I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 1 No: For the Spiritual Battle, is not always to the strong: our Victory lies not in our selves, and our own habitual strength; but in Christs fresh assistance. How often have the strong fallen, and the weak stood? We read of that young King, Edward the Sixth, That when the Emperor sent to him, desiring that his Sister Mary (afterwards Queen of England) might have liberty for the Mass in her House; this young Prince did stand out against that Temptation, when all his Counsel was for it, yea, when that good man, Bishop Cranmer, and that other holy man, Bishop Ridley, did yield thereunto, and pressed the King to it, insomuch as the King did break forth into tears, desiring them to be contented; whereupon the Arch-Bishop Cranmer, took his School-master, Mr. Cheek, by the hand, and said, Ah! Mr. Cheek, you have such a Scholar that hath more Divinity in his little finger, than all we have in our whole Bodies. Here the weak stood, and the strong did fall; the weak did resist Temptation, when the strong did yield: for our strength lies in Christ without us, not in our selves within us. And if ye look into the 2. and 3. Chapters of the Revelations, ye shall find, That whereas all the Churches are charged with some sin or other, only the Church of Philadelphia is charged with no sin at all, but commended for keeping the word of Christs Patience; and yet this Church, and no other, is said to have a little strength.¹ And ye know what Paul saith, When I am weak, then am I strong: most gladly therefore will I rejoice in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Answ. 1 No: For the Spiritual Battel, is not alwaies to the strong: our Victory lies not in our selves, and our own habitual strength; but in Christs fresh assistance. How often have the strong fallen, and the weak stood? We read of that yong King, Edward the Sixth, That when the Emperor sent to him, desiring that his Sister Mary (afterwards Queen of England) might have liberty for the Mass in her House; this yong Prince did stand out against that Temptation, when all his Counsel was for it, yea, when that good man, Bishop Cranmer, and that other holy man, Bishop Ridley, did yield thereunto, and pressed the King to it, insomuch as the King did break forth into tears, desiring them to be contented; whereupon the Arch-Bishop Cranmer, took his School-master, Mr. Cheek, by the hand, and said, Ah! Mr. Cheek, you have such a Scholler that hath more Divinity in his little finger, than all we have in our whol Bodies. Here the weak stood, and the strong did fall; the weak did resist Temptation, when the strong did yield: for our strength lies in Christ without us, not in our selves within us. And if ye look into the 2. and 3. Chapters of the Revlations, ye shall find, That whereas all the Churches are charged with some sin or other, only the Church of Philadelphia is charged with no sin at all, but commended for keeping the word of Christs Patience; and yet this Church, and no other, is said to have a little strength.