might preach on that text on every Christs nativitie day because the Angels have given us that text from heaven saying Behold I bring you tidings of great joy that unto you is borne this day in the Citie of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Therefore sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord Glory be to God on high peace on earth and good will towards men They which doe this in faith that they are in him that is true in that his Sonne Jesus Christ which is very God and eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 20. by Baptisme into him shall finde more peace with God in conscience and finde good will with men that are the children of God I speake not this that I would have a carnall Christmas kept in prophanenesse as it hath been much abused but a spirituall day in duties of piety and charitie to the poore to shew our selves Christians by honouring Christ in his birth day Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ J. E. The Contents of the Doctrines Reasons and Uses handled in this insuing Treatise GOod Newes for Souldiers or the way to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 12. 11. The Exposition from the 7. verse to the 12. to make entrance 1. Doctrine That all faithfull Souldiers that love not their lives to the death shall overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and the proofes Three things requisite for to make a man able to overcome the Devill and all his enemies 1. He must have the golden faith of his Baptisme for his Regeneration 2. He must have a lively faith in the white raiment of Christs Righteousnesse And 3. Eye-salve of the Spirit of Christ Six Reasons 1. Reason When Satan tempts to sinne or despaire shew him the bloud of the Lambe 2. Reason When he shews to Conscience the curse of the Law shew him the bloud of Christ 3. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of death say O death where is thy sting here is the bloud of the Lambe 4. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of hell shew him the bloud of the Lambe saying O Hell where is thy victory 5. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are Conquerours already 6. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are more then Conquerours And that in foure Respects Uses how to disarme Satan Objection I am not afraid of the Devill but I am afraid of the Papists and Rebels of Ireland to cut my throat Answer If thou hast prevailed over the God of this world thou shalt prevaile with men Object They are wonderfull strong They have great Iron and Brasse Ordnance Ans. So had the Canaanites Chariots of Iron 2. Doctrine That all that fight against the Devill with the shield of Faith of the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony shall surely overcome him for they by it quench all his fiery darts 1. Reason First Because by the word of our testimony wee give God the glory of his holinesse 2. Reason Because by it wee give him the glory of his wisdome 3. Reason We give him the glory of his truth 4. Reason We give him the glory of his power 5. Reason We give him the glory of his mercy 6. Reason We give unto God the glory of his Justice in three points of Justice Foure sleights of Satan to take this shield of faith out of thine hand 1. Use If Souldiers will give God the glory of his holines then they must beware of whoredome and keepe their bodies chaste and pure Temples for the Holy Ghost 2. Use If you give God the glory of his wisedome then aske counsell of the Lord for every battell as David did and you shall prevaile as he did 3. Use If you give glory to the truth of God then Souldiers must speake and practise truth accuse none falsly and then plunder them 4. Use If you give glory to the power of God sprinkle the bloud of the Lambe well and you shall be shot-free howsoever Devill-free 5. Use If you give glory to the mercy of God you must be mercifull as your Father is mercifull not cruell and to whom Justice 6. Use If you give God the glory of his Justice you must practise Justice towards men in three poynts Against the Anabaptists which would not have the Law Preached These things may doe good to many Christian Souldiers Let none stop them from the Presse Written by J. E. GOOD NEVVES FOR ALL CHRISTIAN SOULDIERS DEare Christians in stead of complementing Eloquence I shall endeavour to shew you that love not your lives unto the death how to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and by that word of your testimony Revel. 12. 11. In the 7th verse wee heare there was a battell in Heaven i. in the Church saith Brightman and so there is now Michael and his Angels fought Michael which is by interpretation Quis sicut Deus he was sent to destroy his enemies that rose up against his Church when it lay in the Wildernesse for the wrath of the Dragon as it doth now lie in warre by the wrath of the Dragon the Devill and the Beast and false Prophet Michael the Lord Jesus Christ then whom none is stronger in heaven or earth For who is like our God as Meyer noteth in heaven i. in the justified Church which is rightly called heaven as Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all is the holy Catholick Church saith Luther out of which Satan was cast which led the people to dumb Idolls Eph. 2. 2. And so he shall in this battell for Michael and his Angels will fight for you which is called the great Prince for the people of God Dan. 10. 21. i. Christ Jesus whose Angels are as Bullenger noteth those blessed ministring Spirits and all faithfull Christians which serve the Lord Jesus to fight against Antichrist and his instruments And the Dragon and his Angels fought i. all evill spirits and all evill men as the wise and rich of this world that fight against the Gospel and against a reformation whose power and subtiltie are their armour to fight against the Church against whom you must fight with spirituall armour Eph. 6. 13. For you have Michael your Prince that will give you the crowne of victory Rev. 2. 10. Marlorat A great battell first in respect of the Souldiers all beleevers on the one part and all unbeleevers on the other part Secondly In respect of the time the Enmitie between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent is the cause of it and therefore as the seed of the bond-woman persecuted the seed of the free-woman so it is now Gal. 4. 29. that now reached to you and will be to posteritie Thirdly The manner of the Battell all beleevers fight by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie which are invincible But the adversaries
consciences of all true believers of his strong holds to accuse the conscience and to shew you a most certain victory by Christs blood as you may see but they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb i. they got victory not by their own strength or merits but by the free grace and favour of Jesus Christ they overcame the power of the Devill as Meyer By the blood of the Lamb i. By faith in the death of Christ which makes men conquerers as Marlorat over all enemies for we are to understand that Christ hath not only got victory over the Devill in his person but hath left power to his justified children to get victory also over him in our person and in our consciences and that is by the blood of the Lamb Doctr. Hence I gather That all faithfull souldiers that love not their lives unto the death shall overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony All you that truly believe that the blood of the Lamb hath purged you from all sins shall get victory over the Devill this is not only plain by the Text which saith They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb c. the word of their testimony but also by the Apostle Paul that giveth thanks for the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. And what victory is that but even over sin death and the Devill for Christ by his bloâ—d on the Crosse spoiled Principalities and Powers and destroyed him that had the power of death the Devill Ephes. 2. 15. for he took away the sting of death which is sin By his blood c. and the strength of sin which is the law which was by that blood blotted out Col. 2. 14. And therefore we say Thanks be to God which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ that is to our faith and hath given you power to get victory over the Devill to your selves and consciences by the blood of the Lamb for that must needs be fulfilled in the members that is fulfilled already in the Head saith Meyer The second proof is 1 John 4. 4. Little Children yee are of God and have overcome them for greater is hee that is in you then he that is in the world For where Christs blood dwells he dwells in vers. 3. he saith that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist Some may object the Devill and the Pope confesse so much therefore to the word come in the flesh you must understand And washed us from our sins in his own blood and made us Kings and Priests to God his Father and that the blood of the Lamb hath made us clean from all sin before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 5. That neither the Devil nor the Pope believe for he hath invented a Purgatory to purge them from sin after death for he believes not the blood of the Lamb hath purged them from all sin in this life But little children yee are of God i. all you true Believers that have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ hath purged your sins and have overcome them i. Satan Antichrist and all his servants for seeing Christ hath given you victory over the Devill certainly you have victory over his servants saith Aug. Marlorat for greater is he that is in you then he that is in world for Christ dwels in your hearts where his blood dwels by faith that is greater then the Devill that dwels in the hearts of all unbelievers where the blood of the Lamb is not sprinkled by faith And therefore wee overcome not by our own power but by the strength of Christ for we must needs be overcome if we trust to our own strength saith Calvin as to the arme of flesh or great ordnance ammunition c. which he will cause them sometime to lose to cause them know that their victory must be by the blood of the Lamb Now there be three things requisite to make a man able to overcome the Devill and all his enemies First hee must be born anew in Christ of water and the holy Ghost as 1 John 5. 4. for so by regeneration hee is freed from the bondage of sin death the Devill and Hell hee must believe his Baptisme that he is new born of God which is the foundation of our victory over the Devill as the Virgin said to the Devill tempting her I am a Christian and am baptized and the Devill fled This is that gold of a lively faith in the merit of Christs death in Baptisme in our infancy when wee knew not what Christ did for us as John 13. 7. but do know it after that we are there buried with Christ and new born and so were made capable to overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb when wee should have faith in the same afterward If we do not forsake our first baptisme to take a second for that is to depart from the faith for if God have but one baptisme the second is of the Devil and all that are baptized again shall be overcome of the Devill which do not believe Christs words that he that is washed i. in baptisme if elect is clean every whit needeth not save to wash his feet i. his conscience and conversation in the blood of the Lamb in the other Sacrament but like fools will have their hands and head washed again which is a thing abhorred of God and of all his true Churches that ever have been since the Apostles time Secondly hee must have true faith in the vertue of Christs resurrection that hee is risen again for our justification that hee hath clothed you with the white raiment of his own righteousnesse that your filthy nakednesse should not appeare as Rev. 3. 18. for if any sin be imputed before God the Devill will be too hard for thee for thou that believest not that the blood of the Lamb hath washed away all thy fins before God and that the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse hath not covered all thy sins thou art not fit to be a Captain or souldier for the Devill the World will overcome thee for by this a man denies himself to be all in Christ and in his righteousnesse for whosoever is clothed with the garment of salvation he shall be saved and overcome the Devill and the World but by faith in the white raiment we believe we are clothed with the garment of salvation Esâ— 61. 10. therefore wee shall overcome Thus when a man will be nothing in himself or in his own righteousnesse or sanctification but to be altogether in him Phil. 3. 9. therefore St. John saith in the same place this is our victory which overcometh the world even our faith What faith is that he tels you in 20th verse that wee are in him that is true in that his Son Jesus
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
righteous but sinners to repentance therefore I repent and the bloud of the Lamb by faith purgeth me from all sinne I have read in Luthers every dayes Sacrifice p. 59. who reporteth of a poore man in Friburge in Misnia being distressed for his sinnes and crying out of the greatnesse of his sinnes the Devill appeared unto him with a writers Inkhorne and bad him he should repeate all his sinnes and he would write them down for him the man perceiving it was the Devill bad him write The seed of the woman shall crush the Serpents head and with that the Devill fled and left such a stinke as if he would have choaked them all so if thou shalt tell Satan of the bloud of the Lamb thou doest thereby declare that the seed of the woman hath broken his head he will flee Secondly Doth he tell thee of the curse of the Law and come against thee with that armour take this sword of the bloud of the Lamb you may reade of David when he asked for the sword of Ahimelech they told him there was none but the sword of Goliah O said David there is none to that so if thou desire a sword to goe disarme the Devill with take the bloud of the Lamb 't is like the sword of Goliah for his head was cut off with it so take the bloud of the Lamb for the Devils head was broken with it doth he cast the curses of the Law upon thee cast on him the bloud of the Lambe Thirdly Doth Satan fight against thee with the feare of death and hell shew unto him the bloud of the Lamb bid him read Here 's thy victory O Death O Hell I have victory by the bloud of the Lamb I have an eternall redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of my sinnes and I am a conquerer over death and hell But as we reade of men that have committed wilfull murder the bloud of the slaine will hang upon them that although they rub and wipe yet still the bloud will hang upon them and discover them they cannot get it off especially not from their consciences that tels them of death and hell so when thou doest tell Satan of the bloud of the Lamb thy faithfull deare husband he cannot wipe nor rub off the cry of that innocent bloud it will hang about him especially upon his conscience and tell him of death and hell Now when Satan heares thee testifie the greatnesse of his sinnes by the bloud of the Lamb he will be gone for he is like a meere civill honest man that can be content to heare of any thing rather then his owne sinnes he can be content to heare of other mens sinnes and laugh at them for fooles make a sport of sinne they rejoyce at other mens sinnes especially of professors if they fall but once the Devill and all civilians will rejoyce at it but tell them of their owne sinnes and they will be gone and so will Satan not indure to see the terriblenesse of his sinnes in the bloud of the Lambe Vse Is it so that by the bloud of the Lamb you are conquerers already because you have victory already given unto you and are saved already see Deut. 33. 29. Blessed art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thine help and which is the sword of thy glory therefore thine enemies shall be in subjection unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places Here is admirable comfort for you that are the faithfull Souldiers of Jesus Christ to incourage you to the warre against all your spirituall enemies because you are sure of victory for what is the reason that many are so loath to goe to warre because they know not whether they shall have victory or no but if you could assure every one of victory of a crowne and of a kingdome you should have Souldiers enough I tell thee that art a faithfull Souldier of Jesus Christ fight valiantly with the bloud of the Lambe till death against the world the flesh and the Devill and thou shalt be sure of victory for Christ having overcome already his victory is thine Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. And feare not little flocke i. that fight by the bloud of the Lamb for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. You have conquered the world by faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. conquer your selves for so shall you be wiser then he that conquers a Citie be an enemy to the world be an enemy to the Devill but especially to thine owne flesh as a Martyr wrote to his wife fight by the bloud of the Lambe and feare none of these Object Object O may some say I am not afraid of the Devill but I am afraid of the Papists and Rebels of Ireland that they will cut our throats and take all they are Devils incarnate they do more harme then the Devils to the Protestants Ans. Ans. I answer as the Lord said to Jacob Thou hast prevailed with God thou shalt also prevaile with men though his brother Esau came against him with foure hundred men so I say to thee thou hast prevailed with the bloud of the Lamb over the God of this world the Devill thou shalt also by the bloud of the Lamb prevaile with men Therefore feare not thou Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen Thus saith the Lord that redeemed thee feare not he will helpe thee as Isa. 44. 1 2. 44. Thou hast overcome the Devill the Prince of the world shouldest thou feare men Object Object O they are wonderfull strong for they have great brasse and iron Ordnance Ans. Ans. I answer thee as Joshua did the Children of Joseph when they objected that the Canaanites had chariots of iron He said unto the house of Joseph Thou art a great people and hast great power and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites though they have chariots of iron and be strong Thou shalt not have one lot Therefore the mountaine shall be thine for it is a wood and thou shalt cut it downe and the ends of it shall be thine and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites Josh. 17. 18. For the blessing of Joshua and his telling them of victory made them valiant in battell so when the Protestants understand what the Lord saith to them in that place of Joshua and in the 25. of Numbers 17. 18. and learne to fight against them by the bloud of the Lamb they shall vex those Midianities and Canaanites and smite them that have beguiled them with their wiles concerning Idolatry and as concerning their sister Cozbi the daughter of a Prince of Midian By these two wiles are England and Ireland beguiled and the plague is come of a civill warre you shall overcome them by the bloud of the Lamb It followeth And by that word of their testimony This is added saith