applying afresh vnto our selues Gods mercies in the merits of Christ, the gracious promises of the Gospell, and the satisfaction and obedience of our Sauiour and Redeemer, whereby, though we be neuer so weake in our owne strength, we shall be enabled to resist all Satans tentations, and to quench and beate backe all the fiery darts of the wicked one, so as they shall not be able to wound or doe vs any harme. The fifth piece which we must daily put on, is, the helmet of saluation, that is, we must continually renew 1and reuiue our hopes, and expect and waite for with patience, the accomplishment of all Gods gracious promises, which by faith we beleeue and apprehend. And this will notably encourage vs in all Christian duties of a godly life, seeme they neuer so irkesome and tedious vnto vs, when as we haue daily an eye to the recompence of reward; and to indure any hard measure at the hands of the world, and to drinke the deepest draught in the cup of affliction and persecution for Gods sake and the Gospels 2which wee professe, when as wee assuredly hope, that the greatest crosses and calamities are not worthy the glory which shall be reueiled, because they are light and momentanie; but the crowne of happinesse which they helpe to set vpon our heads, most excellent and eternall. The sixth and last piece, is, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which being rightly managed, is sufficient to defend our selues, and offend and driue backe the Enemie, as wee see in the example of our Sauiour Christ, who vsed no other weapon to vanquish Satan and all his tenons. We must therfore daily exercise our selues in reading and meditating in the holy Scriptures, which will serue as a light to guide vs in all our wayes, as a goade in our sides, if wee bee sluggish; as cordiall water, if wee bee ready to faint with feeblenesse;
- 11. Thes. 5. 8.
- 2Act. 28. 10. Rom. 8 18 2. Cor. 4. 17.
