The fight of faith crowned, or, A sermon preached at the funeral of that…

Good reason we should fight the fight of Faith, because we carry rich treasure about us: he who carries a charge of money about him, had need be in a fighting posture. We carry a precious soul about us; if the Cabinet of the body be so curiously wrought and embellished, Psal. 139. 15. Then what is the jewel in it? The soul is a spark and beam of celestial brightness^*, a blossom of eternity, and shall not we by our martial prowess and chivalry defend this treasure? to be robbed of the soul is an irreparable loss. God (saith Chrysostom) hath given thee two eyes, if thou losest one, thou hast another; but thou hast but one soul, and if thou art robbed of that, thou art undone for ever.

1. *Damascene.Damascen.

Use 1. Is the Christian life military? To blame then are they who have no spiritual Artillery, nor do they make one sally out against the Enemy. 'Tis death to go abroad unarmed; People spend time in dressing themselves by the glass, and putting on their jewels, but do not put on their sacred Armour, Job 21. 12. They take the Timbrel and Harp, and rejoice at the sound of the Organ; as if they were rather in music, than battle. Lycurgus would have no mans name written upon his Tomb, but his who dyed manfully in War: God writes no mans name in the ⟨p. 7⟩Book of Life, but his who dyes fighting the good fight of faith.

Use 1. Is the Christian life military? To blame then are they who have no spiritual Artillery, nor do they make one sally out against the Enemy. 'Tis death to go abroad unarmed; People spend time in dressing themselves by the glass, and putting on their jewels, but do not put on their sacred Armour,