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…

1. If we would be in a fit posture for Suffering, let us diligently try our own Hearts: Suffering is a searching thing; it tries a man as fire doth Metals; sifts and winnows him as Corn is shaken in a Sieve; and discovers his thoughts and the bottom of his Heart. Many a man seems to be fully for God, yet when the Test comes, proves to be for the World: Therefore it is very proper for us, to search our selves before hand; to try our Hearts inwardly before the outward trial come; to sift and winnow our selves before Providence do it; to discover our Hearts to our selves, before God discover them to others: This is Gods own direction to his People; Gather your selves together, yea, gather together O Nation not desired; or (as the words in the original may be rendered) search, lift your selves, yea, search, lift your selves, O nation not desired, before the Decree bring forth, before the day pass as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lords Anger come upon you, Zeph. 2.1.2. Approaching Judgments alarm us to self examination: Sit down, O ⟨p. 26⟩Christian, and consider, what the state of thy Heart is; what of Corruption is there and what of Grace; how much is there for the World, and how much for God; what concupiscential Strings are there that tie thee to the present world, and what Anchors cast in Heaven are there to bear thee up in a Storm; what Chaff or Vanity is there that will go away with every Wind, and what massy Grace that will abide the trial: Never is it more necessary to descend into our selves, than in a time of Suffering.

1. If we would be in a fit posture for Suffering, let us diligently try our own Hearts: Suffering is a searching thing; it tries a man as fire doth Metals; sifts and winnowes him as Corn is shaken in a Sieve; and discovers his thoughts and the bottom of his Heart. Many a man seems to be fully for God, yet when the Test comes, proves to be for the World: Therefore it is very proper for us, to search our selves before hand; to try our Hearts inwardly before the outward trial come; to sift and winnow our selves before Providence do it; to discover our Hearts to our selves, before God discover them to others: This is Gods own direction to his People; Gather your selves together, yea, gather together O Nation not desired; or (as the words in the original may be rendred) search, lift your selves, yea, search, lift your selves, O nation not desired, before the Decree bring forth, before the day pass as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lords Anger come upon you,