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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	word_n	world_n	worldly_a	417	3	7.6494	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53292	The unconquerable, all-conquering, & more-then-conquering souldier, or, The successful warre which a believer wageth with the enemies of his soul as also, the absolute and unparalleld victory that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ : as it was discussed in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England, on the day of the artillery-election there, June 3d., 1692 / by Urian Oakes ...	Oakes, Urian, 1631-1681.; Shepard, Thomas, 1635-1677.	1674 (1674)	Wing O24; ESTC W28467	45,642	48

finds enough in the best of Believers that found nothng in our Saviour Satans sparks easily e●…me us because he finds so much Tinder in us The Lusts within us are ready to take fire at every injection There is a Traitour in our own Bowels that is ready to open our Ports and let in the Adversary Now of the War which a Christian wages with this home-bred intestine Enemy the seventh Chapter of this Epistle to the Romans gives us a clear account where the Apostle raises an Out-cry and makes Doleful Complaints of the remainders of sin the Law in the Members the body of Sin and Death and Discourseth of the Nature Power and Prevalency of in-dwelling sin as to some engagements The Apostle Iames speaks of the Lusts that War in our Members Jam. 4. 1. And Peter of fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. these make up that opposite party within a Christian that would intercept and stop him in his way to Glory a secret subtle treacherous designing party that creates him a world of trouble and danger in his journey towards Heaven 2. From the World which is another Enemy that would obviate and intercept the People of God in their Travels Hence the World was a part of Christ his glorious Conquest Be of good chear I have overcome the World Joh. 16. 33. And the Believer that is born of God by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overcomes it too 1 Iohn 5. 4. which plainly implies that the World is an Enemy Considerable are the Expressions of the Apostle to this purpose Iam. 4. 4. know ye not that the friendship of the World is enm●…ty with God whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World is the Enemy of God And doth it not follow hence that he that is a Friend of God is an Enemy to the World as it lies in opposition to God and the World in that respect an Enemy to him The World is one of the Associates of that false party within a Christian and under the conduct of Satan militates against a Believer Particularly 1. The Snares Allurements of the World which would 〈◊〉 away and seduce a Chr●…stian from following after God These make war upon a Child of God and are dangerous Enemies As they say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fight with Silver or Gold weapons and never doubt of Victory Some Enemies have bought great Victories which they could never have won otherwise All these things wi●… give th●…e this profit pleasure Honour saith the flattering World 〈◊〉 Believer if thou wilt fall down or surrender to me These ensnaring and alluring Objects which the world presents the Sons of Men with have such a close and intimate correspondence with the Lusts in their Hearts and what is carnal in them that they fight against their Souls with great Advantage and Success The Apostle having dehorted from the love of the World and the things that are in the World sums up all that is in the World in those three particulars the Iust of the Flesh the Iust of the Eyes and the pride of Life 1 Ioh. 2. ●…5 16. The Apostle speaks as if there were nothing else in the world but Lusting because there is such a curse come upon all Creature-enjoyments with reference to man that so farre as He is of the world they are Objects of Lust to Him exciting drawing forth invigorating and improving that Lust and Corruption that is in him By these Lusts the Apostle means the several respective Objects and puts the Lust which is in us for the things themselves lusted after Carnal Pleasures Profits and Preferments He saith not sensual Pleasures Riches Honour though he speaks of them but the Lusts of the Flesh and Eye ●…nd pride of Life because our Lusts render them evil to us how lawful soever in themselves the Objects are and make them Objects of Temptation and Seduction from the Lord putting a painted Whorish Beauty and tempting Lustre upon them varnishing them 〈◊〉 and making false representations of them Yea it is evident as the 〈◊〉 Dr. Owen observes Treatise of Temptat pag. 68. That all th●…se things the Lust of the Flesh c. are principally in the Subject not in the Object in the Heart not in the World But they are said to be in the World b●…cause the World gets into them mixes it self with them unites incorporates As Faith and the promises are said to be mixed Heb. 4 2. So are Lust and Temptation from worldly Objects mixed they twine together 〈◊〉 mutual improvement one from an●…ther grow each of them higher and higher by the mutual strength they administer to one another From this mixture Union and Incorporation of the Objects in the World with the Lusts in the Hearts of Men and their firm and close combination together it comes to pass that the enticing tempting World is a very potent and prevailing Adversary to the Souls of Men And that Believers themselves ●…n whom the Lusts mentioned are but in part mortified and subdued have hard work sometimes to stand their Ground against the snares and allurements and bewitching insinuations of a d●…ceitful World To this Head reduce sinful Examples in the World Counsels of Carnal Friends the Friendship of the World which is E●…mity ●…o God and good men Jam 4 4 False Doctrines which are spo●… out of the Wo●…ld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 4 5. calculated to the corrupt Humors Inclinations and Interests of the m●… of the World and therefore of a very grateful resentment with them In a word all Worldly Lusts as the Apostle calls them Tit. 2. 12 that are so many baits and snares to entangle and entice the People of God to desert the Holy and good wayes of the Lord those Golden 〈◊〉 that are thrown down before a Christian to invite him to g●…ze upon them and stoop to take them up that so he may be retarded and stopt in his course and lose the prize he runs for 2. The Troubles and Affrightments of the World Th●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the formidable f●…ightful Afflictions and persecutions that would im●…e or reta●…d and hinder the people of God in their Travels towards that H●…enly Country where the sweet Fruits of Divine Love are to be enjoyed in the greatest maturity and perfection of them That Tribulation in the World against which the Lord Jesus layes in great encouragement from the consideration of his own Corquest of the World Ioh. 16. 33. Of this ill 〈◊〉 and Entertainment in the world the Afflictions that the Children of God must expect to contest withal the Apostle discourseth here Rom. 8. 35 36 37. Tribulation Distress Persecution Famine Nakedness Peril Sword and such like formidable things to Nature oppose the Faithful in their way and make warre upon them A Christian lies open to many sharp and fiery Tryals 1 Pet. 4. 12. and must look to endure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great fight or Concertation of Afflictions

THE UNCONQUERABLE ALL-CONQUERING more-then-CONQUERING SOULDIER Or. The successful WARRE which a Believer Wageth with the Enemies of his Soul As also the Absolute and Unparalleld VICTORY that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ. As it was Discoursed in a SERMON Preached at Boston in New-England on the Day of the ARTILLERY-ELECTION there June 3d. 1672. By Urian Oakes Pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge 1 Cor. 9. 26. I so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the Air. Ephes. 6. 13 Take unto you the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done or overcome all to stand Rev. 13. 7. And it was given unto Him to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them Rev. 12. 17. And they overcame Him by the Bloud of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death Psal. 108. 13. Through God we shall do valiantly for He it is that shall tread down our Enemies CAMBRIDGE Printed by Samuel Green 1674. Christian Reader THat Title of the Book of the Wars of the Lord Numb 21. 14 may truly be ascribed to that best of Books the holy Scripture wherein accordingly after a short account in the first leaf thereof of the finishing of the Heavens and the Earth and all the Host of them the Lord of Hosts do●…h presently acquaint us with the enmity put between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent 〈◊〉 3. 15. whereby 〈◊〉 is bid and which Word of the Lord hath in a sense g●…ven being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Battels that have been fought in the World for more then 5000 years even from the beginning thereof unto this day and whence it is also that this Earth shall be the continued Field and Stage of War ●…ill the last day witness the close of this bloody Scene in the Scriptures last prediction of the great Pitcht Fatal and Final Battel between the same Serpent the Dragon and his Seed in the Book of the Revelation The upshot whereof will be the last and amazing opening and so the eternal shutting of Heaven and Hell filled with the Combatants respectively for the receiving their Arrears therein The day of Iudgement doubtless will be the day of publishing and by sound of the left Trumpet the compleatest History of the whole fight from first to last in the interim the Lord General hath his many Heraulds at Arms to denounce his Wars and so proclaim also his Peace to the World both by Word of Mouth as by sound of Trumpet Isai. 58. 1. and by Writing also of some of whom especially it may be said as sometime of Lucan viz ut praelia videatur non canere sed committere tonare Classicum eodemque ardore arma scribe●…t quo Caesar tractavit they have not shunned to deliver the whole Counsel of God and that in the demonstration of the Spirit and with Power And blessed be the Lord for all the Alarms Lectures of War Instructions and Hortatory Speeches given from the Captain of our Salvation by any of his Commission Officers for the doubling and fortifying our spiritual Watch. Israel under the Law needed the Priests of the Lord in order to their 〈…〉 to found the silver Trumpets Numb 10. 2 9. that so blowing an●… A●… that H●… Camp might be remembred before the Lord their God and saved from their Enemies and the whole life of every Christian being that of a Man of War hence what may tend to aceomplish him in his Heavenly Military skill and encourage him in his spiritual conflict wherein that Cry is still heard as Exod. 32. 26. Who is on the Lords side yea wherein the E●…igent is such that he must either Fight or Dye and that the consequence is for no less then Eternity must needs be welcome to him and so without question will be this following VVatch-word and Exhortation delivered to the principal Artillery Company of this Land at whose request it was first published to the Ear and Heart of the Hearer and is now after not a little importunity to the Eye also of the Reader from one of our Leaders Heb. 13. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under the Chief Leader 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2. 10. Iesus Christ who is given for'●… Leader and Commander to the People Isai. 55. 4. this discourse being to animate each one thereof as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ to endure hardness giving us sure intelligence of the happy success of this Divine Militia the blessedness of every faithful VVarrier in being more then a Conquerer and though he may seem to be worsted in this or that Battel yet as to the whole war that he shall be yea in the language of Truth that he is an Overcomer and above an Overcomer A Christians victory is indeed like to that of his chief Commander Iesus Christ Col. 2. 14 15. and through that Blood and infinite Grace very strange and mysterious he is overcoming when i●… appearance overcome and triumphing when to the view of others he is a crucisied Captivs as dying and behold we live 2 Cor. 6. 9. A Paradox and incredible in other Combats and yet the wonder seems not so great that he should gain such a Victory over all his Enemies of this World when we consider him as one that hath with Reverence be it spoken conquered the Lord himself as is said of Iacob whom the Lord Dubbed with the Name of Israel Gen. 〈◊〉 20. because as a Prince he had power with God and had prevailed whence also that strange word from the Lord himself Cant. 6. 5. turn away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me thus do they sometimes come forth e●…arend from the dust Isai. 52. 2. and from their wrestling places of Prayer as Luther did with those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Faith vicimus vicimus and surely ●…uch as one may glory in the Lord and through him humbly boast even as soon as he hath put on his spiritual Harness because he is here well assured by the promise of the victory before he sometimes strikes a stroak and for which cause partly he may be said to be more then a Conquerer Every Victory was not celebrated with a Triumph to be triumphant is ●…orc ore then to be victorious There were and are the Battels wherein eve●… the victor hath no c●…use so much as to rejoyce of which sort ●…e may 〈◊〉 those of them who being not only visibly listed under the B●…er of Jesus Christ but have Christ in them the hope of Glory yet by whose Divisions and fidings and warrings one against the other through the hour and power of darkness and temptation prevailing the truth and peace is lost these are Bella nullos habitura triumphos and O that a most serious and wise consideration of their common danger from the Gates of Hell and the

necessity of that Brotherly union to which the Lord hath entailed the blessing by way of command even life for evermore might ●…ause a retreat to it in all quarters of the spiritual Camp sounded from those hazardous and w●…ful pursuits shall the Sword devour for ever will it not be bitterness in the latter end how will the uncircumeised rejoyce The most Warlike Christian Souldier will see one day that he had not any Military skill strength courage or weapon to spare wherewith to sight against Christ in waging any unbrotherly War against any of the called thosen and faithful followers of that Lamb. As for those of Christs Enemies sinful self the Devil and this evil World all Antichristianism fight agains●… them we should and not spare them the severe●… encounters cannot be too sharp no quarter must either be given or taken here for ever The Enemy is discovered and those Stratagems of Faith in the Blood of Christ proposed by the Reverend Author of the following Sermon whose praise is in the Gates as that b●… our right taking the Word not only victory may be gained but what is 〈◊〉 transeendent Thou hast here by one of the Lords Auxiliaries expert in warring the warfare of the service of the Congregation for such will the service of the Ministry be found Numb 8. 24 25. sent else from asar upon the relief to us and in such a day graphically represented to thy view the Church even Triumphant here on Earth more then conquering while it is in in●…ate Militant And though their ancient Triumphs were appointed for the General of the Army not for the common Souldiers yet in this Spiritu●… War the meanest of Christs followers shall Triumph with him and divide the Spoils an earnest and specimen whereof they that are sincere are not seldome acquainted with in this life whence there are erected in heart and life Trophies of the lesser victories gained and all to the Glory of him in whom when they are weak they are strong through the power of his might and may conclude before hand that they are more then Conquerers and shall abide s●… superlatively for ever roceiving those dona militaria which are to ●…e distribute●… to all such as are faithful unto death I will give thee saith the Lord Rev. 2. ●…0 the Crown of life There is the corona triumphalis not for Paul only a primipilar Champion But 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. which shall be given by the 〈◊〉 Iudge 〈◊〉 them also even to all them that fight the good fight finish their course and keep the faith and that love his appearing and that be would so come quickly O come quickly is the Prayer of The least of thy Fellow Souldiers desirous to serve under the Royal Standard of the Lord Jesus Thomas Shepard ROM 8. 37●… Nay in all these Things we are more then Conquerers through him that loved us IN these Words we have the Apostle Pauls not Ovation but Triumph not Triumph only but Something I know not how to word it Exhibited in the Name and on the Behalf of Himself and all true Believers Indigitating and Importing a more then ordinary Tryumph over all those Enemies that oppose themselves against the Progress and Advance of a Christian in his way to the Fruition of the sweet Fruits of the Everlasting Love of God in Jesus Christ. Having perspicuously copiously and demonstratively asserted and vindicated the illustrious Doctrine of Justification in a way of Free Grace by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the beginning of this excellent Epistle which is ingeniously stiled by the great Melancth●…n the Confession of the Reformed Churches he proceeds in the sixth Chapter to Discourse of the Fruits and Consequents thereof namely Sanctification and Obedience the Mortification of indwelling sin in Believers and the renovation or rather infusion of a new Principle of Spiritual Life and Holiness Now because this work is but inchoate and imperfect and in part only transacted in this World and there are remainders of sin in this life in the best of Saints and because Grace and Corruption are vigorous active operative Principles dwelling so near together under the same Roof in the same Soul yea in the very same Faculties there must needs arise a sharp and severe War in the Soul between these two Neighbouring and Opposite Natures the particular event●… and successes whereof are various and uncertain but the Victory is infallibly determined in the issue on the side of Grace Grace indeed i●… greatly beset hardly bestead much incumbred and almost overthrown at some reasons but it will certainly eluctari wrestle and recover it self out of all the dangers that threaten it Now there is a double War which is commenced and waged by Believers in this Life A War with the evil of sin and a War with the evil of suffrings or afflictions so far as they would imp●…e or do oppose them in their March to Heaven Of the War with sin indwelling sin th●… in-bred home-bred Enemy that Mother of all the A●…ominations that are brought forth in the lives of Men that Adversary that is ever molesting the peace disturbing the quiet and endangering the condition of the People of God the Apostle discourseth feelingly and at large in the seventh chapter of this Epistle where he finally adjudges the victory to Grace in the last verse of that and in the beginning of the eight Chapter also Of the War with Afflictions or the evil of sufferings from Satan or the World from what hand of what kind and howsoever conditioned and circumstanced he Discourseth Admirably at the seventeenth verse of this Chapter and ●…o forwards and he comes in the procedure of his Discourse to give unquestionable Assurance to the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ of the full and final decision of this grand Controversie and the happy issuing of all these hazardous conflicts whether with sin or sufferings in a glorious and absolute victory Insomuch as having made sure of God on the side of himself and Believers he doth in his own and their Name make an open Challenge and bid defiance to all opposite and adverse powers ver 31. If God befor us who then can be against us He ●…ids Sin Satan and an evil World do their worst against Believers that are thus entrenched in and walled about with the Love of God thus fortified and defended aided and assisted by the Almighty one the Lord of Hosts And having laid his foundation in Gods Predestination and Christs Mediation he superstructs upon it and plainly asserts the invincibleness of every sound Believer notwithstanding the Relicks of sin that incumber him the Temptations of Satan that molest him and the afflictions and evils of the World that set themselves in Battel aray against Him He represents to us the Christian as a person that may be opposed combated and contended withal but never routed run down totally defeated or overthrown in any Engagement Now this invincibleness of the Christian

dangerous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Army Christ your Centeral is as apprehensive and jealous of such things among his People Wo●…ul was the case of Ierusalem when besieged by the Romans on this account of divided parties and Factions Wi●…hin which hastened their ruine and facilitated the Roman Conquest And do you think that Divisions in and among Churches are not of threatning Consequence to such societies The Lord be merciful to us in this respect Must the Sword devour for ever Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end I hope you do not wage here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An irreconcileable War If the Sons of men shou'd be implacable yet one would think the Sons of God should put on as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-Suffering Forbearing one another a●…d Forgiving if any Man have a Quarrel against any as they expect Forgiveness from the Lord Iesus putting on Charity which is the Bond of perfectn●…ss Col. 3. 12. 13 14. Shall that of the Apostle speaking of the worst of the Heathen Rom. 1. 31. be verified in any of the Professor●… among us that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Implacable God forbid They are your Enemies yea common Enemies to the Interest of Christ and his people that will go about to Foment these Divisions or advise to the perpetuating of these Differences If I were not well assured that Christs Name and Interest and your own Souls suffer unspeakably hereby I should not have opened my Mouth in this manner However I hope none here are so much in love with Contention as to be angry with Counsels of Peace It is a matter of great Consequence O les us not turn our Swords into one anothers Bowels as the Midianites Judg. 7. 22. Philistines 1 Sam. 14 15 20. Moab tes Ammonites and the Inhabitants of Mount Seir a Chron. 20. 23. as well as others have done to their own Destruction I believ●… really that it is with these Churches or Companies of Christian Souldiers in this place so far as there is any Contention among them as it is with Souldiers now then in the Heat of Battel Sometimes through mistake in the Hurry and Consusion of Battel one Reg●…ment or Company chargeth another of the same Army slaughtering and destroying their own dear Friends engaged on the same side and for the same cause instead of their Enemies This hath occasioned great Mischief So through Darkness Confusions Mis understandings and Mis-representations of Persons and Actions in an Hour of Temptation it comes to pass that Brethren contend and quarrel and wound one another with the wound of an Enemy and of a cruel One. Mistakes and Mis-apprehensions are the usual sad occasions of great Divisions We had need watch and Pray that we enter not into Temptation in this respect and to exercise Charity towards such as differ from us in Circumstantia●… 〈◊〉 in matters of Doubtful Disputation only lest we bl●…ndly and pr●…pitately run over and ruine hack and hew down ou●… Friends and Brot●… under the notion of Enemies Oh make and Maintain Peace among your selves you Sould●…ers and Military Companies of J●…sus Christ A Cessation of Arms for the Present is not enough It is a League of Amity and Friendship and Brotherly Communion that I contend for O that is might be speedily effected lest a Common Enemy prove the only effectual Mediatour between the Brethren at variance and a pacification be made at last by such Instruments and Means as neither Party will have any joy or pleasure in And the Blessing of the Peace-maker be upon the heads of those persons that shall be graciously instrumental in Gods way to settle a good and lasting Peace and Correspondence among these Churches or sincerely and vigorously endeavour it 7. Make it your chief care and business all the time of your Warfare to please your Great General the Lord of Hosts the Lord Iesus Christ in all things That is the property of a good Souldier 2 Tim. 2. 4. He design●… to please his Commander in chief by a ready Obedience This was the singular commendation of the Centurions Souldiers Mat. 8. 9. Luk. 7. 8. No Men are under more absolute Command then Souldiers that must not dispute but obey the Orders of their General In like manner do you observe all the Orders of the Lord Jesus obey all his Words of Command adventure upon the hottest and hardest pieces of Service when he requires it hold no Intelligence or Treacherous close Correspondence with his Enemies In every Motion or Action consider with your selves whether this or that course and carriage and Posture will please Christ. And in particular please him by a ready and cheerful Obedience to Inferiour Commissioned Officers for his sake Obey them that have the Rule over you is one great word of Command which our Lord Saviour gives Heb. 13. 7 17. Though I am as truly heartily opposite to the Presbyterian Perswasion with due respect to the Piety and Learning and Orthodexy and Excellent Abilities and Accomplishments of those our Fellow-Brethren and Souldiers that march on that side of the way be it spoken wherein it lies in direct Opposition to the Substantials of the Congregational-way as any of you and though I am remote enough from the intention of improving the Text but now mentioned to the establishing of such an Absolute and Arbitrary Rule in the Presbytery as is really inconsistent and incomportable with the due priviledge and liberty of the People yet I am sure that all are not Guides Overseers and Rulers but that there are Rulers and Ruled the Governours and the Governed in all particular Churches according the Sovereign Institution of Jesus Christ there are Officers and Private Souldiers according to the appointment of our Lord General And I must say freely that that way of Church-Government that allows not the Rule and Government truely and properly so called to Church Officers is not the way of Christs Institution Obey therefore such as the Lord Jesus hath set over you in the Lord if you mean to please him Otherwise you may be sure that your General will severely punish the undue contempt of the meanest Officer in the Christian Army 8. Be willing to endure Hardship This is another Qualification of a Souldier 2 Tim. 2. 3. Church-Officers are called to this in a special manner but it is the duty also of every Christian Soulders that must expect to wrestle with many Difficulties A man must never think to be a Souldier that is nice and delicate and loves to favour himself and indulgeth to pleasure and ease Nimi●… delicatus es Christiano qui voluptatem hec seculo concupiscis Tertull. Every Souldier must resolve upon enduring Hunger and Thirst and Cold and Wet and Weariness and lying upon the Ground many Hardships and Inconveniences in the course of his Militery Imployment As A●…cas the Scythian said to Philip of Macedon

the Issues of your Counsels in the Birth or to overlay them and devout them as soon as they are born Now the word of the Lord to you is as sometimes to Ioshua Josh. 1. 9 Be strong and of a good Courage be not afraid neither be you dismayed For the Lord your God is with you O take Courage and acquit your selves as the good Souldiers of Christ and ●…aliant Worthies in your Warfare You have growing Sins in a growing Common-wealth to grapple withal O be Couragious and fight your Fight against such Enormities Do not draw your Sword meerly to flourish and beat the Air but strike home And if you have not Swords that are sharp enough or long enough to reach to do thorough Execution upon the Enemies of our peace the God-provoking State disturbing Sins evils among us Be sure you get such as may do it I mean such Laws as may be keen and comprehensive enough to reach them And the Lord bless you with the Honoured ●…puties at your great Councii of Warre as I would take Liberty th●…●…ay ●…o stile your General Assembly where you are considering wh●… to do d●… b●…lare to conquer and beat down the Sins and Disorders that lift up the Head amongst us and are the great Enemies of the Prosperity of our Common-wealth and Churches I might also particularly apply this word of Encouragement to the pious an laborious Servants of the Lord in the work of the Ministry O my Brethren and Fathers you are the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner 2 Tim. 2. 3. Paul calls Epaphroditus the Pastor of the Church of the Philippians his Fellow-Souldier Phil. 2. 25. Both E●…raordinary and ordinary Church-Officers are Souldiers Your Life is a Warfare in a way of Specialty Besides the Enemies you have to Engage with as you are Christians you have Enemies also to conflict with as you are Ministers I speak not of the persons of men which are to be pitied and tendered but of their Vices which must be opposed and combated withal You have Unruliness Disorderly Behaviour Prejudices Reproaches base Nick-names hard Usage and injurious dealings among men the Pride Ignorance Obstinacy Unfruitfulness and Ingratitude of some you have to do with besides your particular Temptations from Satan who maligns the Ministers of Christ more then other men to conflict and combate withal Some of you may be in Pauls Case Fears within and Fightings without and Trouble on ev●…ry side 2 Cor. 7 5. You are Souldiers and must expect Knocks and Blows in your Warfare but you may be assured of a most Glorious Victory We live in ●…imes of great Degeneracy and in special of great Disaffection to the Ministers of Christ Times wherein Satan industriously instills and infuses endless Jealousies and prejudices into the Heads and Hearts of People concerning the Faithful Ministers of the Gospel As the King of Syria said to his Captains Fight neither with small nor Great save only wi●…h the King of Israel 1 King 22. 31. So doth Satan seem to say to his Follower●… at this Day Do you fight neither with one or other so much as with the Ministers of Christ. This is the Ball that Satan hath 〈◊〉 his Foot the great Game that He is playing up and down to asperse and vilifie and bring down the price and esteem of Christs Messengers as well knowing then how to destroy the Souls of Men and Women Heaps upon Heaps as it were Well you are Souldiers and must not be discouraged You are well appointed you have Arms to fight withal Prayers and Tears and Ministerial Au●…horitative Dispensation of the word and Ordinances of Christ with Courage And undaunted Resolution are the VVeapons of your Warfare which are not Carnal but Sp●…ritual and mighty throug●… God assisting 2 Cor. 10 4. And if it would not sound too much like the Word of a Commander if it were not too much Boldness and Arrogance I would say to my Reverend Fathers and Brethren Fellow Souldiers Stand to your Arms. The Day is your own and the Victory will be finally determined on your side Your Sighs and Groans and Prayers and Tears and M●…nilleria Conflict shall not be in vain but the Lord will shortly give you the Victory Take heed of Short-spiritedness of Impatience of Fainting in the Contest though it may be sharp and severe for a time The Ill●… terarian Spirit the Antiministerial Spirit the Heretical evil Spirit the ●…velling and Disorderly Spirit or whatever else it is that you combate withal shall be routed run down put to flight And the solly of such Things and persons will be made manifest to all men Nothing will abide but what is built no●… on the variable and uncertain Fancies and Affections of men but on the Everlasting Foundations of Scripture and Reason Reason and Truth will stand their Ground and keep the Field when all that is opposite thereunto will be put to flight and totally discomfited I shall say no more to you but in the words of the Lord to the Prophe●… ●…er 1. 18 19. The Lord hath made you Defenced Cities Iron Pillars and Brazen Walls and though men fight against you they shall not prevail For the Lord is with you Nay further If I could but get into the Hearts of any of the People of God in this Assembly and make discovery of the particular Corruptions and Temptations that this or that Believing Man or Woman is Conflicting and Combating with I would say to them Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might As the Priesis were ordered by the Lord to give a Word of Encouragement to the People of Israel when they were approaching to Batrel aganst their Enemies Deut. 20 3 4. So give me leave at the Head of this Christian Camp here Assembled before the Lord to bespeak the Israel of God and to say Let not your Hearts Faint Fear not and do not tremble neither here terrified because of your Enemies For the Lord your God even your great Lord General the Lord Iesus Christ is he that goeth with you to sight for you against your Enemies and to save you What should I do but say to them that are of a fearful Heart Be strong fear not strengthen ye the weak Hands and confirm the feeble Kn●…es Isai 35. 3 4. You are it may be Buffeted with Satans Messenger pained with the Thorn in the Flesh Molested and Tortured as persons held upon the Rack with Temptations to Atheism and Unbelief with Blasphemons Injections and Amazing Suggestions Tormented with the poysonous fiery Dares and Arrows of that evil one Combated with ●…shly VVorldly Lusts and Corruptions that give you no rest Oh Courage Courage Dear Hearts Fight it out to the last And if you are Foiled get up again by Repentance and renew the Combat in the strength of Christ and never ask Quarter or make a Surrender of your selves to the Will of your Enemies for you shall obtain a