Now more particularly that he saith we wrestle not against flesh and blood it doth teach vs that in those things men doe or speake offensiuely to vs our principall enemie is not man Paul had much opposition by men yet hee saith we wrestle not against men he saw worse enemies in them then themselues men did persecute the Saints but Reuel 2.10 the holy Ghost saith the Diuell doth cast them into prison the false teachers did seduce the Corinthians but 2. Cor. 4.11 the holy Ghost saith Satan did beguile them the Damosell and men that chased Peter to the denyall of his Master were not his chiefe enemies but the Diuell that desired to winnow him Luke 22.21 So the Caldeans and Sabeans that spoyled Iobs goods were not the chiefe against him but Satan by them The Diuell doth like fowlers who go with their stalking horse twixt them and the fowle that they may shoote more securely so hee doth put men sometime our friends somtime good men of whō we are nothing afraid between vs and him that hee may work his mischiefe vndiscerned Vse 1 Wherfore seeing it is thus when any person doth offend vs or prouoke our spirit let vs not so much looke at them as at the enmitie the Diuell doth shew in them who doth labour to winow vs weaken our faith break our patience by those things and this wold make vs not take to heart so much persons that offend vs but bend our forces most against those principal enemies whose trunks instrumēts the other are Saul left hunting Dauid whē he heard the Philistims were vpon him Vse 2 2. Seeing the Diuel doth euen make men instruments of his wickednes let vs by the way take good heed that hee doe not circumuent vs the rather because hee will winde in him selfe when wee haue no ill purpose in it as Peter praying Christ to spare himselfe The Corinthians being seuere to the incestuous person the Diuell would haue vsed this their course to the ouerwhelming of him with sorrowe Secondly the Diuell with his Angels are called powers and principalities Wee see the euill Angels haue a great stroke in the frame of this present euill world in ordering or rather disordering of states and kingdomes these are not emptie titles but giuen them from a powerfull action they haue in the hearts of men by Gods permission And the same must be gathered when hee is called the Prince of this world yea 2. Cor. 4.4 the god of this world his vsurpation and the spirits of euill men yeelding him no lesse Great is their power in keeping out good keeping in euill procuring iudgement and hee doth scoure thorough Court and Countrey for this purpose Thus he prouoked Dauid by sinne to lay the people naked to Gods iudgemēt 1. Chro. 21.1 And Satan stood vp against Israell Thus hee laboured to cutte off the hopes of the Church by stirring vp euill Princes to entrap Daniel in the matter of his religion Dan. 6.5 Thus hee stood at the right hand of Iehosuah to resist him Zach. 3.2 Prince Priest and People hee worketh in them all to holde vp his owne kingdome and stablisheth all things that serue for it as on the contrary to keepe out light truth and all means which shold befriend these Hence it was that the best Kings of Iudah neuer made a thorough reformation hence that in some Countries receiuing the Gospell as in Germany there haue beene such bones of dissension as subscription to their bookes of concord the apple of discord For Mat. 13.24.25 the Diuell soweth tares when good seede is sowen by the Lord. Vse 1 Wherefore seeing that these spirits haue such a power in this world we must not wonder at such speeches Which of the great ones beleeue on him Ioh. 7.48 You see your calling not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 1. Cor. 1.26 For then the Diuell could not haue so great a sway in the kingdome of this world if he should not holde great personages for the most part sure to him Vse 2 Againe it letteth vs see that the succesfull proceeding of the Church and Common-wealth will not come off easily for these powers doe oppose against it And such as are light of beleefe in this point it proceedeth from ignorance They doe not knowe the power and latitude of the Diuels kingdom Vse 3 But the third and principall vse is to stirre vs vp to pray that God would make these powers fall down like lightning from heauen that God would binde vp these powers of darknesse and send forth his good Angels to watch for the good of Church and Countrey If the Diuell be so busie to hinder the personall progresse of a private man what will he do to withstand the happy estate of a whole nation if God should not rebuke him The third thing to bee marked hence is that hee saith they be gouernours of the darknesse of this world Doct. Obserue hence that whosoeuer doe liue in the state of darknesse they are vnder the Diuels power These are ioyned the one as the foundation of the other and before wee haue deliuerance from the one we cannot be freed from the other Act. 26.18 To open their eyes that they may turn from darknes to light and from the power of Satan to God c. And therefore the Scripture affirmeth of one who heareth the word and commeth not to the affectiue knowledge of it so to learne Christ as the truth is in Christ that hee is in the hands of the God of this world 2. Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes that is of the Infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the image of God should not shine vnto them for ignorance is the very foundation of the Diuels kingdome Againe whoso liueth in the darknesse of sinne is of the Diuell Ioh. 3.8 He that commiteth sinne is of the Diuell and whoso is subiect to Gods curse as euery one not truely beleeuing is is as yet vnder the power of Satan for hee is Gods executioner euen as we may say if a man bee led pinioned vp the ladder and haue a handkerchiefe knit before his eyes that hee is in the hands of the hangman If one be in the dungeon at the Castle with boults on him we may say he is vnder the power of the Iayler so if this vaile be knit before the eyes of the mind and so the face couered If one do liue in vnrighteousnes vnholinesse bound with the bands of many trespasses whose sins you shall loose If one lie in the little ease of an euill conscience whether he be in a drunken sleep and feele nothing or if hee be waking such a party is in the power of Satan for the Diuell is but the Iayler and hangman to the Iustice of God Vse 1 Wherfore let vs examine our selues and consider how it is with vs for wee would
because we cannot heare on this side easily but would saue our selues peaceably without looking after warfare In laying downe the dutie he deliuereth in the beginning of this verse the thing to bee done Put on the whole armour of God 2. The end that you may be able to resist 3. The reason which hath reference to the dutie and end in the 12. verse Now in the thing to bee done three things are to be marked 1. That Christians must haue armour that is compleate armour to couer them from top to toe 2. That they must not haue it lying by them but must put it on 3. That the Christian armour is for matter and making of God that is divine and spirituall For the first there is great reason to proue that a Christian must haue armour For he hath enemies that would wound him deadly otherwise Ans 1 It is with vs as with the Israelites in Exodus so soone as hee tooke them out of Egypt hee led them thence armed because that Pharaoh hee knew would followe them and puissant Kings encounter them as they marched to their inheritaÌ„ce Againe a Christian is borne with his armor on his back so that he can as wel cease to be a Christian as cease to be armed That which is fabulously spoken of the race of Gyants is truely spoken of vs we are no sooner born then wee haue our swords girded to vs our shields on our arms c. Ans For the word doth beget vs Faith is the first thing formed in vs. Now that wee must haue compleate armour it is hence manifest because it were in vaine to haue some parts couered and to lie open to mortall wounds in other some The Diuell is like those Champions who if they cannot wound the head nor the heart they will prick any part rather then faile Vse 1 Christians then must haue their compleat harnesse couering them from top to toe which doth shew vs how vnchristiaÌ„ many are who know not if they should speak truth that that there is any such armour Like Israel when there was not a Smith nor a weapon in it so is the face of our Israelites they look not though they haue bound themselues by the Sacrament to be warriours after armour If thou hast not this armour knowe the Diuell hath surprised thee and holdeth thee as a slaue to him Againe many forget that they must haue compleate armour such as must couer them all ouer and therefore though in some things they seeme couered yet in others they are without defence Secondly we must mark that he doth not say we must have armour or prepare it but we must put it on observe thence Doct. that It is not enough to knowe there is such armour but we must haue it buckled alwaies vpon vs in readiness by vs we must not doe as many who haue wardrobes of apparell but they weare them not as good haue none as vse it not Quest But you will ask me How may we put it on Answ Ans If we do vncase vs of that which will not let it bee drawne vpon vs for as he which vvould put on a nevv suit must first put off his olde so vve Secondly vve must in conscience of our infirmity pray to God to fit this furniture about vs for looke as little children although they have apparell they cannot put it on further then the nurse or mother doth make them ready so it is vvith vs. Thirdly vvee must put on these things by exciting and augmenting them as for example Wouldest thou put on the shield of faith doo it thus I am a poore captive vvell Christ hath bid mee hold him and he vvill make me free I am troubled vvith lavves of evill vvell Christ is a sanctifier every time vve renevv faith vve put on this shield Fourthly the vse of this armour doth put it on for besides as in apparell by stretching our selves vvee make it fall to our bodies these graces have this being exercised they increase the more Vse 1 This doth rebuke many yea many that have armour Look as evidences till som flavv be found are not perused so our vveapons till God muster vs vvith some calamities are not vsed When I see these rusty halberds calivers muskets haÌ„ging vp in the time of peace I may see hovv it is vvith our soules The graces of God are not kept shining vvee do not gird them daily to vs as vve ought therefore vvhen vve should vse them vvee shall finde them out of kilture at the least Againe many slothfull souldiers for ease put-on some and leave off othersom though they look to the maine yet they care not for the lighter vvounds their eies tongues eares are shot through as David in Vriahs matter had not his eies fenced Vse 2 Againe it lets vs see hovv vvel a multitude of the faithfull a virgin betrothed to Christ may be compared to an army for terrour vvith banners Is it not a fearefull thing for an enemy to see an army all clad vvith glistring armour from the crovvn of the head to the feet so is it for these spirits to see their soulâ—s so armed The last thing to bee marked in the duty is the kinde of armour of God which word noteth both the maker and metall of it teaching vs that the vveapons vvherevvith vvee resist the divell must be spirituall Our vveapons saith the Apostle are not carnall but spirituall 2. Cor. 10.5 There is no armour of proofe able to resist him which God himself doth not forge and is not spiritual for the strength of brasse and stone is nothing to him that of the Leviathan may be applied to him Iob. 41. Secondly such must the armour be to resist as the assault is vvhich is made against a thing novv the divell doth not come against vs vvith svvords but vvith spirituall suggestions to vvithdravv vs labouring to withdraw vs from righteousnes and fellovvship vvith God to vnrighteousnes and the creature leaving the creator Wherefore vvee must not fence our selues against the assaults of Satan by any human means by any thing vvhich the vvisdome of man can suggest but as David encountring vvith Goliah laid aside Saul's vveapons furniture and vvent against him in the Name of the Lord so vvee must say Not armed vvith our ovvn vvisdom strength or helps of the creature do vve seek to put to flight the povver of darknes but in Gods armor vve make resistance Secondly it doth convince many of notable folly vvho vvill march against the divel with armour fleshly and divelish as the Papists vvho in procession haue banners vpon poles vvho on Palme-Sunday cary palm-boughs vvho put trust on crosses crucifixes holy vvater c for not knovving the power of godliness they think vvith fleshly ceremonies to chase away the spiritual powers of darknes Againe many troubled vvith tentations of blasphemy or self-murder they vvil to physick as if by letting of blood or vomit they could purge out the divell
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
must strengthen our selues by getting the knowledge of Gods word The svvord is not more necessary for the souldier Examples then this for vs. Thus Christ Christ plaied his prises with it in the teÌ„ptation Mat. 4. Iob Iob. 23.12 Neither haue I departed from the commandements of his lips and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed food Psal 119.11 Dauid I haue hid thy promise in my heart that I might not offend against thee Such as haue enemies doe not walk but hauing their swordes girt to them wee cannot repell wicked suggestions strike downe our own corruptions without the help of the svvord and knowledge of Gods pure word Vse 1 Which doth first let vs see the leudnes of the Papists for first as they giue vs a vvicker shield and paper helmet so they giue vs a leaden svvord an vnwritten vvord the vvord of men as well as of God the mixture doth marre the metall but aboue al heerin they sin that they let not Christians indifferently haue the word of God in their mother-toÌ„gue vsing against Christians the like hostility that the Philistims vsed against Israel they tooke away the smiths and weapons of Israel And mark it for this taking the word from Gods people is an antichristian practice If a man should transport our armour and so dis-furnish the Realme it would not serue the subiects in time of need vvee would count him no friend to the State Vse 2 Secondly it doth conuince Christians that are carelesse of the word of GOD or if they haue the knowledge of it they vse it as our gentility wear their weapons to shew the gilded pummels and veluet scabberds rather then otherwise so the word which is a spirituall sword many do discourse of it for ostentation rather then to ward off wickâ—d suggestions or hew downe their owne corruptions with it Vse 3 Lastly wee must bee exhorted to get the knowledge of the word and hould it fast Pro. 2.1 My sonne if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commandements vvithin thee verse 5 then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord find the knovvledge of God Let the vvord of God dvvell in you richly in all vvisdome teaching admonishing one another Col. 3.16 Wee should euer haue this word in our harts and mouthes it is no small disadvantage for a man to be vvithout a vveapon in the midst of his enemies Doct. Secondly this doth teach vs what word it is which the spirit of God doth accompany and make mighty in the conscience it is the word of God Esay 49. vlt. 2. Cor. 3.8 Hovv shall not the ministration of the spirit be much more glorious Ier. 23.22 29 But if they had stood in my couÌ„sell and declared my words to my people then they should haue turned them from their euill vvay And in regard that it is thus accompanied it is heer and in Esay 48.2 Heb. 4.12 called a two edged svvord of so great efficacy that vvee may see the Apostles vvho beeing but fishermen yet hauing this vvord in their mouthes did cast dovvne all the vvisdome of the vvorld that resisted them And vvee see in that Nicene Councel Euseb lib. 10. cap. 3. vvhen all the Doctours could not silence an acute Heretick a simple man vnlearned in comparison bringing out the simple testimony of this vvord did subdue him and convince him so that hee had not ought to ansvver Vse 1 Which should teach vs as vvee vvould haue the spirit effectuall vvith vs to keepe to the pure vvord these cleer fountaines of Israel not to affect the depths of humane curiosity for the spirit blovves not in these voices Euery sound is not musick nor euery such sermon preaching Vse 2 And it shevveth people vvhat they should desire to heare the vvord of God by vvhich the spirit doth work in them not to applaud strange fire vvhich men do through ignorance vvhich is the mother of admiration and through indiscretion vvhich maketh them they cannot discerne betvveene Aarons bells betvveene the siluer Trumpet of the Sanctuary and such tinkling Cymbals Ob. 1 Fourthly from translations obiections are made First your Bibles are not such as haue infallible truth but are the labour of men and erre heer and there that vvhich is the vvork of man and subiect to error is not Gods vvord Ans Ans 1. Our Bibles are not so infallible as the first copies vvere for in them not onely the matter but manner of vvriting the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vvas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both infallible and are such as for matter into vvhich may creep some errour and for phrase of speech some dissenting from the truth of the originall Ans 2. The vvord translated though subiect to error is Gods word and begetteth and encreaseth faith not so farre forth as man through frailty erreth but as he is assisted through speaking and translating to write the truth The Papists say there must bee infallibility in God reuealing and the Church propounding to begette faith but this is false for faith commeth by the hearing of the word of God from the mouth of a particular Minister who by all confession is subiect to error Ob 2 Obiect But if we erre in some things how can wee beleeue any thing they may as wel erre in all Ans It cannot be because as God doth immediately and infallibly assist them that they cannot erre at all so wee knowe hee is in some measure with them that they cannot altogether erre These grounds laide it is easie to answere Secondly If it be obiected the word you preach and heare translated and read is subiect to error Gods word is not subiect to error ergo the word yee heare and reade is not Gods word Answ The proposition if generall it is false but it is particular so concludes particularly else it is false and the conclusion false Obiect Ob. 3 A word that may erre cannot beget faith your word may Ans Ans The first is false vnlesse conceiued with limitation thus A word that erreth cannot beget faith so farre forth as it erreth I thought good not to propound this obiection because I would not teach men to finde a hole in their Bibles lest their corruption should take further holde by it then their grace would ouer come Yet the frequent audacious practice of Ministers in correcting the translations which walke in our Lands doth make it necessarie that the truth of this point should for the diligent reader bee vnfolded who will not take offence at the weakenesse of man but extoll the power of God which doth put forth it selfe in the midst of humane fraylties Now followeth the second thing in which the particular strengthning of our selues doth stand and that is a matter of fact The exercise of prayer The former things doo present before vs men clad in glistering furniture from top to toe And this doth shewe vnto vs the muster of such