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And thus wee see, how wee may generally incourage our selues in the duties of a godly life, against those impediments which arise from the nature of this grand enemy, who opposeth vs in them. Ma∣ny others there are which are cast in our way by his tentations, which either respect our faith, or the fruits of it in a godly life. Con∣cerning the former; this wily and experienced enemie mainely ben∣deth
all his forces and engines of battery against our faith, because hee well knoweth, that if he can destroy the roote, the branches and fruites which spring from it, will wither and faile of their owne accord. And therefore sometime taking aduantage of our wants and vnworthinesse, our falls, frailties, and infirmities, hee perswadeth vs that wee haue no faith at all, when as wee haue it; and sometimes laboureth to make vs neglect all meanes of getting faith when it is wanting, by causing vs to rest vpon that shew and shaddow of it, carnall security and fond presumption. Yea, hee assaulteth our faith diuersly, in respect of all the causes and meanes of our saluation, that so hee may hinder vs in the wayes of godlinesse. For first, hee mooueth vs either falsly to beleeue, that all men are beloued of God, and so wee among the rest, because wee inioy testimonies of his fauour in worldly prosperity, though these outward gifts are giuen in common to the good and bad; or to doubt of Gods loue, in respect of our afflictions, and so to neglect all duties of his seruice, because wee know not whether wee or our workes are ac∣cepted of him. Secondly, hee perswadeth vs either to thinke that all are elected to saluation, and so wee among others, liue as wee list; or if some be elected, and some reprobated, that this Decree is vnchangeable; and therefore if wee be elected, wee shall be saued, though wee take our pleasure and neglect all good duties; or if we be reiected, wee shall bee condemned, though wee take neuer so much paines in the wayes of god∣linesse. Finally, that wee can haue no assurance that wee are elected, and therefore it is in vaine to labour after it, but rather, that it is our wisest course to leaue it to the venter, and take the benefit of present pleasures. Thirdly, hee will tell vs that all are redeemed by Christ, and wee with others, and therefore wee may liue in our sinnes, seeing he hath satisfied for them; or that if he haue redeemed but some onely, that we cannot be assured that we are in this number, though wee be neuer so diligent in Gods seruice. Fourthly, hee will suggest that all are vniuersally called, and yet seeing many fall away, few are chosen, and consequently, that it is a matter impossible to be assured that we are in Christs little flocke, because when we haue done all we can, we may become Apostates, and no better then Wolues and Goats; and therfore it were best to spare our paines, and to inioy our pleasures when we may haue them. Fifthly, he will tell vs that we are iustified by faith alone, and therefore by that faith which is alone, and that good workes are not required to the act of iustification, and therefore are needlesse to the party iustified; that they are not the causes of our saluation, and therefore wee neede not to walke in them, but may easily goe to heauen by another way. Sixthly, that none vpon earth can be perfectly sanctified, and therefore seeing we cannot be Saints heere, we must liue like other men, and not tire our selues in vaine, by labouring af∣ter impossibilities. Finally, that though wee haue neuer so much grace, and be as forward as any in the duties of godlinesse, yet we may fall from this state, and become as wicked as any other; and therefore seeing when we haue done our best in seruing God, and haue with much paines sto∣red our selues with all spirituall graces, wee may lose all our labour, and become, notwithstanding all our care and diligence, vtter brankrupts in
all goodnesse, it were our best course to giue ouer this doubtfull paines in the seruice of God, and to satisfie our owne lusts with the present frui∣tion of worldly delights. Of all which tentations, which Satan as im∣pediments casteth in our way, to discourage vs in the course of godli∣nesse, I haue largely spoken in the first part of my Christian War∣fare, and therefore heere thus briefly passe them ouer, referring the Christian Reader to that Booke, for his more full satisfaction in these points.