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word_n	holy_a	spirit_n	trinity_n	2,812	5	9.9722	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91898	Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed: being a treatise of the Christians armour, clearly opening every part thereof, both pressing to the putting of it on, and instructing us so to use it, as we may not be soyled in time of temptation. / Delivered by that late reverend, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London, to his congregation there, in several lectures: and now published for the further benefit of the Church of God.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1710; Thomason E1586_2; ESTC R208953	180,905	372

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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

the Devil a triumphant Saint And all that glorious Company in Heaven who are described with Palms in their hands and Robes upon their backs and Crowns upon their heads Rev. 7. 9. are at this present singing the song of Victory unto God and unto the Lamb. Reproof to two sorts of persons Vse 1. 1. Such as instead of withstanding Satan the evil Spirit withstand and oppose the Spirit of Christ quenching and grieving and resisting his blessed Motions Steven sayes this to the charge of those obstinate Jews Act. 7. 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and eares ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye There are many in this way of opposition resisting the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word and in the immediate motions and suggestions put into their hearts When the Spirit moves them to pray they oppose him When the Spirit bids them hear they stop their eares and when the Spirit bids them Seek ye my face they answer Thy face will we not seek I would have such men to consider a few things seriously These two things 1. There 's no man knows whether the Spirit will move once more in his heart or no That which Solomon saith in another case we may as truly say in this case Eccles 8. 8. There is no man hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit The Spirit of God is a free Agent He workes when and where and as long as he pleaseth he bloweth where he listeth c. Many a man would now be glad to feel those movings upon his soul which he hath stifled formerly by his own sinful opposings but cannot redeem them 2. How unable you will be to act in any good when the Holy Spirit of God is silenced 'T is the Spirit of God which workes in you both to will and to do Phil. 2. 23. And if this Wheel do not turn there will never be any good motion in the Soul The Soul without the Holy Spirit is but as a dead Corps with a living soul not able to act at all If there be neither Wind nor Tide the Ship cannot sayl The Spirit of God is both the Wind and Tide of all Motions in the soul and if this stir not there is no action It is with man in regard of spiritual operations as it was with the Wheeles in Ezekiels Vision and the living Creatures Ezek. 1. 19 20. 21. When the living Creatures went the Wheeles went by them and when the living Creatures stood the Wheeles stood and when the living Creatures were lifted up the Wheeles were lifted up c. The Soul of Man is a Wheel which is fit for motion but it cannot move when the Spirit of God doth not move If the Spirit stand still the Wheeles stand still and if the Spirit be lifted up the Wheeles are lifted up otherwise no motion 2. Such as instead of withstanding the Assaults of Satan do indeed carry on the assaults of Satan use all meanes they can that they may both fashion and animate and give breath to all Satans Conceptions in their own and others hearts They hatch the Cockatrice eggs and weave the Spiders web Isa 59. 5. They are ready to put Tooles and Instruments into the hand of the Devil and to do his work for him The Apostle speakes of some that make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. ult So many make provision for the Devil that they may accomplish his temptations They use all means to edge his temptations that they may pierce to the bottome they put feathers upon his arrows that they may fly swiftly Jonadab was guilty of this sinne towards Ammon He sets on the temptation of the Devil and promotes sinne and becomes a Pander to his lust 2 Sam. 13. 4 5. Jezabel she promotes Satans temptation against her husband I wil saith she give thee the vineyard of Naboth 1 Reg. 21. 7. She became a very Devil to her Husband so do many persons to themselves go up and down seeking occasions and opportunities to further Satans temptation If Satan tempt them to drunkenness they go presently abroad to seek Companions and if he perswade them to uncleanness they use all helpes and incentives to that sinne c. It is a very cursed thing and a sacrilegious sin to help the Devil against Christ either in your selves or others The Serpent was cursed for being an Instrument to the Adversary in his assaulting of our first Parents Gen. 3. 14. And Jezabel bears this infamous brand She made Ahab to sin Jezabel his wife stirred up c. Such as blow up Satans sparks of temptation in their own hearts are Felones de se Self-Murtherers which of all Murtherers are the most bloody and confiscate all they have Exhortation to perswade all Christians to Vse 2. this resolution Play the men and stand out against the Devil and all his Instruments Keep your footing and yield not in any case though he come upon you as Goliah did upon David with open mouth yet keep your ground and flinch not at any hand And for your encouragement consider 1. That Satan is but a Creature though he be strong and cruel yet his strength is but a created strength he is potent but not omnipotent Omnipotency is incompatible to a Creature He is the strong man armed but Jesus Christ is stronger then he and though you cannot yet he can disarm him and take away that wherein he trusteth Luke 11. 22. 2. That he is a Creature under a Curse This may take off much from that dreadfulness which many look upon him with vid. Gen. 3. 14. Cursed shalt thou be above all the Beasts of the field c. There is nothing which may more encourage a Child of God in his spiritual Encounters then this That all he dispures against are under a Divine Execration Gods Curse is a weakning thing 3 He is a wounded and conquered Creature Gen. 3. 15. He shall break thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Our Saviour I remember encourageth his Disciples against troubles from the World by this very Argument I have overcome the World Joh. 16. 33. He hath overcome the Devil as well as the World for he triumphed over Principalities and Powers on the Cross Col. 2. 15. Christ put Satan to flight in his assaults Matth. 4. 11. and that as our Head Satan overcame all Mankind in the first Adam but in the second Adam he is overcome by all the Elect in Christs Victories Ephes 2. 6. So in this 4 He is a chained Creature also Rev. 20. 1 2. God keeps him fast in Irons he was put into Fetters ever since his 2 Pet. 2. 4. first Rebellion and he cannot shake them off Jude 6. And this chain doth so confine him that he cannot stir until God slack his Chain Let me touch his flesh and bone and he will curse thee to thy face Job 2. 5. And ye know

ariseth 1. from that Naturall Distemper which is in it by reason of sin The Fall of Man did so bruise and crack this golden Vessel that it doth leak ever since and cannot hold that which is put into it The Apostle in Hebr. 2. 1. speakes of this Distemper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The memory is like a Vessel which is rent and full of holes Those golden Hoopes which God in the first Creation did set about this Vessel are either quite broken off or much loosened And then there are secondly also other things which make it so lubrick and crazy as to the retaining of things Spiritual and Divine viz. First it 's over-charged with too many Three Causes of a weak Memory worldly and sinful things the world is so much laid up in this Treasury that there is very little room for Heavenly things to be stowed there Secondly want of Meditation and recollection by this means it comes to pass that many Truths which are recorded in the Memory are as if they had never been set down in regard of use and improvement because by meditation and discourse they are not revived There is an Act of the Memory proper unto man which the Philosopher calls Eustach Phys p. 261. Reminiscentia when a thing which hath been recorded and is forgotten is by the help of Discourse and Reasoning recovered again and made present and without this it is impossible to keep alive the remembrance of many things Now it 's a very general fault not onely amongst wicked men but even amongst the people of God that they neglect this Duty of Discourse and Meditation they do not chew the Cud as they are required and so quite lose many things which they have heard understood and sometimes remembred Isaac went into the fields to meditate Gen. 24. 63. David used to meditate on Gods Statutes as well as to read and hear them Psal 119. 15. Thirdly the Devil he pilfers out many Truths he comes with his false Key and picks the Lock of the Memory and so the soul is bereaved of many a precious Truth vid. Mat. 13. 19. He comes and searcheth the books and whatever he finds there that may be prejudicial to his Kingdom he either quite takes it off the File or else so blurs it with his black Lines that in a very short time the Record becomes altogether useless Therefore for the strengthning of the weak Memory it 's not without need that things of moment and concernment should be inculcated and repeated 3. in regard of the Will and that 1. from the deadness and slowness and untowardness of the Will and Affections to embrace and give entertainment to saving truths at first when offered The heart of man is like hard Marble harder then any Adamant Zech. 7. 12. Impressions are not made upon it with one blow the Iron is not heated through with once putting into the fire there is a reluctancy and contradiction in the Will against the receiving of things of this Nature Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost Act. 7. 51. The Apostle speakes of many Remora's and Obstructions in the heart which hinder the effectual working of the Word 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Strong holds carnall reasonings things exalting themselves against the knowledge of God and high thoughts c. The soul is full of surmisings prejudices objections and strong opposings the strong man armed keeps the house and by force of Arms contends against divine Truths especially such as are of weightiest concernment And therfore there is need of urging and pressing the same things over and over and that with earnestness that these high Towers may be levelled And then 2. After that the heart hath submitted and yielded it doth in a very short time through the prevalency of indwelling corruption revolt and grow stiffe again and is very backward to practise Truths subjected unto It was the sad complaint of one of the Ancients that of all Trades and Imployments Chrysost that of the Ministry is most difficult as in other respects so in this that he can never finde his work as he leaves it Let a Carpenter or Mason or any other Crafts-man shape and square and polish his work and when he returns he findes it so but the Devil he mars a Ministers work as soone as ever he hath done When he hath digged a well of godly sorrow this Philistine comes and stops it up presently When he hath stubd up the thorns the Devill comes and plants them again or more in their room When he hath cast down the Wall in one week yea in one night he findes it set up again c. Every observing and selfe-searching Christian knowes the truth of this by sad experience When any holy Resolution hath been with much labouring begot in the heart Satan and his own corruption working together do soon cool check the form he brought with him from hearing the word is soon unfashioned again Oh Israel thy goodness is as the Morning dew and as the early Cloud it presently vanisheth away Hos 6. 4. Commands are not easily obeyed therefore there must be precept upon precept The consolations of the Gospel are not easily preserved therefore there must be promise upon promise It s a hard thing to go on in duty constantly the heart will backslide It s a hard thing to keep it light and constant and close c. The Church of Ephesus had left her first love Rev. 2. 4. 5. Ephraim was a back-sliding heyfer Hos 4. 16. they were revolted and gone Thy people saith God to Moses have soon corrupted themselves c. Exod. 32. 7. 8. Paul had faithfully preached the Doctrine of justification by faith to the Galathians when he was personally with them but in a very short time they were apostatized by the fraudulency and craftiness of false Teachers therefore he is forced to write to them the same things again vid. Gal. 1. 6. We see the Disciples of Christ though they were commanded and intreated by their Master to watch with him when he was in his Agony ready to die for them yet as soon as he was departed they fell asleep again and though he came and reproved them yet they fell asleep again vid. Matth. 26. 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. A man would wonder that when Christ had told them that the pangs of death were upon him yet they should fall asleep c. We have a discovery in them of the hearts Apostacy Vse 2. This should be a Directory for the Ministers of the Gospel That they would not be contented onely once to name necessary truths but to be ever and anon as they observe the slackness and negligence of people in practising pressing and urging the same again and again There are some Doctrines which are as standing Dishes as the Doctrine of faith Repentance c. these are of necessary and daily use and people must be

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