A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 3 Of the mani∣fold benefits which arise from being thus daily armed.

Secondly, it is most profitable to be thus daily armed, as may appeare by the manifold fruits and benefits which will accrew vnto vs by it. For hereby we shall be strengthened against all the assaults of all our spirituall enemies, so as they shall neuer be able to preuaile against vs, but at last bee vanquished and ouercome. And therefore hath God made for vs, and gi∣uen vnto vs this spiritual Armour, and to this end he exhorteth vs to put it daily on, that we may be able to withstand in the euill day, and hauing done all, to stand against the wiles of the deuill, and all encounters and attempts of the enemies of our saluation. Therefore hath he put into our hands, not car∣nall weapons, which are farre vnfitting this spirituall warfare, but such as are mighty through God, to the pulling downe of strong holds, and casting downe imaginations, and euery high thing, that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ. And therefore we may be assured that God will not be disgraced with the weakenesse of his workemanship, nor faile of his end for which hee hath made it, and so spend his labour in vaine: but seeing hee hath made it, and put it into our hands for Armour of high proofe, let vs assure our selues

that it will neuer faile, but will at all times be sufficient to beate backe the bullets of Satans tentations, and to defend vs against the assaults of all our spirituall enemies. Againe, if we daily put on this Armour, it will make vs valiant and couragious, seeing before the fight it assureth vs of victory. Whereas, though wee haue neuer so much valor and forti∣tude, yet if we be but naked men, and so lye open to bee wounded conti∣nually with the firie darts of the deuill, our courage will be soone cooled, and like cowards, we shall betake our selues to a shamefull flight. It will make vs cheerefull in our pilgrimage, and to goe on in the wayes of godli∣nesse and righteousnesse with much ioy and comfort; when as being ar∣med, we shall not neede to feare any spirituall theeues that lie lurking in the way to rob vs of Gods graces, nor to goe out of the right way, either to the right hand or to the left, for any worldly terrour or discouragement which shall affront vs in our course of Christianity. It will preserue vs from falling into such sinnes as will wound our soules and consciences, and strengthen vs also against our frailties and infirmities, so as they shall not preuaile against vs. It will bee a notable meanes to continue vs in peace; for as nothing more preserueth our worldly peace, then to be con∣tinually prepared for warre; so nothing bringeth vnto vs a more sound and secure peace, euen peace with God, peace, of conscience, and peace also in respect of the malicious attempts of our spirituall enemies, then to keepe daily this Armour fast buckled vnto vs. Finally, it will bring with it much Christian security, when as we are assured that we are free from all danger, and that none of our enemies shall be able to hurt vs; so as we may lye downe in peace and take our rest, because the Lord onely maketh vs (hereby) to dwell in safety.

Notes

• Eph. 6. 11, 13.
• 2. Cor. 10. 4, 5.
• Psal. 4. 8.