Reason Because when Satan fights against you by the feare of hell saying O thou hast sinned so many thousand times when I sinned but once I was cast out of heaven and throwne downe to hell and reserved in chaines of darknesse but thou hast deserved hell many thousand times why shouldest not thou goe to hell thou must shew Satan the bloud of the Lamb and in that thy victory over hell and say with Paul O hell where is thy victory thou hast no victory over me for here is my discharge and victory in the bloud of the Lamb hell is for murderers it is for thee Satan that wast a murderer from the beginning and therefore hell hath victory over thee for hell is prepared for the Devill and his Angels but heaven for you that overcome by the bloud of the Lamb For to him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my Throne as I overcame and sit with my Father in his Throne Revel. 3. 21. Reason 5 A fift Reason Because Christs bloud makes men conquerers already over the world the flesh and the Devill for Christs victory is ours for he that can say by faith Thankes be unto God that hath given us victory is a conquerer already But all true beleevers can say so 1 Cor. 15. Ergo they are conquerers already Againe All that are saved already by the bloud of the Lamb are conquerers already But all true beleevers are saved already as Eph. 2. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 9. They are conquerers already i. to faith though not to feeling for you are conquerers over the world by faith as 1 Joh. 5. For this is our victory that overcometh the world even our faith And you are conquerers over the flesh by self-deniall and mortification for he that so conquereth himselfe is better then he that winneth a Citie and you are conquerers over the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb as the Text Reason 6 A sixt Reason why Because faith in the bloud of the Lamb makes you more then conquerers as Rom. 8. 37. How can that be may some say Can a man get more then the victory I answer By faith in the bloud of the Lamb if thou wilt beleeve thou art washed in it by Baptisme it makes thee such a famous renowned conquerer that thou shalt be a noble triumpher for ever in Christ which is more then a conquerer for as concerning conquerers of this world they may have victory to day and lose it to morrow as Saul did and many conquerers in the world as Alexander when he had conquered the world he was conquered of his own lust Gladio vicit vitiis victus he overcame by the sword but was overcome of vice but he that gets victory by the bloud of the Lamb is more then a conquerer because he is a conquerer over sinne the world and Devill through Christ for ever Objection Objection How can this be Doth not the Devill cast some into prison and persecute some to death how are they then conquerers over him Answer I answer 'T is true Satan shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed ten dayes Rev. 2. 9. 'T is but for a triall of your faith in the bloud of the Lamb God will deliver you as he did Joseph out of prison and though Satan persecute some to death yet shall you be more then conquerers even triumphers in heaven for as the Martyrs were more then conquerers in foure respects so shall you be 1. In regard of the torments they put the Martyrs to death to make them deny the bloud of Christ they rejoyced in tribulation as the Disciples when whipped rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer any thing for Christs sake they were more then conquerers by the joy which they have in suffering but conquerers of men or Cities when they have got the greatest victories may sit downe and weepe as Titus Vespasianus when he had conquered and saw the destruction of Jerusalem wept to see the greatnesse of the misery of his enemies saying This is not I but the hand of God for their sinnes but triumphant joy belongs to the conquerers by Christs bloud as Haukes in the Acts and Monuments pag. 1447. in token of triumphant victory to give a signe to his friends when his eyes were burnt out and his hands on a flaming fire yet lifted up both the stumps of his hands and clapped them over his head declaring he was more then a conquerer 2. They are more then conquerers in respect of the tormentors for they strive to make them deny the bloud of Christ but the true beleevers for all their torments confesse Christ so much the more the one fumes and chafes that he hath not his will and is overcome but the Christian rejoyceth and goes away with the victory as the tormentors of Blandina confessed that shee overcame them 3. They are more then conquerers in regard of the unconverted for they put them to death that they may convert no more but as Sampson slew more Philistims at his death then he did in all his life so doe the Martyrs often convert more at their death then they did in any time before for when men seek to conquer Christianitie it conquers them saith Justin Martyr as the Papists confessed in the Marian dayes it was in vaine to burne any more Hereticks as they called them for the more they burnt the more they increased and the converted were the more confirmed by the patient sufferings of the Martyrs because they would suffer for it they beleeved it was the truth 4. We are more then conquerers because we slay our enemies with their own sword Bis perimitur qui suo gladio interimitur he is double slaine that is killed with his own sword for true beleevers take the sword out of their own hands and kill them with it as David did Goliah with his owne sword so said the Martyrs Thou sittest here to judge me but I shall judge thee one day thou by killing my body crownest me with life but killest thy selfe with eternall death as 1 Joh. 3. 15. Thus the sword which the wicked have drawne shall goe through their owne bowels Vse Well is it so Satan fights against thee with sinne the curse of the Law with death and hell Learne thou to disarme the Devill as it is a speciall poynt of policie in warre to disarme their enemies for so they shall deale with them as they list so seeing Satan is the strong man armed with sinne and the rest but as Christ disarmed him of all these by his death so shalt thou by the bloud of the Lambe disarme Satan of all his armour First for sinne Doth Satan tell thee thou art a great sinner display the red colours of Christs bloud tell him 't is true I confesse I am by Adam a great sinner and if I were not a sinner I should not need the bloud of the Lamb for he came not to call the
a childe of four yeers old can Answ Though faith be hard to the carnall sense not yet inspired yet it is easie to the mind inlightened for as Salomon saith Knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14. 6. i. if he be willing and love it so faith is easie to him that will believe not that it is in mans power but where the Spirit of God works a desire to ask seek and knock Wisdome will open the door for none that come unto me put I away saith Christ Quest Quest What is the reason then that so many never get faith for the assurance of salvation Answ Answ. 1. Because they ask amisse not in faith of the blood of the Lamb that hee hath washed them from their sins in his owne blood in Baptisme Rev. 1. 5. If they misse this mark they shoot wide of the assurance of salvation For if I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Joh. 13. 8. Secondly because they seek faith in themselves carnall reason fleshly devices by wit of mans phantasie and not in the blood of the Lamb the god of this world blindeth their minds that the glorious Gospel of the blood of the Lamb and his white raiment should not shine to them Thirdly because they oppose the doctrine of free justification by Christs blood and righteousnesse and wink at it and imbrace not the purity of that doctrine but count it an errour and receive not the love of the truth they are given over to believe an error and falsities which can give thee no assurance of salvation Fourthly because they turn to the greatest multitude which scoff at and persecute the truth God gives them over to walk in blindnesse as the Pharisees did Sleight 3 The third sleight that faith is needlesse there is more need of works many prate of faith but let me see good works a good hope is enough with good works Answ I answer that there is great need of faith for works severed from faith are abominable before God Heb. 11. 6. And if a good hope were enough why did the Apostles pray Lord increase our faith Luk. 17. 5. and Mark 9. 24. For as all things are possible to him that believeth so all things are impossible to him that believeth not Heb. 11. 6. Sleight 4 The 4th sleight Thy faith is not sound but counterfeit thou an hypocrite thy faith is mixed with imperfections sins wavering Answ I answer I prove my faith by the causes for he hath given us a mind to know him which is true and we are in him that is true in that his Son Jesus Christ the same is very God and eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this is the true Jesus that came by water and blood not by water of baptisme only but by water and blood and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse i. to my spirit that I am a child of God Rom. 8. 16. and that Spirit is truth 1 Joh. 5. 6. therefore having my heart sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb from an evill conscience and my body washed with pure water i. in baptisme I may keep my profession without wavering Heb. 10. 23. This faith worketh by love and a desire to live honestly Heb. 13. 18. Vse 1 Is it so that the faithfull overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony You see Christian souldiers that love not your lives unto the death and therefore you that give up your bodies and souls living and acceptable sacrifices unto God which is your reasonable service of God and lay down your lives for the brethren and for the Gospel are to be honoured as martyrs You see that by true faith in the blood of the Lamb you shall overcome the Devill because you give testimony to the holinesse of God Let this move all you that are souldiers of Jesus Christ to give glory to the holinesse of God in keeping your bodies chast and pure and Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in for the Temple of God is holy which are yee 1 Cor. 3. 17. If you say you give glory to the holinesse of God give him glory in keeping your selves holy Temples of God But if any man destroy the Temple of God him shall God destroy Hee that destroyes it by whoredom for thereby thou becomest one flesh with an whore Latrina Diaboli for as the Temple of God was destroyed when it was made a Jakes so is the Temple of God destroyed when it is made the devils Jakes for he that is made one flesh with an whore which is the Devils Jakes is thereby made the Devils Jakes but all whoremongers are made one flesh with his whore that is the devils jakes Ergo they are made the devils jakes and so the Temple of God is destroyed and therefore their destiny is to be destroyed that do not repent for Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. he will destroy such as destroy the Temple of God therefore you may perceive such to prove cowards for fearfulness goes before destruction and an high mind before a fall There is a conceit among souldiers that Wine will make men valiant but it is false for whoredome wine and new wine take away the heart i. whoredom drunkenness make men arrant cowards Hos. 4. 11. For whoredome drunkenness make an evill conscience and an evill conscience make men fearfull and flee where no fear is Prov. 28. 1. For an evill conscience and the curse of God runs after him and will overtake him Vse 2 Is it so that by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb you overcome the Devill by giving glory to the wisdome of God then let this faith guide you to follow his wisdome and deny your own as the Psalmist said Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and afterward receive me to glory Psal. 73. 24. And therefore as David did so do you ask counsell of the Lord for every battell at the Oracle of Gods Word i. whether God doth allow it or no as Jehosaphat said 1 King 22. 5. Ask counsell I pray thee of the Lord of day for there can be no war or battell lawfull but that wee may finde some warrant out of the Word of God that doth warrant it to be lawfull so shall you be sure both to overcome your spirituall enemy the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony and also your temporall enemies by faith in that blood and by the word of your testimony for should not a people inquire at their God signifying yes they should to the Law and to the testimony if they speak or fight not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. So shall you say Thou hast made me wiser then mine enemies by thy commandments for they are ever with me Psal. 119. 98 my delight and counsels Vse 3 Is it so that
Christ the same is very God and eternall life for when a man is in Christ by baptisme for his person and in his white raiment by faith to his conscience hee is made partaker of Christs victory upon the Crosse over sin death the Devill and Hell for by faith in the white raiment that Christ is risen again for our justification and hath justified us we receive power to subdue sin the world and the Devill which are all overcome by faith in our first resurrection which is to our persons and baptisme when our bodies are washed with pure water Heb. 10. 23. but the first resurrection to our consciences is when wee are converted and believe the white raiment is ours that clotheth us that our filthy nakednesse should not appear Rev. 3. 18. wherein wee shew we are risen with Christ Col. 3. v. 1. for all that appeared to bring tidings of Christs resurrection appeared in white or shining raiment to shew that no man can tell of his first resurrection untill he can tell of his white raiment as Matth. 28. 3. Mar. 16. 5. Luke 24. 4. Joâ—. 21. 12. all in white so must you if you be risen with Christ you must appear in white or else no victory over the Devill Thirdly hee that would overcome the Devill and all his Instruments of the world hee must not be a blind souldier as many are that fight for money and by ends but get the Devill into their hearts by covetousnesse and cheating souldiers as Judas did and the Devill gets them as he did him you must therefore buy of Christ eye-salve of his Spirit i. to walk by the Spirit to fight by the Spirit i. by the directions of the Oracle of Gods Word for men ought not to fight any battell before they have asked counsel at the Oracle of Gods Word as David did to know whether God do approve of that war or no and eye-salve to discern the true Religion from the false for else he may fight for the false Religion for Antichrist and not for Christ and also for eye-salve of the Spirit hee may keep himself from all wickednesse when hee goes forth with the host Deut. 23. 9. to keep a good conscience before God and before men for he that will plunder rob spoil and steal and whore and do wickedly shall not overcome the Devill but is overcome of him Thus must a true Christian souldier stand out in life and death against all adversarie power whatsoever Now being thus prepared by Christs counsell to fight against the World and the Devill I will shew you how you shall overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb by divers Reasons Reason 1 The first Reason why the best way to overcome the Devill is by the blood of the Lamb because you know the Devill fights against all men by sin either tempting men to sin or to despaire for sin committed Now when a Christian tempted to commit sin shews unto Satan the bloud of the Lambe as Joseph said How can I doe this evill and sin against God So say thou How can I doe this evill and sin against the bloud of the Lamb Thou shalt overcome him as Joseph did Or if Satan tempt thee to despaire as he did Judas if thou shew him the bloud of the Lamb he must needs be conquered for by that thou wilt testifie thy redemption and the murder of Satan that thou hast redemption through the bloud of the Lamb the forgivenesse of thy sins but the Devill hath not for this bloud of the Lamb testifies that Satan was a murderer from the beginning to our first parents to the first Adam and that he hath slaine the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ here is the bloud of the Lamb that thou hast shed for who put into the heart of Judas to betray him and into the hearts of the Jewes to crucifie him but thou Satan Therefore this bloud of the Lamb testifies the remission of my sins and it testifies that thou art a murderer and thus the red colours of Christs bloud being displayed Satan cannot indure the field but will flie like a beaten Souldier for hereby the Devill is redargued to be the sinner and must despaire Reason 2 A second Reason why you shall overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb because Satan fights against men by the curse of the Law to shew them how cursed they are by it but by the bloud of the Lamb you shall shew unto him that Christ by his bloud hath redeemed you from the curse of that law was made a curse for you for cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that we might obtaine the blessing of Abraham And this testifies my blessednesse that Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of the Law that made us cursed by his owne bloud Col. 2. 14. Thus by the bloud of the Lamb thou shalt testifie against the Devill that thou art freed and if the Sonne hath made thee free thou art free indeed Joh. 8. But this bloud of the Lamb testifies Satan is a murderer and so a transgressour of the Law and therefore cursed Now as men that have committed murder and they see 't is discovered will presently run away so Satan seeing men fighting against him by the bloud of the Lamb that testifies their freedome from the curse of the Law and how they stand fulfillers of the Law and also testifying how the Devill is a transgressour a murderer and so cursed by it he will not indure the field 't is time for him to run Reason 3 A third Reason why thou shalt overcome him by the bloud of the Lamb because Satan fights against all men by the feare of death Now when thou shewest unto Satan the bloud of the Lamb thou doest thereby testifie the victory of Christ over death saying Thanks be unto God that hath given us victory over death by Christs bloud so that death is unto me advantage and by the bloud of the Lamb testifiest to Satan that he is guiltie of the bloud of thy husband Now what murderer amongst men will indure when he shall heare a faithfull wife making an out-cry against him thus O this man hath murdered my faithfull deare husband here is his bloud that this man hath shed Murder murder murder make hue and cry after him lay hold of him carry him to prison to the barre and to the Gallowes so when Satan heares the faithfull say O thou art guiltie of the bloud of my deare and faithfull husband the Lord Jesus Christ here is his bloud carry him to the prison of hell Now as Satan is like his children that are murderers he must run and be fearfull as murderers are afraid and flee when none pursue them so is Satan the most fearfull coward in the world that will flee fast enough if you shew him the bloud of the Lamb Resist the Devill by it and he shall flee from you Jam. 4. 7. Reason 4 A fourth