thing And thus wee give God the glory of his holinesse and overcome the Devill and sight and reason that we are made holy in the holy bloud of the Lambe and of the holy Catholick Church For should the bloud of Adam make us unholy and should not the bloud of the Lamb make us holy when God saith we are holy and tels us how he hath made us holy for Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Heb. 13. 12. Thus by our word of testimony of the bloud of the Lambe God hath the glory of his holinesse the Devill and reason are redargued and overcome and our soules comforted by beleeving Reason 2 A second Reason Why because by the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb we give glory to the wisdome of God and give him the glory of his wisdome for whereas 't is the practise of the Devill to tempt men to blaspheme God by counting him unwise as to count preaching of the Gospel foolishnesse and the bringing Infants to holy Baptisme a foolish thing as an Anabaptist said and by counting him unwise in his providence as all doe that are discontented with their estates Now the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb perswadeth us to beleeve that God is wisest and best knoweth how to save Infants by Baptisme as 1 Pet. 3. 21. and therefore commandeth them to be brought to him as all true Churches have done And he knoweth by his wisedome to save them that beleeve by preaching the Gospel which the world calls foolishnesse Also this faith perswadeth us to beleeve God is wisest and best knoweth what estate is best for us that so against the Devill sense and reason we wholly resigne our selves unto his wise providence and in that respect to be thankfull in all estates as Rev. 1. 5. As thus the faithfull say in all estates health or sicknesse wealth or povertie Vnto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne bloud c. he glory and wisdome And thus Job overcame the Devill that would have had Job charge God foolishly as if he had been unwise in his providence No The Lord hath given health wealth and children and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the Name of the Lord As if he should say Blessed be his wisdome I am his let him deale with me according to his wisdome Many men would have cryed out I am undone I shall starve have I served God for this I le serve him no more I le goe serve the Queene of Heaven as the Jewes said Jer. 44. 17. No but he says the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord He is wisest blessed be his wisdome I le serve him still though he kill me yet will I trust in him Job 13. 15. So when we see and feele sinne rebelling in us and see our houses burnt and all we have taken away and our bodies sick and sore then to give glory to the wisdome of God that God hath throwne on Christ the iniquities of us all the sinnes I see and feele and weep for and mortifie Christ hath borne them all in his own body on the tree he is wise enough to let sinne remaine in me to my feeling and yet by the bloud of the Lambe to make me without fault before his throne Thus the Devill and sense and reason are overcome and all the glory given to Gods wisdome Reason 3 A third Reason Why we overcome him by the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb because wee give God thereby the glory of his truth for this is the practise of Satan to make men count God a lyer as to Eve that shee should not die at all and all that beleeve not make him a lyer because he beleveeth not the testimony that God hath given of his Sonne namely that the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne but he that beleeveth this hath sealed that God is true Joh. 3. 33. he hath set to his seale that the bloud of the Lamb hath made him cleane from all sinne for what maketh a man beleeve but that they judge him faithfull and true Faith then in this bloud is the acknowledging of Gods truth which is an high honour given to God for he maketh a great reckoning and account of this truth Thus faith in the bloud of the Lamb gets victory over the Devill when he perswades men not to beleeve but maketh God false but faith in the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lamb testifieth that the seed of the woman hath broke the Serpents head and so the Devill and infidelitie are overcome Reason 4 A fourth Reason Why for this faith gives glory to God in acknowledging his Almightie power for this is the practise of Satan to perswade men against the power of God that it was impossible as he perswaded Cain his sinnes were greater then could be forgiven him Many of the promises of God to his children are of things which seeme impossible yet faith gives assent thereunto and testifieth that God is Almightie as Abraham when he heard that he should have a sonne by Sarah when shee was barren and when it ceased to be with her after the manner of women here was a battell of faith against sight and reason and above â—ope yet he beleeved under hope and gave glory unto God that he which had promised was able to do it and got victory So it is against sight and reason that the justified should have sin dwelling in them as long as they live and rebelling and yet the blood of the Lamb should take away their sins before the Throne of God this cannot be said Bildad against Job 25. For how should a man be clean that is born of a woman and therefore reproved of God for it Job 42. 7. but faith in the word of our testimony in Christs blood teacheth us to believe the Almighty power of the blood of the Lamb that it is able to do it against sight and reason and perswasion of the Devill and gives glory to the Lamb that his blood was able to do it that promised that the new covenant was sealed in his blood i. that our sins and iniquities should be remembred no more and thus the Devill and reason are overcome Reason 5 A fifth Reason why we overcome him by the word of our testimony in that blood because so we give glory to the mercy of God which is the proper object of Faith For when Satan perswades a poor sinner that there is no mercy for him but anger and wrath by our testimony of the blood of the Lamb wee are perswaded that God is rich yea infinitely abundant in mercie and therefore believeth the pardon of his sins from the rich price of Christs blood that was more worth then all the world for while men are perswaded by
by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb you overcome the Devill because you give God the glory of his truth then look you shew your selves to be the children of the God of truth by delighting in the truth for it is a common practice of evill souldiers to accuse men falsly and therefore John the Baptist gave you this caveat that as you would be true souldiers of Jesus Christ so you must practise to speak the truth and accuse no man falsly and then plunder them for what shal it profit you to say God is a true God if you in the mean time be liers you declare that the God of truth is none of your God there are so many lies flie among men that the honest cannot tell what to believe Now you that have received his testimony that the blood of Jesus Christ hath cleansed you from all sin before God and that the righteousnesse of Christ hath made you everlastingly righteous Rev. 1. 5. you have sealed that God is true Let the power of this grace teach you to love to speak the truth and to shame the Devill For as he that telleth lies shall not tarry in Gods sight because he credits the Devill that was a lier from the beginning but hee that speaks the truth overcoms Satan with his tongue as he that believes the truth hath overcome the Devill in his heart he that fights for the truth shal overcome the enemy wth his hand for the God of truth wil uphold his children that fight for the truth by the blood of the Lamb Vse 4 Is it so that they overcame the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony because they give glory to the power of God Then consider how the Israelites overcame the Destroyer that slew all the first-born of Egypt by faith they slew the Paschal Lamb and the effusion of blood Heb. 11. lest he that destroy'd the first-born should touch them they sprinkled the two side posts and the upper door post with the blood of the Lamb with a bunch of Hysop and they overcame the Destroyer by faith that he could not hurt them for they gave God the glory of his Wisdome and Power that he was able to deliver them so seeing Christ your Passeover is sacrificed for you look that your two door posts of your life body and soul and the upper door post of your spirit be sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb 1 Thes. 5. 23. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout that your whole spirit and soul and body may be kept blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and how are they sanctified even by the blood of Christ for Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Heb. 13. 12. Now should they overcome the destroying Angel that he could not hurt them when by faith they sprinkled the two door posts and the lintell with the blood of the Lamb with a bunch of Hysop and the Destroyer passed over all their houses and could do them no hurt when he destroy'd all the first-born of Egypt both of man and beast So you Christian souldiers that fight under the banners of the Gospel the blood of the Lamb and the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse which you shall find to be the conquering banner For if the blood of Bulls and Goats and Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling them that are unclean sanctifieth concerning the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himself without fault to God purge â—our consciences from dead works Look the blood of the Lamb begin there first to purge your consciences from sin confesse your selves to be wretched miserable poor and damnable sinners by Adam and originall sin the tree evill and the fruit evill and by the Law accursed in debt ten thousand talents of sin For if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse 1 Joh. 1. 9. then confesse that the blood of the Lamb is able to wash away all your sins from your consciences and relie upon it take the Sacrament upon it that when you take the cup of the new Testament in Christs blood and drink of it the warme blood of the Lamb will testifie in thy conscience the remission of all thy sins and that God is become my father and I am one of his children and my sins and iniquities shall be remembred no more and wee may conclude as Paul for if the blood of Bulls and Goats c. If the blood of the Lamb sprinkled did deliver from the Destroyer that slew the Egyptians how much more shall the blood of the Lamb of God being sprinkled by faith on your bodies and souls and spirits deliver you from the destroying bullets that are sent to destroy your first-born all the true believers of the Gospel There is a strong delusion that goes among ill souldiers that Amulets or Charms or inchantment will make them shot-free but I will warrant them they are not Devill free for by such means they have made themselves an abomination to the Lord Deut. 18. 10 11 12. and the Devill will destroy them they shall not escape the Devills shot but he that shall fight against his enemies by faith in the blood of the Lamb and in his lawfull calling asking counsel of the Lord for every battel at the Oracle of Gods Word whether God doth approve of the war or no he shall not only be Devil-free but shot-free also for he shall give his Angels a charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways and they shall bear thee up in their hands that thou dash not thy foot against a stone keep thy calling and the Angels shall keep thee but if thou keep not thy calling the Angels will not keep thee take heed to keep thy generall calling to be a faithfull Christian and keep thee from all wickednesse Deut. 23. 9. And keep thy particular calling and the Angels shall keep thee Vse 5 Is it so faith by the testimony of the bloud of the Lambe gets victory over the Devill because it gives glory to the mercy of God that as thou sayest thou givest him the glory of his mercy it must cause thee shew mercy as your heavenly Father is mercifull for what though your heavenly Father be mercifull if you be cruell you shall be of your father in Hell for his works you will doe he was a murderer from the beginning and if you be cruell murderers you shall be of him therefore if you give God the glory of his mercy give him glory in the practise of mercie to be mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull even to your enemies Quest What shall we spare all and put none of our enemies to death when we have conquered them Answ I answer He that
Reason Because when Satan fights against you by the feare of hell saying O thou hast sinned so many thousand times when I sinned but once I was cast out of heaven and throwne downe to hell and reserved in chaines of darknesse but thou hast deserved hell many thousand times why shouldest not thou goe to hell thou must shew Satan the bloud of the Lamb and in that thy victory over hell and say with Paul O hell where is thy victory thou hast no victory over me for here is my discharge and victory in the bloud of the Lamb hell is for murderers it is for thee Satan that wast a murderer from the beginning and therefore hell hath victory over thee for hell is prepared for the Devill and his Angels but heaven for you that overcome by the bloud of the Lamb For to him that overcometh will I give to sit with me in my Throne as I overcame and sit with my Father in his Throne Revel. 3. 21. Reason 5 A fift Reason Because Christs bloud makes men conquerers already over the world the flesh and the Devill for Christs victory is ours for he that can say by faith Thankes be unto God that hath given us victory is a conquerer already But all true beleevers can say so 1 Cor. 15. Ergo they are conquerers already Againe All that are saved already by the bloud of the Lamb are conquerers already But all true beleevers are saved already as Eph. 2. 8. 2 Tim. 1. 9. They are conquerers already i. to faith though not to feeling for you are conquerers over the world by faith as 1 Joh. 5. For this is our victory that overcometh the world even our faith And you are conquerers over the flesh by self-deniall and mortification for he that so conquereth himselfe is better then he that winneth a Citie and you are conquerers over the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb as the Text Reason 6 A sixt Reason why Because faith in the bloud of the Lamb makes you more then conquerers as Rom. 8. 37. How can that be may some say Can a man get more then the victory I answer By faith in the bloud of the Lamb if thou wilt beleeve thou art washed in it by Baptisme it makes thee such a famous renowned conquerer that thou shalt be a noble triumpher for ever in Christ which is more then a conquerer for as concerning conquerers of this world they may have victory to day and lose it to morrow as Saul did and many conquerers in the world as Alexander when he had conquered the world he was conquered of his own lust Gladio vicit vitiis victus he overcame by the sword but was overcome of vice but he that gets victory by the bloud of the Lamb is more then a conquerer because he is a conquerer over sinne the world and Devill through Christ for ever Objection Objection How can this be Doth not the Devill cast some into prison and persecute some to death how are they then conquerers over him Answer I answer 'T is true Satan shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed ten dayes Rev. 2. 9. 'T is but for a triall of your faith in the bloud of the Lamb God will deliver you as he did Joseph out of prison and though Satan persecute some to death yet shall you be more then conquerers even triumphers in heaven for as the Martyrs were more then conquerers in foure respects so shall you be 1. In regard of the torments they put the Martyrs to death to make them deny the bloud of Christ they rejoyced in tribulation as the Disciples when whipped rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer any thing for Christs sake they were more then conquerers by the joy which they have in suffering but conquerers of men or Cities when they have got the greatest victories may sit downe and weepe as Titus Vespasianus when he had conquered and saw the destruction of Jerusalem wept to see the greatnesse of the misery of his enemies saying This is not I but the hand of God for their sinnes but triumphant joy belongs to the conquerers by Christs bloud as Haukes in the Acts and Monuments pag. 1447. in token of triumphant victory to give a signe to his friends when his eyes were burnt out and his hands on a flaming fire yet lifted up both the stumps of his hands and clapped them over his head declaring he was more then a conquerer 2. They are more then conquerers in respect of the tormentors for they strive to make them deny the bloud of Christ but the true beleevers for all their torments confesse Christ so much the more the one fumes and chafes that he hath not his will and is overcome but the Christian rejoyceth and goes away with the victory as the tormentors of Blandina confessed that shee overcame them 3. They are more then conquerers in regard of the unconverted for they put them to death that they may convert no more but as Sampson slew more Philistims at his death then he did in all his life so doe the Martyrs often convert more at their death then they did in any time before for when men seek to conquer Christianitie it conquers them saith Justin Martyr as the Papists confessed in the Marian dayes it was in vaine to burne any more Hereticks as they called them for the more they burnt the more they increased and the converted were the more confirmed by the patient sufferings of the Martyrs because they would suffer for it they beleeved it was the truth 4. We are more then conquerers because we slay our enemies with their own sword Bis perimitur qui suo gladio interimitur he is double slaine that is killed with his own sword for true beleevers take the sword out of their own hands and kill them with it as David did Goliah with his owne sword so said the Martyrs Thou sittest here to judge me but I shall judge thee one day thou by killing my body crownest me with life but killest thy selfe with eternall death as 1 Joh. 3. 15. Thus the sword which the wicked have drawne shall goe through their owne bowels Vse Well is it so Satan fights against thee with sinne the curse of the Law with death and hell Learne thou to disarme the Devill as it is a speciall poynt of policie in warre to disarme their enemies for so they shall deale with them as they list so seeing Satan is the strong man armed with sinne and the rest but as Christ disarmed him of all these by his death so shalt thou by the bloud of the Lambe disarme Satan of all his armour First for sinne Doth Satan tell thee thou art a great sinner display the red colours of Christs bloud tell him 't is true I confesse I am by Adam a great sinner and if I were not a sinner I should not need the bloud of the Lamb for he came not to call the
Meyer that we should know that the bloud of Jesus Christ shall not be profitable to us except we beleeve it and give testimony of it Many will boast that they are redeemed by the bloud of Christ when in the meane time they refuse the Gospel i. they refuse to beleeve the bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth them from all sin before God And when men have lost this how many inventions doe men deceive themselves with to take away their sinnes Some hope to take them away by pilgrimages some by the Popes pardons or by Purgatory some by their holy walking almes-deeds or repentance a little before they die or good meaning but such are deceived because as Christ hath sanctified his Church cleansed it by the washing of water through the Word so the way to overcome sinne and the Devill is by the bloud of the Lamb and by that word of their testimony Hence wee gather this Doctrine Doct. That all that would overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe must fight with the word of their testimony i. must not onely have the shield of faith in the bloud of the Lambe but the sword of the Spirit the word of God whereby we give testimony or testifie of the bloud of the Lamb i. wee must shew our true faith by the word of our testimony Ephes. 6. 6. Above all take the shield of faith wherewith yee shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked for he that can quench all his fiery darts shall surely overcome him This shield of faith that quencheth is the bloud of the Lambe Above all signifying that this is the most speciall thing of greatest weight to overcome the Devill by which is called the wicked and when the children of the wicked shoote fiery bullets the best way to quench them is by faith in the bloud of the Lambe Now you know if a man had such a shield as would stop and quench and fence all the fiery bullets of the enemies in warre what man would goe to warre without it so when you know that the bloud of the Lambe will quench all the fiery darts of the Devill who would goe to warre without it When the enemies shoote wild-fire into a Towne you Souldiers know milke will presently quench it though it be shot upon thatched houses though it be the fiercest fire for 't is a secret in nature for milke to quench wild-fire Now wee are all in respect of the fiery darts of the Devill like unto thatched houses ready to fire presently by reason of originall sinne dwelling in us That if the Devill shoote his fiery dart of lust wee are ready to flie on fire as David did by looking on Bathsheba we must quench it by the bloud of the Lambe If he shoote his fiery dart of covetousnesse we are ready to burne as Aâ—han if wee have not the bloud of the Lambe that quencheth covetousnesse If he shoote the fiery dart of anger and wrath and revenge wee are ready to burne as Joah powre on the bloud of the Lambe and it will quench it If he shoote the fiery dart of despaire as to Caine and Judas we are ready to flame as they did quench it with the bloud of the Lambe for the Apostle sayes directly by the shield of faith yee may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked then if you doe not take it thanke your selves if you burne for here is a secret in divinitie that the bloud of the Lambe will quench all the fiery darts of the Devill therefore above all take the shield of faith signifying that this is the most speciall thing for a Souldier and of greatest necessitie to be sure he take the shield of faith in the bloud of the Lamb the helmet of salvation and the brestplate of Christs righteousnesse and the girdle of veritie be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace yet Satan may shoot such a fiery dart into thy heart as may set thee on fire therefore above all these take the shield of faith whereby yee may quench Satans fiery darts Things in Scripture that have the speciallest Item are of most speciall use as when he saith Doe good to all especially to the household of faith i. that are knowne to be the true Disciples of Christ that are the children of the marriage chamber so the Apostle says The Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the word and doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17. So above all pieces of spirituall armour especially take the shield of faith of the bloud of the Lamb to overcome the Devill by to quench his fiery darts And by the word of their Testimony i. by that word which testifies of the bloud of the Lamb we overcome him In Johns testimonie of Christ wee reade that he called Christ the Lamb of God that which taketh away the sinnes of the world i. he was come to take them away But now the Apostles and faithfull Ministers of Christ that are greater then John for they beare a greater testimonie for they testifie by the word that the bloud of the Lamb hath washed away our sinnes for so it is written in the word and wee testifie of it Rev. 1. 5. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. That he hath loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his own bloud and in whom we have redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of our sinnes Marke he testifieth we have not we shall have and he hath loved us not he will Now there be six Reasons why the Devill is overcome or a Christian overcomes the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb and the word of that testimony First Reason Because by our testimony of that bloud we give unto God the glory of his holinesse against the Devill and sight and feeling for when Satan says Thou art an uncleane sinner and unholy how shouldest thou come neare so pure and so holy a God seeing thou art so uncleane and filthy by sinne and sight and feeling will help Satan to condemne a mans own conscience Now first we must confesse it For if wee confesse our sinnes he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse 1 John 1. 9. By confessing the truth wee shame the Devill for we well know wee are defiled with sinne by Adam but by the word of our testimony of the bloud of the Lambe that hath purged us from all sinne and having our garments washed white in the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 7. 14. He hath made us holy and unblameable and without fault in his sight Col. 1. 22. and we are made the Temple of God that is holy which are yee that so wee may appeare beautifull in the fight of God And by this manner of appearing before God by the bloud of the holy Lamb we acknowledge God to be so perfectly holy that he cannot indure the sight of any uncleane
a childe of four yeers old can Answ Though faith be hard to the carnall sense not yet inspired yet it is easie to the mind inlightened for as Salomon saith Knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14. 6. i. if he be willing and love it so faith is easie to him that will believe not that it is in mans power but where the Spirit of God works a desire to ask seek and knock Wisdome will open the door for none that come unto me put I away saith Christ Quest Quest What is the reason then that so many never get faith for the assurance of salvation Answ Answ. 1. Because they ask amisse not in faith of the blood of the Lamb that hee hath washed them from their sins in his owne blood in Baptisme Rev. 1. 5. If they misse this mark they shoot wide of the assurance of salvation For if I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Joh. 13. 8. Secondly because they seek faith in themselves carnall reason fleshly devices by wit of mans phantasie and not in the blood of the Lamb the god of this world blindeth their minds that the glorious Gospel of the blood of the Lamb and his white raiment should not shine to them Thirdly because they oppose the doctrine of free justification by Christs blood and righteousnesse and wink at it and imbrace not the purity of that doctrine but count it an errour and receive not the love of the truth they are given over to believe an error and falsities which can give thee no assurance of salvation Fourthly because they turn to the greatest multitude which scoff at and persecute the truth God gives them over to walk in blindnesse as the Pharisees did Sleight 3 The third sleight that faith is needlesse there is more need of works many prate of faith but let me see good works a good hope is enough with good works Answ I answer that there is great need of faith for works severed from faith are abominable before God Heb. 11. 6. And if a good hope were enough why did the Apostles pray Lord increase our faith Luk. 17. 5. and Mark 9. 24. For as all things are possible to him that believeth so all things are impossible to him that believeth not Heb. 11. 6. Sleight 4 The 4th sleight Thy faith is not sound but counterfeit thou an hypocrite thy faith is mixed with imperfections sins wavering Answ I answer I prove my faith by the causes for he hath given us a mind to know him which is true and we are in him that is true in that his Son Jesus Christ the same is very God and eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this is the true Jesus that came by water and blood not by water of baptisme only but by water and blood and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse i. to my spirit that I am a child of God Rom. 8. 16. and that Spirit is truth 1 Joh. 5. 6. therefore having my heart sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb from an evill conscience and my body washed with pure water i. in baptisme I may keep my profession without wavering Heb. 10. 23. This faith worketh by love and a desire to live honestly Heb. 13. 18. Vse 1 Is it so that the faithfull overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony You see Christian souldiers that love not your lives unto the death and therefore you that give up your bodies and souls living and acceptable sacrifices unto God which is your reasonable service of God and lay down your lives for the brethren and for the Gospel are to be honoured as martyrs You see that by true faith in the blood of the Lamb you shall overcome the Devill because you give testimony to the holinesse of God Let this move all you that are souldiers of Jesus Christ to give glory to the holinesse of God in keeping your bodies chast and pure and Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in for the Temple of God is holy which are yee 1 Cor. 3. 17. If you say you give glory to the holinesse of God give him glory in keeping your selves holy Temples of God But if any man destroy the Temple of God him shall God destroy Hee that destroyes it by whoredom for thereby thou becomest one flesh with an whore Latrina Diaboli for as the Temple of God was destroyed when it was made a Jakes so is the Temple of God destroyed when it is made the devils Jakes for he that is made one flesh with an whore which is the Devils Jakes is thereby made the Devils Jakes but all whoremongers are made one flesh with his whore that is the devils jakes Ergo they are made the devils jakes and so the Temple of God is destroyed and therefore their destiny is to be destroyed that do not repent for Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. he will destroy such as destroy the Temple of God therefore you may perceive such to prove cowards for fearfulness goes before destruction and an high mind before a fall There is a conceit among souldiers that Wine will make men valiant but it is false for whoredome wine and new wine take away the heart i. whoredom drunkenness make men arrant cowards Hos. 4. 11. For whoredome drunkenness make an evill conscience and an evill conscience make men fearfull and flee where no fear is Prov. 28. 1. For an evill conscience and the curse of God runs after him and will overtake him Vse 2 Is it so that by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb you overcome the Devill by giving glory to the wisdome of God then let this faith guide you to follow his wisdome and deny your own as the Psalmist said Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and afterward receive me to glory Psal. 73. 24. And therefore as David did so do you ask counsell of the Lord for every battell at the Oracle of Gods Word i. whether God doth allow it or no as Jehosaphat said 1 King 22. 5. Ask counsell I pray thee of the Lord of day for there can be no war or battell lawfull but that wee may finde some warrant out of the Word of God that doth warrant it to be lawfull so shall you be sure both to overcome your spirituall enemy the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony and also your temporall enemies by faith in that blood and by the word of your testimony for should not a people inquire at their God signifying yes they should to the Law and to the testimony if they speak or fight not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. So shall you say Thou hast made me wiser then mine enemies by thy commandments for they are ever with me Psal. 119. 98 my delight and counsels Vse 3 Is it so that