Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day showing how Christians…Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day shewing how Christians…

If we observe the signs of our Times, we may easily discern Judgments a coming, and therefore nothing can be more necessary than to prepare for Sufferings. God hath a controversy with us, and seems to speak to us by his Providence, as he did to Israel by his Prophet, Prepare to meet thy God. Sit down then, O Christians, and consider how to do it, and think with your selves, with what penitential Tears, Wrestling, Supplications, real Reformations, and holy Resignations you will meet with him. Jesus Christ the Captain of your salvation, seems now to ask you by his Providence, as the Roman General did his Soldiers, Are you ready? Reflect upon your selves, and consider; are you ready to keep the Word of Christs Patience, to take up his Cross and follow him? Though the cross be not yet upon your ⟨p. 9⟩backs, yet you must carry it in your Hearts; your minds must be ready at his call to suffer any thing, rather than to part with the Gospel.

If we observe the signs of our Times, we may easily discern Judgments a coming, and therefore nothing can be more necessary than to prepare for Sufferings. God hath a controversy with us, and seems to speak to us by his Providence, as he did to Israel by his Prophet, Prepare to meet thy God. Sit down then, O Christians, and consider how to do it, and think with your selves, with what penitential Tears, Wrestling, Supplications, real Reformations, and holy Resignations you will meet with him. Jesus Christ the Captain of your salvation, seems now to ask you by his Providence, as the Roman General did his Souldiers, Are you ready? Reflect upon your selves, and consider; are you ready to keep the Word of Christs Patience, to take up his Cross and follow him? Though the cross be not yet upon your ⟨p. 9⟩backs, yet you must carry it in your Hearts; your minds must be ready at his call to suffer any thing, rather than to part with the Gospel.

Preparation is necessary to every good work. The Pagan Priests had preparatory Washings before the sacrifice; the People had an hoc age cried to them to awaken their Attention. The Jews were to wash their Clothes at the giving of the Law; they had their Preparations to Sabbaths and Ordinances: Christians are to prepare for the Wood and for the holy Table; but above all, Preparation is necessary to sufferings. The greater the thing is, the more requisite is the Preparation: Suffering is a great thing, hard to Sense, harsh to Flesh and Blood. It may be it takes away the worldly Goods which are dear to men; it may be it comes nearer, and touches the Bone and the Flesh, which is dearer then outward things: It may be it goes further, and treads down the precious Life, which is highly valuable. Nature in the best, shrinks and flies away from such things as these; and, supernatural Graces and Assistances lift up men above themselves, they will never bear them. In such a case as this we have need to put on all our Spiritual Armour; not this or that piece only, but