the cause thereof is namely the love and favour of God to the faithful whose estate he â—span â— shall be endless and eternal As 〈◊〉 malice of Satan is inveterate so it is â—â—o deadly not to be satisfied by taking aâ—â—y our goods or good name or afflicting us â—ith sickness no nor by taking away our â—â—â—â—es for nothing will satisfie him but deâ—â—ruction of soul body we may read in scripâ—ure that he is called a murtherer a man-slayer and our Savior telleth us that he hath bin so from the beginning You read in Peter that â—â— is compared to a roaring Lion but in truth Satan is far more cruel then a roaring Lion who if we may give credit to Histories spareth those that fall down flat before him â—hereas if Satan get us at such advantage â—e would proudly trample us under foot and make us sure for ever rising and therefore 〈◊〉 we should look for any mercy at his hands the Holy Ghost calleth him the great red Dragon Rev. 12.3 which beast beareth such â—â—tural malice to mankind that he devoureth â—hem not onely for hunger but also for sport or hatred in satisfying whereof he taketh great delight such a beast is our enemy who is so fleshly in blood and cruelty and so over-carried with malice and hatred that he estéemeth it his chief sport and pastime to destroy us as we may read in Matth. 4.2 that he â—ath the name of a tempter given him he is a tempter to tempt us to sin and not onely so but he is an accuser after that we have sinned requiring of God that he will execute his justice upon offenders who have desâ—rved punishment of this there néeâ—s no further proof then his own tâ—stimony as we may read in Job 1.7 And as he is an accuser so he is also a slanderer thus wrongfully did he slander Jâ—â— that he served God for advantage bâ—cause he preserved and blessed all he had affirming that if he would take away his goods and afflict his body he would blaspheme him â—o his face Job 1.10 Neither is Satan onely a slanderer but he is also an executioner or hangman ready with all cruelty to inflict the punishment the which the Lord adjudgeth unto us as we may sée in the History of Job This shews us the extream malice of our enemy he is the father and author of all malice and envy who laboreth night and day to dishonor God and work our destruction Therefore let us oppose against Satans malice Christian resolution stedfastly purposing to continue our fight in resistiâ—g Satan to our lives ends how troublesome soâ—ver it séemeth to flesh and blood for what more honourable death is there then to die in fighting the Lords battels what death more profitable séeing by dying we shall overcome and obtain a final victory over all our enemies and receive the crown of Glory everlasting happiness promised to all those who fight valiantly in this Combat unto the end I might inlarge very much in shewing you the power and strength of Satan our great enemy First If you consider it in himself Secondly If we consider the great aid he hath in the world And thirdly If we consider our own flesh how frail that is and what a great help and advantage it is to Satan but I shall wave it at present and shall come to the description of the spiritual armour which the textencourageth every Christian to be armed withal 1. The Apostle St. Paul describeth the quality and as it were the metal of our armour in which respect he telleth us we must put on the armour of God which is spiritual and that our weapons we fight withal must not be carnal for our enemy is spiritual we wrestle against Principalities and Powers Neither is it enough that we put on one piece of the armour and like young souldiers leave off the rest for lightness we must not put on the Helmet of salvation and leave off the Brestplate of righteousness nor take unto us the girdle of Truth Shield of Faith and cast away from us the sword of the Spirit but we are to puâ— on the whole armoâ—r of God like valiant souldiers who mean indéed to stand to it we are to arme our selves in all points in compleat armour of proof which will kéep us from fléeing and our enemies from overcoming And that we may be the rather stirred up with all care and diligence to provide and buckle fast to us the armour which he after describeth he sheweth the necessity thereof by describing the dangerousness of our enemies who being not flesh and blood but Principalities Powers Princes of darkness in this world and spiritual wickednesses which are in high places cannot possibly be resisted by our own strength and means and therefore for this cause he willeth us to take upon us the whole armour of God that we may be able to resist in the evil day that is the time of temptation which is therefore called the evil day partly because therein Satan tempteth us unto evil and partly because it is a time of trouble adversity and affliction when Satan sisteth us with his temptations and thus the evil day is taken in Psal 41.1 The Lord will deliver him in the evil day that is in the time of trouble and thus also it is used in Ephes 5.16 Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil that is full of troubles and afflictions or the time of adversity I shall now come to the particular parts of our Christian armour and shall first begin with the girdle of truth and shew you what we are to understand by it the word Girdle it self signifieth a broad strudded Belt used in wars in ancient times where with the joynts of the Breast plate and that armour which defended the belly and loins and thighs were coverâ—d and by this truth is resembled whereby some understand the truth of Religion and of the Doctrine which we profess others understand hereby truth and uprightness of heart or the integrity of a good conscience whereby we perform all duties belonging unto God and our neighbor in simplicity without all hypocrisie or dissimulation but I think we may take it in both senses séeing the Apostle doth set down uâ—â—er these metaphorical words the chief vertues and graces wherewith we are to arm our selves against our spiritual enemies 1. First therefore here is required truth of our Religion we profess 2. And secondly thâ—t we profess it truely and with upright and simple hearts 1. For the first that our Religion must be grounded on Gods truth it is the foundation upon which all other duties to God or man are to be built for if they be not grounded on Gods truâ—h but devised by mans brain they are but human traditions which the Lord will not accept neither is it to any purpose that we shew our selves earnest and forward in religion unless it be true and agréeable to Gods holy word 2. T is not
may be ready for the Battel Lastly By this conflict the Lord strengtheneth and increaseth all his graces in us for as by exercise the strength of the body is â—â—eserved and augmented and in short time decayeth through idleness and sloth so the giftâ— of Gods Spirit Faith Hope Patience and the rest languish in us if they be not exercised with temptations For Tribulation bringeth forth Patience â—nd Patience Experience and Experience Hope and hope maketh not ashamed as you â—ay read in Rom. 5.3 4 5. I shall now procéed to give you some arguments or reasons to incourage us to enter into the battel to fight against the spiritual enemies of our Salvation 1 Reas The first reason that I shall give you may be drawn from the justness of our cause the war is just therefore procéed we may with boldness for though Souldiers be never so strong and well furnished yet if their consciences tell them they fight in a bad quarrel it will much abate their courage and make them cowardly and timerous but our cause is most just and our war most lawful for God who is justice it self hath proclaimed it by his Heraulds the Apostles Ephes 6.10 Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might James 4.7 Resist the devil and he will flie from you 1 Pet. 5.8 Be Sober be Vigilant for your adversary the devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour ver 9. whom resist stâ—dfast in the faith 2 Reas The cause of our war is of great weight as namely for the glory of God and our own Salvation for in all Satans skirmishes he séeketh to impeach Gods glory with false imputations and to bring us to utter destruction and this may appear with the first conflict of his with our Mother Eve Gen. 3. 4 5. where he accuseth God of a lie who is truth it self and of impotency and envious disâ—ain saying that the cause why he did forbid them to eat of the trée of knowledge of good and evil was not as he had said because they should die but because he knew that when they should eat thereof their eyes should be opened and they should be as Gods knowing good and evil 1. Where he séeketh to dim the beams of Gods glory by accusing him of a lie and to perswade them that he was not Omnipotent séeing that he was able to hinder them from being Gods if they tasted of this fruit lastly that he forbid them to eat thereof because he envied them so glorious an estate 2. He laboreth to destroy our first Parents both body and soul by tempting them to disobedience and transgression of Gods commandment and therefore our Saviour Christ doth â—â—tly joyn those two together in the 8 of John 44. saying That he was a liâ—r and a man-slayer from the beginning A liar in thâ—t he falsely accused God of a lie a Man-slayer because he did it to this end that he might murther our first Parents and all their posterity both body and soul 2 Reas The second reason to move us to undertake this fight is the profit which will accrew unto us thereby for no sooner can we enter into the field to fight against these enemies but presently we shall have peace with God â—ut if we betray our trust that is Gods cause to Satan and our souls to sin well may we be lulled asléep in carnal security but we shall never injoy this peace with God and peace of conscience For there is no peace saith my God unto the wicked Esa 57. But if we fight against these enemies and valiantly overcome the Lord hath promised to give us to eat of the Trée of Life which is in Paradice and the manna that is hid and that he will write our names in the Book of Life Rev. 2.3 3. Reas The third reason to move us to this fight is the honor which will accompany this victory if earthly souldiers will purchase honor with the loss of life which is nothing else but the commendation of the Prince or applause of the vain people what hazard should we undergo in fighting the spiritual Combat séeing our grand Captain the Lord of Hosts and infinite multitude of blessed Angels look upon us and behold our Combat whose praise and approbation is our chief felicity what peril should we feaâ— to obtain a Crown of glory which is promi sed to all that overcome and to becomâ— heirs apparent to Gods Kingdoms 4. Reas The fourth reason to perswade us is the necessity of undertaking this Combat there is no man so towardly that will not fight when there is no hope in flight no mercy to be expected in the enemy no outrage and cruelty which will not be committed but such is our enemy that we cannot possibly flye from him his malice is unreconcileable his cruelty is outragious for he fighteth not against us to the end he may attain soveraignty alone abridge us of our liberty spoil us of our goods but he aimeth at our death destruction both of body and soul The Apostle James in his Epistle 1 chapter the 12 verse pronounceth them blessed that indure temptation for when by tryal he shall be found approved he shall receive a crown â—f life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Lastly We may be incouraged to this fight by certain hope of victory for we fight under the Standard of Christ Iesus who alone is mightier then all our enemies that assault us Ephes 6.12 Our Saviour hath spoiled principalities and powers and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed over them upon the Cross Let us not therefore fear to fight against â—eaten and conquered enemies for every one shall be a conqueror that desires the conquest for if we will be the Lords souldiers he will not suffer us to be so much disgraces as to let us be overcome by his mortal enemies Having given you the reasons which may incourage us to fight this Combat I shall now come to the spiritual warfare it self and shall endeavour to lay before you the malice of our great adversary the Devil therefore in an enemy who proclaimeth war against us we are to consider two things First his will secondly his power If he have will to hurt us and no power he is not to be regarded if power and no irreconcileable malice he is not so much to be feared but if his power be great and his will malicious it is time then for us to look about us and muster up all our forces that we may be ready to endure the incounter 1. First therefore touching the will of our grand enemy the Devil if we consider of it aright we shall find him to be very maliciously bent against us so that there is no hope of reconciliation with him though we could be content to make a truce or a dishonorable peace with Gods and our eâ—â—my Satans malice to mankind is endless
THE CHRISTIANS COMBAT OR HIS True Spiritual Warfare Christ over-Love that cannot be you 'l say But Christ above all others Love you may THE Christians COMBAT OR HIS True Spiritual Warfare Wherein is laid down the Nature Power and cunning Deceit of Satan the great enemy of our Salvation With the means whereby every good Christian may withstand his dreadful assaults By C.L. late Preacher of Gods Word in the City of London Ephes 6.11 Put on the whole armour of Gods Word that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil London Printed for Charles Tyus at the three Bibles on London-Bridge 1664. THE CHRISTIANS COMBAT Ephesians 5.13 14 15 16 17. Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand Stand therefore having your Loyns girt about you with truth and having on the Brestplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace Above all things take the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God BEloved Christians the Apostle Sainâ— Paul having shewed the mystery oâ— our Salvation and the causâ—s therâ—of for the confirmation of our faitâ— in the thrée first Chapters of his Epistle 〈…〉 and afterâ—â—â—â—â— in the other chapters having set down divers duties both generally belonging to all Christians and also particularly â—ppertaining to men of sundry conditions that he might move them to repentance and newness of life in the next place like the Lords centinel doth discover and give us waâ—ning of the approach of mighty enemies willing us to arm our selves in all points in our own defence and couragiously to stand under the Standard of Christ Iesus that we may be continuâ—lly in readinesse to indure the incounter also he giveth us to understand that as â—oon as we séek for assurance of Salvation in Christ and indeavour to serve the Lord in a holy and Christian life we are to prepare our selves for a Combat unless we would suddenly be surprised for the spiritual enemies of our Salvation arm themselves against us as soon as we have given our names to God and taken upon us the profession and practice of Christianity No sooner had Abel offâ—red a sacrifice of swéet smelling savour unto God â—ut Satan stirreth up Cain to become his â—utcher Gen. 4. Whilst Moses was conâ—â—nted to be reputed the Son of Phâ—â—aohs â—aughter he injoyed all prosperity but as 〈◊〉 as he joyned himself to Gods people and Church Pharaoh seeketh his life whilst Paul persecuted the Church of God Satan did not so much trouble him either outwardly in body or inwardly in mind but no sooner was he truly converted to the Faith and preached the Gospel but presently he setteth his wicked Imps at work to take a way his life which the Lord not permitting he moveth them to persecute him by imprisoning him whipping and stoning him and not content with these outward afflictions he sendeth his messengers to buffet him that he might be no lesse vexed inwardly in mind then outwardly in body 2 Cor. 12. Yea he spared not our Saviour Christ himself but as soon as he began to shew himself to be the Son of God and Redéemer of mankind in performing the duties of his calling then especially he bendeth all his force against him he tempteth and assaulteth him forty daies together and taking the foil himself he stirreth up his wicked instruments to persecute him and at length to take away his life Matth. 4. Whosoever therefore resolves to be Godâ— servant must make account to be his Souldier also and whilst with Nehemiahs followers with one hand they perform the work of their callings and Christianity th◠〈…〉 the other 〈◊〉 â—â—ld their weapons 〈◊〉 their spiritual enemies who conâ—â—â—uâ—lly â—aâ—our to hinder the Lords builâ—â—â—â—â— for no sooner do we become friends to 〈…〉 presently Satan assaulteth us as his enemies no sooner do we receive the Lords press mony and set â—ooâ— into his Camp but Satan advanceth against us his Flaggs of â—eâ—iance labouring both by secret treachery outward force to supplant and overcome us Here therefore is instruction for secure worldlings and consolation and incouragement for Gods Children worldly men instead of fighting the Lords battels spend their time in Chambering and wantonness in Lust s and uncleanness in covetousness in idleâ—ess as though there were no enemy to 〈◊〉 them and as if Satan were some 〈◊〉 Lamb and not a roaring Lion ready to devour them But now some may ask why God suffereth his Servants to be tempted why I 〈…〉 First it is for his own glory And secondly for the manifesting of his spiritual â—â—ates in them and as the Lord suffereth Satan and his Imps to try his Children for â—is own glory so also it is for their spiritual 〈◊〉 everlasting good For first Hereby he chastiseth them for their sins past and recalleth them to theiâ— remembrance that so they may truly repeâ— of them and this Job speaks of in Job 1â— verse 26. Thou writest saith he bitter things against me and makest me to possâ—ss the iniquities of my youth Secondly He manifesteth unto us ouâ— secret and hidden sins which the blind eyeâ— of our judgement would not discern if theâ—â— sight were not quickned with this sharp water of temptation for so long as we live â—n peace our secure consciences never â—â—mmon us to the bar of Gods Iudgement bâ—â— when we are roused up by temptation we come to a more strict examination of our selves and search what secret sins lies luâ—king in the hidden corners of our heartâ— that so we may repent of them and make our peace with God without whose assâ—stance we can have no hope to stand in tâ—â— hour of temptation Thirdly The Lord hereby preventâ—â— our sins to come for when we have expeâ—â—ence that the most sharp weapons whiâ—â— Satan useth to inflict deep wounds in 〈◊〉 consciences this will make us most caâ—â— fully to abstain from them lest thereby â—â— strengthen him for our own overthrow Fourthly The Lord suffereth Satan assault us that we may hereby come to a sight of our own weakness and infirmities when we have received many foils and learn to relie upon his help and assistance in all our dangers for so proud we are by nature that before we come to fight we think we can repel the strongest assaults overcome all enemies which oppose themselves against us by their own power but when we sée our selves vanquished by every small temptation we learn to have a more humble conceit of our own ability and depend wholly upon the Lord â—s you may sée in Deut. 8.2 and 13.3 Fifthly The Lord permitteth Satan continually to assault us with temptations to the end we may continually buckle unto us the whole armour of God that we
cool the scalding heat of sin by applying unto us the precious balm of Christs blood so that our wounds are not mortal unto us The first of these vertues is signified hereby in that he calleth faith a shield which repelleth Satans temptations as the shield doth the darts that are cast against it The second by the word quenching namely as water quencheth the fire so faith quenchâ—th the fiery darts of Satans temptations I procéed now to the fifth part of our Christian armour which is the helmet of Salvation which is so called because it bringeth Salvation to them that wear it for we are saved by hope as it is in Rom. 8.24 which we are to understand by the helmet of Salvation as it appeareth in 1 Thes 5.8 where he exhorteth us to put on the hope of Salvation for an helmet As no man in his right wits would sell his certain interest unto a goodly inheritance for a bright shining counter so much less will any man who is not stark-mad sell his assured hope of the eternal kingdome of glory by yielding himself the slave of sin and Satan to purchase for the present the worlds counterfeit shining excellencies which are in truth but mutable or at least momentary vanities And though he assault us on the one side as he did St. Paul with afflictions and persecutions yet we will with him for the hope of Israel be content to be bound in the chains of misery and affliction for the heaviest cross will séem tolerable yea an easie yoke and a light burthen to those who do expect and hope for a far more excellent and eternal weight of glory Now therefore if we do not put on this helmet we shall not dare to lift up our heads in the day of battel for as those who are incouraged with hope of victory and the spoil ensuing do fight valiantly so those who are quite forsaken of hope do forsake also the field and cast down their armour and weapons and do either run away or cowardly yield unto the enemy And so much for the defensive armour which we must put on that which follows is both defensive and offensive fit to defend our selves and repel and foil the enemy the first is the sword of the Spirit the word of God this the Apostle cals the sword of the Spirit because it is a spiritual and not a carnal weapon which the spirit of God hath as it were tempered made sharpened and put into our hands to repel all our spiritual enemies whensoever they assault us Now we are taught to imitate our grand Captain the Lord Iesus Christ who though he were able to have confuted Satan by other arguments or to have confounded him by his power yet as he suffered himself to be tempted in all things like unto us so he used the same weapons which he hath appointed us to use in this spiritual Combat of temptation to the end that we might be taught how to handle them having his example for imitation and also may conceive assured hope of victory considering that our Captain subdued Satan with the self same weapons Whensoever therefore we are assaulted by Satan let us draw out the sword of the spirit that we may defend our selves and give him the foil as being the most fit weapon for the purpose and séeing this sword is so excellent let us highly estéem of it and manfully use it whensoever Satan doth assault us and tempt us to commit sin As for example when he enticeth us tâ— commit sin and extenuates it as though it were but a may game and a trick of youth which God regardeth not let us draw out the sword of the spirit saying that all they are accursed who continue not in all that is written in that book of the Law to do it Gal. 3.10 They who live according to the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 That the burthen of sin cannot be light séeing it pressed out of Christ himself a bloody sweat On the other side if he aggravate the hainousness of our sins to the end he may draw us unto despair of Gods mercies let us say it is written I will not the death of a sinner saith the Lord but that herepent and live Ezek. 18.23 And that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 And that he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Matth. 9.13 Joh. 3.16 If he tempt us to the love of the world and to the service of this unrighteous mammon let us answer him that it is impossible to serve two masters of such contrary dispositions as it is written Matth. 6.24 If we love the world the love of the father abideth not in us 1 John 2.15 That the amity of the world is enmity against God James 4.4 Again if by renouncing the world and endeavoring to serve the Lord in uprightness and in truth he séeks to draw us from our integrity by threatning afflictions and persecutions we are to strengthen our selves and resist him with the sword of the Spirit remembring that they are blessed which suffer persecution for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Matth. 5.10 All that will live Godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 1 Tim. 3.12 That whosoever loseth any thing for Christs sake shall receive in recompence an hundred fold more and have everlasting life to boot Matth. 19.29 If he tempt us to the neglect of Gods word we are to tell him that all Christs shéep hear his voice and follow him John 10.27 That whosoever is of God heareth Gods words John 8.47 They who know God hear his ministers whereas he that is not of God heareth them not 1 John 4.6 Again if he tempt us to content our selves with the bare hearing thereof neglecting obedience thereunto we are to tell him that not the hearers of the word but the doers thereof shall be justified Rom. 2.13 And they that are hearers of the Word and not doers also deceive themselves Jam. 1.22 Not every one that saith Lord Lord that is maketh a goodly profession of religion shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of the Father who is in heaven Matth. 7.21 So when he tempteth us unto pride we are to say unto him Satan I may not enter into thy temptation for it is written God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble 1 Pet. 5.5 Thus may we repel the violence of all Satans temptations and give him the foil if we will take unto us the sword of the Spirit and skilfully use the same in the fight for it is not sufficient that we have the sword lying by us if we do not draw it out in the dispute to fight the spiritual Combat but let it rest in the Scabbard It behoveth every poor Christian to come into Gods School continually that there we may learn how to handle the sword of the Spirit that may resist Satan in all his