The vvhole-armor of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keepe him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well vse it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. By VVilliam Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Blacke Fryers London. ...

§. 4. The need of Christian courage.

THe matter followeth, the first part whereof is in these words, Bee strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might: wherenote, first, what is required, secondly, how that which is required may be performed.

The thing required is to be strong, the Apostle heere speaketh of an inward spirituall strength, the strength of the inward and new man, and his meaning is that wee should bee valorous and couragious in the performance of those Christian duties which we take in hand.

Christian valour and spirituall courage is a needfull grace.* 1.1 Note with what varietie of phrase the Apostle doth ex∣hort hereunto,* 1.2 1. Cor. 16. 13. Stand fast, quit you like men, be strong: hereuntog 1.3 God perswadeth his seruant Ioshuah, andh 1.4 Dauid, his sonne Salomon.i 1.5 Dauid had in him this holy valour and courage, when hee went against Goliah,

andk 1.6 Paul when he was going to Ierusalem. But most va∣lorous and strong did Christ our Captaine shew himself, when he was going vp to Ierusalem to suffer,l 1.7 The Euan∣gelist saith, he stedfastly set his face, he setled himselfe fully to go: though it were to drink a most bitter cup, he would not be drawne from it. Because Peter labored to disswade him,m 1.8 he sharpely rebuked him, and called him Satan.

The reasons why this spirituall valour is so needfull, are specially two.

First,* 1.9 because of our owne indisposition, timerousnes, dulnesse, and back wardnesse to all holy and good duties. What Christian findeth not this by woefull experience in himselfe? when he would pray, heare Gods word, par∣take of the Sacraments, sanctifie the Sabbath, or performe any other like Christian dutie, there is I know not what fearefulnesse in him, his flesh hangeth backe, as a Beare when he is drawne to the stake.n 1.10 This the holy Apostle found in himselfe: so that for the rowsing vp of our own dulnesse we haue need of valour.

Secondly,* 1.11 because of those many oppositions which we are like to meet withal. We heard before how the flesh would hang back, and so labour to hinder vs. The world wil like wise do what it can, either by vaine inticements to seduce vs (as it drew away Demas,) or else by reproach, trouble, and persecution, to terrifie vs, (as those who for∣sooke Paul) But aboue all the Diuell will be readie to re∣sist vs, (asa 1.12 hee resisted Iehoshuah) and to hinder vs (b 1.13 as hee hindred Paul) yea to buffet vs (asc 1.14 hee buffeted the same Paul.) To omit other instances, most liuely is this set foorth in our Head and Generall Christ Iesus. So soone as hee was set apart to his publike Ministerie,d 1.15 the Tempter came to him: after he began to execute it, Satan stirred vp the Rulers, Priests, Scribes, Pharises, and many

other to hinder him; yea he moouede 1.16 Peter to disswade him, and when Christ was about to offer vp himselfe a sa∣crifice, then againf 1.17 came the Prince of this world to discou∣rage him. The like oppositions are all Christs members to looke for; so as there is no hope, no possibilitie of hol∣ding out and enduring to the end without this Christian valour and magnanimitie heere spoken of.

[Vse 1] Iustly may they be taxed, who either too timerously, or too securely and careiesly enter into a Christian course,* 1.18 and vndertake such Christian duties as are requi∣red at their hands. Hence it commeth to passe that many duties are cleane omitted of them, other intermitted and broken off before they are halfe done: and as for those which are done, so vntowardly are they done, that little or no comfort can be found in doing of them. Lamenta∣ble experience sheweth how small matters doe discou∣rage many who know the right way, and are oft in con∣science moued to walke therein.

Such as want this Christian courage, were better not giue vp their names to bee Christs Souldiers, or professe that they intend to fight the Lords battailes: for by their timerousnesse and cowardlinesse they discourage other Souldiers of the Lord, and hearten the enemie. The Lord would not suffer any that wereg 1.19 fearefull and faint hearted to fight his battailes on earth against earthly enemies, lest they made others faint like themselues. Can wee thinke that he will entertaine faint hearted souldiers in his spiri∣tuall battailes against spirituall enemies, in which com∣bates his owne honor, and his childrens saluation are so deepely ingaged?

As for the Enemie he is like a Wolfe, if strongly he be resisted,a 1.20 he will flie; if timerously he be yeelded vnto, he will more eagerly pursue and insult.

[Vse 2]

Indeauour we therefore to get vnto our selues an holy courage and spirituall valour, shaking off our naturall fearefulnesse,b 1.21 that in nothing we feare our aduersaries, but (as Christ our General did)c 1.22 endure the crosse, and despise the shame.) We that will be Christs souldiers must duely consider the aduice which our Lord giueth, Luke 14 13. which is, to obserue what kinde of enemies, how many, how mightie, we are to encounter withall. We shald 1.23 here∣after heare how hard a battaile we are to vndertake, how many, mightie, malicious, subtill our enemies be: if not∣withstanding al this we be minded to fight vnder Christs banner, then be we strong and couragious, bold ase 1.24 Li∣ons; so are thef 1.25 righteous.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doct. 1.
• * 1.2

  Spirituall va¦lour needfull.
• g 1.3

  Ios. 1. 6. 7.
• h 1.4

  1 Chr. 18. 10.
• i 1.5

  1 Sam. 17. 45
• k 1.6

  Acts 21. 13.
• l 1.7

  Luke 9. 51.
• m 1.8

  Mat. 16. 23.
• * 1.9

  Reason 1.
• n 1.10

  Rom. 7. 18. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c.
• * 1.11

  Reason 2.
• a 1.12

  Zach. 3. 1.
• b 1.13

  1 Thes. 2. 18.
• c 1.14

  2. Cor. 12. 7.
• d 1.15

  Matth. 4. 1.
• e 1.16

  Mat. 16. 22.
• f 1.17

  John 14. 30.
• * 1.18

  Timerousnes taxed.
• g 1.19

  Deut 21. 8. Judges 7. 3.
• a 1.20

  Iames 4. 7.
• b 1.21

  Phil. 1. 28.
• c 1.22

  Heb. 12. 2.
• d 1.23

  On verse 12.
• e 1.24

  Prou. 30. 30.
• f 1.25

  Prou. 28. 1.