Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Breast-plate is a main and principal Piece of Armour, that belongs to a Soldier. | Righteousness in like manner is a principal thing belonging to all Christians, who are called Soldiers of Christ:1 Endure Hardness as a good Soldier, &c.
II. A Breast-plate is a piece of Armour that every Soldier ought to ⟨p. 10⟩have on, when he engages his Enemy; he must not come into the Field without it. | II. Righteousness is so necessary for every Believer, that he ought not, cannot be without it; there is no engaging any ⟨p. 10⟩Enemy of the Soul, without a Principle of Holiness be wrought in him.
⟨p. 9⟩III. A Breast-plate preserves the principal part of the Body, viz. the Breast, where the very Vitals of a Man are closely couched together, and where a Shot or a Stab is more deadly, than in other parts, that are more remote from the Fountain of Life. A Man may out-live many Wounds received in the Arms or Legs, but a Stab in the Heart is a certain Messenger of Death. | III. Righteousness and Holiness preserves the principal part of a Christian, viz. his Soul. Satan aims to hit him there where he may dispatch him soonest. A Wound in a Man's Credit, Estate, Relations, &c. hazard not the Life of his Soul; but Sin exposes it to imminent Danger. This is that Dart,2 that struck the young Man through the Liver, as a Bird hasteth to the Snare, that knoweth not 'tis for his Life. And this is that which Satan strives to tempt, entice, and draw a Saint to yield unto. Hence he should be careful to put on his Breastplate of Righteousness, which whilst he has on, he is safe from the deadly Stab of the Enemy.
IV. A Breast-plate is made and prepared for a Soldier, before he puts it on. It is not his own Work, but the Work of a skilful Artist. | IV. Righteousness, which is the Saints Breast-plate, is wrought in him by the Holy Spirit, who is a most wise and skilful Workman. Our own Righteousness is good for nothing, hence called dead Works, because they are Works from one dead in Sin, and spring not from a Principle of inward spiritual Life.
V. A Breast-plate much emboldens a Soldier, and makes him fearless, that as he cannot be easily killed, so hereby he cannot be soon cowed. When a Soldier sees himself unarmed, he begins to tremble; but when he hath on a good Helmet, and a Plate of Proof on his Breast, he is not quickly dismayed, but adventures upon the Point of the Sword. | V.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Breast-plate is a main and principal Piece of Armor, that belongs to a Souldier. | RIghteousness in like manner is a principal thing belonging to all Christians, who are called Souldiers of Christ:1 Endure Hardness as a good Souldier, &c.
II. A Breast-plate is a piece of Armor that every Souldier ought to ⟨p. 10⟩have on, when he engages his Enemy; he must not come into the Field without it. | II. Righteousness is so necessary for every Believer, that he ought not, cannot be without it; there is no engaging any ⟨p. 10⟩Enemy of the Soul, without a Principle of Holiness be wrought in him.
⟨p. 9⟩III. A Breast-plate preserves the principal part of the Body, viz. the Breast, where the very Vitals of a Man are closely couched together, and where a Shot or a Stab is more deadly, than in other parts, that are more remote from the Fountain of Life. A Man may out-live many Wounds received in the Arms or Legs, but a Stab in the Heart is a certain Messenger of Death. | III. Righteousness and Holiness preserves the principal part of a Christian, viz. his Soul. Satan aims to hit him there where he may dispatch him soonest. A Wound in a Man's Credit, Estate, Relations, &c. hazard not the Life of his Soul; but Sin exposes it to imminent Danger. This is that Dart,2 that struck the young Man through the Liver, as a Bird hasteth to the Snare, that knoweth not 'tis for his Life. And this is that which Satan strives to tempt, entice, and draw a Saint to yield unto. Hence he should be careful to put on his Breastplate of Righteousness, which whilst he has on, he is safe from the deadly Stab of the Enemy.
IV. A Breast-plate is made and prepared for a Souldier, before he puts it on. It is not his own Work, but the Work of a skilful Artist. | IV. Righteousness, which is the Saints Breast-plate, is wrought in him by the Holy Spirit, who is a most wise and skilful Workman. Our own Righteousness is good for nothing, hence called dead Works, because they are Works from one dead in Sin, and spring not from a Principle of inward spiritual Life.
V. A Breast-plate much emboldens a Souldier, and makes him fearless, that as he cannot be easily killed, so hereby he cannot be soon cowed. When a Souldier sees himsel unarmed, he begins to tremble; but when he hath on a good Helmet, and a Plate of Proof on his Breast, he is not quickly dismay'd, but adventures upon the Point of the Sword. | V.
- 12 Tim 3 3.
- 2Prov. 7 23
