by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb you overcome the Devill because you give God the glory of his truth then look you shew your selves to be the children of the God of truth by delighting in the truth for it is a common practice of evill souldiers to accuse men falsly and therefore John the Baptist gave you this caveat that as you would be true souldiers of Jesus Christ so you must practise to speak the truth and accuse no man falsly and then plunder them for what shal it profit you to say God is a true God if you in the mean time be liers you declare that the God of truth is none of your God there are so many lies flie among men that the honest cannot tell what to believe Now you that have received his testimony that the blood of Jesus Christ hath cleansed you from all sin before God and that the righteousnesse of Christ hath made you everlastingly righteous Rev. 1. 5. you have sealed that God is true Let the power of this grace teach you to love to speak the truth and to shame the Devill For as he that telleth lies shall not tarry in Gods sight because he credits the Devill that was a lier from the beginning but hee that speaks the truth overcoms Satan with his tongue as he that believes the truth hath overcome the Devill in his heart he that fights for the truth shal overcome the enemy wth his hand for the God of truth wil uphold his children that fight for the truth by the blood of the Lamb Vse 4 Is it so that they overcame the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony because they give glory to the power of God Then consider how the Israelites overcame the Destroyer that slew all the first-born of Egypt by faith they slew the Paschal Lamb and the effusion of blood Heb. 11. lest he that destroy'd the first-born should touch them they sprinkled the two side posts and the upper door post with the blood of the Lamb with a bunch of Hysop and they overcame the Destroyer by faith that he could not hurt them for they gave God the glory of his Wisdome and Power that he was able to deliver them so seeing Christ your Passeover is sacrificed for you look that your two door posts of your life body and soul and the upper door post of your spirit be sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb 1 Thes. 5. 23. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirit and soul and body may be kept blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and how are they sanctified even by the blood of Christ for Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Heb. 13. 12. Now should they overcome the destroying Angel that he could not hurt them when by faith they sprinkled the two door posts and the lintell with the blood of the Lamb with a bunch of Hysop and the Destroyer passed over all their houses and could do them no hurt when he destroy'd all the first-born of Egypt both of man and beast So you Christian souldiers that fight under the banners of the Gospel the blood of the Lamb and the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse which you shall find to be the conquering banner For if the blood of Bulls and Goats and Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling them that are unclean sanctifieth concerning the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himself without fault to God purge â—our consciences from dead works Look the blood of the Lamb begin there first to purge your consciences from sin confesse your selves to be wretched miserable poor and damnable sinners by Adam and originall sin the tree evill and the fruit evill and by the Law accursed in debt ten thousand talents of sin For if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse 1 Joh. 1. 9. then confesse that the blood of the Lamb is able to wash away all your sins from your consciences and relie upon it take the Sacrament upon it that when you take the cup of the new Testament in Christs blood and drink of it the warme blood of the Lamb will testifie in thy conscience the remission of all thy sins and that God is become my father and I am one of his children and my sins and iniquities shall be remembred no more and wee may conclude as Paul for if the blood of Bulls and Goats c. If the blood of the Lamb sprinkled did deliver from the Destroyer that slew the Egyptians how much more shall the blood of the Lamb of God being sprinkled by faith on your bodies and souls and spirits deliver you from the destroying bullets that are sent to destroy your first-born all the true believers of the Gospel There is a strong delusion that goes among ill souldiers that Amulets or Charms or inchantment will make them shot-free but I will warrant them they are not Devill free for by such means they have made themselves an abomination to the Lord Deut. 18. 10 11 12. and the Devill will destroy them they shall not escape the Devills shot but he that shall fight against his enemies by faith in the blood of the Lamb and in his lawfull calling asking counsel of the Lord for every battel at the Oracle of Gods Word whether God doth approve of the war or no he shall not only be Devil-free but shot-free also for he shall give his Angels a charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways and they shall bear thee up in their hands that thou dash not thy foot against a stone keep thy calling and the Angels shall keep thee but if thou keep not thy calling the Angels will not keep thee take heed to keep thy generall calling to be a faithfull Christian and keep thee from all wickednesse Deut. 23. 9. And keep thy particular calling and the Angels shall keep thee Vse 5 Is it so faith by the testimony of the bloud of the Lambe gets victory over the Devill because it gives glory to the mercy of God that as thou sayest thou givest him the glory of his mercy it must cause thee shew mercy as your heavenly Father is mercifull for what though your heavenly Father be mercifull if you be cruell you shall be of your father in Hell for his works you will doe he was a murderer from the beginning and if you be cruell murderers you shall be of him therefore if you give God the glory of his mercy give him glory in the practise of mercie to be mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull even to your enemies Quest What shall we spare all and put none of our enemies to death when we have conquered them Answ I answer He that
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
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
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
when it is more needfull to strive for a wedding garment for to him that overcometh and keepeth his garments Rev. 16. 15. will I give saith Christ to sit with me in my Throne Rev. 3. 21. signifying that shall be the conquering and raigning people whom Christ hath loved and washed from their sins in his own blood and made Kings and Priests to God his Father and they shall raign upon earth Rev. 1. 5. and 5. 10. Let England consider Christs words Rev. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be made rich which is the lively faith in the merits of Christs death in baptisme which make men rich that were poor by Adam and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed that the filthinesse of the wickeness of sin may not appeare which is the white wedding garment of justification which makes a Christian know hee is ready for Christ when he hath it and eye-salve of the spirit of Christ that we may see how to walk by the Spirit and in discipline of the Word for untill this counsell of Christ be taken in England both of the Angels and Church this war will not cease for untill a mans wayes or Churches wayes please the Lord he will not make all his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16. 7. And when shall that be in England think you when they will be guided by his counsell i. Rev. 3. 18. he will then receive them to glory Psal. 73. Now many men dote so much about Discipline that they think to make a rare Church by it but are greatly deceived For if a man should take a company of Vipers to make them Nightingals do you think he can make them such by Discipline all the orders and skil let him order them how he can will not make them become Nightingals but if he can make them new creatures they may be made Nightingalls as well as any other creature There were two Pharisees which were the generation of Vipers Matth. 3. which were made sweet Nightingals by baptisme wherein they were made new creatures and sang sweetly in the night as Nicodemus that having learn'd the doctrine of regeneration of water and the Spirit in baptisme he was so changed that in the night when the other Pharisees as Vipers would have condemned Christ sang for him thus Doth our law condemn any man before it heare him and hee sweetly buried him with sweet odors And another notorious Viper that was a murtherer and a blasphemer Saul was so changed by baptisme when he did arise and was baptized he washed away his sins in calling on the name of the Lord that of a murtherer and blasphemer he became a sweet Preacher of the Gospel by night and till the dawning of the day and sang Psalmes in the night so sweetly that the Lord heard him and sent an earthquake Acts 16. Wherefore if you would make a good Church it must be by faith in our baptisme into Christ when wee were little children and by the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse applyed by faith Discipline may order a childe in good manners but he must have a soul and body first Now Baptisme and the white raiment is as the soul and body of all Christianity he that wants faith in this cannot tell whether hee be in Christ or no Discipline may order a Church but cannot make one Truly I never look to see a pure Discipline untill the Jewes be called which I wish all the faithfull to pray for except the woman clothed with the Sun begin to make one which hath the bright morning Star which are that chast and holy Congregation as Mr. Brightman calls them which are the place of Gods pleasures and the hill of his delights wherein God taketh more delight then in any thing of the world as Rev. 19. 17. which Church is now arising out of the corruption of the Church of Laodicea Corruptio unius est generatio alterius for though he will spue the luke-warm out yet there is a few names in Laodicea that shall sit with Christ in his Throne wherefore if you be brethren and going to the new Jerusalem remember Josephs words to his brethren Fall not out by the way for a Discipline who shall have the preeminence Let not him that putteth on the armour boast as he that putteth it off for as victory is of the Lord so is government If you look for government before wee have peace the gift of God you reckon without your hoast wherefore I command you from the Lord study to be quiet and do your own busines and work out your salvation with fear and trembling and perswade Euodius of the Presbyters and beseech Syntiche of the Independents to be of one accord in the Lord and labour all to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb as this Sermon shews you who would set you together by the ears to kill one another that he might get both I have writ of the miseries of England and of the remedies of the same and have shewen at least forty causes how the Bishops have brought the sword upon the land and therefore are justly put down of the Lord and his Parliament which I purpose to set in print if Satan hinder it not Let it not be said that the Presbyters and Independents have set dissention in the Parliament and City and in the Armies and brought the sword into their own bowells to make the Papists sport wherefore let no man speak any more of any government in the Church of England except by Parliament untill the wars cease those that shall remain shall pray unto the Lord to shew them such a Discipline out of Gods Word as shall be pleasing unto him Men may imagine that there may be a smiling shew of peace but they shall finde that Male sarta gratia nequicquam coit there is so much blood in the morter that it will not daub love will not grow within there is so much blood without and yet for my part I desire if the Lord will and pray for the peace of Jerusalem that peace may be within our walls and plenteousnesse within our palaces for no peace no plenty for where wars and sedition remain wee must look for earthquakes famine and pestilence Luke 21. 9 10 11. you shall have little pleasure in a Presbyterie or Independencie before these warres cease for there is a flood of Gods judgements coming now on all the world there shall none escape but those that get into the Ark of the faith of their baptisme into Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. and such as take Christs counsell Rev. 3. 18. which are the blessed people that keep Christs garments unto them that their filthy nakednesse may not be seen Rev. 16. 15. and such as keep the word of his patience Rev. 3. 10. these shall be delivered from this hour of tentation Question 2 Now there is another Question also among many
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
thing And thus wee give God the glory of his holinesse and overcome the Devill and sight and reason that we are made holy in the holy bloud of the Lambe and of the holy Catholick Church For should the bloud of Adam make us unholy and should not the bloud of the Lamb make us holy when God saith we are holy and tels us how he hath made us holy for Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Heb. 13. 12. Thus by our word of testimony of the bloud of the Lambe God hath the glory of his holinesse the Devill and reason are redargued and overcome and our soules comforted by beleeving Reason 2 A second Reason Why because by the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb we give glory to the wisdome of God and give him the glory of his wisdome for whereas 't is the practise of the Devill to tempt men to blaspheme God by counting him unwise as to count preaching of the Gospel foolishnesse and the bringing Infants to holy Baptisme a foolish thing as an Anabaptist said and by counting him unwise in his providence as all doe that are discontented with their estates Now the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb perswadeth us to beleeve that God is wisest and best knoweth how to save Infants by Baptisme as 1 Pet. 3. 21. and therefore commandeth them to be brought to him as all true Churches have done And he knoweth by his wisedome to save them that beleeve by preaching the Gospel which the world calls foolishnesse Also this faith perswadeth us to beleeve God is wisest and best knoweth what estate is best for us that so against the Devill sense and reason we wholly resigne our selves unto his wise providence and in that respect to be thankfull in all estates as Rev. 1. 5. As thus the faithfull say in all estates health or sicknesse wealth or povertie Vnto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne bloud c. he glory and wisdome And thus Job overcame the Devill that would have had Job charge God foolishly as if he had been unwise in his providence No The Lord hath given health wealth and children and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the Name of the Lord As if he should say Blessed be his wisdome I am his let him deale with me according to his wisdome Many men would have cryed out I am undone I shall starve have I served God for this I le serve him no more I le goe serve the Queene of Heaven as the Jewes said Jer. 44. 17. No but he says the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord He is wisest blessed be his wisdome I le serve him still though he kill me yet will I trust in him Job 13. 15. So when we see and feele sinne rebelling in us and see our houses burnt and all we have taken away and our bodies sick and sore then to give glory to the wisdome of God that God hath throwne on Christ the iniquities of us all the sinnes I see and feele and weep for and mortifie Christ hath borne them all in his own body on the tree he is wise enough to let sinne remaine in me to my feeling and yet by the bloud of the Lambe to make me without fault before his throne Thus the Devill and sense and reason are overcome and all the glory given to Gods wisdome Reason 3 A third Reason Why we overcome him by the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb because wee give God thereby the glory of his truth for this is the practise of Satan to make men count God a lyer as to Eve that shee should not die at all and all that beleeve not make him a lyer because he beleveeth not the testimony that God hath given of his Sonne namely that the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne but he that beleeveth this hath sealed that God is true Joh. 3. 33. he hath set to his seale that the bloud of the Lamb hath made him cleane from all sinne for what maketh a man beleeve but that they judge him faithfull and true Faith then in this bloud is the acknowledging of Gods truth which is an high honour given to God for he maketh a great reckoning and account of this truth Thus faith in the bloud of the Lamb gets victory over the Devill when he perswades men not to beleeve but maketh God false but faith in the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb testifieth that the seed of the woman hath broke the Serpents head and so the Devill and infidelitie are overcome Reason 4 A fourth Reason Why for this faith gives glory to God in acknowledging his Almightie power for this is the practise of Satan to perswade men against the power of God that it was impossible as he perswaded Cain his sinnes were greater then could be forgiven him Many of the promises of God to his children are of things which seeme impossible yet faith gives assent thereunto and testifieth that God is Almightie as Abraham when he heard that he should have a sonne by Sarah when shee was barren and when it ceased to be with her after the manner of women here was a battell of faith against sight and reason and above â—ope yet he beleeved under hope and gave glory unto God that he which had promised was able to do it and got victory So it is against sight and reason that the justified should have sin dwelling in them as long as they live and rebelling and yet the blood of the Lamb should take away their sins before the Throne of God this cannot be said Bildad against Job 25. For how should a man be clean that is born of a woman and therefore reproved of God for it Job 42. 7. but faith in the word of our testimony in Christs blood teacheth us to believe the Almighty power of the blood of the Lamb that it is able to do it against sight and reason and perswasion of the Devill and gives glory to the Lamb that his blood was able to do it that promised that the new covenant was sealed in his blood i. that our sins and iniquities should be remembred no more and thus the Devill and reason are overcome Reason 5 A fifth Reason why we overcome him by the word of our testimony in that blood because so we give glory to the mercy of God which is the proper object of Faith For when Satan perswades a poor sinner that there is no mercy for him but anger and wrath by our testimony of the blood of the Lamb wee are perswaded that God is rich yea infinitely abundant in mercie and therefore believeth the pardon of his sins from the rich price of Christs blood that was more worth then all the world for while men are perswaded by
spareth Gods enemies when God hath delivered them into your hands as Ahab did Benhadad to be slaine thy life shall goe for his life thy people for his people By sparing Benhadad he was cruell to the Israelites for he was the cause of the death of all those Israelites that Benhadad slew afterward whom if he had slaine he had shewed mercy to Israel So concerning the Rebels of Ireland that have cut the throats of your brethren in Ireland and are come over to doe the like here seeing the sword is put into your hands by the Parliament send an Herauld or Trumpetter before every battell unto your enemie or send men through all the Armie or Shire saying What wickednesse is this that is committed of the Rebels Jesuites and Papists of Ireland Now therefore deliver us those wicked men which are in your Armie or Citie that wee may put them to death for their villanie and put away evill from England Judg. 20. 12. 13. If they refuse to deliver them they shall maintaine murtherers and you shall overcome them by the bloud of the Lambe Proclaime free quarter for all true Protestants which are forced to fight against you shew your selves unto them saying Sirs wee are brethren why doe wee wrong one another Act. 7. 26 Send messengers unto them saying What have wee to doe to fight with thee thou King of Judah wee come not against thee this day but against the house of our enemie and God hath commanded us to make haste leave off to come against God which is with us lest he destroy you see 2 Chron. 35. 21. And when God gives them into your hands say unto Zebah and Salmana What manner of men were they whom yee slew at Tabor in Ireland or England As thou art a Protestant so were they every one was like the children of a King say They were my brethren even my mother Churches children As the Lord liveth if yee had saved their lives I would not slay you Judg. 7. 18 19. signifying if you had shewed mercy you should have found mercy but you have been mercilesse enemies to my brethren therefore I will slay you as your sword hath made women childlesse so shall your mother be childlesse among other women with Samuel I will hew you in pieces before the Lord 1 Sam. 15. 33. for though you come pleasantly and say truly the bitternesse of death is passed by a pacification yet you shall not escape the sword for he that sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed Gen. 9. 6. Therefore shew mercy unto your brethren by slaying of those that have and will slay more of your brethren for if any lead into captivitie he shall go into captivitie if any kill with the sword be must be killed by a sword true is the patience and faith of the Saints Rev. 13. 10. that is to kill them with the sword that have killed their brethren with the sword as Gideon did Vse 6 Is it so that by the testimony of the bloud of the Lamb you give glory to the justice of God by testifying Gods justice is satisfied by the bloud of the Lamb justice and mercy are met together in the bloud of Christ his justice hath full satisfaction and his mercy is shewed to us in throwing upon him the iniquities of us all and Righteousnesse and peace have kissed each other i. Christs righteousnesse is ours and therefore wee have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. Now can you give God the glory of his justice and then practise no justice to your brethren but plunder and rob and spoyle and steale be it farre from you can you be children of the just God of heaven and earth and practise such unjustice to your brethren for how can you say there is satisfaction made to Gods justice for thy trespasses by the bloud of the Lamb but that must move thee to give satisfaction for the trespasses you have done to your brethren And secondly doth his justice require that that should be remitted for which satisfaction is made by the bloud of the Lamb so doth justice require that they should be plundered which have made satisfaction by their weekly pay should not a faithfull Souldier be content with his wages Yes saith the Souldier if he could get it Ans. Will you wrong yor brethren and plunder and spoyle them because some deceive you of your wages enquire who have received it and that true satisfaction may be made be not unjust to others because others are unjust to you for the unjust shall not enter into the kingdome of heaven 1 Cor. 6. 9. Lose not your souls for a little pay And thirdly doth Justice require that that should be injoyed that is purchased by the bloud of the Lambe as remission of sinnes and an inheritance in heaven let the power of this grace move all Souldiers to suffer the fatherless and the widow injoy that which is purchased for them and not to destroy your brethren and their inheritance The sheep and the oxen made an ill sound in Samuels eares though they were brought for a good intent to do sacrifice but they made a worse sound in Gods eares which made Saul lose his kingdome for disobedience What an ill sound doe all the sheep and oxen make in the eares of God from all armies that are taken with an ill intent to doe mischiefe to the poore and needy the tears of the oppressed cry in the eares of the Lord of hosts Wo unto him that increaseth that which is not his and wo unto him that covereth an evill covetousnesse Hab. 2. 6. 9. Woe unto you that spoyle and thou â—â—st not spoyled for when thou shalt cease to spoyle thou shalt be spoyled Iâ— you magnifie the justice of the great God of heaven and earth practise justice to your brethren or he will practise justice toward you Remember the counsell of the Lord often in Deut. 23. 9. When thou goest out with the Host against thine enemies keep thee then from all wickednesse for thou art in danger to be slaine every houre and a good conscience by the bloud of the Lamb is a continuall feast it is murus aheneus nil conscire sibi null apallescere culpa i. 't is a brazen wall to have a good conscience the Devill cannot shoot through that and the destroyers that are sent by fire out of the mouths of guns shall passe over the houses where such an Israelite is within namely a good conscience sprinkled with the bloud of the Lambe Cause the Law and the Gospel to be preached powerfully in your armies There be some Anabaptists that would not have the law preached I met with an Anabaptist lately that heard me preach the Law and the Gospel and he told me to my face after the Sermon that he had been oftentimes scared by the Law he would have heard none of the Law but onely the Gospel and to speak so much of Baptisme was an offence to him Herein are two Doctrines of Devils 1. To forbid the Law to be preached 2. To forbid children to be married to Christ Now the Spirit speaketh evidently that in the later times which are now some shall depart from the faith i. of their Baptisme and counteth the bloud of the Covenant as an unholy thing wherewith he was sanctified in Baptisme and doth despight to the Spirit of Grace i. in despight of the Spirit that saith he that is washed i. in Baptisme in Christs bloud is cleane every whit needeth not save to wash his feet i. his conscience and conversation in the bloud of the Lamb but will have their hands and their head washed againe contrary to Christs counsell Joh. 13. For my part I beleeve one God one faith and one Baptisme Eph. 4. 5. The first is of God the second must needs be of the Devill that deny little children to come to Christ which can come no other way to him but by Baptisme either of themselves or of their parents for Baptisme is the Arke for the parents and their houshold 1 Pet. 3. 21. and then withdraw themselves from the children of God to perdition Heb. 10. 39. Now the Law hath most need to be thundred out in the most killing manner that can be in the Armies to make them flee and stand a far off from injustice and all sinne for although the Law is not given to the righteous man who are freed from the condemnation accusation malediction coaction of the Law as they are in Christ but it is given to the lawlesse and disobedient to the ungodly and to sinners to the unholy and to the prophane and to the murtherers of fathers and mothers to manslayers to whoremongers to buggerers to menstealers to lyers to the perjured and to whatsoever is contrary to wholesome doctrine 1 Tim. 1. 9 10. And therefore it must be preached to them you must hold out to them first the glasse of the Law to see their faces how foule they are they may goe wash their hearts in the bloud of the Lamb and then shew them the glasse of the Gospel Thus did Christ Mat. 5. Thus did Peter when he converted three thousand he shewed them by the law what betrayers and murtherers they were of the Lord of glory and then be preached baptisme unto them for salvation and shewed the promises were made to them and to their children and as many as the Lord shall call i. to beleeve that Baptisme belongs to them and all the true Churches of Christ have ever so understood it FINIS Mat. 20. 20. Revel. 3. 3. 1 Thes. 4. Gal. 3. 13. Matth. 3. Vers 11. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Rev. 3. 18. Psal. 32. 1. 1 Joh. 5. 4. Vers 20. Gen. 39. 9. John 8. 36. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 17. Hab. 1. 13. Job 1. 1 Cor. 6. 16. Psal. 91. 11. If the King be in the battell you must sight flying to save his person as David but if the Philâ—stims besiege Kâ—â—â—â— you shal overcome by the bloud of the Lambe Isaiah 53. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 1.