The Christian in Complete Armour

but when the Army is beaten, and all taken prisoners, then they fling off their scarf and feather, and would be glad to pass for the meanest in the army. Happy would devils be, Princes and great ones in the world be, if then they could appear in the habit of some poor sneaks to receive their sentence as such, but then their titles, and dignity, and riches shall be read, not for their honour, but further shame and damnation.

but when the Army is beaten, and all taken prisoners, then they fling off their scarfe and feather, and would be glad to passe for the meanest in the army. Happy would devils be, Princes and great ones in the world be, if then they could appear in the habit of some poor sneaks to receiv their sentence as such, but then their titles, and dignity, and riches shall be read, not for their honour, but further shame and damnation.

Us;e 2 Secondly, it shows the folly of those that think it is such an easy matter to get heaven. If the devil be so mighty, and heavens way so full of them, then sure it will cost hot water before we display our banners upon the walls of that new Jerusalem. Yet it is plain many think otherwise by the provision they make for their march. If you should see a man walking forth without a cloak, or with a very thin one, you will say, Surely he fears no foul weather, or one riding a long journey alone and without arms, you will conclude he expects no thieves on the road. All (if you ask them) will tell you they are on their way to heaven, but how few care for the company of the Saints, as if they needed not their fellowship in their journey? Most go naked, without so much as any thing like armour, have not enough to gain the name of Professors at large; others, it may be, will show you some vain slighty hopes on the mercy of God, without any Scripture-bottom for the same, and with these content themselves, which will like a rusty unsound pistol fly in their own face, when they come to use it, and is it any wrong to say these make nothing of getting heaven? Surely these men, (many ⟨p. 204⟩of whom thrive so well in the world) never got their estates with so little care as they think to get heaven. Ask them why they follow their trade so close, they will tell you estates are not got by sleeping, families are not provided for with the hands in the pocket, they meet with many rooks and cheaters in their dealing, who should they not look to themselves would soon undo them: and are there none that thou needest fear will put a cheat on thy soul, and bereave thee of thy crown of glory if they can? thou art blinder then the Prophets servant, if thou seest not more devils encompassing thee then he saw men about Samaria. Thy worldly trade they will not hinder, nay, may be help thee to sinful tricks in that to hinder thee in this: but if once thou resolvest to seek out for Christ and his grace, they will oppose thee to thy face; they are under an oath, as Pauls enemies were, to take away the life of thy soul if they can; desperate creatures themselves, who know their doom is irrecoverable, and sell their own lives they will as dear as they can. Now what folly is it to betray thy soul into their hands, when Christ stands by to be thy convoy?