The Christian in Complete Armour

'Tis an incomparable mercy, that you are yet where you may choose your side: It will not be ever so, may be not a day to an end. If once in another world, you must then stand to your colours, yet you may run from the Devils quarters, and be taken into Christs pay. The Drum beats in the Gospel for Volunteers. O, the Lord make you ⟨image 5⟩willing in the day of his power. I know you all would be on the surest side. O what can you be sure of, while under the devils Ensign, but damnation? The curse of God cleaves to him and all that takes part with him O let not the little plunder & spoil of sinful pleasures and pelf, bewitch you still to follow his Camp. What is that soldier better for his booty he gets in a fight, who before he can get off with it, is himself slain upon the place? (so many have been served in these wars, if reports be true.) 'Tis that thou must certainly look for. The piece is charged, and aim taken at thy breast, which will be thy eternal death if thou persistest. Gods threatenings will go off at last and then where art thou? where, but in hell, where thy wedge of gold and Babylonish garment, thy wages of unrighteousness will do thee little stead? O Neighbours, I am loath to leave you in the way where Gods bullets fly; but I must have a word for you, my Christian friends, who have espoused Christs quarrel, and are in the field against Satan. My heart is towards you, who have thus willingly offered your selves among the Lords people to his help against the mighty. He can destroy him without you, but he takes your love as kindly as if he could not. God hath sent me (as Jesse did David) with this little present to you and the rest of my Brethren that are in his Camp. May it be but to the strengthening of your hearts and hands in fighting the Lords battles, and I shall bless God that put it into my heart thus to visit you. O hold on, dear friends, in your Christian warfare, let none take the crown from you. Whet your courage at the throne of grace, from whence all your recruits of soul-strength come. Send faith oft up the hill of the Promise, to see and bring you the certain news of Christs coming to you, yea, for you, and assured victory with him. Read the exploits, which Christs Worthies by faith have done, ⟨image 6⟩and in their Conquests read your own, for in them he spake with us, as the Prophet of Jacob.

'Tis an incomparable mercy, that you are yet where you may choose your side: It will not be ever so, may be not a day to an end. If once in another world, you must then stand to your colours, yet you may run from the Devils quarters, and be taken into Christs pay. The Drum beats in the Gospel for Voluntiers. O, the Lord make you