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
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
Satan that God is poor in mercie or that he hath mercy for Abraham and the Righteous and for others but not for them that are great sinners therefore they despair and do not believe the pardon of their sins But by faith in the blood of the Lamb we give God the glory of the riches of his mercy for had he not been rich in mercy he would never have given such a rich price as the blood of Christ which is more worth then all the world and by it wee prove God is rich in mercy and the Devill is overcome that perswades us that God is poor in mercy or hath no mercy for us Reason 6 A sixth Reason Why we overcome him by faith in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb because thereby we give glory to the justice of God for when Satan objects that God is a just God infinite in justice and therefore must needs punish sin thou hast sinned and therefore shalt thou be punished but by the blood of Christ wee give God the glory of his justice by believing that God is perfectly just that without expiation and satisfaction for sin there can be no hope of mercy But now by the blood of Christ that was of infinite value wee testifie that satisfaction is made to Gods justice and therefore we believe that Gods justice will not exact that of us for which Christ hath satisfied with his own blood but will manifest his mercy and favour which is purchased for us with the blood of God Act. 20. 28. Thus justice and mercy are met together in the blood of the Lamb the justice of God is satisfied by throwing upon him the iniquities of us all by shedding his blood and mercy is shewed unto us that he suffered for us the just for the unjust to bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. For there are three points of Justice First to require satisfaction for a trespasse committed Secondly to remit that for which satisfaction is made Thirdly to bestow that which is merited and purchased Now faith in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb gives glory to the justice of God in all these For First it giveth testimony that God hath required satisfaction for all our sins in his Sons blood when he bare all our sins in his own body upon the tree 1 Pet. 3. 24. Secondly faith knowes justice hath forgiven that for which satisfaction is made by the blood of the Lamb Thirdly it believeth that that shall be bestowed that Christ hath purchased and merited by his blood i. life and eternall glory thus by our testimony of the blood of the Lamb wee magnifie the justice of God as well as his mercy and so the Devill is overcome I have stood the longer to shew you how to get the victory over Satan because hee that can conquer and prevail over the god of the world shall prevail and overcome the world Now for as much as Satan knowes that faith in the blood of the Lamb will overcome him marke his wiles and sleights to wrest the shield of faith out of thine hand for you must not think to go away conquerers without a combate for hee assaulted Eve Gen. 1. and Christ himself Matth. 4. 3. and Moses Numb. 20. 12. and Peter Luke 22. 32. and the Thessalonians 1. 3. 5. Sleight 1 The first sleight that Satan useth against naturall men that have no assurance of salvation to perswade them that no man can have assurance of salvation and because he hath none hee is ready to believe it for say the doctrine of Devils Can any be assured by faith that the blood of Christ is his whosoever hath any such conceit 't is but presumption say the Papists Answ To let passe how this point of Popery confutes the reall presence of the same body and blood of Christ that was conceived in the virgins womb if when they have received it they cannot be assured that the blood of Christ is theirs I answer That the assurance of faith in Christs blood is no presumption for thus they differ First because when a man hath seen himself wounded by sin both person and actions his own righteousnesse and sanctification all unclean and an horrible sinner by the curse of the Law then faith in the blood of the Lamb driveth a man out of himself to cast himself wholly upon Christ as Esther did upon the Kings mercy as upon the precious blood of the Lamb undefiled and without spot 1 Pet. 1. 19. But presumption finds some good heart or meaning some righteousnesse as he calls it to trust to Secondly faith in the testimony of Christs blood resteth on a sure foundation which is Gods Word that both commandeth us to believe and promiseth to perform that which we do believe as 1 Joh. 3. 23. and Joh. 16. 24. but presumption relieth upon phantasie to do as well as others Thirdly true faith delighteth in the blood of the Lamb and can never heare too much of it and useth the means whereby it was first bred as David said I will never forget thy promise for by it thou hast quickned me Psal. 119. so faith will never forget the blood of the Lamb for by it thou hast cleansed me they will not be weary to hear of it But presumption hateth that doctrine and the professors of it and such as preach most of it and most purely shall have some grosse name or other Fourthly true faith increaseth by degrees from faith to faith from a weak to a strong as 1. To know the vertue of it 2. To grieve for the want of it 3. To hunger and thirst after it and set an high price of it Presumption is a sudden flash and so continues it had no assurance forty yeers ago and no more it hath yet Fiftly true faith in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb maketh a man truly valiant for he that believeth the blood of the Lamb hath cleansed him from all sin before God and is a childe of God by his Baptisme as Gal. 3. 26 27. What need hee feare hee doth not fear to go to heaven and therefore he doth not feare death the Devill or man for the righteous are bold as a Lion Prov. 26. 1. but presumption though it be fool-hardy at first yet will flie at the last where no fear is Sixthly true faith in that testimony maketh a man depart from all iniquity and keep a good conscience before God and men in hope of the resurrection But presumption hath an evill conscience before both by reason of sin Sleight 2 The second sleight that true faith in the blood of the Lamb is wonderfull hard where is there one of a thousand that obtaine it Therefore will Satan perswade 't is in vain for thee to seek it as he perswades many never to begin to learn to read because it is so hard that they shall never obtain it such are beguiled of the Devill to neglect to learne though they see
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
when it is more needfull to strive for a wedding garment for to him that overcometh and keepeth his garments Rev. 16. 15. will I give saith Christ to sit with me in my Throne Rev. 3. 21. signifying that shall be the conquering and raigning people whom Christ hath loved and washed from their sins in his own blood and made Kings and Priests to God his Father and they shall raign upon earth Rev. 1. 5. and 5. 10. Let England consider Christs words Rev. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be made rich which is the lively faith in the merits of Christs death in baptisme which make men rich that were poor by Adam and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed that the filthinesse of the wickeness of sin may not appeare which is the white wedding garment of justification which makes a Christian know hee is ready for Christ when he hath it and eye-salve of the spirit of Christ that we may see how to walk by the Spirit and in discipline of the Word for untill this counsell of Christ be taken in England both of the Angels and Church this war will not cease for untill a mans wayes or Churches wayes please the Lord he will not make all his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16. 7. And when shall that be in England think you when they will be guided by his counsell i. Rev. 3. 18. he will then receive them to glory Psal. 73. Now many men dote so much about Discipline that they think to make a rare Church by it but are greatly deceived For if a man should take a company of Vipers to make them Nightingals do you think he can make them such by Discipline all the orders and skil let him order them how he can will not make them become Nightingals but if he can make them new creatures they may be made Nightingalls as well as any other creature There were two Pharisees which were the generation of Vipers Matth. 3. which were made sweet Nightingals by baptisme wherein they were made new creatures and sang sweetly in the night as Nicodemus that having learn'd the doctrine of regeneration of water and the Spirit in baptisme he was so changed that in the night when the other Pharisees as Vipers would have condemned Christ sang for him thus Doth our law condemn any man before it heare him and hee sweetly buried him with sweet odors And another notorious Viper that was a murtherer and a blasphemer Saul was so changed by baptisme when he did arise and was baptized he washed away his sins in calling on the name of the Lord that of a murtherer and blasphemer he became a sweet Preacher of the Gospel by night and till the dawning of the day and sang Psalmes in the night so sweetly that the Lord heard him and sent an earthquake Acts 16. Wherefore if you would make a good Church it must be by faith in our baptisme into Christ when wee were little children and by the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse applyed by faith Discipline may order a childe in good manners but he must have a soul and body first Now Baptisme and the white raiment is as the soul and body of all Christianity he that wants faith in this cannot tell whether hee be in Christ or no Discipline may order a Church but cannot make one Truly I never look to see a pure Discipline untill the Jewes be called which I wish all the faithfull to pray for except the woman clothed with the Sun begin to make one which hath the bright morning Star which are that chast and holy Congregation as Mr. Brightman calls them which are the place of Gods pleasures and the hill of his delights wherein God taketh more delight then in any thing of the world as Rev. 19. 17. which Church is now arising out of the corruption of the Church of Laodicea Corruptio unius est generatio alterius for though he will spue the luke-warm out yet there is a few names in Laodicea that shall sit with Christ in his Throne wherefore if you be brethren and going to the new Jerusalem remember Josephs words to his brethren Fall not out by the way for a Discipline who shall have the preeminence Let not him that putteth on the armour boast as he that putteth it off for as victory is of the Lord so is government If you look for government before wee have peace the gift of God you reckon without your hoast wherefore I command you from the Lord study to be quiet and do your own busines and work out your salvation with fear and trembling and perswade Euodius of the Presbyters and beseech Syntiche of the Independents to be of one accord in the Lord and labour all to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb as this Sermon shews you who would set you together by the ears to kill one another that he might get both I have writ of the miseries of England and of the remedies of the same and have shewen at least forty causes how the Bishops have brought the sword upon the land and therefore are justly put down of the Lord and his Parliament which I purpose to set in print if Satan hinder it not Let it not be said that the Presbyters and Independents have set dissention in the Parliament and City and in the Armies and brought the sword into their own bowells to make the Papists sport wherefore let no man speak any more of any government in the Church of England except by Parliament untill the wars cease those that shall remain shall pray unto the Lord to shew them such a Discipline out of Gods Word as shall be pleasing unto him Men may imagine that there may be a smiling shew of peace but they shall finde that Male sarta gratia nequicquam coit there is so much blood in the morter that it will not daub love will not grow within there is so much blood without and yet for my part I desire if the Lord will and pray for the peace of Jerusalem that peace may be within our walls and plenteousnesse within our palaces for no peace no plenty for where wars and sedition remain wee must look for earthquakes famine and pestilence Luke 21. 9 10 11. you shall have little pleasure in a Presbyterie or Independencie before these warres cease for there is a flood of Gods judgements coming now on all the world there shall none escape but those that get into the Ark of the faith of their baptisme into Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. and such as take Christs counsell Rev. 3. 18. which are the blessed people that keep Christs garments unto them that their filthy nakednesse may not be seen Rev. 16. 15. and such as keep the word of his patience Rev. 3. 10. these shall be delivered from this hour of tentation Question 2 Now there is another Question also among many
might preach on that text on every Christs nativitie day because the Angels have given us that text from heaven saying Behold I bring you tidings of great joy that unto you is borne this day in the Citie of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Therefore sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord Glory be to God on high peace on earth and good will towards men They which doe this in faith that they are in him that is true in that his Sonne Jesus Christ which is very God and eternall life 1 Joh. 5. 20. by Baptisme into him shall finde more peace with God in conscience and finde good will with men that are the children of God I speake not this that I would have a carnall Christmas kept in prophanenesse as it hath been much abused but a spirituall day in duties of piety and charitie to the poore to shew our selves Christians by honouring Christ in his birth day Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ J. E. The Contents of the Doctrines Reasons and Uses handled in this insuing Treatise GOod Newes for Souldiers or the way to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 12. 11. The Exposition from the 7. verse to the 12. to make entrance 1. Doctrine That all faithfull Souldiers that love not their lives to the death shall overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and the proofes Three things requisite for to make a man able to overcome the Devill and all his enemies 1. He must have the golden faith of his Baptisme for his Regeneration 2. He must have a lively faith in the white raiment of Christs Righteousnesse And 3. Eye-salve of the Spirit of Christ Six Reasons 1. Reason When Satan tempts to sinne or despaire shew him the bloud of the Lambe 2. Reason When he shews to Conscience the curse of the Law shew him the bloud of Christ 3. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of death say O death where is thy sting here is the bloud of the Lambe 4. Reason When he fights against Conscience with the feare of hell shew him the bloud of the Lambe saying O Hell where is thy victory 5. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are Conquerours already 6. Reason For by the bloud of the Lambe wee are more then Conquerours And that in foure Respects Uses how to disarme Satan Objection I am not afraid of the Devill but I am afraid of the Papists and Rebels of Ireland to cut my throat Answer If thou hast prevailed over the God of this world thou shalt prevaile with men Object They are wonderfull strong They have great Iron and Brasse Ordnance Ans. So had the Canaanites Chariots of Iron 2. Doctrine That all that fight against the Devill with the shield of Faith of the bloud of the Lambe and the word of their testimony shall surely overcome him for they by it quench all his fiery darts 1. Reason First Because by the word of our testimony wee give God the glory of his holinesse 2. Reason Because by it wee give him the glory of his wisdome 3. Reason We give him the glory of his truth 4. Reason We give him the glory of his power 5. Reason We give him the glory of his mercy 6. Reason We give unto God the glory of his Justice in three points of Justice Foure sleights of Satan to take this shield of faith out of thine hand 1. Use If Souldiers will give God the glory of his holines then they must beware of whoredome and keepe their bodies chaste and pure Temples for the Holy Ghost 2. Use If you give God the glory of his wisedome then aske counsell of the Lord for every battell as David did and you shall prevaile as he did 3. Use If you give glory to the truth of God then Souldiers must speake and practise truth accuse none falsly and then plunder them 4. Use If you give glory to the power of God sprinkle the bloud of the Lambe well and you shall be shot-free howsoever Devill-free 5. Use If you give glory to the mercy of God you must be mercifull as your Father is mercifull not cruell and to whom Justice 6. Use If you give God the glory of his Justice you must practise Justice towards men in three poynts Against the Anabaptists which would not have the Law Preached These things may doe good to many Christian Souldiers Let none stop them from the Presse Written by J. E. GOOD NEVVES FOR ALL CHRISTIAN SOULDIERS DEare Christians in stead of complementing Eloquence I shall endeavour to shew you that love not your lives unto the death how to overcome the Devill by the bloud of the Lambe and by that word of your testimony Revel. 12. 11. In the 7th verse wee heare there was a battell in Heaven i. in the Church saith Brightman and so there is now Michael and his Angels fought Michael which is by interpretation Quis sicut Deus he was sent to destroy his enemies that rose up against his Church when it lay in the Wildernesse for the wrath of the Dragon as it doth now lie in warre by the wrath of the Dragon the Devill and the Beast and false Prophet Michael the Lord Jesus Christ then whom none is stronger in heaven or earth For who is like our God as Meyer noteth in heaven i. in the justified Church which is rightly called heaven as Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all is the holy Catholick Church saith Luther out of which Satan was cast which led the people to dumb Idolls Eph. 2. 2. And so he shall in this battell for Michael and his Angels will fight for you which is called the great Prince for the people of God Dan. 10. 21. i. Christ Jesus whose Angels are as Bullenger noteth those blessed ministring Spirits and all faithfull Christians which serve the Lord Jesus to fight against Antichrist and his instruments And the Dragon and his Angels fought i. all evill spirits and all evill men as the wise and rich of this world that fight against the Gospel and against a reformation whose power and subtiltie are their armour to fight against the Church against whom you must fight with spirituall armour Eph. 6. 13. For you have Michael your Prince that will give you the crowne of victory Rev. 2. 10. Marlorat A great battell first in respect of the Souldiers all beleevers on the one part and all unbeleevers on the other part Secondly In respect of the time the Enmitie between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent is the cause of it and therefore as the seed of the bond-woman persecuted the seed of the free-woman so it is now Gal. 4. 29. that now reached to you and will be to posteritie Thirdly The manner of the Battell all beleevers fight by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie which are invincible But the adversaries
fight with infidelitie and armed with lies the justified must fight by faith in the bloud of the Lamb that he hath loved you and washed you from your sinnes in his own bloud to make you without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5. 26. and made you Kings and Priests to God his Father and prove it by the Word Rev. 1. 5. Col. 1. 22. That he hath throwne upon Christ the iniquities of us all i. e. guilt and punishment The other fight by infidelitie which doe not beleeve this but by hatred lies and sword persecute them that beleeve so for the Devill was a lyer from the beginning and a murtherer as his children are Ver. 8. But they prevailed not Here is comfort for all you faithfull Souldiers they shall not prevaile against you for the gates of bell shall not prevaile against the faith of your free justification by Christ Mat. 16. His place was no more found in heaven i. The Devill was cast out of heaven that accused the Saints before God day and night by the victory of Christ upon the Crosse saith Elton And the Heathen Emperour a Dragon was cast out of the heaven of the Church by Constantine saith Brightman and the Beast and the false Prophet must be cast out of the heaven of the Church by our Michael i. Christ and his Souldiers which all you are that are faithfull For by our Michael he is cast out of the hearts of the Elect as the Apostles saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven Luk. 10. 18. as Meyer For now is the Judgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out so now shall Antichrist be cast out of the Church of England not so much for the sword as by the Word preached For where the death of Christ is preached and by faith received that he bare all our sinnes in his body upon the tree 1 Pet. 2. 24. That we being dead to sinne should live in righteousnesse by whose stripes yee were healed the Devill must needs be cast out saith Marlorat So that here is the cause why Satan dwells in the hearts of the wicked they beleeve not that the bloud of the Lamb hath purged their hearts from all sinne therefore Satan an uncleane spirit will dwell in that heart that is not washed by faith in the bloud of the Lambe But where the heart is washed by faith in that bloud Christ dwells there as Eph. 3. 17. For where Christ is received into the heart for Idolatry and superstition true Religion and piety comes in for carnall reason the Spirit of God comes in which illuminates the minde and changeth the will to God from uncleannesse to sanctitie as Marlorat Ver. 9. And the great Dragon the old Serpent c. The Devill is called the old Serpent saith Pignetius because he hath alwayes deadly poyson prepared to infect men Secondly He is the same that labours by all meanes to hinder you from Paradise as he caused our first parents to be cast out and therefore so much the rather to be taken heed of in his practise to bring thee to sinne for if he did thus to our first parents when they were pure from all spot of inherent sinnes what will he doe against thee that art inherently uncleane by sinne if thou hast not the bloud of the Lambe Which is called the Devill {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} i. Calumniator a Caviller or an Accuser so that you see that cavillers against the faithfull and accusers of the Brethren for the true faith in Christs bloud and righteousnesse change names with the Devill called Satanas i. adversarius an adversary i. because he is such an enemie as his children are and adversary to the professors of free Justification that by the bloud of Christ and his righteousnesse men should be saved and be made without spot before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 5. Satan cannot abide that doctrine Which deceiveth all the world Because he perswadeth men contrary to the Word of God as Bullenger and Musculus i. the Reprobate by his fallacies and lies as Paul saith to feare lest as Satan seduced Eve so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicitie that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11. 3. He was cast downe to the Earth even to be troden under foote of men as Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt goe upon the Lion and the Aspe the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet as Luk. 10. 19. He is cast downe to the earth i. to hurt earthly minded men onely for woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea because the Devill is come down amongst you that hath great wrath because his time is but short So you shall finde that these warres shall be wofull to the Inhabitants of the earth and Sea by the Devils meanes but it shall not hurt the true Church For Satan departing from them that are faithfull and overcoming him by the bloud of the Lambe he shall hurt onely earthly-minded men that preferre earthly things before heavenly and contemne the truth as Erasmus And they are cast into the earth in respect of any power to doe hurt to you the children of God but shall hurt earthly men by Sea and Land Ver. 10. Then I heard a loud voyce in heaven For the faithfull cannot but praise God for the confusion of Satan their deadly enemy saith Pignetius Hic ergo {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a song of triumph of the Church triumphing over the Devill that is overcome which shews the cause why many men doe not praise the Lord with a loud voyce they beleeve not the Devill is overcome therefore they are afraid of him In Heaven i. In the Church which dwels in the large heaven of remission of sinnes and in the kingdome of heaven which is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost as Luther And hath her conversation in heaven Phil. 3. 2â— Now is salvation For where sinne reigned there perdition had a place but where the Gospel reignes i. the glad tydings that Christ hath purged your sinnes in his own person and is set downe at the right hand of God Heb. 1. 3. there is life and salvation And strength Not of men but of God for the right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence and therefore he will give his Church the victory And the Kingdome of our God wherein the Devill reigned saith Musculus by Idolatry And the power of his Christ for his power appeares especially in converting men to his righteousnesse For the accuser of the Brethren is cast down for this is the property of the Devill and his Instruments and if he can to lay open to damnation those that he suspects shall be heirs of heaven and ascend to that place from which hee fell which he doth most commonly by Scripture as to Christ wherefore I have laboured in these fourteen differences to disarm Satan against the
consciences of all true believers of his strong holds to accuse the conscience and to shew you a most certain victory by Christs blood as you may see but they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb i. they got victory not by their own strength or merits but by the free grace and favour of Jesus Christ they overcame the power of the Devill as Meyer By the blood of the Lamb i. By faith in the death of Christ which makes men conquerers as Marlorat over all enemies for we are to understand that Christ hath not only got victory over the Devill in his person but hath left power to his justified children to get victory also over him in our person and in our consciences and that is by the blood of the Lamb Doctr. Hence I gather That all faithfull souldiers that love not their lives unto the death shall overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony All you that truly believe that the blood of the Lamb hath purged you from all sins shall get victory over the Devill this is not only plain by the Text which saith They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb c. the word of their testimony but also by the Apostle Paul that giveth thanks for the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. And what victory is that but even over sin death and the Devill for Christ by his bloâ—d on the Crosse spoiled Principalities and Powers and destroyed him that had the power of death the Devill Ephes. 2. 15. for he took away the sting of death which is sin By his blood c. and the strength of sin which is the law which was by that blood blotted out Col. 2. 14. And therefore we say Thanks be to God which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ that is to our faith and hath given you power to get victory over the Devill to your selves and consciences by the blood of the Lamb for that must needs be fulfilled in the members that is fulfilled already in the Head saith Meyer The second proof is 1 John 4. 4. Little Children yee are of God and have overcome them for greater is hee that is in you then he that is in the world For where Christs blood dwells he dwells in vers. 3. he saith that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antichrist Some may object the Devill and the Pope confesse so much therefore to the word come in the flesh you must understand And washed us from our sins in his own blood and made us Kings and Priests to God his Father and that the blood of the Lamb hath made us clean from all sin before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 5. That neither the Devil nor the Pope believe for he hath invented a Purgatory to purge them from sin after death for he believes not the blood of the Lamb hath purged them from all sin in this life But little children yee are of God i. all you true Believers that have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ hath purged your sins and have overcome them i. Satan Antichrist and all his servants for seeing Christ hath given you victory over the Devill certainly you have victory over his servants saith Aug. Marlorat for greater is he that is in you then he that is in world for Christ dwels in your hearts where his blood dwels by faith that is greater then the Devill that dwels in the hearts of all unbelievers where the blood of the Lamb is not sprinkled by faith And therefore wee overcome not by our own power but by the strength of Christ for we must needs be overcome if we trust to our own strength saith Calvin as to the arme of flesh or great ordnance ammunition c. which he will cause them sometime to lose to cause them know that their victory must be by the blood of the Lamb Now there be three things requisite to make a man able to overcome the Devill and all his enemies First hee must be born anew in Christ of water and the holy Ghost as 1 John 5. 4. for so by regeneration hee is freed from the bondage of sin death the Devill and Hell hee must believe his Baptisme that he is new born of God which is the foundation of our victory over the Devill as the Virgin said to the Devill tempting her I am a Christian and am baptized and the Devill fled This is that gold of a lively faith in the merit of Christs death in Baptisme in our infancy when wee knew not what Christ did for us as John 13. 7. but do know it after that we are there buried with Christ and new born and so were made capable to overcome the Devill by the blood of the Lamb when wee should have faith in the same afterward If we do not forsake our first baptisme to take a second for that is to depart from the faith for if God have but one baptisme the second is of the Devil and all that are baptized again shall be overcome of the Devill which do not believe Christs words that he that is washed i. in baptisme if elect is clean every whit needeth not save to wash his feet i. his conscience and conversation in the blood of the Lamb in the other Sacrament but like fools will have their hands and head washed again which is a thing abhorred of God and of all his true Churches that ever have been since the Apostles time Secondly hee must have true faith in the vertue of Christs resurrection that hee is risen again for our justification that hee hath clothed you with the white raiment of his own righteousnesse that your filthy nakednesse should not appeare as Rev. 3. 18. for if any sin be imputed before God the Devill will be too hard for thee for thou that believest not that the blood of the Lamb hath washed away all thy fins before God and that the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse hath not covered all thy sins thou art not fit to be a Captain or souldier for the Devill the World will overcome thee for by this a man denies himself to be all in Christ and in his righteousnesse for whosoever is clothed with the garment of salvation he shall be saved and overcome the Devill and the World but by faith in the white raiment we believe we are clothed with the garment of salvation Esâ— 61. 10. therefore wee shall overcome Thus when a man will be nothing in himself or in his own righteousnesse or sanctification but to be altogether in him Phil. 3. 9. therefore St. John saith in the same place this is our victory which overcometh the world even our faith What faith is that he tels you in 20th verse that wee are in him that is true in that his Son Jesus
righteous but sinners to repentance therefore I repent and the bloud of the Lamb by faith purgeth me from all sinne I have read in Luthers every dayes Sacrifice p. 59. who reporteth of a poore man in Friburge in Misnia being distressed for his sinnes and crying out of the greatnesse of his sinnes the Devill appeared unto him with a writers Inkhorne and bad him he should repeate all his sinnes and he would write them down for him the man perceiving it was the Devill bad him write The seed of the woman shall crush the Serpents head and with that the Devill fled and left such a stinke as if he would have choaked them all so if thou shalt tell Satan of the bloud of the Lamb thou doest thereby declare that the seed of the woman hath broken his head he will flee Secondly Doth he tell thee of the curse of the Law and come against thee with that armour take this sword of the bloud of the Lamb you may reade of David when he asked for the sword of Ahimelech they told him there was none but the sword of Goliah O said David there is none to that so if thou desire a sword to goe disarme the Devill with take the bloud of the Lamb 't is like the sword of Goliah for his head was cut off with it so take the bloud of the Lamb for the Devils head was broken with it doth he cast the curses of the Law upon thee cast on him the bloud of the Lambe Thirdly Doth Satan fight against thee with the feare of death and hell shew unto him the bloud of the Lamb bid him read Here 's thy victory O Death O Hell I have victory by the bloud of the Lamb I have an eternall redemption through his bloud the forgivenesse of my sinnes and I am a conquerer over death and hell But as we reade of men that have committed wilfull murder the bloud of the slaine will hang upon them that although they rub and wipe yet still the bloud will hang upon them and discover them they cannot get it off especially not from their consciences that tels them of death and hell so when thou doest tell Satan of the bloud of the Lamb thy faithfull deare husband he cannot wipe nor rub off the cry of that innocent bloud it will hang about him especially upon his conscience and tell him of death and hell Now when Satan heares thee testifie the greatnesse of his sinnes by the bloud of the Lamb he will be gone for he is like a meere civill honest man that can be content to heare of any thing rather then his owne sinnes he can be content to heare of other mens sinnes and laugh at them for fooles make a sport of sinne they rejoyce at other mens sinnes especially of professors if they fall but once the Devill and all civilians will rejoyce at it but tell them of their owne sinnes and they will be gone and so will Satan not indure to see the terriblenesse of his sinnes in the bloud of the Lambe Vse Is it so that by the bloud of the Lamb you are conquerers already because you have victory already given unto you and are saved already see Deut. 33. 29. Blessed art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thine help and which is the sword of thy glory therefore thine enemies shall be in subjection unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places Here is admirable comfort for you that are the faithfull Souldiers of Jesus Christ to incourage you to the warre against all your spirituall enemies because you are sure of victory for what is the reason that many are so loath to goe to warre because they know not whether they shall have victory or no but if you could assure every one of victory of a crowne and of a kingdome you should have Souldiers enough I tell thee that art a faithfull Souldier of Jesus Christ fight valiantly with the bloud of the Lambe till death against the world the flesh and the Devill and thou shalt be sure of victory for Christ having overcome already his victory is thine Be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. And feare not little flocke i. that fight by the bloud of the Lamb for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. You have conquered the world by faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. conquer your selves for so shall you be wiser then he that conquers a Citie be an enemy to the world be an enemy to the Devill but especially to thine owne flesh as a Martyr wrote to his wife fight by the bloud of the Lambe and feare none of these Object Object O may some say I am not afraid of the Devill but I am afraid of the Papists and Rebels of Ireland that they will cut our throats and take all they are Devils incarnate they do more harme then the Devils to the Protestants Ans. Ans. I answer as the Lord said to Jacob Thou hast prevailed with God thou shalt also prevaile with men though his brother Esau came against him with foure hundred men so I say to thee thou hast prevailed with the bloud of the Lamb over the God of this world the Devill thou shalt also by the bloud of the Lamb prevaile with men Therefore feare not thou Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen Thus saith the Lord that redeemed thee feare not he will helpe thee as Isa. 44. 1 2. 44. Thou hast overcome the Devill the Prince of the world shouldest thou feare men Object Object O they are wonderfull strong for they have great brasse and iron Ordnance Ans. Ans. I answer thee as Joshua did the Children of Joseph when they objected that the Canaanites had chariots of iron He said unto the house of Joseph Thou art a great people and hast great power and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites though they have chariots of iron and be strong Thou shalt not have one lot Therefore the mountaine shall be thine for it is a wood and thou shalt cut it downe and the ends of it shall be thine and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites Josh. 17. 18. For the blessing of Joshua and his telling them of victory made them valiant in battell so when the Protestants understand what the Lord saith to them in that place of Joshua and in the 25. of Numbers 17. 18. and learne to fight against them by the bloud of the Lamb they shall vex those Midianities and Canaanites and smite them that have beguiled them with their wiles concerning Idolatry and as concerning their sister Cozbi the daughter of a Prince of Midian By these two wiles are England and Ireland beguiled and the plague is come of a civill warre you shall overcome them by the bloud of the Lamb It followeth And by that word of their testimony This is added saith
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