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. ...

§. 3. What kind of Girdle is here meant.

[Point 11] THe next point is, * 1.1 concerning the metaphor, and the fit application of this grace of truth. This speech of e 1.2 girding the loynes, is in Scripture taken in a double sence: one for trussing vp a mans garments, the other for close and fast tying his harnesse together: in the for∣mer sence the metaphor is taken from trauellers or run∣ners: for in those countries they were wont to weare long aside garments, which if they were not tucked vp, they would hang dangling about the heels of such as trauel∣led or runne a race, and so be a great hinderance vnto them. In this sence this metaphor isf 1.3 oft vsed,* 1.4 and therby Gods people were taughtg 1.5 to remoue all impedi∣ments in their Christian course and iourney,* 1.6 and to be as well prepared as they could be to performe the worke of the Lord. In the latter sence the metaphor is taken from souldiers, who are wont to knit their Armour close and fast vnto them, and so tye their loynes hard, partly to keepe their Armour from loosing and shaking, and part∣ly to keepe their body steddy. h 1.7In this sence the Lord

said to Iob;h 1.8 Gird vp thy loines like a man: That last phrase Like a man, sheweth that hee speaketh to him as vnto a souldier, whom hee would haue to stand stedfast, and to hearken vnto him.

Here it is to be taken in this latter sence, and signifieth a souldier-like girding of the loines: for which purpose, they who weare armour, vse to haue a strong faire girdle, commonly called a belt, whereby they knit fast together▪ and close vnto their middle the vpper and lower peeces of their armour, as their brest-plate, and their tassets and cushes. These belts as they were strong, so they were set with studdes, being faire and large. There is a double vse of them: one to keepe the seuerall peeces of armour fast and close together, and to hold the loines of a man firme, and steddy, that he might be able to stand the surer, and hold out the longer. The other to couer the ioints of the armour, that they might not be seene. The first vse was for strength: the second for ornament.

Notes

• * 1.1

  how fitly Truth is com∣pared to a Girdle.
• e 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• f 1.3

  1 King. 18. 46
• * 1.4

  2 King 4, 29.
• g 1.5

  Exod. 12. 11.
• * 1.6

  Luke 12. 35.
• h 1.7

  Iob. 38, 3. & 40. 2.
• h 1.8

  Iob 38. 3. & 40. 2.