Resist the Deuill . ●he Apo●es coun●l .

FIrst of him whom wee are to resist , namely the Deuill : whereby is meant not onely the prince , termed by the Iewes , Beelzebub ; but together with him the whole retinue of wicked Spirits , that is , the Dragon and his Angels , Reuel . 12. as S. Iohn calleth them .

Hee that heareth of an enemie comming to make warre against him , wil be carefull to know both his strength , with what power he commeth ; as also his wisdome , how skilfull he is in managing such affaires ; and lastly , his will and earnestnesse to put in practise that which by his strength and policie he is able to effect : for accordingly heereunto ( if he be wise ) hee will prouide to withstand him ; or else , finding himselfe vnable so to doe , whiles his enemie is yet a great way off , will send Embassadours to intreat of Luk . 14. a peace . In this our aduersarie then the Deuill , that we also may the better prepare our selues to resist his assaults ( for as for truce , there is none to bee taken with such an enemie , whom nothing can content but our euerlasting perdition of soule and body ) wee haue to consider both his strength and abilitie to doe vs mischiefe , as also his wisdome , craft and subtiltie ; and thirdly his will to prosecute that , which by his strength and skill hee is able to bring to passe .

Of the strength of our aduersarie .

AS touching his strength ; who better knoweth it than that God , which gaue vnto him both his strength & being ? And to the end , that wee also might know it , and the better prepare our selues to with stand his force , he hath giuen him a name which doth shew his nature ; for hee is termed a Lion , who is the king of beasts , stronger than any beast of the field which the Lord God hath made . And yet , as though this roaring Lion were not able of himselfe to doe mischiefe enough , hee hath adioined vnto him two confederates , the flesh , and the world . It is a common saying , Nè Hercules contraduos : and how then should wee be able to encounter with three , either of which three ouercame Hercules , and all the wicked ( I say , wicked ) strong men that euer liued ? Three enemies so dangerous as these , whereof one , I meane the Deuill , is the prince that ruleth Ephes . 2. in the aire , and seemeth to haue beset our way to heauen already : another , I mean the flesh , is within vs , stickes as fast vnto vs as the flesh to the bone , so that we can neuer wholly shake it off , whiles we haue our being in the flesh : a third , I meane the world , we are in ; and though wee should take the wings of the morning , and flie into the vttermost parts of the earth , yet there also would this our enemie besiege vs round about . One enemie is aboue our heads ; another is within vs ; and we are in the third : a threefold cord is hardly broken ; and God knoweth , how few of vs are able to breake their bands asunder , and to cast away their cords from vs. That you may the lesse doubt what this Lion with his two consederates by strength is able to bring to passe , take but one example , and that shall be in S. Peter : whom though I doe not acknowledge with the Papists for the strong rocke whereon Christ built his Church ( for then , when the rocke it selfe was so shaken , what would haue become of the Church built thereupon ? ) yet with the Disciples I doe acknowledge him for one of the three chiefe among twelue , that were ●l . 2. the chiefe among all the rest ; and for one againe , whom our Sauiour willed to strengthen others , When thou art conuerted , strengthen Luk . 22. thy brethren . Yet , Peter himselfe was not strong enough to wrestle with this roaring Lion , but receiued the foile three times on a row . When such a mightie Cedar of the forest is so shaken ; what may the little trees of the field well feare ?

If any thinke : Wee neuer perceiued the Deuill so to enforce his temptations , as that hee should deserue the name of a Lion for the same . Ans : It is because you slauishly and cowardly yeeld vnto him : for certainly the Deuill may truly say of many in these daies , as the Centurion speaketh in the Gospell ; I say Mat . 8. to one , Goe ; and hee goeth : and to another , Come ; and he commeth : and to my seruant , Doe this ; and he doth it . Hee no sooner tempteth , but wee are ready to obey : and the strength of an enemie is not knowen , before resistance be offered . When hauing receiued an iniurie , the Deuill tempteth thee to reuenge the same : when hee prouoketh thee to commit whordome , to steale , or to spend thy time idly , to goe to plaies , to the tauerne , to decke thy body ouermuch , &c. beginne to withstand his temptations , and then shalt thou soone finde , that hee will fall vpon thee like a Lion indeed , so that thou shalt euen be enforced ( will thou , nill thou ) to yeeld vnto him many times . Not only S. Peter hath felt his force , but others also , euen the most stoutest champions of Christs campe . Wherefore my counsell is with S. Paul ; Let him that thinketh he standeth , take heed lest hee Cor . 10. receiue a fall : for his aduersarie the Deuill is a Lion , and wanteth no strength to ouerturne him , and lay him flat on the ground .

Of the wisdome , policie , and craft of our aduersarie .

AS touching his wisdome ; who againe better knoweth it than that God , which gaue him both his wisdome , and being ? And to the end wee also might know this , he hath giuen him a name whereby his nature is made manifest : for he is called a Serpent , which is wiser than any Gen. 3. beast of the field , that the Lord God hath made . And not onely so , but an Old Serpent too ; as who to his wisdome that hee had by nature , hath adioined long experience . Adde heereunto , his knowledge : for though God only be {αβγδ} , the searcher Act. 1. of the heart and reines ; yet is it very probable , that the Deuill knoweth all our words & workes , and can shrewdly ghesse euen at the very thoughts and intents of the heart many times . What an aduantage was it for the King of Israel , that the king of Syriaes counsell was reuealed vnto him by the Prophet ? When and 2. King . 6. where we arme , and are prouided to resist , that he knowes well enough : but when and where hee meanes to assault , that we are altogether ignorant of . The like were , as if an old beaten souldier of long experience in the warres , and hauing his eies in his head , should encounter with a fresh water souldier that were starke blinde . What equalitie were there betweene these ? That you may the lesse doubt , what this old Serpent by his wisdome , his craft , and skill in these matters , is able to effect , take one only example : and that shall be in Salomon the wise ; I may well say , the wise , who at the first was so wise , 1. King . ● . that euen dreaming he preferred wisdome before long life , riches , and the like , which many in these daies , that would be thought wise notwithstanding , will not doe be they neuer so broad awake . Thus wise was Salomon at the first , and God added vnto him afterward in farre greater abundance : yet Salomon himselfe was not so wise , but that he was deceiued by the old Serpent , and ledde out of the right way many yeeres together . He now that thinks himselfe no wiser than Salomon , hath good cause to be very circumspect : and hee that thinkes himselfe wiser than Salomon was , hath I thinke farre greater cause , as heereby bewraying the greatnesse of his follie .

If any say : Wee neuer perceiued the Deuill to vse such craft and sleights for the bringing of his purpose to passe . Ans : It i●… because you want either care o●… wit to obserue him . Watch and ward about your selues day and night continually , as the children of this world being wise in their generation vse to doe , the enemie being so neere at hand : and then , if you haue any eies in your head , you may easily perceiue what varietie of stratagems he vseth , what ambushments hee laieth for you in euery place . Consider I pray , how much cunning some craftie Hannibal hath attained within the space of forty yeeres : and know , that the Deuil by nature a Serpent hath had continual practise day and night for almost six thousand yeeres together . There is none of vs , but he hath aforetime dealt with the like disposition , and knowes already where wee are weakest , and how wee may be most easily foyled . If hee cannot preuaile when wee are in companie and haue counsell about vs ; hee will set vpon vs when we are alone , as he did vpon our mother Eue : if in the light we will not yeeld , he will lay for vs in the darke , when we shall thinke ; No man seeth vs : and the Highest will not remember Eccl. 23. our sinnes : If of himselfe he can doe no good , then will he set our wiues , children or friends against vs ; and thus a mans wife becomes a Tempter or Satan vnto her husband ; for , Get thee Mat . 16. behind me Satan , said Christ to Peter , when hee was tempted by him . If by no meanes hee can cause vs to commit wickednesse in our owne persons ; then our children or seruants shall act it , and wee shall not forbid them , whereby wee our selues become guilty : for , Malum qui non prohibet cùm potest , iubet . The Deuill it seemes could not cause Ahab to murther Naboth : nay , 1. King . 21 rather than hee would so doe , Ahab seemes willing to kill himselfe ; for hee would eat no bread . But Iezabel promiseth to giue that , which her husband would buy : and Naboth being slaine , vp ( saith she ) take possession , for Naboth is dead . What though Naboth were dead ? Shall wee thinke that Ahab was his heyre ? Yet he goes to take possession : and thus Ahab slew Naboth ; Hast thou killed , and also gotten possession ? saith Elijah to him . Infinite ( deare brother ) infinite are the sleights and stratagems of this our subtle enemie : and that God which opened Elishaes seruants eyes , enlighten the eyes of thy minde , that thou maist both see and shun them . My counsell againe shall bee with S. Paul ; Worke ou● your saluation with feare Philip . 2. and trembling : for our aduersarie and Deuill is an old Serpent , and wants no subtiltie to worke and procure our destruction .

Of the will and earnestnesse of our aduersarie to doe vs mischiefe .

AMong men there are three speciall motiues to make 〈◇〉 . One is , a desire of enlarging their dominions and increasing their wealth : which most preuailed with that king , who told a Philosopher , that he purposed to l●ui● an armie , and to set vpon another prince neere adioining . The Philosopher demanding , what hee would doe , when he had subdued that countrey : his answer was , that then he would increase his armie , neither did doubt of bringing another dominion vnder his subiection . Thus many times : at length the Philosopher demanding , what he would doe when hee had subdued all those countries ●e spake of : the king makes him answer , that then he would returne to his owne kingdome , and liue at case , eat , drinke , and be merry . Wherunto the Philosopher replies : And what letteth ( O King ) but that you may thus doe without hazarding your person and kingdome , the euent of ●ar●● being alwaies vncertaine ? But thus wee see , what mooued him to warre ● although indeed this 〈◇〉 no perpetuall motiue , at length hee would haue giuen ouer , and liued in peace .

Another principall motiue , hath beene ambition and a desire of vaine glory : which it seemeth most preuailed with Alexander the great ; who hearing a Philosopher discoursing of I know not how many worlds besides this , brast forth into teares ; and the reason was , because as yet hee had not subdued one world . It seemeth , this his ambitious humour would haue been a perpetuall motiue , and haue caused him ambire terras continually , seeking to conquer all . But of all other , the greatest motiue vnto warre , hath beene hatred and malice . It is a true saying , Odium hoc ●●um habet boni , quod sibimet plurimùm affert mali ; hatred , enuie , and malice hath this one onely good propertie , because as a viper it hurteth him in whose bowels it is bred and nourished . But it is found too true by experience , that it hath beene the greatest cause of hurt to others . Inuidus alterius rebu● macrescit opimis : and how then will hee labour to make another mans good to pine and vanish away ? The greedie king , and ambitious Alexander will shew some pitie , and their passions being more gentle , they shall not be carried so violently : but when malice driues forward , and destruction onely is intended , there must needs be deadly warre .

Now , what should mooue our aduersarie the Deuill thus to affault vs with his fierie darts continually ? I cannot thinke it to be ambition in him ; much lesse any hope of bettering his estate : for I am not of their opinion , which terme hell the Deuils kingdome ; The Deuils ●ingdome ● of this world . ● . Tim . 3. I rather take it to be his prison , where himselfe together with all those that he hath taken captiue shall be tormented eternally . But would you know what it is ? Surelie , the deadly hatred , and extreme malice which hee beareth vs ; and this , partly for our Creators sake , and partly for our own , God wee know cast him downe from heauen : and seeing he cannot wreake his anger on God himselfe , hee seekes to wreake it on man , that is , on Gods likenes . Gen. 1. Man was made , if not to fill vp the places of the Angels which fell , yet to ascend vp to heauen from whence they fell : wherfore no maruell , though the Deuill cast stumbling blockes in our way , and doe his best , or worst rather , to hinder our iourney thither .

Whatsoeuer the matter bee , that as you haue heard of his might and skill , you might the lesse doubt of his will also to doe mischiefe , doe but consider his owne words in the first of Iob . Being there demanded by God , whence he came : I came ( saith Iob 1. hee ) from compassing the earth to and fro , and from walking thorow it . Hee did not only compasse the earth in one part ; but , to and fro , this way and that way : neither did hee compasse or goe about it only , but , He walked thorow it too , and sifted euery corner within the same . Indeed , true it is , hee doth not heere tell vs , wherefore he tooke such paines and was so busie , hee concealeth that : but the holy Ghost hath else-where reuealed it for our good , that we might the better beware of him . Your aduersarie the Deuill ( saith ● Pet . 5. S. Peter ) goeth about as a roaring Lion , seeking whom he may deuoure . Heere wee finde wherefore hee goeth about , or ( to vse his owne words ) compasseth the earth to and fro , and walketh thorow it , namely , to bring all men that liue vpon the face of the earth vnto euer lasting perdition . It is reported of one Esrem , a deuout and religious man , that in a vision hee saw the whole world and euery corner thereof , set full of nets to catch men in , and at euery of them a Deuill watching ready to deuoure the prey when it was taken . Whether any man had euer my such vision I cannot affirme : but surely , as S. Augustine telleth vs in his booke of heauenly meditations , The Deuill hath laid snares inriches , snares in pouertie , Aug. M●dit . cap . 1● snares in meat , snares in drinke , in pleasure snares , in sléepe snares , and snares in watching ; hee hath laid snares in our words , snares in our ●●●kes , snares in all our waies , and God knoweth how many of vs are daily taken in those snares ? In a word : hee goeth about , hee compasseth the earth to and fro ; and walketh thorow it , seeking earnestly , not only as a roaring Lion by might and strength , but also as an old Serpent by craft and subtiltie , by his snares , nets ; and traps , whom hee may bring to the pit of destruction . Bee a man neuer so mightie , so craftie ▪ and maliciously bent against another ; yet being a man he must spend some time in procuring things necessarie , some time in vsing them , and a great part of his time in sleepe : againe , be hee a man and not a beast , the greatest part of all , in the seruice of God and procuring the saluation of his foule . But the Deuill is past hope of being saued , his head is not troubled with such matters , his eies neither slumber not sleepe : he hath nothing else to doe day and night , but to worke the woe of carelesse ma●● that scarce once in a day so much as thinkes of him ▪ Suppose now ▪ that some mightie man , and politicke , should bend himselfe wholly to procure the ouerthrow of some man of meane estates were it not a wonder but hee should bring his purpose to passe ? God of his mercie grant vs grace well to consider of it , and in time to looke about vs : for as there are very few that shall enter in at the strait gate , so they shall one day finde , that they were euen miraculously preserued from the clawes of this deuouring Dragon .

Not then to stand any longer in laying open the nature of this our aduersarie : consider only his names giuen him in the Scripture ; and they declare it well enough . He is called Satan , i . an Iob . 1. aduersarie , to shew the hatred he beareth to mankinde : he is called a Tempter , because he sheweth Mat . 4. his hatred principally in tempting vs to sinne : hee is termed a Lion , because he wants no strength ; as also an old Serpent , because hee wants no craft , to bring his temptations , and other his mischieuous imaginations to an end : he is called a Deuill , i . an accuser , because hauing tempted vs to sinne and preuailed , he will afterwards accuse vs for the same , though himselfe were the causer thereof : lastly , he is termed Abaddon , i . destroying , because he ●eu . 9. walketh about continually , seeking by all means whom he may deuoure . And now , Ab vno disce omnes : such as the old Dragon himselfe is , such are all his wicked Angels . Hauing then so many , so mightie , so craftie and malicious aduersaries , it standeth euery man vpon to prouide himselfe in the best manner hee can , that hee may bee able to resist his force ; for no truce ( as I said ) is to bee taken with such an enemie , whom nothing will satisfie in any sort , but our endlesse torments in the like which burneth with fire and brimstone ;

Of the manner how we are to resist the Deuill : and first , of the weapons wherewith we are to arme our selues .

THere is a learned man of our time , which holdeth it to be very probable , that the Deuils are sometime h●●r● with a bullet , arrow , or such like flying thorow the aire : which opinion of his hee groundeth partly on the Fathers , and partly on reason . Of the Fathers ( he saith ) there haue beene , which haue so thought heeretofore . Whereunto ( supposing that some haue beene of that opinion ) my answer is ; that howsoeuer . I well know the Fathers are but children in respect of the Apostles ; yet notwithstanding I attribute much to their iudgment in any matter : and though much , yet induced not so much neither , as that I would build my faith vpon them . The Fathers I willingly acknowledge all of them were men both godly and learned , and which haue very well deserued of the Church of God : but though they were learned men , and besides that godly men too ; yet an opinion of some of them may not carrie away our beliefe without further reason : It is no wrong to them , nor rashnesse in vs , if vpon occasion wee say of them also , Humanum est lab● errare , decipi . Not then to stand longer heereupon , I come to the other ground of his opinion , which is reason : that forasmuch as those wicked Spirits are sensible substances , when any such substance is parted asunder : by any meanes , it must needs bee painfull ; and this hee thinketh doth sometime befal them , a bullet flying through the aire , where they are most conversant , the Deuill being termed the Prince that there ruleth . Ans : The former being granted ; I can hardly belieue that euer the latter doth befal the Dragon or his Angels : for either by their strength and power they doe repell and beat backe the bullet ; or else by their swiftnesse they doe eschew it ; or l●stly , by their tenuitie and thinnesse they doe rather pierce it , than it them . If this be granted , I cannot see but that the good Angels also must needs bee subiect to the like inconueniences : for they are ministring Spirits Hebr . 1. Psal . 90. sent into this world for the good of Gods chosen , and are said to compasse the godly about . But indeed , experience doth sufficiently teach the contrarie : for the Angels both good and bad , are Spirituall substances ▪ like as our soules are . If now a man be 〈…〉 through with a bullet , or runne through with a sword ; it would seeme harsh to say ; that his soule were hurt thereby . That which hurteth the bodie , hurteth no● the soule ; and contrariwise : vnlesse it be per accident . Surely , if this were so , then it seemeth wee might resist the Deuil with g 〈…〉 with swords , and such like weapons : but indeed such as one aduersarie is , such most our weapons be ; our aduersarie is a Spirit , and the weapons of our w●●f●re , must not be carnall , but spirituall .

The Papists haue di 〈…〉 weapons to withstand and driue away Deuils ; but they are of their owne making , of their owne inuention : namely , The signe of the Crosse ; a Crucifix hung about their necks , and the like . Neither is it vnknowen , that some of them being thus armed ( whereas otherwise they durst not , for they are a Nation much afraid of Spirits ) haue been bold to walke through darke and fearfull places : and indeed these are weapons very wel befitting those that walke in the darke .

St. Paul our Generall , the Apostle of vs Gentiles , was better skilled in these matters , and hee willeth the Ephesians to put on the whole armour of God ( not the Eph. 6. armour of man , whether invented by man , ( or otherwise ) and marke his reason : for we wrestle not ( saith hee ) against flesh and blood , which if we did , carnal weapons might serue the turne ; but against principalities , against powers , against the worldly gouernours , the princes of the darknesse of this world , against spirituall wickednesses in high places . Our armour then must bee the armour of God , as indeed being the onely armour of proofe against such aduersaries : and this armour must be whole also , to couer euery part , lest they should haue any aduantage finding any part naked . In battels of this world , I read of helmets , shields , brigandines , &c. and it is said of Goliath , that he had bookes of brasse vpon his legs . But St. Paul , knowing ● . Sam . 17 what a dangerous enemie one must encounter withall , willeth vs to arme our feet also ; And your feet ( saith hee ) sh●d with the ●ers : 15. preparation of the Gospell of place : lest otherwise , in steed of running the way of Gods commandements , they become feet swift to shed ●om . 3. blood . For whereas being wounded by the darts of man , they become flow & bleed themselues : being wounded with the fiery darts of the Deuill , they become swift to shed the bloud of other men . It stands then euery Christian souldiour vpon to put on the whole armour of his God : but yet indeed among those sundry weapons mentioned by our Apostle , I would most specially commend three vnto you . Whereof one is a weapon of defence , I meane , the shield of faith ; Aboue all , take the shield of faith , whereby yet may quench all the fie●●● darts of the Deuill . Another ●● weapon of offence , I meane , the sword of the Spirit ; And take the sword of the spirit , which is the word of God . A third is a weapon endued with strange and wonderful properties , for it hardneth the shield of faith , and giueth an edge to the sword of the Spirit , and this is , Prayer : Pray alwaies 〈◇〉 all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit , and watch there vnto with all perseuerance .

Of the shield of faith .

TAke the shield of faith , that is , put your trust in God , and depend onely on his prouidence . This weapon , though needfull for all men and at all times ; yet would I principally commend vnto two sorts of men .

One is those , which are in any great bodily danger , as penurie sicknesse , imprisonment , and the like : I would haue them take the shield of faith into their hands ; and not doubt but the Lord in his good time will deliuer them out of all their miseries , according to that saying of holy Scripture , Many are the troubles of the Psal . 34. righteous , but the Lord deliuereth them out of all . After that our Sauiour had fasted fortie dayes and fortie nights , he then waxed hungry : which occasion the Deuill taking hold of , came to assault or tempt him , saying : If thou be the sonne of God , command Mat . 4. that these stones bee made bread . As who would say : Thou hast fasted a long time , and now are hungry : heere thou art in a wildernesse , where no food can bee gotten : thy father seemeth vtterly to haue forsaken thee : wherfore rely no longer vpon him ; but shift for thy selfe , and if thou be the sonne of God , command these stones to be made bread to satisfie thine hungry appetite . Indeed , true it is , that Christ took vnto him the shield of faith and manfully withstood this assault ; ●e both knew and belieued that man did not liue by bread onely , but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God . But how few are there which haue , grace to follow this example of our Captaine ? Abraham ( we see ) though the father of the Gen. 20. faithfull , yet forgat to take vnto him the shield of faith , being as he thought in danger of loosing his life ▪ and put more confidence in a lye , than he did in God himselfe . And when he was demanded the reason hereof , he said ▪ I thought , surely the feare of God is not : in this place . What needed Abraham to care , whether the feare of God were in that place or not ; had he considered that the power of God was in that and all other places ; If m●n doe not feare God , they teach vs by their example much lesse to feare men . But indeed , this is the frailty of vs all : for what is the matter , wherefore being sicke , or in want , &c. wee run to sorcerers , fall to stealing , and seeke to relieue our selues by vnlawfull meanes ; but onely because wee cast away the shield of faith , and distrust the goodnesse of that God , who is onely good , yea goodnesse it selfe ? I know well what flesh and blood are heere ●ont to say for themselues : namely , that they doe not see by reason how they should escape that danger , depending onely on Gods prouidence , and vsing lawfull meanes . But ( o man ) what art thou , that thus bindest the hands of thy God , and restrainest his power ? Wil he ( thinkest thou ) bee beholding to the Deuill for the safegard of his children ? It is all one with him to saue without means as by means : and how dost thou know , whether hee then intendeth miraculously to relieue thee , ( as hee fed Elijah , and deliuered Peter out 3. King . 17. Act : 12. of prison ) when thou doest not see by reason how it should come to passe ? But now , rather than God should thus doe , and thereby make his power knowen , whereby men might be induced to glorifie his name ; thou wilt preuent him by seeking helpe at the Deuils hands . What an intollerable iniurie is this to Almightie God ? Lord lay not this sinne to our charge at that day ; but grant vnto vs thy grace , in all our wants and necessities to take vnto vs the shield of faith , put our trust in thee , and depend only on thy prouidence .

A second sort of men , vnto whom I would most specially commend this weapon , are those which labour vnder the heauie burthen of their sins , and thinke their temptations to drunkennesse , whoredome , pride , couetousnesse , reuenge , and the like , so strong ; as that they shal hardly , if euer , bee able to ouercome them . Indeed , that hardly , it must not seeme strange ; for as may appealle by that is said before , wee haue a dangerous enemie to deale withall : but yet , let to man cast away the shield of faith , and vtterly despaire of victorie in the end . Was not the seed of the woman promised ; which should 〈…〉 se the Serpents head ? Who also hath bruised its for when hee had sent forth his Captaines , I mean , his Apostles , and other Disciples , to preach the Gospell of the kingdome ; among whom were the two sons of thunder , hee saw Satan fall Luk . 10. Reuel . 12 downe from heauen like lightning before the thunder . Againe , St. Iohn saw a battel in heauen : Mithael & his Angels fought with the Dragon and his Angels , and ●… reuailed against them . Indeed , ●●●e not to thinke , that Micha●… l ( by interpretation , who is as God ? ) or Christ and the good Angels did then skirmish in the aire with the Deuill and those wicked Angels : if any man so imagineth , hee is deceiued ; hee dreameth as it were , for this was a vision onely . But by this vision ▪ as by the place of Scripture before alledged , is shewed the victorie of our Captaine ouer sin and Satan , vnder whose banner wee manfully fighting shall likewise ouercome , as sundry of Christs faithfull souldiours haue found by experience , and among others S. Augustine , who telleth vs asmuch of himselfe before his conversion ▪ Surely , when all the Deuils other fiery darts are quenched , I meane , I when a man by the grace of God doth fully purpose in his heart to forsake his whordome , drunkennes , &c ▪ then commonly will the Enemie striue to perswade him , that he is so wholly giuen to these enormities , as that it were in vaine for him to purpose any amendment , hee doth but kicke against the pricke , and euen striue against the streame . But assure thy selfe ( deare brother ) if thou canst resist this temptation , and belieue thou shalt haue the victory , thou shalt finde that saying of thy Master true ; All things are possible to Mar. 9. him that belieueth . Who would haue thought that little Dauid with a sling and a stone should haue conquered that mighty gi●●● , being armed from top to ●●● ? And yet we know how soon hee preuailed : for indeed what said ●e ? Thou commest to me with 1. Sam . 1 a sword , a speare , and a shield ; but I come vnto thee in the name of the Lord of Hostes . And at another time : They came about Psal . 11 mee like bees ; but they were quenched as a fire of thornes ; for in the name of the Lord I shall destroy them . Howsoeuer then of thy selfe , thou art not able to encounter with thine enemies ; yet goe against them in the name of the Lord , and more shall hold with thee than are against thee : comè their darts , their temptations , about thee as thicke as bees , yet shall they not fasten the sting of death in thee , but in the name of Cor . 15. the Lord , thou shalt ouercome them . Our helpe standeth in the name of the Lord , which hath made heauen and earth , both soule and bodie , and knoweth how to deliuer both out of my their extremities whatsoeuer only , let vs , whether afflicted in body or minde , take vnto vs the Shield of faith , put our trust in him , and make him our shield and buckler .

Of the sword of the Spirit .

THis weapon our Sauiour Christ being tempted by the Deuill tooke vnto him three times together : for the Deuill assaulting him thrise on a row , he thrise resisted his assaults with the word of God , It is written &c. Mat . 4. And surely it were to bee wished that we in these daies both could and would follow this example of our Lord and Master . Indeed , there is happily some difference betweene the Deuils tempting of Christ and vs , as touching the manner , for it should seeme that hee tempted Christ by word of mouth , as likewise hee did our mother Eue heretofore ; whereas hee tempteth vs commonly by suggesting euill thoughts to our mindes : but yet I see no reason , wherefore wee may not likewise withstand our aduersarie with the sword of the Spirit , the word of God . As suppose , that a man be tempted to distrust Gods prouidence , and therevpon to fall to stealing , coosening , oppressing of the poore , and the like : let him presently call to minde , how that it is written , God clotheth the ●at . 6. grasse of the field ; and feedeth the foules of the aire ; and are not we better than these ? Againe : It not the life more worth than meat , and the bodie than rayment ? Seing then God hath freely giuen vnto euery man both life and bodie ; how should he not likewise giue meat and rayment , which are of lesse value ? If a man be tempted to couetousnesse and confidence in worldly wealth : then let him remember how that it is written ; Mans life standeth not in the abundance of the things that hee possesseth . And againe ; Thou foole , ●uk . 12. this night shall they take away thy soule from thee , and then whose shall that be which thou hast gathered together ? If a man be tempted to presume of Gods mercy , and thereupon boldly to commit sinne , to steale , to bee drunken , &c. then let him straightway thinke within himselfe : it is surely written , The soule that sinneth shall dye the death . Againe : Verily Mat . 12. I say vnto you , that at the day of iudgment men shall giue accounts of euery idle word that they speake . If a man , seeing the grieuousnesse of his sinnes , bee tempted to despaire : then let him call to minde , how that it is written ; Gods mercy is infinite : hee delighteth 2. Cor . 1. in mercy ; and no maruell , for hee is the Father of mercies , and a father wee know delights in his children . Thus you see , how after the example of our Captaine , wee may resist the Deuill with the sword of the Spirit .

This being so , what may wee thinke of our Papists , that goe about to bereaue the common people of this so needfull a weapon ; and in steed of the holy Scriptures , Gods word , send them to dumbe Images , calling them Lay-mens bookes ? For seeing these Images haue hands , and handle not , neither can defend themselues against Spiders and such like vermin ; how should they teach vs to handle the sword of the Spirit , and defend our selues against our spirituall aduersarie ? The Papists say , in disgrace of this weapon , that the Deuill assaulted Christ therewith . Indeed , we finde , that when our Sauiour had resisted the Deuill ●uk . 4. twice with the word of God : how that hee then would needes take it into his hands likewise , hoping to wound Christ with his owne weapon , and came vpon him with , It is written , that hee sball giue his Angels , &c. But they should haue considered , that our Sauiour would not let goe his weapon for all that , but euen then also resisted him with , It is written , Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God .

To let the Papists alone : what may wee well thinke of many amongst vs in these daies , which haue no more care to come to the Church , to heare and read the holy Scriptures ? Is it because they thinke themselues skilfull enough to handle the sword of the Spirit already ? If any man be wise in his owne opinion , let him become a foole , that so hee may be wise : if any thinkes himselfe skilfull enough already , let him learne to know his owne vnskilfulnesse , that so in time hee may become skilfull in some measure . But , I feare me , I know what the matter is : the sword of the Spirit hath not as yet wounded them ; for were they once pricked in their hearts therewith ( as they were vnto whom St. Peter preached the word ) they would I make no question , haue a better opinion of it , than now they haue . God grant , that they may once feele the vertue of this two-edged sword cutting backward , that so they may more carefully learne how to vse it forward against their aduersarie the Deuill .