to have a clear and exact knowledge in the Mysteries of Truth It is not in vain that the Scripture doth so earnestly call upon men to learn and to get and to keep the truth of Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures Buy the truth and sell it not Prov. 23. 23. Stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thes 2. 15. not unwritten traditions the Doctrines and Commandments of men but such as have been taught by the Apostles either by word or by their writings Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. The word of God is full of such warnings and admonitions as these are And not without cause whether we consider the worth of truth in it selfe or the usefulness of it unto us It s necessary to the soul in many respects it s the light by which we see our way by which we know what to do what not to do it s a great part of our spirituall Armour by which we fight against temptations It s as great a strengthening to the Christian in fighting against Satan and his Instruments as the Souldiers belt or girdle is to him in the day of battel Take two Christians of equall grace and let them be assaulted with the same Temptation and let the one be sound in the Doctrine of Truth and the other corrupt and you will easily see the difference between the one and the other by the issue of the temptation the Doctrine of truth is as necessary for fighting against Satan as the grace of truth I note this to let all of us see what little reason any have to be displeased either with the Ministers of God or other of the Servants of God for their earnestnesse pertinacy if I may so speak in preserving the truth of Doctrine both among themselves and others They know the many advantages of it and therefore they are so zealous for the maintaining of it Paul though he was of as flexible and condescending a spirit as any other whether Apostle or ordinary Saint in all other things for he became all things to all men that he might by all means save some 1 Cor. 9. 19. 20 21 22. yet he was so positive and peremptory for the Doctrine of truth that he would not give place by subjection to false Brethren for an houre that the truth of the Gospel might continue with the people of God Gal. 2. 4. 2 'T is no wonder to see Satan use such endeavour to deprive the Sons of men of the Doctrine of truth In all ages of the Church he hath raised up his Instruments to draw men aside from the truth of Doctrine There shall be false Teachers saith the Apostle amongst you as there were false Prophets amongst the people 2 Pet. 2. 2. The Church of God as it was never destitute of true Prophets so never was it without false Prophets In the Church of Israel there were a numerous Company of seducing Prophets As there was an Elijah a holy and zealous Prophet of God so there were 456. Prophets of Baal 1 King 18. 22. The state was corrupted and they made to themselves a corrupt Ministry of their own an apostatizing State must have an apostatizing Clergy that will humour them and subscribe to them in every thing they do when Satan had perswaded Jeroboam to set up golden Calves he helped him to a Ministry that would worship them and teach others to do the like State Ministers will cry up Calves for gods rather then want promotion or lose preferment And thus it was in the Gospel Church All Pauls Epistles shew it This ariseth 1. partly from the sinfulness of men They must have their lusts and a lust cannot thrive if it have not a false Prophet to nurse it and give it suck And 2 partly from God he in his wisdom and justice permits it to be so that they that would not obey the words of a true Prophet should follow the pernicious Doctrines of falâ— Prophets 1. Reg. 22. 23. And then 3 it comes to passe from the policy and malice of Satan that he may by this means rob men of the truth and so make them fit preys for his temptations And we need not much wonder at this policy Satan knowes he is in danger of being foiled if he suffer this girdle to be upon the soul and that he shall certainly overcome if he can but pluck this off the loyns therefore he is so diligent in attempting it laying snares to intrap the true Ministers of God and opening a wide door for false Prophets and seducers to enter in and corrupt the truth 3 We have no cause to wonder to see the Devill so prevalent amongst hereticall and erroneous persons Woful experience shews us what desolations are made by Satan in our corrupt Generation what mischievous wayes of iniquity many are led into Many are drawn aside into great profanenesse of life others are sunk deep into rebellion others are gone aside into the way of perjury and Covenant-breaking others into wayes of cruelty persecution and oppression others almost into grosse Atheisme we may take up the Complaint of the Prophet Isay 59. 3. 4 5 6 7 8. Your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity your lips have spoken lies your tongue hath muttered perverseness none calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth they trust in vanity and speak lies they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they hatch Cockatrice Eggs and weave the Spiders Webs he that eateth of the Eggs dyeth and that which is crushed breaketh out into a Viper their works are works of iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands Their feet run to evill and they make haste to shed Innocent blood their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction are in their paths The way of peace they know not and there is no judgement in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace A man would wonder to see and hear the horrible wickednesses that many are fallen into some openly profane the Sabbaths others defile their Neighbours wife and think they do not sin in so doing The cause of all these may be given in the words of the same Prophet Isay 59. 14. 15. Truth is fallen in the streets yea truth faileth The Devil hath taken away from them this Girdle of Truth and now they stop at no kind of abominations The Girdle of truth is quite loosed and this doth so enervate and weaken them that they are forced to do what ever the Devil requires of them And can ye wonder at it The losse of truth will certainly introduce all kinde of iniquity And that both ex Natura Rei and ex justo Dei judicio 1. Ex Natura Rei The understanding is the first wheel in man it turns about the whole man as the Helme doth the Ship if
16. 20. Shortly Ay shortly in the fittest time in the neediest time that 's done speedily that 's done seasonably You are sure the siege shall be raised and therefore do not surrender upon any condition Charge your Cannons again and shoot them and continue so and you will do execution at last to purpose And know this that the neerer you are to ruine in your own sense the neerer you are to victory Meditate upon the four Reasons I gave you to prove the Doctrine and let your hands and hearts be strengthened in the Lord. And know this that the day of victory will recompence all your waiting and feares vid. Matth. 4. 11. Consider that And so much for the thirteenth verse LECT VIII Novemb. 28. 1649. EPHES. 6. 14. Stand therefore having your loyns girt about with truth c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN the former Verse the Apostle gives a LECT 8 general Exhortation to the Christian Souldier to cloth himself with the whole Armour of GOD and to withstand Satan in the evill day of Temptation In this and the following Verses which contain the second general part of the Text He gives him a particular Catalogue of the several pieces of this Armour Offensive and Defensive with Directions how to make particular use of them that he may be enabled to overcome There are in the whole seven pieces of this Armour two of which are laid down in this verse viz. The Girdle of Truth and The Breast-Plate of Righteousness He doth allude to the Habit wherewith Souldiers were used to be accoutred in those times that they might be fit to encounter an Adversary And he doth compare the several Graces of the Spirit to the several pieces of that Armour to let Christians see that the graces of God are as necessary for the soul to resist and overcome temptation as Armour is for the Souldier to resist and overcome his enemy in the day of battel We may in the general note from this comparison made between the graces of God and the Souldiers Armour That Spiritual and Heavenly matters Note are ordinarily in Scripture set out by Earthly and Natural things The graces of God are set out by Armour and the Christian managing of our graces is taught us by the Souldiers right using and managing of his Armour in the day of battel The glorious Mysteries of Religion in Scripture are commonly delivered and held out by the resemblance of outward and natural things A Christians fruitfulness and growth in grace is set out by growth and fruitfulness of trees Psal 1. 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of waters c. The glory and beauty and fragrancy of graces is set out by the beauty and fragrancy of flowers and sweet perfumes in many places of the song of Solomon particularly Cap. 3. 10 11 12 13 14. The great Mystery of our union with Christ is set out by the vine and branches Joh. 15. â—nit and of the Foundation stone and the rest of the stones builded upon it Ephes 2. 20 21. Spiritual security is set out by the natural sleep Cap. 5. 2. applying of Christ by Faith is set out by natural eating and drinking John 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed to a sinner is in Scripture set out by the garments put upon the body Isa 61. 10. I will rejoyce in the Lord c. for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation c. The Communion between Jesus Christ and a Believing Soul is set out by the joy and delight of friends feasting together Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock c. I will sup with him c. Spiritual Desertion is set out by the horrour of Natural Darkness Isa 5. 10. The preaching of the Word in the publike Ministry is set out by the work of the Husband-man in sowing his Seed Matth. 13. 3 4. The carrying on of the Work of Grace and Conversion in the Hearts of men is set out by the growth of the seed sowen in the earth Mar. 4. 26 27 28. The glory of the Saints at the Resurrection and in the other Life is set out by the glorious shining of the Sunne and Stars Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightnes of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever I note this for these two Reasons 1. That Christians may see what use they may make of Natural and Earthly things There is not any natural Action there is not any kind of Employment or Trade of Life there is not any Creature by which a Christian might not learn some Spiritual Lesson did God but give him a Spiritual Heart When thou seest the Merchant busle about his business then mightest thou learn diligence in the things of the Gospel For the Kingdome of Heaven is as a Merchant man c. When thou seest the Souldier buckle on his Arms and march with them to meet the enemy then mightest thou think of the putting on and using thy graces c. And for this cause it is that our Saviour did so frequently preach in Parables and Similitudes drawn from earthly things that by this meanes the sons of men might be the better able to conceive of Heavenly Matters when they are thus delivered in their own way And that they might have ever before them visible Monitors to bring to their minds the things of God Indeed if these spirituall things had not first been revealed and taught in the Scriptures the beholding of things Natural would never have taught us such Doctrines but being now made known in the written Word our Memories Understandings and Affections may be very much helped by the studying and contemplation of things natural which set them forth 2. How necessary it is for the Ministers of Christ who are to interpret open and apply the Scriptures to men to have an universal knowledge of all kind of Learning Many think that Humane Knowledge and Learning is of no absolute necessity to fit a man for the Ministry If he have but knowledge in the History of the Bible and a gracious work upon his heart he is sufficiently enabled without the knowledge of other Learning This Text shewes us the contrary some places of Scripture cannot be well interpreted without the knowledge of Natural Philosophy Others cannot be rightly understood without some skill in Astrology Others require the knowledge of Agriculture to expound them to profit Others of the Art of Navigation Others of Military Affaires Similitudes almost from all kinds of Arts Sciences Trades are used in the Scriptures and the more general a Ministers Knowledge is in all these things the better will he be inabled to interpret the whole Word of GOD in the course of his publike Ministry He must study all kind of books And make his
the judgement be rotten neither the heart nor the life can be sound We finde therefore in Scripture these two joyned together faith and a good Conscience Ever when men have been corrupted in the head they have been corrupted in their lives 1 Tim. 1. 19. holding faith and a good Conscience c. he that puts away faith must put away a good Conscience whether he will or no he that makes ship-wrack of faith will soon make ship-wrack both of Conscience and Conversation 2. Ex justo Dei judâ—cio It s Gods way to punish the rejection of truth with giving men up to ungodlineâ—s of life Thus God punished the Heathen Rom. 1. 25. 26 27 28 29. where you have both the sin and the just punishment of it So 2 Thes 2. 10. 11 12. Exhortation Let all Christians be careful to keep fast about them this Girdle We have a kinde of Popish Proverb among us ungirt unblessed There is a truth in it in this sense If Satan finde you without your Girdle upon your loyns he will easily prevail with you in the day of temptation Labour therefore to get and to keep this Girdle and if you see it grow weak labour to strengthen it Let me add a few helps by way of direction and I have done 1. Avoid the company and breath of known Seducers They will either quite take away your girdle or else they will much slacken it in a very short time if you have to do with them If any man come to your house and bring not this Doctrine receive him not nor bid him God speed 2 Joh. 9. 10. They have sleight of hand they can cut your purses while they look in your faces from such turn aside 2 Tim. 3. 5. 2. Do not think meanly of such Truths as are of an inferiour Nature and more remote from the Foundation He that cuts off every day a small shred from his girdle will very soon snap it quite asunder Though every Truth be not fundamental yet every Truth is a guard to the Foundation the outer skin of an Apple lies remote from the heart yet if you pluck that off the very heart will be sooner rotten The finger is not a vital part but a Gangrene in the finger will in a short time reach to the very Vitals and corrupt the blood and spirits 3. Be much in prayer to him that keepeth both the hearts and the feet of his Saints that he would keep the Truth in you and you in the Truth Holy Father saith our Saviour keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me Joh. 17. 11. Let us often pray this Prayer of Christ Holy Father keep us through thy Holy Name Tie on this girdle of Truth that it may neither slip off nor be taken off The Apostle Jude puts these two together ver 20. Building up your selves in your most Holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost 4. Take heed as of all sins so especially of the sin of Pride As Heresie is the mother of pride and scornfulness so Pride is the High-way to be Heretical A proud person will soon be an erroneous person If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words c. he is proud knowing nothing c. 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. Pride will make the Heart swell so bigge that the Girdle of Truth about your Loyns wil soon be knapt asunder Humility and Watchfulness are the best Buckles for this Girdle and the way to preserve Truth but Pride and Carelesnesse is the way to lose it 5. Keep a good Conscience in all things towards God and towards Man As the falling off from the Mystery of Faith will corrupt the Conscience so a corrupt Conscience and an ungodly Life will in time destroy the Mystery of Faith There is this Reason for it The Doctrine of godliness reproves the Deeds of ungodliness and therefore whoever goes on in ungodly Practices will at last cast off the Doctrine of godliness that he may not be a Reprover to himself Keep the Grace of Truth that you may preserve the Doctrine of Truth also Thus for the first Interpretation LECT IX Decemb. 5. 1649. Ephes 6. 14. Having your Loynes girt about with Truth c. IT old you the last Lecture that Expositors LECT 9 give a two-sold Interpretation of Truth in this place Some understand it as spoken of the Doctrine of Truth Others expounding it of the Grace of Truth We have gone over the former Interpretation already as it relates to the Truth of Doctrine From which we noted That firmness and stability in the Truth of Doctrine c. We have now to consider it as relating to the Grace of Truth for so it s used in Scripture as I shewed you the last day Psal 51. 6. Josh 24. 14. Joh. 4. 24. and so it is understood in this Text by many yea the most Interpreters that I have had opportunity to inquire into Calv. vocabulo veritatis sincerum animum intelligit Piscator veritatis vocabulo intelligit conscientiae integritatem c. Taking it in this sense the Doctrine is this viz. that Integrity and truth of heart is of special use to Doct. obtain vistory over Satan in the evil day of Temptation Whosoever would overcome the Devil must have his Loyns girded about with Truth in the inward parts He that wants this girdle may struggle for a while with a Temptation and may perhaps overcome a particular temptation but he can never hold against every temptation Sooner or later he wil be brought into bondage by the Temptations of the Devil By the help of this Girdle it was that Holy Job won and kept the field and got the day of Satan in that great Conflict and Dispute he had with him And by this Girdle it was that other of Gods assaulted servants did finally overcome In the handling of this Doctrine I shall do these three things 1. I shall briefly open the Nature of this Grace 2. I shall give you the Reasons of the Doctrine 3. I shall lay down a Caution or two for the understanding of the Doctrine 1. That we may find out what is meant by this Grace of Truth I shall bring several Texts of Scripture which do explain it First Partly by way of Opposition And Secondly Partly by Exposition or Illustration 1. By way of Opposition 1. We find it opposed to Deceitfulness and Fraudulency and False-heartedness So 2 Cor. 6. 8. As Deceivers and yet true He is a man of truth that is a man without deceit Thus our Saviour speakes of Nathanael Jo. 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile An Israelite in truth or a true Israelite is one in whom guile and deceitfulness is not he is one that hath not two faces he will not juggle either with God or men or himself Not as if a man of truth might not sometimes fall into an act of deceitfulness Abraham had truth in the inward parts and yet
we know once and a second time he fell into an act of gross Dissimulation once in Egypt Gen. 12. 13. and a second time at Gerar Gen. 20. 2. But a man of Truth doth not allow or approve of any such acts in himself it is not his Constitution it is not his Custome he hath his conversation in Integrity godly Simplicity as the Apostles speak of themselvs 2 Cor. 1. 12. and therefore he cannot be called a guilefull man or a false-hearted man though he may do a guileful act 2. It is opposed to Pretence Phil. 1. 18. The Apostle speaking of False-Teachers hath this expression Whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and therein I rejoyce and will rejoyce Pretence and Truth are there opposed one against another Now a man of Truth is such a one as is really what he pretends to be whose inwards and outward are of the same alloy and complexion when a man is Holy in Heart as well as in outward appearance The Apostle speakes of some that did glory in appearance but not in heart 2 Cor. 5. 12. Our Saviour chargeth the Scribes and Pharisees with this Ye are like unto whited Sepulchres which appear beautiful without but inwardly are full of rottenness and putrifaction Matth. 23. 27. When a man shall pretend to be a Saint and act the part of a Devil When a man like Joab shal pretend a friendly salute Art thou in health my brother and really intend to wash his hands in his blood 2 Sam. 20. 9. When a man shall pretend like Judas to kiss his Master and intend onely to betray his Master When men shall oppress and devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers Matth. 23. 14. Such kind of persons are utterly destitute of this Grace of Truth such a one was that wicked Ishmael the son of Nethaniah of whom you read Jer. 41. 6 7. He goes forth to meet a company of sad-hearted men and pretends to conduct them to Gedaliah the Governour but when he hath them in a snare cuts their throats and buries them in a Pit 3. It 's opposed to Word and Tongue 1 Joh. 3. 18. My beloved let us not love in Word neither in Tongue but in Deed and in Truth When the Tongue and the Lips are as different from the Heart and Actions as the Jewes and Samaritans which have no Commerce one with another this Grace of Truth is not in such persons A man of truth is one whose hands and feet act what his lips and tongue profess The Prophet speakes of some men that had an oily Lip but a bloody Heart Psal 55. 20 21. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him he hath broken his Covenant The words of his mouth were smoother then butter but warre was in his heart His words were softer then oyl yet were they drawn swords this was a very truthless man such men as these we read of Jam. 2. 15 16. They had the language of the merciful man Go in peace and be warmed and filled Here is Charity in the Tongue and Lip but they gave nothing either to feed or refresh him this was not truth of Charity so we may say of other Graces 2. By way of Exposition or Illustration and so there are many synonymous words used to explain truth of Heart viz. 1. It 's explained by perfection 2 Reg. 20. 3. I beseech thee ô Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart A true hearted Christian is a perfect hearted Christian There is a two-fold Perfection The one is Legal The other is Evangelical The Legal Perfection is not to be found in any meer man since the Apostacy of Adam The Papists they dispute not onely for the possibility of the attainment of this perfection but they teach also that it is actually attained by many But that 's a meer Dream and purposely held by them to maintain their wicked Doctrine of Merit and Supererogation for the Scripture cleerly asserts the contrary and the servants of God in the highest form have utterly disavowed any such thought Job in the Old Testament Job 9. 20. If I justifie my self my mouth shall condemn me if I say I am perfect it also shal prove me perverse And Paul in the New Testament though he might have stood upon his legal righteousness as much as any other Phil. 3. 2. yet Phil. 3. 12. he disclaimes Perfection Perfection of this kind is a thing to be much wished for but it is not attainable by any 2 Cor. 13. ver 10. The Evangelical Perfection is two-fold the one of Justification And in this respect every one who truly is in Christ by saving Faith is exactly perfect Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee Cant. 4. 7. Jesus Christ by one offering hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. The other is of Sanctification And in this respect the truly-godly are called perfect in three respects First because they are so in part there is in them a perfection of parts they are renewed throughout in every Faculty of the Soul the Understanding Will Conscience Affections c. are all sanctified truly though not throughly Secondly because they are in the progress of Perfection it 's that Mark they levell at they will not sit down without it so Paul Phil. 3. 14. I press towards the Mark for the prize of the high-calling c. this he cals Perfection v. 15. Let as many as be perfect be thus minded Thirdly because they allow in themselves none of their imperfections Their smperfections are their burthen their sorrow their shame they take no contentment or pleasure in them 2. It 's explained by uprightness of heart so ye have it 1. Reg. 3. 6. Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father great mercy according as he walked before thee in truth and in uprightness of heart and in righteousness Uprightness of Heart is a Heart without crookedness a Heart that doth not bend and bow this way and that way for gain for advantage sake A swarving Heart is opposed to an upright Heart Psal 125. 4 5. Do good ô Lord to those that are good c. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes c. A Heart of Truth is a Heart that doth not warp to the right nor to the left hand he will not be swayed from his way for fear of men for hopes of preferment for the avoiding of outward detriment and loss He is a man that lookes right on and his eye-lids look straight before him he doth not turn to the right hand or to the left Prov. 4. 25 27 It 's a metaphor as some think taken from the Plow-man He hath his eyes not wandring this way and that way but he looks straight before him that he may make the furrow even so doth a man of truth he is fixed in his way and
the contrary vertues 13 Look very narrowly to the heart the inward man It 's impossible to preserve Holiness of life if Corruptions be not dayly purged out of the heart Let the blood of Jesus be sprinkled upon the heart every day purge the Conscience and then the Conversation will be kept clean also Out of the abundance of the heart c. Matth. 15. 18. EPHES. 6. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lect. 14. Janu. 9. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN these words we have the third piece of the spiritual Armour The preparation of the Gospel of peace In which we shall consider of these three things 1. The Epithite given to the Gospel Evangelium pacis 2. The Armour it self The preparation of the Gospel 3. The Subject of this Armour the part of the body upon which it is to be put the Feet I shall at this time onely go over the first of these viz. The Commendation given to the Gospel And it teacheth us this lesson viz. That the Gospel is a Gospel of peace Doctrine In the opening of which Doctrine I shall 1. shew you what the Gospel is 2. What peace this is 3. How the Gospel is a Gospel of peace 4. Answer an Objection against it 1. The Gospel according to the notation of the word signifieth good news glad tydings so the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the hebrew word Desporah signifieth it is here used to set forth the joyful tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ first preached to Adam in Paradise by God himself Gen. 3. 15. afterwards by the Prophets by Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles The Doctrine of free grace and obtaining righteousness by faith in Christ without the works of the Law It s called in the Scripture sometimes The word of Gods grace Acts 14. 3. because it doth reveal the riches of Gods grace to the children of men for their salvation Sometimes it s called the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. because it holds out faith in Christ as the instrumental cause of our salvation Sometimes it s called the grace of God Titus 2. 11. Sometimes it s called the mystery of Christ Ephes 3. 4. because it doth reveal Jesus Christ to the sons of men in his person natures offices benefits conveyed by him to such as beleive Sometimes the hidden wisdom of God 1 Cor. 2. 7. It s wisdom because it contains the wise design and plot of God for the saving of sinners And its hidden because it was from eternity hidden in the secret counsels of God till he was pleased to make it known to Adam and because Rom. 16. 25. it is still hidden from many who have not the knowledge of it and because many who know it in the letter do not savingly embrace and entertain it Sometimes it s called the word of life Phil. 2. 16. because by the right beleiving of it men are translated from the state of death to the state of life Sometimes the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. because in this shop it is that all those riches are laid abroad to the view of men Sometimes it s called the good word of God Hebr 6 5. Every word of God is good the Law is a good word all the threatnings are good they come from him who is good the matter of them is good the end of them is good but the Gospel is by way of eminency called the good word because the greatest goodness and mercy that God ever manifested to his creatures is contained in the Gospel God was very good to man in creation the goodness of God was expressed in the Covenant of works but the highest expression of goodness and love lies in the Gospel And in the Text it s called the Gospel of peace the reason of which we shall see when we have done with the next particle viz. 2. What peace is here meant There is a threefold peace 1. Peace with the Creature of this Eliphaz in Job speaks Chap. 5. 23. Thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be in peace with thee He is said to be at peace with the Creatures who is in such a condition that no Creature can be an instrument of his hurt but all creatures are instruments of his good and serviceable to him for his advantage All things are yours things present and things to come 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. 2. Peace with a mans self Peace of conscience of this the Apostle speaks Rom. 15. 13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing This peace is a fruit and consequence of faith of this our Saviour speaks Math. 11. 28. Come unto me c. and ye shall find rest to your soules When the soul apprehending the pardon of sin and assurance of Gods love is freed from those fears and horrors which attend unjustified sinners 3. Peace with God Which is nothing else but Reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ For the understanding of this we are to consider man in his threefold state 1. In the state of Innocency In this state man had peace and communion with God God and man were united in a Covenant of friendship There was nothing but Amicableness between God and man man was able to know God as the chief good To will God as the last end of all To give God the glory of his works actively To converse with God There was nothing in him opposite to God or in God till man by sin on his part had made a breach 2. In the state of corruption or the fallen estate of man This is a state of enmity and wrath God and man in this state are at deadly fewd one with another They are said to be afarre off from God they are said to be without hope and without God in the world Ephes 2. 12. Sin hath made such a wide distance that there is no hopes for God and man to come together as friends untill some meanes be used for the removal of this distance This is the state in which all unregenerate persons are The wrath of God abideth on them John 3. 36. In this state man is opposite to God His nature is opposite to God His wayes are contrary to God His heart is full of hatred to him And in this state God hath put man under Rom. 1. 30. the curse and is resolved to have his envy out of him 3. In the state of Graee or regeneration This is a state of reconciliation It consists in these four things 1. The wrath and displeasure on Gods part is quite done away so that he loves the persons and carrieth no indignation in his breast against them Some think that there is no reall wrath in God towards the vessels of election while they are in their natural
you a Gospel of warre They shall have enmity from God with a witness who die in enmity under the Gospel John 16. 33. Peace in Christ will make the soul of good chear in all worldly tribulation And Joh. 14 27. he leaves them this as a cordial against all outward troubles and fear Mot. 5. Peace with God is the foundation of all commerce with God Rom. 5. 1 2. There is no commerce or trading between Nations that are at war one with another war stops trading Mot. 6. The Christians shall be as secure as if they had raised seven Armies as means to be at peace 1. Cast away your sins by repentance sin made and continues the enmity No peace so long as our sins remain Esay 57. 21 2 Reg. 9. 22. 2. Lay hold by faith on Jesus Christ as he is held out in the Gospel he is the Prince of peace Ephes 2. 14. he purchaseth he conveyeth it Levit. 1. 4. No attonement without a sacrifice Thus much for the Epithite The Gospel of peace EPHES. 6. 15. Having your feet shod c. Lect. 16. Janu. 23. 1649. I Observed three things in this verse 1. The Title or Epithite given to the Gospel The Gospel of peace 2. the Armour enjoyned The preparation of the Gospel 3. The part of the body on which this Armour is to be put The Feet I have done with the first of these from whence this lesson was gathered That the Gospel is a Gospel of peace I shall now speak to the two other together Having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel Having your feet shod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The phrase is an allusion to the custom of Warriours in those times who when they went forth Calvin in Loc. to war did use boots or legharness whereby they defended their legs and feet against cold and other things which might lie in their way It was the manner of Souldiers in those dayes to stick in the way of their enemy nails pikes and other such things as might offend and wound the legs and feet of the enemy and so hinder them in their march and make them retire to prevent this danger they used leg Armour which the Latines called Calligas the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Goliah it s said had greaves of brass upon his legs 1 Sam. 17. 6. To prevent the like inconveniences in this spiritual war the Apostle would have the Christian Souldier to have his feet that is his affections which are as the feet of the soul shod with this piece of Armour which he here cals the preparation c. With the preparation of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Interpreters are of different opinions about this piece of Armour Some understand it to be meant of the knowledge of the Gospel of this opinion is Beza Sicut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 milites graeci caligas milites latini gerebant ita ad in eundum praelium vitae istius cursum inter medios hostes tenendum vult Apostolus ut Evangelii pacis cognitione simus preparati Others understand it of peace of Conscience Rogers pract Cat. part 3. p. 169. So Gualter Others understand it of the Gospel it self making it an allusion to that in Psalm 119. 105. Thy word is a lanthorn to my feet c. So Gualter Tota instituenda vitae ratio ut in Evangelio curramus Non proprii sequendi Affectus sed verbum Domini Vide Bullinger in loc This I suppose would confound it with that piece of Armour v. 17. the Word of God Others expound it of a readiness to preach the Gospel making it a parrallel place with that in Isa 52. 7. Others expound it of the promises and comforts of the Gospel Downham Others expound it of readiness to promote the Gospel So Estius Studium Evangelii propagandi Others expound it of patience D. Gouge Others expound it generally of such kind of furniture as the Gospel of peace helps us to Baynes p. 784. Now of all these opinions none are contrary to the Analogy of faith each of them afford useful instructions That which I shall pitch upon as that which I humbly conceive to be nearest the meaning of the Apostle is this viz. A firm Resolution to go through with the profession of the Gospel against all impediments and difficulties which may lie in our way Vide Vsh Cat. p. 334. This I suppose to be his meaning 1. Because he makes mention of the feet The feet are the instruments of travelling journeying is the proper work of the feet and the shooes upon the feet fit you for travel When Moses would have the people resolved to march out of Egypt he tels them they must eat the Passover with their loins girded and their shooes on their feet Exod. 12. 11. The shooes note both readiness to depart and resolution to go on till they came to Canaan though they should meet with oppositions and hardships 2. Because of the word Preparation which is used in other places for firmness of resolution to go on with the Gospel notwithstanding all difficulties Vide Acts 21 13. I am prepared not onely to be bound but to die c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So 1 Pet. 3. 15. speaking of trouble and affliction saith he Be not afraid of their terrours but sanctifie the Lord in your hearts and be ready to give an answer c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understanding it thus it teacheth us this lesson viz. That He that would overcome the Devil in the day of temptation must be stedfastly resolved to go through Doctrine with the profession of the Gospel notwithstanding all impediments and oppositions which he shall meet withall in the world In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open these two things 1. That God requires this resolution 2. That this is very necessary for him that would stand in the day of temptation 1. That God requires that every Christian should have these shooes upon his feet is expresly taught in the Scriptures Vide Luke 9. 22 23 24. he foretels his own sufferings and the sufferings which those that profess his Gospel must expect and then he armes them with this resolution To take up the cross and to follow him This is that for which the Angel of the Church of Pergamus is commended Revel 2. 13. Thou holdest fast my Name and hast not denied my faith c. This Resolution is that which was in Peter and the rest of the Apostles Christ tels them that they should all of them be offended because of him and they should all be scattered from him Math. 26. 31. Peter tels him that for his part he was resolved that though he should die with him yet he would never forsake him or deny him and all the other Disciples were of the same mind v. 35. here they had these shooes upon their feet though they shortly after fell off when the storm came 2. Wherein the usefulness of
against the servants of God These two I shall open in two propositions viz. 1. That the Devil is a wicked one 2. The temptations of this wicked one against the sons of men are fiery darts And then we shall speak of the substantial part of the Text viz. the shield it self I begin with the former Satan is a wicked Creature The wicked one Doctrine Many titles of reproach are given unto Satan in the Scripture He is called The accuser of the brethren Rev. 12. 10. his work is to slander and accuse God to the Saints and them to God Doth Job serve God for nought The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth slandering and calumniation false accusers 2 Timothy 3. 3. t is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3. 11. its required of the Wives of the Deacons amongst other things that they be not slanderers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is called The enemy or envious man Math. 13. 28 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is called the Dragon Rev. 12. 9. And the old Serpent ibid. Serpent for subtilty and Dragon for cruelty The roaring Lion 1 Pet. 5. 8. The Father of lies John 8. 44. The God of this world 2 Cor. 4. 4. The Prince of the power of the air Ephes 2. 2. The unclean Spirit Math. 10. 1. Abaddon Apollyon Revel 9. 11. The Angel of the bottomless pit ibid. The Tempter Math 4. 3. The Murtherer John 8. 44. And here in this place he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wicked one This name is given to him in many places of Scripture Viz Math. 13. 19. Then commeth the wicked one and catcheth the Word Math. 13. 38. The tares are the children of the wicked one 1 John 2. 13. I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one 1 John 5. 18. Whosoever is born of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not And he is thus called in these two respects 1. In regard of his own nature He is made up of nothing but wickedness God did at first create the Divels holy and righteous as the other Angels which still keep their habitations but by their fall they have poysoned their nature and filled it ful of wickedness and impiety They were by their first creation spiritual excellencies but by reason of their fall they are spiritual wickednesses Ephes 6. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We use to paint the Devils black to shew how black they have made their natures which when they came out of Gods hand were so white unspotted and glorious Yea the Divels are incorrigibly wicked they are totally wicked they are restlesly wicked they are impenitently wicked they are hopelesly wicked 2. In regard of his practise upon others His great design is to draw men into sin and to keep them in wickedness He goes about unweariedly compassing the earth to and fro and all that he may tempt men to acts of wickedness The Devil is the Author of all the wickedness which is committed in the world He is a Liar the father thereof John 8. 44. He is a Murtherer and the Father thereof he is a Blasphemer and the father thereof c. All sin hath its rise from Satan either in whole or in part The first sin that ever was committed in the world was by his instigation vide Gen. 3. init And whatsoever iniquity is conceived to this day in the hearts and committed by the hands of any creatures the Devil hath some hand in the bringing of it to pass Davids sin in numbring the people 1 Joh. 3. 8. the works of the Devil was from Satan 1 Chron. 21 1. The sin of Ananias and Saphira in lying and dissembling was from Satan Acts 5 3 Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the holy Ghost 1. He suggests evil motions 2. He keeps them warm in the heart 3. He helps the soul to opportunities to practise evil things 4. He hinders from the use of what might refrein and keep the soul from sinning 5. He prepares fit instruments to bring to pass the evil that is intended c. 6. He helps to harden the heart and to blind the understanding and to stupifie the conscience c. some way or other he hath a hand in all the wickedness which is done in the world T is true the Devils contriving of sin doth not excuse the sinner for he doth give his consent Satan hath no power to force or compel the will onely to perswade by Arguments and temptations c. Every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and enticed Jam. 1. 14. A wicked heart is the womb but the Devil is the father that begets all manner of wickedness and therefore worthily called that wicked one Information 1. This shewes the infamy of sin It s a thing which is full of disgrace and dishonour Vse 1. the Scripture fastens reproach upon wickedness it dishonours Nations and persons righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14. 34. Omnis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall never be done away Prov. 6. 33. Adultery is a shameful thing swearing and lying and drunkenness and idolatry and perjury are shameful things wickedness is a shame to mens names and to their families I might shew this in many particulars but I shall onely urge it from this Doctrine It is the Devils name he hath many names which bear disgrace in them but of all his names this in the Text is one of the worst if not the worst of all He is the wicked one To be called a wicked one hath more ignominy in it than to be called a poor one or a weak one c. The Devils have some excellencies in them they are Spirits they are strong Spirits they are wise Spirits ah but they are wicked spirits they are Angels ah but they are unclean Angels The wickedness of the Devils doth disgrace all their excellencies Call a person by what name of excellency you can call him rich call him learned call him noble call him a prudent man yet if you say wicked you lay all his excellencies in the dust Wickedness stains and soyls all the glory and beauty both of persons and Nations Naaman Captain of the Hoast of the King of Syria was a great man with his Master c. but he was a Leper 2 Reg. 5 1. this one word marrs all his glory To say such a one is a man of parts a man of valour a man of great estate a man of deep knowledgde but he is a wicked man he is a drunkard a swearer a lyar a perfidious man c. this one word doth unsay all his excellencies and casts a cloud upon all his glory 2. That wicked men are of all Creatures the most like to the Devil They have his image upon them they have
there is a fourfold kind of faith Historical Temporary The faith of Miracles Justifying â—reden Deo faith 1. Historical faith is the knowledge and beleef of the truth of divine Revelations upon the testimony of God himself Of this the Apostle speaketh Jam. 2. 19. This faith was in Simon Magus Acts 8. 13. 2. The faith of Miracles is a special gift of bringing to pass some extraordinary work or foretelling some certain event by devine revelation 1 Cor. 13. 2. Mat. 17. 20. 3. Temporary faith is an assent unto the Doctrine of the Scriptures accompanied with the external profession thereof and some kind of joy in the knowledge thereof for a time vide Mat. 13. 20 21. Of this faith the Apostle speaks when he saith that Hymeneus and Philetus have overthrown the faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. 4. Justifying and saving faith of which the text speaks the great effect of it doth clearly evince it to be a faith of the best kind for no other faith besides justifying can quench the fiery darts of Satan Now in opening the nature of this grace I shall do two things 1. I shall give you a discription of it 2. I shall shew the several steps or degrees of it 1. For the Discription of it I shall give it thus Saving faith is a supernatural special gift of grace wrought in the heart of an elect person by the spirit of God through the preaching of the word of the Gospel whereby he is enabled to beleeve that Jesus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour and thereupon cast himself upon him for life and salvation according to the promise I shall open this Discription 1. T is a a gift of grace Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Acts 18. 27. He helped them much who had beleeved through grace 1. The first preparing of the heart to it 2. The first plantation of it the infusing of the habit 3. The means whereby it is wrought 4. The preservation and continuance of it all these are of grace Faith is a part of the new Creature the great and chief part of it and the new Creature is meerly of garce T is called indeed a mans own faith subjective but effective originaliter t is meerly of grace Col. 2. 12. The faith of the operation of God 2. T is a special supernatural gift This doth distinguish it from all other kinds of faith and all other common gifts which are bestowed promiscuously upon men by the Lord Heb. 6. 4. T is an evtraordinary gift afforded unto none but special favourites 3. T is wrought in the heart of an elect person T is bestowed onely upon the elect Here the Apostle calls it the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1. 1. Ye beleeve not because ye are not of my Sheep John 10. 26. And then t is wrought in the heart the Scripture makes the herrt or will to be the seat of faith Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness The will rather than the understanding is the subject of faith because faith is an act of Election whereby the soul chuseth Christ Now election is more than an act of the understanding 4. T is wrought by the spirit of God through the preaching of the Gospel This sets out both the efficient cause and the instrumental cause The efficient cause is the Holy Ghost not excluding the Father and the Son for Opera Tunilatis ad extra sunt indivisa but the Holy Ghost is the immediate worker of it the Father and Son work this and all other graces by the Spirit and therefore he is called The spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. And the Spirit works it powerfully not only inciting and stirring up the soul to believe by a moral perswasion only but by an Almighty strength creating such an habit in the heart The Apostle therfore mentions the same power for the working of faith which raised up Jesus Christ from the dead Eph. 1. 19. And then the ministry of the Gospel that 's the instrumental cause Rom 10. 17. called therefore the word of faith Rom. 10. 8. Faith is therefore called the fruit of the lips Isa 57. 19. And we shall do well to take notice of this that the Apostle makes it to be the word preached by a lawful instituted Ministry Rom. 10. 15. It s not the preaching of men that run upon their own account but of such as are lawfully sent to preach the Gospel 5. Whereby he is perswaded that Jusus Christ is not onely the Saviour of the World but his Saviour also Faith must have not only have a general beleef but a particular application also The just shall live by his faith Who loved me and gave himself for me 6. And thereupon casts himself upon Christ for life and salvation according to the promise This shews the very nature of faith T is Recumbency upon Christ T is cleaving to God with full purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. T is the casting of our burden upon Christ T is coming to Christ as to a living Stone Faith is nothing else but the souls venturing it self upon Christ according to the promise This I ad according to the promise to distinguish true faith from false presumption 2. The several steps or degrees of this grace I shall give you that in six particulars 1. Knowledge T is impossible that there should be faith in Christ or in any thing propounded by God till there be the Knowledge of it T is true knowledge is not faith they are two several distinct habits yet it necessarily preceeds faith Faith is the sight of the mind now sight presupposeth a visible object The Apostle makes it impossible to beleeve where knowledge is not Ro. 10. 14. How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard there is a knowledge indeed which followes faith 1 John 4. 16. We have known and beleeved the love that God hath to us Faith is called knowledge Isa 53. 11. Faith is an Cognovenius credendo Calvin advised grace it will not rush headlong into unknown paths when Christ asks the man when he had restored to his sight whether he did beleeve on the Son of God he answered that question with another Who is he Lord that I might beleeve on him John 9. 35 36 37 38. and when he knew the person then he both beleeved and worshiped him 2. Assent After the knowledge of the thing propounded is wrought in the understanding then followeth the Act of the Will giving an assent unto that which is known John 3. 33. This setting to of the seal is nothing else but the firm assent of the soul unto the truth revealed that Gods Testimony is true in every thing to which it gives witness This is that which is recorded of Abraham Gen. 15. 6. He beleeved in the Lord i. e. he did freely yeild his assent to the truth firmness stability of all that which God had delivered to him
speaks there of Christs coming in this life to avenge and deliver his elect the earth shall be so low and deliverance shall be so improfitable that the report of it will not be beleeved as the people of God in former time had not faith to beleeve their deliverance from Captivity Isa 63. 1. 2. So shall it be saith our Saviour when Christ comes to avenge his afflicted people under the Gospel that cry unto him And if there be so few that can beleeve a temporal deliverance how few are there that can beleeve for the saving of their souls No wonder then if Satan overcome so many 3. How needful it is for the Minister of the Gospell to be often preaching about the Doctrine of faith Those weapons and postures which are of greatest use to the Souldier the Captain ought to be most diligent in instructing the Souldier in them The Ministers of the Gospel are the Captains of the Lords Host they are to train and exercise all the spiritual Souldiers of Christ they are to teach them the use of their Arms and all their postures that they may be deetrous in the day of battel If any Souldier be wounded for want of arms or of skil to use them through their default God wil require it at their hands Now of all the pieces of spirituall Armour the shield of faith is the most necessary and therefore the Doctrine of faith should be most frequently preached 4. This shewes what necessarily lies upon the sons of men to prove and examine the truth of their faith If the shield of faith be rotten or counterfeit the soul is undone in the day of Temptation if the shield of faith be sound and armour of proof the strongest assaults of Satan will be repelled with comfort Prove your selves whether you be in the faith or no 2 Cor. 13. 5. T is necessary to try 1. Because there is not a man in the world which hath heard of Jesus Christ but thinks he beleeves in him To be accounted an Infidell or unbeleever is a matter of such reproach and infamy as that no man is willing to lye under it 2. Because the heart is very deceitful and in nothing more subject to be mistaken than in this case There is a false presumption and foolish fancy which would gladly be called by the name of faith John 2. 23. 24. When Jesus was at Jerusalem many beleeved in his name when they sawthe miracles wch he did but Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men They did presume that they beleeved in Christ but Jesus Christ knew their faith was nothing else but a meer fancy and groundless presumption 3. Because the Devil useth all the skill he can to deceive the sinner and to make him confident that he doth beleive as he endeavours to perswade the true Beleiver that his fruit is rotten so he endeavours to perswade the unbeleiver that his presumption is faith That I may help them in this inquiry I shall do two things 1. Discover some mistaken grounds which men go upon thinking that to be an evidence of saving faith which is not so 2. Lay down some positive evidences of true faith 1. There are two great mistakes about faith by which many are deceived Viz. 1. Some are deceived in regard of knowledge and assent They think they have true justifying faith because they have the doctrine of the Gospel and give as they think a right assent to the same for the removal of this mistake I shall first shew that both these may be without saving faith Secondly I shall shew how the knowledge of an unbeleiver and his assent differ from the knowledge and assent of true faith 1. That Knowledge and Assent is not faith T is granted that there is no faith truely wrought without Knowledge and Assent but that there may be Knowledge and some Assent where saving faith is not appears by these two reasons 1. The most wicked and prophane persons in the world may have and many times do attain unto a more exact knowledge of the Doctrine of the Scriptures than many a true Beleiver And they may also assent unto those truths The Apostle speaks of some by way of supposition that may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge and yet want saving faith 1 Cor. 13. 2. All this is but an historical faith Judas had the knowledge of the Scriptures and gave assent to them he preached the Gospel to others and yet wanted faith John 6. 64. There are some of you that beleive not you know what will be the plea of many in the latter day Math. 7. 22. and yet had not one drachm of saving faith I shall desire you to peruse but that one Scripture well Rom. 2. 18 19 20 21 22 23. and then you will conclude that neither the knowledge of nor the assenting to the doctrine of the Scriptures is saving faith but are ordinarily without it 2. The very Devils themselves are beyond the most intelligent Christians in all matters of knowledge They know the history of the Bible more exactly than we Satan was not ignorant of Scripture when he set upon our Saviour Math. 4. 6. And the Devil also gives assent to the truth of the Scriptures Jam 2. 19. He acknowledged Christ to be the Son of God Math. 8. 29. What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God as full a confession for the matter and substance of it as that which Peter made Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Now that which is fained in the worst of men and in the very Devils can neither be true faith nor an evidence of it 2. If we come to examine that knowledge and assent which is in wicked men with that which is in a true beleiver we shall find a vast difference for 1. concerning their knowledge there are three differences 1. The knowledge of a true Beleiver is an experimentall knowledge but the knowledge of an unbeleiver is meerly notional and speculative A Beleiver hath in his heart a lively sense and feeling of all those truths which he hath the knowledge of in his understanding They are truths in his heart as well as in his head That promise of God Jer. 31. 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts is made good to every true Beleiver and to him alone His heart is an Index or Commentary by which through the Spirit of God he can understand divine truths 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in the fleshy tables of the heart This is the meaning of that of our Saviour John 7. 16 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self 2. The knowledge of faith is
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to fight or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tollo because it is the Instrument of fighting Of the Spirit Spirit is used sometimes Essentially for all the three persons Joh. 4. 24. Sometimes it s used Personally for the third person of the Trinity the Holy Ghost and so I suppose it 's used in this place The Reasons of it I shall shew afterwards Which is the Word of God There 's a two-fold Word of God 1. The Substantial or Essential Word of God viz. Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity Rev. 19. 13. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Joh. 1. 1. He is called the Word of GOD for two Reasons First because as the Word is Character mentis in men so Christ the Son is the Character or express Effigies of the Fathers Counsel The word or speech is Interpres mentis so Christ is Interpres Patris Joh. 1. 18. Secondly He is called the Word of God in regard of his personal properties of working whereas the Father workes by way of hidden counsel the Holy Ghost by way of internall virtue the Son workes by way of Word laying open the counsel of God and putting it into execution by his Almighty Word that is by the power of his Will outwardly set forth 2. The written Word This is nothing else but the Writings of Prophets Apostles and other holy men of God contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which for the excellency of them are called The Bible or The Book because it 's the most excellent Book the Book of Books This is that Word of God which the Apostle here recommends unto the Christian Souldier It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Substantial word is called but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the name given to the written Word I might make many Doctrines but I will put altogether into this one viz. DOCT. He that would be enabled to withstand and to overcome Satan in his Temptations must be careful to take and use the Sword of the Spirit which is the written Word of God By this Sword it was that our Saviour did both preserve himself and turned the Devil to flight in his day of Temptation He drew out this Sword Scriptum est and with the power of it overcame his adversary Matth. 4. In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open these three things 1. Give some Reasons to prove that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God 2. Shew you the Reason of this Title the Sword of the Spirit 3. Shew you how this Sword is useful to help a Christian in the day of Temptations First That the Scriptures are the Word of God 1. From the evidence of Scripture it self For this I shall refer you to these places 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecie came not in old time by the Will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Psal 119. 105. Thy Word is a Lamp to my feet So ver 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver I might give you thousands of places to this purpose Secondly From the nature of the Writings themselves 1. The matter of them is of such height and sublimity as that Reason is too low to make such discoveries The mystery of the Trinity is a thing above the comprehension of Reason Reason may a little illustrate it now when 't is revealed but Reason could never have found it out The great mystery of Christs Incarnation the Personal Union of the two Natures this is a mystery not onely above Reason but above the Angelical Understanding 1 Pet. 1. 12. The Angels pry into this mystery they could never have found it out had it not been revealed in the Scriptures vid. Eph. 3. 10. This manifold wisdom of God is made known unto Principalities and Powers by the Church The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body is a Doctrine too high for Reason to have found out The Corruption of mans nature by the sinne of Adam c. 2. The harmonious consent and sweet agreement which is between one part of Scripture and another Though they were penned by severall persons in several Ages in several places farre distant from one another the Pen-men neither advising nor conferring with one another yet in nothing contradictory but sweetly corresponding one with another one Prophet writing nothing contrary to another All the Evangelists conspiring and agreeing mutually one with another as if they had been all in one and the same place which is impossible and was never seen amongst the Writings of men 3. The rare Predictions which are in the Scriptures accomplished at the very seasons No Creature can fore-tell or fore-know things before-hand and the Prophecies of the Scripture are not laid down Oracle-wise with ambiguity but with positive certainty expressing the very times of things the names of persons the period of States c. Gen. 3. 15. It was four thousand years before his birth and yet when the fulness of time came God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman Gal. 4. 4. So that Prediction Gen. 15. 13 14 Thy Seed shall be a stranger c. This deliverance was fore-told four hundred years before-hand So that in 1 King 13. 2 3. the Prophecy against the Altar of Bethel in Jeroboams time it was as Chronologers observe 330 and odd years before and yet 2 King 23. 16. it was fulfilled in its season That in Esa 45. 1. concerning Cyrus Cyrus was not born of a hundred years after that All the Propheticall Doctrines concerning Christ of his Sufferings Death Buriall his Crucifying with Thieves Resurrection All as punctually fore-told by the Prophets as related by the Evangelists afterward who were Eye-witnesses of them 4. The manner of enjoyning the Doctrines therein contained Meerly the Authority of the Speaker Thus saith the Lord Hear the Word of the Lord c. Other Writings go about to move men to entertain them by the strength of Naturall Reason so did the Philosophers It 's said of Plato that when he read the first Chapter of Genesis he used these words Hic vir multa dicit nihil probat 5. The Scriptures enjoyn many things which are contrary to reason That a man should deny himself Mat. 16. 2. That when we have done all we can we are unprofitable servants that a man must trust to the righteousness of another that he that will be wise must become a fool that he may be wise that he that will save his life shall lose it c. This makes the Apostle say 1 Cor. 2. 14. That a natural man cannot discern the things of the Spirit c. 6. The Scriptures doe prescribe not onely Laws for the outward man but for the heart also Thought is free from the cognizance of human Laws but not from this Law Curse
not the King no not in thy thought Eccles 10. 20. How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4. 14. God saw that every imagination of the heart of man was evil Gen. 6. 5. He that lookes upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her in his heart Keep thy heart with all diligence Prov. 4. 23. We have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine c. Rom. 6. 17. 7. The heavenliness of the Doctrine It lifts up men above all earthly things it calls on men to mortifie their earthly members to set their affections on things above not on things below c. 8. The blessings and rewards punishments and threatnings propounded in the Scripture are not temporal onely but spiritual and eternal Giving men up to vile Affections Rom. 1. 24. Seeing ye shall see and not perceive c. Esa 6. latter end I will not punish their daughters when they commit Adultery Hos 4. 14. If any hear and open I will come in and sup with him c. Revel 3. 20. If any man keep my Commandements I will love him and my Father will love him and communicate himself to him c. Joh. 14. 23. 9. The scope and chief aim of it is to debase all Creatures and to advance and set up God alone Whether ye eat or drink c. do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 3. Fear God and keep his Commandements Eccles 12 Let God be true and every man a Lyar c. III. From the rare effects of the Scriptures They have a power to terrifie to comfort to quicken to pull down strong Holds 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. To open blind eyes to convert dead soules c. Quale causatum talis causa Such illustrious divine effects must needs have a divine cause 4. From the testimony and witness of the Holy Ghost in the hearts of men It is the work of the Holy Ghost to subdue the heart to believe and submit to the Word 1 Joh. 2. 20. Ye have an unction from that Holy One c. John 14. 26. When the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost is come he shall teach you all things and whatsoever I have said to you he shall bring to your remembrance This perswasion must either be from Sathan or from a mans own fancy or else from God It cannot be from Satan for the Doctrine contained in the Scriptures overthrows him and his Kingdom and Design It cannot be from our own fancy the Doctrine of the Scripture is supra captum nostrum ergo I could give other Arguments Ex absurdo Ex consensu Ecclesiae Ex Amanuensibus c. but these may suffice Secondly Why the Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit Consider four things for this 1. 'T is from the Spirit Originally He is the Composer and Framer of this blessed Book 2 Pet. 1. 21. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Herein it differs from that material Sword That is made and fashioned by man This by the Spirit 2. All the efficacy of it depends upon the Spirit He it is that makes it powerfull for the working of those effects which are done by it upon men It would be but a woodden sword without either edge or point if the Spirit of God did not give virtue to it This the Apostle affirms 2 Cor. 10. 4. We see it by experience the same word is a dead letter upon some and a convincing and converting word to others the reason is because the word is set on by the Spirit in one and not in the other 3. It hath an effectual influence upon the Spirits of men It doth not onely reach to the body and outward man but even to the Spirit and Conscience also This the Apostle teacheth us Heb. 4. 12. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Herein it differs from all material Swords They onely pierce the body they cannot either wound or defend the Conscience but this Sword hath a power through the Spirit both to afflict and quiet to settle and unsettle the very Spirit and Soul of man 4. The manner of the operation of this Sword is onely Spiritual It workes not as the materiall Sword by bloudy piercings and woundings but by Spiritual Arguments onely There is nothing visible to the eye of the body in the working of this Sword it doth all for which it is appointed in a spiritual way by spirituall Convictions and Spiritual Comforts and Spiritual Reproofs c. III. Wherein this is usefull to help us against Temptations 1. The Word of God helps a Christian to answer all Satans objections Whatsoever sinne he tempts you to commit whatsoever Duty he perswades you to cast off whatsoever medium he useth to press his temptation the Word of God will be able to put full and pertinent answers into your mouthes against the same When I opened the 13. verse I shewed you there were eight evill dayes in which Satan did violently set upon the soul The Day of Personal outward Affliction The Day of Church-calamity especially when Hereticks and Seducers are risen up in the Church The Day of sinful miscarriage and failing The Day of Spiritual Desertion and obscurity The Day of extraordinary Soul-enlargment by Divine Manifestations and Incoms from Heaven The Day of Temporal deliverance and advancement The Day of the success of wicked men The Day of Death I shewed you what temptations are most peculiar to such a day Now the Word of God will furnish you with sufficient Arguments to antidote your Soules against the infection of every one of those Temptations If Satan tempt to pride of heart the Scripture will arm you against that sinne by shewing you the mischief of Pride God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4. 6. If Satan tempt you to Covetousness the Scripture will shew you the danger of that sinne It will tell you that The love of money is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. 10. And that a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of what he enjoyeth Luke 12. 15. If Satan tempt you to unrighteousness and oppression the Scripture will arm you against that sinne Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. If Satan tempt you to Perjury and Covenant-breaking the Scripture will shew you the sad effects which have followed upon that sinne Zedekiah for this sinne had his eyes put out and was a Captive all his dayes Ezek. 17. 18. If Satan tempt you to be heretical or erroneous the Scripture will shew the miserable fruits of Heresie Because they did not receive the truth in the love of it God gave them up to delusions to believe a Lie that they might all be
That it is an exceeding great mercy that the written Word of God is in our hands It might have been written and yet kept hid from us as it is yet from the greatest part of the world amongst whom this Light hath never shined This is a priviledge which is as the Crown of glory upon the people of the Jewes that to them are committed these Oracles of GOD Rom. 3. 2. By this they were advanced above other Nations Deut. 33. 2. Psal 147. 20. It 's our happiness that we enjoy this Sword The misery of the people of Israel is set out by this that in the dayes of war when they had many enemies against them there was neither Sword nor Spear in the hands of any of the people but in the hands of Saul and Jonathan only 1 Sam. 13. 22. This would have bin our sad condition if God had not transmitted the Bible to our hand We see how often Satan prevails over us now we have the Scriptures but if we had wanted this Sword it would have been altogether impossible to have made resistance 3. This is an Apology for the care and dilâ—gence of the servants of God in studying the Scriptures Profane men look upon the practice of the godly in this respect as preciseness and unnecessary care What needs all this c. They know the word of God is their sword they are never safe if this sword be not girt upon their thighs They know if either they want this sword or be unskilfull in the use of it they must needs perish in the day of battel VVho blames a souldier for wearing his sword about him especially when enemies are pursuing his life It is not onely his honour but his safety so to do The servants of God know that if they leave off this spiritual sword but for a day they shall be surely overcome by Satan and it 's better to be reproached by men for wearing it then to be destroyed by Satan by leaving it off The word of God they know is not onely their Sword to defend them in battel but their Sun to give them light This Sword hath this advantage of all other Swords that by it they see the lurking places where the enemy lies hid and they see also the refuges where themselves may be secured It is also that food by which they are revived and strengthned to hold out in battel It is their Cordial as well as their Sword It is their honey that opens their eyes when they grow faint with fighting it puts spirits into their spirits when they are decayed This Sword teacheth them how to fight Other Swords onely help the souldier how to use his skill they do not give him any skill but this Sword teacheth skill It should not be accounted a fault but a vertue in the souldiers of Christ that they are so much in the study of the word of God 4. No wonder to see the Devil so victorious where the word of God is wanting VVhat strange abominations do the Gentiles that want the VVord fall into by the temptations of Satan VVhat Idolatries are there in those places 'T is not to be wondred at They want the Sword of the Spirit by which they should defend themselves against temptations and because they want this they cannot stand they are unarmed men 5. That they are Satans friends and enemies both to themselves and others who lay aside the Scriptures of God There are many in our sinfull and wanton Age who deny the authority of the Scriptures affirming that they are not from God Others that caâ—t them off as useless things that depend upon Revelations c. These that deny the Scriptures they are in this worse then Satan their Father He believes that the Scriptures are of God Matth. 4. 6. It is written saith Satan that he will give his Angels charge over thee c. There is thus much Divinity and Faith in Hell the History of the Bible is believed there though it be questioned and denied on earth These men are certainly in pay in the Devils service they disarm themselves and they endeavour to disarm others And it 's no wonder to see them so desperately overcome as they are running out to profaneness in life to heresies and blasphemies in Opinion Satan hath not greater Champions in the world then these are they fight against God they fight for Satan as visibly and directly as ever men did Such also as though they think the Scriptures be of God yet they cast them aside and create another Sword instead of this unwritten Revelations Dreams and Enthusiasms of their own head God hath made the written VVord to be the Touch-stone of all Revelations Isa 8. 20. To the Law and Testimony 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 18 19. we have a more sure word of prophecy c. Gal. 1. 8. If we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel c. 'T is the imputing of imperfection to the Divine Canon 'T is the symbolizing with Papists in their unwritten Traditions alwayes condemned by the Protestant Divines unwritten Revelations and unwritten Traditions are not much different There is indeed a Revelation which all the Saints are to desire VVe read of it Ephes 1. 17. VVhen God opens the Understanding savingly to embrace the written VVord but Revelations above or against or contrary to or beside or without the Word are but the fancies of men The Devill will not much be afraid of such a Sword as this is in the day of Temptations this is not a spiritual sword but a carnal sword this is not the sword of the Lord but the sword of Saul which will never hurt this great Goliah in the day of battel Our Saviour if ever any might have trusted to the Sword of Revelation but ye see he draws out the sword of the written word and with that puts Satan to flight Mat. 4. 4 6 c. 6. The benefit and necessity of the Translations of Scripture That the VVord of God should be translated into that language which is known and familiar to every Nation is not onely beneficial but necessary God wrote the Law in that Tongue which the Jewes to whom it was given understood so did the Prophets write and so did they preach The gift of Tongues is given for this purpose The Apostles quoting some places of the Old Testament and the New use the very words of the Septuagint which was a Translation God would have all things in the Church to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26. This Sword of the Spirit would have been unuseful to most in our Church and to most in all the Churches of Christ had not the VVord been translated It would have been as a Sword fastened in the sheath or locked up in the Armory had it not been translated into our own Language we should never have known how to have handled it c. if it had not been transmitted to us in a known Tongue 'T is true in all
Controversies of Religion we are finally to appeal to the Original Texts as being immediatly inspired of God but yet are Translations useful and the very VVord of God by which a Christian may fight as confidently and as successfully against Satan as if he were able to produce the Original Text. Gods goodness is to be acknowledged in giving gifts to men to draw this Sword for us and to give it us in our own Tongue Exhortation It should put us upon these things 1. Let the word of Christ dwell in you 2. Vse richly in all wisdom Col. 3. 16. Labour for an exact knowledge in the Scriptures that you may be skilful in this word of righteousness It s said of Apollos that he was mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18. 24. The better you are skil'd in the Scriptures the more able you will be to defend your selves against your spiritual Adversaries To this purpose these two things are to be considered 1. Take heed of those deceipts whereby the Devill endeavours to take you off from this study vid. Mat. 13. 9. 2. Make use of such helps as may further your knowledge in them 1. For Satans deceipts they are such as these 1. He sometimes perswades men that the study of the Scriptures doth not belong to them Ministers indeed should study them but private persons need not trouble themselves with this study I shall therefore lay down these following Arguments to prove that the study of the Scriptures belongs to all persons viz. 1. The subject matter or the things contained in the Scriptures do appertain to private persons as well as to others Every man is interested in the Doctrine which the word of God teacheth The knowledge of God of Jesus Christ of the Fall of man of the way of his Recovery the Doctrine of Faith Repentance obedience are to be known of every person that would be saved There is not any kinde of life any relation into which such persons enter but the peculiar and special duties belonging to it are laid down in the Scriptures There is the duty of Magistrates of Ministers of Parents Children of Masters Servants of old young of the rich and poor c. All persons are bound to the obedience of the duties the Scriptures command and to abstain from the sins the Scripture forbids Ergo. 2. All men are to be judged by the Scriptures after this life I mean all that live where they sound Such as have sinned without Law shall perish without Law but such as have sinned under the Law shall be judged by the Law Rom. 2. 12. yea and by the Gospel as well as by the Law Rom. 2. 16. This is that which our Saviour saith John 12. 48. Now every man must come to judgement for himself Ergo its necessary that he should know that word by which God will judge him 3. The word of God is directed to all and every man that lives where it is published The Law of God was given to all the people of Israel as well one as another Hear oh Israel the Lord our God is one Lord the writings of the Prophets were sent to all the Members of the Church Isay 1. 1. The Apostolical writings were dedicated to all and every one of the Members of the Church Rom. 1. 7. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified c. 2 Cor. 1. 1. To the Church of God which is at Corinth with all the Saints that are in all Achaja The like you will finde in the dedication of all the other Epistles Eph. 1. 1. Phil. 1. 1. The Saints and Bishops are promiscuously mingled together 4. An Implicite faith will save no man in the day of Gods appearing The just shall live by his faith Rom. 1. 17. Hab. 2. 4. Every man is to have rejoycing in himself not in another Ergo our faith must not stand in the judgement of man we must have grounds of our own for every matter of practice and for every Doctrine of faith c. 2. Sometimes he takes men off from the study of them by the obscurity and difficulty of them They are perplex knotty c. Those that are most able wrest them to their own ruine c. 2 Pet. 3. 16. Against this design we should consider four things 1. That although some places of Scripture be dark obscure c. yet those things which are fundamentally necessary to salvation are plainly and familiarly laid down that the meanest capacity may understand them As there are great deeps wherein the Elephant may swim so are there fords where the Lambe may wade 2. That the obscurity and difficulty of some places should rather perswade us to the diligent study of them The true ground of the difficulty of some places in Scripture is to prevent nauseating and loathing of them by men of large apprehensions there 's work enough to exercise their understandings 2. To raise our hearts to the admiration of the infinite wisdom of God the Authour of them 3. To excite men to be more diligent in the study of them III. That as many wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction so many are ignorant of them to their own destruction The Lord will come in flaming sire to render judgment and vengeance to them that know not God 2 Thes 1. 8. Ye err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 4. That obscurity which is in the Scriptures doth not arise from the nature of that which is affirmed or from the intention of the person affirming but either from the ignorance or wilfulness of him that wrests it 3. Sometimes he takes men off from the study of the Scriptures by shewing them the wicked practices of such as are so much for the Scriptures Are there any sort of men more loose c Against this design we should consider these things 1. That there are some who by the studying of the Scriptures are enabled to mortifie sin and live holily Their lives are exemplary c. 2. The loosness and sinfulness of some who study the Scriptures ariseth not from the knowledge of the word of God but either from ignorance of it or want of practising it It is not because they know what they should do but because they be not careful to do what they know II. For helps to attain to the exact knowledge of the Scriptures take these 1. Be careful every day to read some part of them Frequent-reading of them will make us exact in them Alphonso King of Spain read over the Bible 14. times with Lyraes Postils And Austin writes of Antonius a Monk that having no learning by hearing the Scriptures often read got them without book Boyss Post p. 178. vid. Acts 17. 11. Let no day passe without reading some part of the word of God 2. Careful Meditation This is chewing of the Cudd. Meditatio sine lectione
Observation from all kind of employments of men that he may be compleatly fitted for this great Work But I come to the Particulars First The girdle of Truth Having your Loyns girt about with Truth In lumbis maxima vis est stantium His malè affectis contrahitur corpus aut certè vacillans vel modicè impulsum corruit Bullinger Therefore the Apostle begins with these which he would have girded with Truth Truth in the Scripture is used to fet out two things there is a two-fold Acception of Truth 1. It is used for the Doctrine of Truth That Doctrine which is held out and revealed to the sons of men in the written Word and thus Truth is opposed unto Errour In this sense it is used in many places as Gal. 3. 1. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth And 1 Tim. 2. 4. God will have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth And 3. Ep. Joh. 4. I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in the truth 2. It is used for the grace of truth And so it 's opposed to Hypocrisie In this sense it 's used Psal 51. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts that is sincerity and integrity of heart so Josh 24. 14. Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth and so Joh. 4. 24. God is a a spirit and they that worship him must worship him inspirit and in truth Spiritual Worship is there opposed to Ceremonial and Truth of Worship is opposed to Hypocritical Worship Now amongst Interpreters there are some who expound this Text of the grace of truth so doth Calvin and others Others understand it as spoken of the Doctrine of truth Baldwin vera Doctrina Religione Zanchy Constantia in Doctrina veritatis Dickson 1. Both Interpretations are agreeable to the Analogy of Faith 2. Usefull Instructions may be gathered from both 3. There is nothing in the Text which doth necessarily limit and confine it to one and therefore I shall refer it to both for Vbi Scriptura non distinguit non est distinguendum And so I shall lay before you a two-fold Observation from this two-fold Interpretation 1. Understanding it of the Doctrine of Truth as some do we note this Doctrine viz. That firmness and stability in the Doctrine of 1. Doct. Truth is an excellent meanes to be preserved and to overcome Satan and his Instruments in the day of Temptation I say Firmness and Stability because the phrase of being girded about notes constancy and firmness in the Truth When the Loyns are fast tyed and compassed about with this girdle they are in a good way of security from the assaults of Satan when those who forsake and fall from the Truth are snared and overcome then shall those who adhere and stick fast to the Doctrine of Truth be delivered and escape This is promised to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia upon this very consideration Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth If a Church or Person be stedfast in the Doctrine of Truth God will either keep them from temptation or else he will preserve them in temptation that when others fall they shall stand I shall give you three Reasons of this viz. 1. Truth unites us to God and God to us It is of God and hath a Divine Strength God is truth and so far as a person hath the truth he hath God and so farre as he loseth the Truth he loseth God 'T is true a person may have the Truth of God sticking in his Judgment He may be very stedfast and constant in it so that he may willingly part not onely with his substance but even with his life to maintain it and yet not be savingly united to God by Christ for salvation 'T is not the fides quae creditur but the fides quâ creditur which is the bond of this Union But yet the very holding of the Doctrine of Truth gives a person some kind of union with God by which union he is more able to stand when any storm comes then he that is destitute of the Truth 2. Truth helpes a Christian both to discover a Temptation and to answer Arguments used to set on the Temptation The Truth of God in the Judgment is one of the Eyes of the Soul he that wants this is blind and cannot see afar off Now as a clear Eye is a very great help to the Souldier for the discovering of the Dart or the Bullet before it be upon him so is the clear distinct knowledg of the Truth a very great help to a Christian to discern the temptation before it be upon him He is better able by the power of Truth to see the reach of Satan and what it is that he drives at when he spreads his snare to surprize him then another can be who hath lost the Truth Any fallacy is easily put upon a person that is destitute of the truth of an Art or Science whereas he that hath the knowledge of that Art is able presently to avoid it and to answer it And therefore the Devil when he comes to tempt the woman to sinne first labours to blind her Understanding Ye shall not die but ye shall be as gods knowing good and evill Gen. 3. 4 5. and when he hath stollen that principle of truth out of her judgment We may not eat lest we die He doth without any difficulty perswade her to eat of the fruit 3. Truth doth much help a Christian in the managing of all other parts of his Armour aright He that hath lost the Doctrine of Truth will be unable to use the Bread-Plate of Righteousness For to the using of this after a right manner it is requisite that the Doctrine of the Imputation of Christs Righteousness to a sinner be tâ—roughly understood and firmly believed The Helmet of Hope will soon be knocked off the head of a Christian if he do not well understand the Nature of the Grace Hope The shield of faith will be presently pierced by Satan if he that weares it do not rightly understand the nature of faith and prayer will do but little good if he that makes the prayer be unsound in the truth Prayer is to be made in faith else it doth not prevail it is to be made not only with the grace of faith but also according to the Doct of faith A Doctrinal errour in prayers will nullifie them as well as want of the grace of Faith for this is the confidence we have in him that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth us 1 John 5. 14. Information We may from this Doctrine 1. Vse gather these three conclusions viz. 1. This shews us how necessary it is for a Christian