Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A06063
|
The spirituall armour With which being furnished, a Christian may be able to stand fast in the euill day, and time of tryall; and to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Written by that godly and learned man, Paul Baine; sometime Preacher of Gods word at S. Andrewes in Cambridge.
|
Baynes, Paul, d. 1617.
|
1620
(1620)
|
STC 1647; ESTC S116770
|
71,493
|
320
|
one will make a conscience of vnlawfull gain he will feare them with poverty They shall not be able to liue so if they bee liberall he wil cast in this fear They may want themselues so if they defend an innocent helplesse person he will bid them looke what they doo they may draw an old house on their heads and he doth fill the eyes of the spirit with such disguised bug-beares The fift stratagem is to send-in som small forces or suborn som treacherous instruments which may betray all thus the divell will often fasten small sinnes on vs to bring vs on to greater suborne false brethren Now what is the vse of all this Vse but to stirre vs vp to looke about vs seeing wee haue so secret and so subtill an adversary instructed with a thousand arts to circumvent vs what need haue we to be innocent as Doues but wise as Serpents Now Quest if you will ask Hovv wee may bee kâ—pt safe Ans Learn to feare and suspect the euill one this is the Sentinell of the soule vvhich maketh discouery of the aduersary Bee watchfull c. Credulity is full of perill but vvise suspicion secureth from danger Secondly let vs keep vvithin our houlds keepe the threatning vvord vvithin thy hart the daily course of christian duty and they shall not bee able to hurt but aboue all things hould Christ and his vvisdome by faith for Pro. 8.12 hee dvvelleth with prudence he findeth out counsels the spirit of vvisdome is in him If vve had to deale vvith some crafty Bâ—oaker vvee vvould ioine the vvisest head vvee could meet vvith against him but get Christ the wisdome of the father and no vvisedome shall bee able to hurt thee Fourthly pray with Dauid Achitophels stratagems in the time of peace vvere like the Oracles of God but what said Dauid Lord confound the wisedome of Achitophel 2. Vse This should teach vs thaÌ„kfulnes to God who in his word doth make discouerie of such like stratagems If one discouer to vs any vvily device of an enemy we are glad nothing doth come to vs more welcome so nothing should more reioyce vs who are in our vvarfnre then to know what plots our enemies haue contriued against vs. Forewarned forearmed The reason followeth For we wrestle not against flesh and blood c. In which three things are to be considered 1. Who are the vvrestlers 2. The wrestling it selfe 3. The Antagonists that vvrestle with vs. But the vvordes are difficult therefore it may bee asked Quest 1 What it this wrestling Ans Ans 1. A speech borrowed from an earthly exercise to shadowe a spirituall course For vvrestling against one is the putting of a bodily force forth that I may cast down from his standing and lay along him against whom I vvrestle so the life of a Christian is the receiuing of a spirituall impression from the powers of darkenesse vvhich they make to this end that they may cast vs downe from the state of faith righteousnesse blessednesse to an vnbeleeuing vnrighteous cursed condition Secondly it may be asked Quest 2 how it is said vvee fight not against flesh and blood seeing the Apostle saith Hee fought vvith beasts at Ephesus c. that is sauage men of beastly quality seeing againe that men make vs no small exercise Answ Ans The meaning is not simply to exclude them but after a sort in this manner vvee haue not onely or principally flesh and blood The like speech is to bee found elsewhere God saith by Samuel they haue not cast thee off but me that is not thee only or principally 1. Samuel 8.7 Quest 3 Thirdly it may be asked how the Apostle can say that these do thus molest vs the powers of darknesse when Colos 1.13 wee are said to bee deliuered from them Iohn 16.11 The Prince of this world is sayd to bee cast forth and iudged Ans Ans We are deliuered from the raging power of them not power of tempting for exercise sake 2. Wee haue deliuerance and Satan is subdued in part for the Scripture speaketh of things begun and in dooing as done in some measure wee haue deliuerance but not perfect Wee see not all things subiect to Christ Heb. 2.8 and Rom. 16.20 Satan is not but shortly shall be troden down vnder our feet This serues in generall But the last part of the verse is difficult therfore requireth more particular examination For the summe therefore of it here is a description of the Diuell his Angels which are the assaylants of vs in the way of saluation Now they are described three waies 1. From the respect of power they haue in regard of this world and that particularly called principalities and powers generally call'd worldly gouernours which is expounded by way of correction gouernours of the darknesse of this world 2. They are described from their nature 1. Their essence spirits 2. Their quality wicked 3. From the place of them in high places or heauenly places The aire called by the name of heauen as the fowles of the ayre are called the fowles of heauen Now for the meaning wee must open the words Quest 1. What is the differeÌ„ce betwixt these three words Ans Answ They do lay downe a difference of degrees in evill Angels which is plainely taught in Scripture 2. The exact difference is not comprehended by vs though the Lord hath reuealed it We say it is taught in the Scriptures that if any thing bee found out pertinent and sound it may be knowne to haue been reuealed by God 2. We say that these things though in Scripture not fully conceiued we may teach modesty and conscience of our infirmity when we come to the Scripture that so wee may seeke to haue our vnderstanding vnlocked 2. That we may banish the pride of being wise aboue that which is written when we cannot conceiue all things vvritten 3. That we may teach that the perspicuous knowledge of this doctrine of Angels is kept till we shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But yet with reuerence so farre as the word of God doth holde forth light wee may impart that wee conceiue First therefore you must knowe that there are two spirituall kingdomes in the world The one of light God Christ The other of Satan called also the power of darknesse Col. 1.13 Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse Act. 26. Now as the kingdome of God is not in word but in power in righteousnesse peace and ioy So the kingdom of Satan is in power which especially stands in foure things In sinne which as a spiritual iudgement he doth execute In the curse Heb. 2.14 That hee might destroy through death him that had the power of death in inflicting euils apparantly euill in bodie soule goods and in giuing things good in theÌ„selues yet bestowed in Gods fierce wrath And thus hee bestoweth through Gods iust iudgement the glory and riches of this world For when God wil let
me I passe little to bee iudged of you How he endeauoured for the time to come to keep it so Acts 24.16 and herein I endeauour alwaies to haue a cleere conscience toward God and towards man 3. That hee was not without his exercise of repentance Oh miserable man that I am Rom. 7. This will keep vs in our daily course and in the euill houre wheras if these bee not renewed wee shall come by scare as Iudah going foorth without harnessing himselfe by renewing this purpose we see how soon he was wounded with euill Vse 1 This then being the dutie of Christians doth rebuke such who either content themselues with a false armour or haue none at all Some there are that are good Church men honest righteous iust dealing men but because they lay not a good foundation of faith in Iesus Christ and of repentance from dead works because they care not for the spirit and power of godlinesse therfore brown paper shall as well keepe out Musket shotte as this vvill helpe them when the Diuel shall let fly his murdring bullets Many haue none at all but naked breasts shot through already their conscience being able to accuse them that they haue liued in profanenes contempt of Gods ordinances in pride vvrath couetousnesse pleasures their purposes haue beene to walke after their owne hearts lusts dooing that which is good in their owne eyes In steed of sorrowe neuer to be repented of they can tell you they vvere at such a place where they vvere frolick had entertainment with sports c. Poore thralls of the Diuell that haue no armor of God vpon them Vse 2 2. Wee must learne our dutie not to run on at aduenture but looke to these rules wee are all Priests of God we must not goe without this brest-plate enameled with Vrim and Thummin Wherefore looke that our consciences speake with vs God is greater then they renew your purposes euery day strike sure couenants with God take vp the blessed exercise of broken hearts bewaile your dayly vvants for wee should not let a thought which is awry no not a dream which sauoureth corruption passe without a censure Iob rather sanctified his houshold on suspicion and iealousie then neglected matters already apparantly euill Now followeth the third which answereth to the greaues or legge-harnesse and your feet shod 1. For the meaning Some doe construe the preaching of the Gospell of peace the readinesse to confession but this is rather a fruit of our being shod then the shooing it self And this is a more particular thing as which agreeth with times of persecutions and persons called to make confession But all the parts of this armour agree to all times and to all persons The sense is being shod with such furniture as the Gospell of peace doth help vs to Now the gospell of peace doth tell vs two things that make vs fully appointed for all aduersities that God is through Christ a mercifull Father for all enmity is killed in his Crosse Secondly it doth assure vs that every thing that can befall is made for vs 1. Cor. 3.22.23 Whether they be things present or things to come all are yours and ye Christs Christ Gods Not life onely but death is ours that is is made to serue for our good So the soule knowing these things is harnessed to goe in the waies of tribulation Secondly for the vse it serueth in vndergoing our dâ—ily afflictions for euery daâ— hath his misery Secondly in passing these extraordinary euils which shall betide vs through many afflictions wee must looke to enter into the kingdome of God Acts 14.22 as the vse of boots and greaues is against all roughnesse of the vvay that wee may tread on flinty paths or thornes and that without taking hurt Ob. 1 Now the diuell will first labour to keepe vs from seeking after this peace by lulling vs asleepe with a false peace as this If God did not loue thee thou shouldest not thus prosper thou hast no troubles nothing but peace shall follow thee But wee must learne to distinguish betweene a true and false peace First this is grouÌ„ded on no outward thing but on forgiuenesse of sinne Rom. 5.1 Then beeing iustified by faith wee haue peace towards God through Iesus Christ this is brought to vs and applied by the gospell by praier the gospell of peace Phil. 4.6 Be nothing carefull but in all things let your requests be shewed to God in praier and supplication Now the worldlings peace is so much the greater the lesse the gospell is preached to him for this light will not let him sleepe and for wading to it by prayer by beleeving the mercy of God and promise that all things shall worke for hiâ— good he knoweth not whaâ— these things meane Secondly the divell will tell vs that haue our part in this peace Ob. 2 There is no peace to the wicked Esay 48. vlt. Thou hast much wickednes which God cannot but hate Ans Ans The wicked who is not iustified through faith canne haue no peace but Christ hath covered mine imperfections Ob. 3 Thirdly thou never knewest what trouble meant till thou camest to this gospel Since thy own heart men spirituall vvickednesses thine own friends haue hated thee Ans Ans Iohn 16.2 They shal excommunicate you c. this peace standeth with all kinde of disturbance As the weather friesing neuer so aegrely a man well booted and appointed in that kinde may ride as warme as wooll so a man shod with this may be quiet in the midst of disquietnes for this is his peace in hauing our mindes prepared with knowledge of our peace which the gospell revealeth not that he shal not haue euill many waies but that Gods mercy shall not be taken from him and that all of them shall work together to his good Fourthly Ob. 4 Satan will say God is angry with you which the effects doo testifie Ans Ans By distinguishing anger as thus anger and loue stand together in parents the more they loue the more they are moved at the dangerous courses of their children Therfore it followeth not God is angry therfore he loueth thee not therefore this or that shall hurt thee Now for the fourth thing How wee may preserue our peace Ans First if euer wee knew it this will help vs to assure vs we haue it stil To remember the couenant of peace with vs is an eternall couenant not for a day but for euer Psal 54 10 For the mountaines shall moue c. but my mercy shal not depart from thee neither shall my couenant of peace fall away saith the Lord. I haue compassion on thee the whole chapter to this purpose and Christ saieth the world cannot take away this peace from vs if therefore it seem otherwise it is but hid in a cloud for a season Secondly if we will keep this peace we must not iudge according to sense but righteous iudgement vvee must controule our sense by sanctified reason