The unconquerable, all-conquering, & more-then-conquering souldier: or, The successful warre which a believer wageth with the enemies of his soul: as also the absolute and unparalleld victory that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ, : as it was discoursed in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England, on the day of the artillery-election there, June 3d. 1672. / By Urian Oakes Pastor of the Church of Christ in Cambridge. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]

ROM. 8. 37.

Nay, in all these Things we are more then Conquerors, through him that loved us.

IN these Words we have the Apostle Pauls not Ovation, but Triumph, not Triumph only, but Something, (I know not how to word it) Exhibited in the Name and on the Behalf of Himself and all true Believers, Indigitating and Importing a more then ordinary Tryumph over all those Enemies that oppose themselves against the Progress and Advance of a Christian in his way to the Fruition of the sweet Fruits of the Everlasting Love of God in Jesus Christ. Having per|spicuously, copiously, and demonstratively assorted and vindicated the illu|strious Doctrine of Justification in a way of Free Grace by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the beginning of this excellent Epistle, which is ingeni|ously stiled by the great M••lancthon, the Confession of the Reformed Chur|ches: he proceeds in the sixth Chapter to Discourse of the Fruits and Con|sequents thereof▪ namely, Sanctification and Obedience; the Mortification of indwelling sin in Believers, and the renovation, or rather infusion of a new Principle of Spiritual Life and Holiness. Now because this work is but inchoate and imperfect, and in part only transacted in this World; and there are remainders of sin in this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the best of Saints; and because Grace and Corruption are vigorous, active, operative Principles, dwelling so near together, under the same Roof, in the same Soul, yea in the very same Faculties: there must needs arise a sharp and severe War in the Soul be|tween these two Neighbouring and Opposite Natures, the particular events and successes whereof are various and uncertain; but the Victory is infal|libly determined in the issue on the side of Grace. Grace indeed is greatly beset, hardly bestead, much incumbred and almost overthrown at some sea|sons: but it will certainly 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wrestle and recover it self out of all the dangers that threaten it. Now there is a double War which is commenced and waged by Believers in this ••••fe. A War with the evil of sin, and a War with the evil of suffrings or affections so far as they would impede or do op|pose them in their Ma••ch to Heaven. Of the War with sin, indwelling sin: (th•••• in-bred, home bred Enemy, that Mother of all the A••ominations that are brought forth in the lives of Men, that Adversary that is ever molesting the peace, disturbing the quset, and endangering the condition of the People of 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

of this Epistle: where he finally adjudges the victory to Grace, in the last verse of that, and in the beginning of the eight Chapter also. Of the War with Affliction▪ or the evil of suffering: from Satan, or the World, from what hand, of what kind▪ and howsoever conditioned and circumstanced; he Discourseth Admirably, at the seventeenth verse of this Chapter and so forwards, and he comes in the procedure of his Discourse to give unquestionable Assurance to the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ, of the full and final decision of this grand Controversie, and the happy issuing of all these hazardous conflicts, whether with sin or sufferings, in a glorious and absolute victory: Insomuch as having made sure of God on the side of him|self and Believers, he doth in his own and their Name make an open Chal|lenge, and bid defiance to all opposite and adverse powers, ver. ••••. If God befor us who then can be against us? He ••ids Sin, Satan, and an evil World do their worst against Believers that are thus entrenched in, and walled a|bout with the Love of God; thus fortified and defended, aided and assisted by the Almighty one, the Lord of Hosts. And having laid his foundation in Gods Predestination, and Christs Mediation, he superstructs upon it, and plainly asserts the invincibleness of every sound Believer, notwithstanding the Relicks of sin that incumber him, the Temptations of Satan that molest him, and the afflictions and evils of the World that set themselves in Battel aray against Him. He represents to us the Christian as a person that may be opposed, combated and contended withal: but never routed, run down, totally defeated or overthrown in any Engagement. Now this invincible|ness of the Christian Combatant, the Believing Champion (that in the Name of the Lord defies all the Hosts and Armies of Earth and Hell that come against him) notwithstanding the Remainders of sin, the greatness and unavoidableness of his Afflictions and Sufferings, is expressed,

1. Negatively, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 35. Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? The Argument stands thus▪ if nothing can separate a Christian from the Love of God in Christ, then nothing can conquer him, but he is invincible. But nothing can make that woful destructive separation: which he proves by an enumeration or induction of particulars; shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, &c. therefore he is invincible. This negation is clearly im|ported in the interrogation. For though it may be a stale, yet it is a true and useful observation, that interrogations affirmatively expres•• in Scripture are wont to carry in them the force and signification of vehement negations. The meaning of the Apostle in plain terms is, that neither Tribulation, nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor Persecution, nor Famine, nor Nakedness, nor Peril, nor Sword, nor any thing else of an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nature can possibly separate a true Believer from the dear love of Jesus Christ.

2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in the Words of the Text; Nay in all these things we

are more then Conquerours through him that loved us. As if he should say: we are so farre from being worsted and prevailed over by the Enemies of our Salvation that warre against us, from succumbing under the Load they are laying upon us, and losing our Interest in the Fruits of the Everlasting Love of God in Christ, by Reason of the opposition that is made against us in our way, that we carry the Day, and are sure of a very glorious victory:

In this Verse we may remark these two things.

1. A singular Priviledge: And that is Victory & Conquest, which is illustrated & amplified, (1.) From the Extent and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ••n all these things: such as he had mentioned before, or what else can be men|••ioned and imagined by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (2.) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the transcendent incomparable Excellen|cy of it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 we are more then Conquerours, or do more then over|come. It is a Victory, with Surplusage and Advantage, a Victory, and some|what more then a Victory: a Superlative and incomparable Conquest and Vi|ctory that is obtained. (3.) From the Foundation of this glorious Victory, or the great and only means of acquiring and obtaining it. And that is, The Lord Jesus Christ. Through him that loved us, saith the Apostle: meaning Christ, or God in Christ Jesus. (4.) From the first, grand, impulsive cause of•• it, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cause of this glorious Victory which is infallibly ob|tained, and that is, the Love of God in Christ. The special love of God in his Son Jesus Christ is the first Cause of these victorious Atchievments. More then Conquerours through Him that loved us.

2. The Persons that are thus Priviledged, or invested in this great privi|ledge▪ that have Victory & Triumph ascertained to them. We are more then Conquerours. Not only the great Apostle Pa••l himself, that renowned Warriour, and brave Champion of the Lord Jesus Christ: But all true Be|lievers also universally. He ranks Himself with, and discourseth of Believers in general, that walk not after the Flesh, but a••ter the Spirit; Believing, Justifi|ed and Sanctified men and women. They are not exempted or Secured from violent Onsets, furious Assaults, hazardous and desperate Conflicts with their mortal Enemies that warre against their 〈◊〉〈◊〉: But they have this admirable Advantage above all other men, that they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a glo|rious Victory. The Intendment of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the words is Ob|vious, and may be drawn into this Observation.

Doct. That all true Believers have a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and incomparably glo|rious Conquest and Victory in all their severe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the Enemies of their Peace and Happiness, through the Love of God in Christ Jesus.

Believing, Justified persons through the Love of God in Christ have the better by many Degrees of the Enemies of their Salvation, and are 〈…〉〈…〉 hard for them in all their sharp Disputes and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉〈◊〉

All that have believed through Grace, and are admitted into a state of Justi|fication and Acceptation with the Lord are more then Conquerours, successful and victorious beyond Expression or Comparison, in their Combates and Conflicts with their Enemies (those adverse powers that warre against them) through Divine Love in Jesus Christ. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Proposition which we have laid down, as the Subject of our present Exercise, and which is evi|dently founded and comprized in the words of the Text, hath a large Com|pass and a very great Circum••erence, as you will readily apprehend. We are now entring into a very large Field, and might traverse a great deal of Ground, if Time and strength would allow us to pace it over. We have many Things before us to be discoursed for the due Explication and Confir|mation of this observation. The way of quickest dispatch, and greatest Ex|pedition, as well as Clearness, and Demonstration, will be to cast all we have to say to the Doctrinal part into Six or Seven grand Conclusions.

Concl. 1. Every true Believer is a Souldier, and engaged in a Warfare. I would it were reciprocally true, that every Souldier amongst us is a true Be|liever. I am sure every Souldier ought to be a Believer: and of all men Mi|litary men, when they are commanded out upon real Service, to look Death and Danger in the Face, and carry their Lives in their Hands, had need of Faith and Grace, and Interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby the Con|dition of their Souls well secured for Eternity But it is Infallibly and Uni|versally true, that every Believer is a Souldier in a spiritual Consideration. The whole Body of Christians that walk by Faith in this lower World, the place of Sin, and Sorrow, and Temptation, and Absence from the Lord, is apt|ly and truly called the Church Militant in Contra-Distinction from that which is Triumphant in the highest Heavens. Those that are arrived at a state of Glory have fought their fight, and finished the Course of their War|fare, and are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 out of push of Pike or Gunshot, farre enough removed out of the Reach of their Adversaries. They are marched out of the Field, and discharged from any further Service, and enjoying their Reward. But the people of God in this world are in a warfaring state and Condition. The first moment that any man is effectually called and converted, and sa|vingly wrought upon, He is engaged on Christs side against the world, the Flesh, and the Devil, taken into Christs pay, puts on his Armour, and is pre|pared for the Battel. For the Graces of Gods Spirit, which are infused at a Christians Conversion, are a Believers spiritual Armour, Eph 6 13, 14, &c. Every Christian when he is new Born is born a Souldier. It is said of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Philistine Champion, that he was a Man of warre from his youth, 1 Sam. 17 33. But it may be truly said of the Christian Champion, that He is a Man of warre from his Birth Neither is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a p••or••aked Creature, as it i•• with the Children of the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉: but He comes into the new world in his

Suit of Armour, armed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with compleat Armour of Proof, being vested with the Graces of the Spirit of Christ. He hath his excellent and in|vincible General, the Lord Jesus Christ; and hath taken his Sacrament•••••• ••ilitare, his Oath of Fidelity and Obedience to his great Lord General. He hath also (if there be opportunity, and he walk orderly) his Company that he is listed into, the Church, I mean, He walks in Fellowship with: or at least He is inrolled among the Members of the Church-Militant in gene|ral. He hath his Banner to fight under: even the love of Christ displayed for a Defence to his Souldiers and Followers, and a Flag of Defiance to their Adversaries, Ca••. ••. 4. He hath his Arms and Weapons, offensive and de|fensive to fight withal. He hath his Souldierly Qualifications, and milita|ry Accomplishments; Courage, Skill, Patience, Hope of victory, Faithful|ness to, and Confidence in his General, Orderliness, Disposition to endure Hardship, or whatever else may be mentioned. Every wicked man indeed is a Souldier, but he fights against God, strengthens himself, and stretches out his hand against the Almighty, and ru••neth on his Neck, and upon the thick bosses of his Bucklers, Job. 15 25, 26. He fights against himself and his own Soul, keeping those Lusts in pay that warre against the Soul, 1 Pet. 2. 11. He puts on the whole Armour of the Devil, that He may be able to stand against all the Shocks of Conscience, or encounters of the Word and Spi|rit of God, and fight it out to the last with the Infinite Majesty, to the ever|lasting Ruine of his Immortal Soul. But he is neither engaged in, nor pro|vided and accomplished for the Holy Warre we are discoursing of. He that is not a Believer is a conquered, disarmed slave, that must drudge in the Service of the Enemies of his Soul, and is in no Condition of fighting with them. It He begin to bestir himself (through the Convictions, awaken|ings and Alarms of Conscience) and to hold up his Hand, or make any Re|sistance, He is knock'd down and overcome presently, and made more them a Captive (as the Believer is said to be more then a Conquerour) ten times more a Vassal and Drudge to his Lusts, and other Enemies then before. But a Believer is a man of Warre, a Souldier well appointed, in a good Ca|pacity and Condition to dispute it our with any of his Adversaries.

Concl. 2. Every true Believer hath constant fighting work before him. There is no End of his warre in this world, nor any time wherein He may give over fighting.

N•• quam Bella piis, nunquam Certamina desunt: Et quocum c••rtet mens piasemper habet.

It is not so with other Souldiers. There is a Time when Kings go forth to Battel, 2 Sam. 11. 1. And there is a Time when they disband their Armies, or draw them into their winter Quarters, or make a Cessation of all Acts of Hostility by Leag••es or Truces. There is a Time of Warre (••aith Solomon

〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 8.) and a Time of peace. Other Souldiers are not alwayes fight|ing: but a Christians Duty and Employment is to fight continually. He cannot assure himself of any Respite or Intermission in the Course of his war|fare. This may be convincingly made out in three or four Particulars.

1. Every Believer reacheth after, march••••h towards the perfect enjoyment of the blessed Fruits of the everlasting, Love of God. This is the prize He runs for, the Crown he fights for, the Recompeace of reward He ••ath respect unto, the End and Arm of his Race and wrestling. He is in his Journey or upon his March towards that City which hath Foundations (Heb. 11. 10.) that better Country, where He may enjoy the glorious Fruits of the peculiar L ove of God in perfection. Every Christian is in a way••aring state, and declares plainly (by the course he shapes and steers) that he is a Stranger her••, and seeking a Country, Heb. 11. 14, travelling towards the Heavenly Canaan, and the face of his soul is set towards that Jerusalem whichis above. He hath Grace and Glory in his Eye, and is engaged in a close and eager pursuit of Happiness. The end of his Faith and Holy Conversation is the Salvation of his Soul, and the perfect and perpetual Fruition of the Love of God in the brightest discoveries and richest effusions of it.

2. Every Believer meets with great opposition in his March and way to the ••od aforesaid from Enemies that make Head against Him, and do what they can to seperate Him from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. He meets with numerous Adversaries that design and drive at this to hinder Himself and the Rest of Gods people in their Travels to Canaan, to divert and turn them out of the Road of Holiness and Obedience, which leads to Happiness, to pluck them (if it were possible) out of Gods Hand, to tear them out of his loving Embraces, to cut them short of the blessed Fruition of the Love of God in Christ. God leads every Believer, as it were, through the Land of the Philistines where they must see Wa••re, and brings Him to the Heaven|ly Canaan that way. And he meets with this Opposition▪

3. From Himself, and that sin that dwells in H••m. From his own Heart and Nature, as it is depraved and vitiated: from his natural corruption, or that sin that is inlaid and radicated in his Nature. This is the principal, the Capital, the Grand Enemy, that is bred in his Bowels, raising 〈◊〉〈◊〉 civil Warrs, without which his forreign Enemies, the Rest of his Adversa|ries could do Him no Hart, nor make any considerable Head against Him. It was the great Advantage of the Captain of our Salvation (as our Saviour is called, Heb. 2. 10.) in all his Engagements with Satan and his Instruments, that He was Holy, Harmless, undefiled, and separate from Sinners, Heb. 7. 26. that He know no sin, 2 Cor. 5 21. that He had no sin in Him. Hence it was that just before his last and greatest Encounter with Satan, He tells his Disciples, The Prince of this world cometh and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nothing in me, Joh. 14▪ 30.

There was nothing in our Lord Jesus that complied with, or was suitable to the temptations of the God of this World: nothing to close with his sug|gestions, or entertain his Terrours: the Enemy without had no correspon|dents within him, Satan could not lay hands, or fas••en a Temptation upon him. Christ threw him off with ease in this respect. Hence he was tem|pted indeed in all points, like as we are,) ••t without sin, Heb. 4. 15. Tempta|tion to Christ was like throwing a But upon a Chrystal Glasse, which will not stick, but glides off. But alas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sin of our Natures is Satans strength and ad••antage. He finds enough in the best of Believers, that found nothing in our Saviour. Satans sparks easily enflame us, because he ••inds so much Tinder in us. The Lusts within us are ready to take fire at every injection. There is a Traitour in our own Bowels that is ready to open our Ports, and let in the Adversary. Now of the War which a Christian wages with this home-bred, intestine Enemy, the seventh Chapter of this Epistle to the Romans gives ••s a clear account: where the Apostle raises an Out-cry, and makes Doleful Complaints of the remainders of sin, the Law in the Members, the body of Sin and Death, and Discourseth of the Nature, Power and Pre|valency of in-dwelling sin, as to some engagements. The Apostle James speaks of the Lusts that War in our Members, Jam. 4. 1. And Peter of fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul, 1 Pet. 2. 11. these make up that opposite party within a Christian that would intercept and stop him in his way to Glory: a secret, subtle, treacherous, designing party that creates him a world of trouble and danger in his journey towards Heaven.

2. From the World, which is another Enemy that would obviate and inter|cept the People of God in their Travels. Hence the World was a part of Christ his glorious Conquest. Be of good chear, I have overcome the World, Joh. 16. 33. And the Believer that is born of God by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overcomes it too, 1 John 5. 4. which plainly implies that the World is an Enemy. Considerable are the Expressions of the Apostle to this pur|pose, lam. 4. 4. know ye not that the friendship of the World is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God. And doth it not follow hence, that he that is a Friend of God is an Enemy to the World, as it lies in opposition to God, and the World (in that respect) an Enemy to him? The World is one of the Associates of that false party within a Christian, and under the conduct of Satan militates against a Be|liever. Particularly:

1. The Snares & Allurements of the World which would toll away and se|duce a Christian from following after God. These make war upon a Child of God, and are dangerous Enemies. As they say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fight with Silver or Gold weapons, and

never doubt of Victory. Some Enemies have bought great Victories, which they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 never have won otherwise. All these things will I give thee, this profit, pleasure, Honour, (saith the flattering World to a Belie|ver) if then walt fall down, or surrender to me. These ensnaring and allu|ring Objects, which the world presents the Sons of Men with, have such a close and intimate correspondence with the Lusts in their Hearts, and what is carnal in them, that they fight against their Souls with great Advantage and Success. The Apostle having dehorted from the love of the World, and the things that are in the World, sums up all that is in the World in those three particulars, the lust of the Flesh, the lust of the Eyes, and the pride of Life. 1 Joh. 2▪ 15, 16. The Apostle speaks as if there were nothing else in the world but Lusting: because there is such a curse come upon all Creature-enjoy|ments with reference to man, that so farre as He is of the world, they are Objects of Lust to Him, exciting, drawing forth, invigorating and in pro|ving that Lust and Corruption that is in him. By these Lusts the Apostle means the several respective Objects, and puts the Lust which is in us for the things themselves lusted after, Carnal pleasures, Profits and Preferments. He saith not sensual Pleasures, Riches, Honour (though he speaks of them) but the Lusts of the Flesh and Eye, ••nd pride of Life; because our Lusts ren|der them evil to us (how lawful soever in themselves the Objects are) and make them Objects of Temptation and Seduction from the Lord, putting a painted Whorish Beauty and tempting Lustre upon them, varnishing them over and making false representations of them. Yea, it is evident (as the Judicious Dr. Owen observes Treatise of Temptat. pag. 68.

That all these things (the Lust of the Flesh, &c.) are principally in the Subject, not in the Object; in the Heart not in the World: But they are said to be in the World, because the World gets into them, mixes it self with them, unites, in|corporates. As Faith and the promises are said to be mixed, Heb. 4 2. So are Lust and Temptation (from worldly Objects) mixed; they twine together, receive mutual improvement one from another, grow each of them higher and higher by the mutual strength they administer to one another

from this mixture, Union, and Incorporation of the Objects in the World with the Lusts in the Hearts of Men, and the•• firm and close combination toge|ther, it comes to pass that the enticing, tempting World is a very patent and prevailing Adversary to the Son's of Men▪ And that Believers themselves (in whom the Lusts mentioned are out in part mortified and 〈◊〉〈◊〉) have hard work sometimes to stand their Ground against the snares and allurements and bewitching insinuations of and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 World. To this Head I reduce sinful Examples in the World, Counsels of Carnal Friends, the Friendship of the World, which is Enmity to God and good men, Jam 4 4 False Doctrines which are spoken out of the World 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 1 Joh.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 5. calculated to the corrupt Humors, Inclinations and Interests of the men of the World, and therefore of a very grateful resentment with them. In a word, all Worldly Lusts (as the Apostle calls them, Tit. 2. 12) that are so many baits and snares to entangle and entice the People of God to desert the Holy and good wayes of the Lord: those Golden Apples that are thrown down before a Christian to invite him to gaze upon them, and stoop to take them up, that so he may be retarded and stopt in his course, and lose the prize he runs for.

2. The Troubles and Affrightments of the World. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the for|midable, frightful Afflictions and persecutions that would impede, or retard and hinder the people of God in their Travels towards that Heavenly Coun|try, where the sweet Fruits of Divine Love are to be enjoyed in the greatest maturity and perfection of them. That Tribulation in the World against which the Lord Jesus layes in great encouragement from the consideration of his own Conquest of the World, Joh. 16. 33. Of this ill Usage and Enter|tainment in the world, the Afflictions that the Children of God must expect to contest withal, the Apostle discourseth here, Rom. 8. 35, 36, 37. Tribula|tion, Distress, Persecution, Famine, Nakedness, Peril, Sword, and such like formidable things to Nature, oppose the Faithful in their way, and make warre upon them▪ A Christian lies open to many sharp and fiery Tryals, 1 Pet. 4. 12. and must look to endure 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a great fight or Concertation of Afflictions, Heb. 10. 32. The World can put on two Faces, and change its Countenance as occasion servs. If feigned flat|tering smiles will not do, then killing Frowns shall, if it be possible. The World hath Terrours to affright, as well as Allurements to entice Believers out of the way of Happiness. The men of the world are usually pricks in the eyes, and Thorns or Scourges in the sides of Believers. Briers and Thorns are with them in the world (as the Lord tells the Prophet, Ezek. 2. 6.) that will scratch the Face of their Reputation, wound them in their outward Concernments 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Flesh: yea, they dwell among Scorpions, that will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to great torment, and sting them to Death. AElian reports concerning the 〈…〉〈…〉 do more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that they were wont to sleep with their Boots on, lest the Scorpions, their Country was infested with, should sting them. I am sure a Christian had need walk Booted, and have his Feet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, yea, to be defended and aimed in all respects, or He will be in much danger of the many scorpi|o••s in his way vid. Green••il on Ezek. 2. 6. As beleivers have bodies of flesh and mortality, that keep open House for sicknesses, pains, Diseases, and give Entertainment to them: So they are exposed to the Rage and Vio|lence of unreasonable men. They pass through an Enemies Country, where

they have many Affronts and Indignities offered them. If lies and Calum|nies, Scoffs and Scorns, angry looks and cruel threatnings, opprobrious and injurious dealings, or any kind of Cruelty may be likely to scare a Believer out of his way, or force Him to a dishonourable Retreat, or to run from his Colours by quitting his profession; the malignant angry world will be sure (if the Lord permit) to prove Him in that kind. In both the respects mentioned the world is an Enemy, and makes Opposition to Believers in their way to Glory. Furthermore a Believer meets with Opposition,

3. From Satan, the Prince and God of the World, Eph. 6. 11, 12. If a Christian were to try Masteries, and contest only with Flesh and blond (whether we understand thereby his own Corruptions, or Opposition from men, like Himself) He would have hot and hard service of it. But this is his Case and Lot, to meet with Opposition from Principalities and Powers, the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, and spiritual wickedness in High pla|ces. He ••ights at great Disadvantage with Enemies, that have the Hill and upper-Ground. He combates hand to Hand with the God of the World; as well as his Creatures, the men of the world. Satan is one of the Allies of In-dwelling sin, and of Confederacy with our own Hearts, which are ready every moment, if there be not a strict watch kept upon them, to betray us into his Hands, and deliver us up to Him. A Christian had need look to Himself, considering that Satan goes about daily seeking to devour, 1 Pet. 5. 8. A Believer will be sure to meet with this Lion in his way. And our Flesh and Hearts (as was intimated before) are Satans Correspondents and Consi|derates against the Spiritual Life, and Comfort, and Happiness of our Souls ready to open to Him, make a Surrender of all, and comport with him in all his dangerous and destructive Applications of Himself unto us. This Spiri|tual Levia••han is a piercing Serpent and a crocked Serpent, Isai. 27. 1. Some|times, he opposes the People of God by Force, and then he is a piercing Serpent. Sometimes he circumvents them by craft, and then He is a crooked Serpent. V••l rectus v••nit, v••l tortuosus. Satan opposes the people of God in a way of Fraud, (He playes the Dragon and deceivs them: He is a Ser|pent; yea, an old Serpent, Rev. 12. 9. and hath his Wiles, Eph. 6. 11. and ad|vantagious Devices, 1 Cor. 2. 11. his methods of Deceit, and his Depths or deep Contrivances, Rev 2. 24.) and in a way of force and violence. He acts the part of a Lion and rageth: and he hath his venemous Arrows, his fiery Darts, Eph. 6. 16. and makes many violent On-sets upon the Children of God. The Church of God, or the Body of Saints and Called Ones in the world, have the Gates of Hell (Math 16. 18.) that is (as it is commonly expounded) the Power and Policy of the Devil, and his Instru|ments, and Under-〈◊〉〈◊〉, to oppose them in their way to Heaven, though they shall not prevail in that Opposition. Lastly,

4. From Death it self, which is the last Enemy. 1 Cor. 15. 26. When all the rest are beaten out of the field, and a Christian is ma••ching off and just ready to make his Triumphant Entrance into Heaven, Death encounters him. This comes in by the Curse: and the natural or direct tendency of it is ••o separate a Son of Adam from God for ever. It is the great and grim 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the vindictive justice of God. Here men enjoy some Fruits of (at least) the general and common goodness of God: but when Death comes, it pushes them away from God, makes an everlasting separation be|tween them, and all the fruits of the goodness of God, turns them into Hell, where they must feed upon the bitter Fruit o•• their own wayes for ever. When Death hath done its Execution upon the Condemned Sons and Daughters of Adam, God will then carry away all his goodness from them, and never afford them so much as one drop of Water to cool their Tongues to Eternity. That which makes Death ••o terrible is, that in the ordinary course of it, it makes a perfect and perpetual separation between the Sons and Daughters of men, and all the Fruits of the Love, and Goodness, and Patience of the blessed God. Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, Rom 5. 12. And where it Reigns and Triumphs, and is Victorious over any man, and fastens its Sting in him▪ (as I may allude to 1 Cor. 15 55.) it destroyes him utterly by putting him into a condition of everlasting sepa|ration from God. Now this is the last Adversary that the Believing Chri|stian Souldier contends withal; though upon more advantagious Terms then other men. Thus much for the second Particular under the second Conclu|sion. Every Believer meets with great opposition in his way.

3. A Believer cannot possibly make his way through all these Enemies, and bear down all this opposition without fighting. He skirmishes with these E|nemies, yea, fights many a pitch'd Battel against them. He must put on the whole Armour of God, Eph 6. 11. and keep it on, and make use of the wea|pons of his Christian Warfare, and his Faith and other Graces will be sound|ly put to it. It costs him many a Bickering. He runs, and Wrestles, and labours, and strives, and fights the good fight of Faith: as we might demon|strate by many Scripture Instances. By Fighting, I mean a vigorous con|tending and conflicting with the Enemies of his Soul, which is exprest vari|ously by the Holy Ghost in Scripture. He must strive hard that will enter in at the strait Gate, Luk. 13. 24. ordinary seeking will not do it. If the Be|liever put off his Armour, lay by his weapons, suffer the Sword of Faith to ru•••• in the Scabberd, and draw it not forth as there is occasion; if He hang down his Hands in Prayer, sins in his Hopes, cool in his Courage, and stand still in a secure careless manner; it will be impossible that he should break through those Legions of Devils, those Armies of Temptations, and make his way through those Adverse Powers▪ that oppose themselves in his way▪

4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Opposition from, at least, some of his Enemies is perpetual in 〈…〉〈…〉: So th•• Believer hath no rest, but hath ••ork enough every day to contest with them. A Believer hath a restless Enemy to contend withal, as Ha••nibal said of Marcellus the Roman Consul 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Plutarch, Marcel. Let him conquer or be conquered, he would never be quiet nor give over, neither 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his Enemy, no•• take it himself, he would be at it still, and never have done. So may we say much more of the Believers Enemies. Satan never draws his Forces▪ out of the Field. Corruptions one way or other will be stirring, and the Christian shall be exercised still with some Thorn in the Flesh, and Buffetings of Satans Messenger. The People in Nehemiah's time, when they were Alarmd and afraid of their malicious and malignant Neighbours, wrought with one hand and held a weapon in the other, Nehem. 4. 17. But such is the case of a Christian, that he must not only work, with a Weapon in the other hand, but he must actually use his Weapon whilest he is working; fighting with one hand, and building or labouring with the other. If his Enemies conquer, they will be sure to prosecute their victory to the utmost, and lose no Advantage: if they be worsted and routed in any particular Engagement, they will not fail to rally their Forces, recruit and reinforce themselves presently and fall on again. So that a Chri|stian had need eat and drink and sleep in his Arms. He hath no time to put off his Armour, to lay by his Weapons. He will be hotly engaged till the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Act. 3. 19. the times of refreshing and cooling shall come. He can never be said in this world to be miles emeritus, or stipen••••a confe|cisse: which were the Roman Phrases for them that were discharged from the Wars. If a Christian live to threescore ••ears of age or more, he is not thereby superannuated, nor can he plead Age or any thing else to excuse him|self from the duty of a Souldier. Verily there is no discharge in this War|fare on this side of the Grave. There is no bringing of these Enemies to a composition, no cessation to be made, no League or Truce to be admitted in this Warfare. A Christian must be constantly fighting and contending a|gainst the Enemies of his peace and happiness. Thus much for the second Conclusion.

Concl. 3. A true Believer is never totally a••d absolutely conquered in any Engagements with the Enemies that War against him. To be Conquered (in the sense I take it here) is to be separated from the Love of God, and utterly deprived of the special fruits of it. Who shall separate us (saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 35) from the love of Christ? that is, who shall conquer us? I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life, nor Angel, &c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. 8.

38, 39. Importing thus much, that a Christian can never be totally conque|red, notwithstanding all the opposition that is made against him. Let Ene|mies do what they can against him, yet if he be not separated from the love of God, he is not absolutely Conquered, or defeated of his Happiness. In this respect a Believer is never Conquered. For,

1. Nothing befals him in his Warfare, notwithstanding what his Enemies attempt against him, that turns away the Heart of God utterly from him. Though Sin and Satan may prevail very far in some conflicts, yet never to such a degree as to provoke the Lord to reject him, and cast him out of his favour. God may be provoked by the compliances of a Believer at some turns with Sin and Satan and the World to take away the manifestations of his Love, to deny him some expressions of his Favour, to visit his transgressi|ons with a Rod, and his iniquity with Stripes; but never to take his lo••ing|kindness utterly from him, Psal. 8. 9. 30—33. A Believer may be so foiled and worsted by his Enemies, through the neglect of his watch, or otherwise, that God may be displeased with him; that there may be a discontinuance of the sensible expressions of the love of God to him, and an interruption of it as to manifestations: and yet there is no intercision of ••the love of God to him, as to the being of it. His love to him is unchangeable and ••verlasting.

2. Nothing fa••s out in his progress or march that absolutely stops him in, or diverts him from his course of proceeding, or moving towards the enjoyment of the sweet fruits of Divine Love▪ A Believer may be wounded, I amed, and retarded; but not totally checked in his way, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aside from it. He may receive many a blow that staggers him; that make him ••eel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 com|plain, that wounds him in his Graces and comforts. David had his Bones broken, received deep and dangerous wounds that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 long healing, that: stank and were corrupt, Psal: 3 8. 5. 7, 8. Because he did not apply a timely Remedy unto them; they were not presently searched and looked after. He was knock'd down and lay in a swoon for a great while, that those about him might be ready to fear he would never come to himself again but he revived and recovered at last. Satan prevailed with him to commit Folly with Bath sheba, to murder and imbrue his hands in the Blood of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to ••ent his pride and vain glorious humor in the numbring of the People, and to in|curre the displeasure of God thereby: but all this did not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and expel the Love of God out of his heart, o•• divert him totally from prosecuting the enjoyment of it. Take a Believer in his lowest condition, when he is most worsted and prevailed upon by his Enemies: yet at▪ that time there is the Seed of God, 〈…〉〈…〉 (1 Joh. 3. ••.) that inclines and carries him God•• and. There is a power of Grace, and a work of the Spirit: upon his Heart that gives him an inclination, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & tendency God ward continually; and though temptations may turn him out of the way for a time, and he may

meet with many Rubs and Impediments in his Christian ra••e; yet there is the strong Byes of Grace, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and impression of Gods spirit upon his heart that inclines and carries him Godward, so that he will come in again, though he may be turned off for a while. That general Bent & Inclination of his heart towards God, as his lost end & greatest good, & towards his Command|ments, as the only best Rules of living and walking, is ever preserved in the Believer by the mighty power of God (according to his Covenant-en|gagement) even then when his Enemies have gotten him down and ••aid him at their Feet. So that if the Lord never take away his loving-kindness utterly from the Believer, nor the Believer totally lose his love to God: what follows? but that there can be no separation of a true Believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and by consequence that he cannot be ab|solutely conquered in any, though he may be worsted in some Engagements.

Conel. 4. Every true Believer manageth a successful War, and is sure of Conquest. My meaning is not that every Christian hath a certainty of per|swasion that he shall prevail, or overcome; for many an one is ready to say sometimes that he shall one day fall by the ba••d of this or that Saul: but there is a certainty of the thing in it self. I speak of the certainty of the object, or the truth of this Proposition [Every Believer shall certainly conquer the Enemies of his Soul] not of the certainty of the Subject, the certioration of the Believer, or his perswasion and assurance that he shall be victorious at last. A Believer shall certainly win the day and conquer all Opposers, whatever his unbelieving heart may at any time suggest to the contrary. Hence Paul speaks of it as a thing done: we do more then overcome. This may be made out thus:

1. A Believer in this life gets many signal Victories. He is not able in|deed utterly to drive out the Canaanites, they will abide in his Land (Heart, ••••me an) and be rebelling and vexing him frequently: but the Lord gives him many remarkable victories over them. There are some memorable dayes and happy times wherein the People of God come out of the Field victorious, and triumph over their spiritual Enemies. They set their feet in the neck of their Lusts, and lay their Corruptions bleeding at their feet, and do so resist▪ Satan as to rout him and put him to flight.

2. If he be for a time overcome, yet he recovers himself at last and gets the Day. He may be overcome, and carried Captive (as the Apostle intimates Rom. 7. 23.) he may be remarkably worsted in some particular conflicts, and taken Prisoner: but he cannot be detained alwayes a Prisoner, all the power and policy of his Adversaries cannot hold him, he will make an escape from them sooner or later, and obtain rescue and deliverance. If he be foiled, and laid on his back for a time; yet it is not long before he reco|vers himself, and gets up again by godly sorrow, Humiliation and Repen|tance, and renews the Combat, and is too hard for his Enemies. If he be routed, he rallies again and 〈…〉〈…〉

go out of the Field a Conquerour.

3. His Enemies lose Ground by all their partial Conquests of Him. A Child of God gets Good by his Foils and Falls, yea, gets Ground insensi|bly of his Corruptions and other Enemies thereby. His Enemies by win|ning the Day, lose it; and by Conquering, are conquered. Every victory that Sin and Satan obtain, makes a gracious Heart more humble, more sen|sible of his own weakness, and absolute need of the strength of Christ, more watchful against Sin and Temptation, more Cautious for time to come of admitting Parlyes and Compliances with his Adversares, and so turns (through the over-ruling Hand of Grace) to the singular Advantage of a Christian in many respects. Lay these things together, and it will be mani|fest that a Believer manages a very successful warre, and is sure at last of an absolute Conquest.

Concl. 5. A Believers Victory and Conquest is incomparably Glorious▪ His Conquest is most exceeding Glorious. Thence Paul saith, we are more then Conquerours. We do not only Conquer▪ but triumph; we have a tri|umphant Victory: we are much too hard for our Enemies, we do more then overcome, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 super••incimus, we do over-overcome. It is▪ Grotius his Observation, Amat Paulus componere verba cum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Paul loves the Composition of words with the Preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and He gives many other Instances (besides this in the Text) of such Compositions in Pauls Epistles. When He speaks of the Rich Grace of God, or of the great and glorious pri|viledges of his Children, He thinks He cannot over-speak. They are such things, that, as Luther said of God and Heaven, non patiu••tur Hyperb••len, do not admit, are not capable of an Hyperbole. No Expression is so high, on Superlative, as to transcend and exceed the measure of the Excellency of such Things. Now the Greatness and Gloriousness of a Believers Victory ap|pears in many Things, which we shall but glance at, as we pass along. Glorious it is, in that the Believer conquers in Suffering, when He is in ap|pearance conquered, overcome and destroyed. When He is s••ain with the Sword, devoured by Lions, burnt to Ashes at a Stake, sawn asunder, or any way violently put to death; yet in all these things he conquers, as the Martyrs have done. They overcome by the Bloud of the Lamb, the word of their Te|stimony, and not loving their lives unto the Death.

••ualther takes this to be the sense of the Apostle. In all these Things we are more then Conquerours. He doth not say we overcome all these things, so as that they shall be no more, or cease to oppose us; But in all these things we Conquer. For afflictions remain, and will remain as long as the World la••s, nor will Persecu|tions ever cease, which bege•••• Banishment, Famine, Nakedness and the Sword to the Godly: bu•• in these things, and among all these perils and evil 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Suffering, the Faithfull do more then overcome. And this is admi|rable

that they overcome, when succub uisse, & omnino Victi a••t Oppressi|esse videntur;

when they are slain, or burnt, or destroyed any other-way. They are killed all the day long, accounted (and used) as s••eep for the slaughter; as in the verse before the Text: And yet more then Conquerours. Humane, Carnal Reason cannot comprehend this. It is indeed Mysterious and glo|rious. Again, Glorious it is, in that he conquers such Enemies as con|quer all but Himself, and such as He is. The great Conquerours of the World have been slaves to their own Pride, Ambition, vain-glory, Covetous|ness, and other base Lusts, which a Christian subdues and Conquers. Many of them have been Satans Slaves, when they have been Masters of the world. But the Believer resists the Devil and puts Him to flight. He overcomes Himself (which is a nobler Exploit then to overcome and Conquer Na|tions,) sets his Foot upon Satan, tramples and crushes that Serpent, (Rom. 16. ••••.) treads the World under his Feet, as the Church of God, the Wo|man mentioned Rev. 12. 1. is said to have the Moon (that is, all these changeable Earthly things) under her feet. Nay, he overcomes Death it self, which tramples upon and prevailes over other Conquerours. Death stings, kills, ruines other men, but cannot hurt a Christian, because it cannot separate him from God. Oh Death! where is thy sting? Oh Gra••e, where is thy Victory? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cor. 15 55. Those words which are commonly translated the Gates of Hell, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mat. 16. 18. and are thought to import the Power and-Policy of the Devil, are rendred by Learned Camer••, the Gates of the grave, or Death, alledging that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doth never but once in Scripture signifie Hell, but either the Grave, or the state and condition of a deceased person: And he conceives the mind of our Saviour in that expression to be, that though the Faithfull lye dead for a time as well as other men, Death exercises a Dominion over them, the worm feeds sweetly upon them, they are imprisoned in the Grave, and lye bound hand and foot with the Cords of death. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fu••es vel acerbissi••i Cruciatus Mortis. Psal. 18. 3.) yet that the Power of Death and the Grave shall not finally prevaile over them. Siquis (saith that Learned man) 〈…〉〈…〉 Locutions significatum velit, perituram 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mortis & 〈…〉〈…〉, is demùm profecto a Spir••ús sancti ment•• 〈…〉〈…〉. The Aboli|tion of the destructive Dominion of Death is intended by the Lord Jesus, according to this Exposition. Christian•• (saith Cyprian 〈…〉〈…〉, vinci non poss••nt. Christians may dye, but cannot be overcome. Death may kill them, but cannot conquer them. The victory of Believers over their Enemies is very glorious 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this respect. Glorious also it is in that a Believer conquers his Enemies by conquering himself, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself (the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts, Gal 5. ••4.) subduing his own Spi|rit,

beating down his own Body and bringing is into subjection (1 Cor. 9. 27) plucking out an offending right Eye, cutting off an offending right Hand (Mat. 5. 29. 30.) Doing strange Execution upon himself in a way of Mortifi|cation, which is both a noble and a strange way of Conquering. He overcomes himself and thereby overcome 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Enemies. Moreover glorious it is in that he is so far from being separated from the love of God by the opposition which his Enemies make against him, that he is thereby greatly furthered in the way to the perfect enjoyment of the Fruits of it. His Enemies, whether they will or no, help him to a most Glorious Con|quest. For all things (how adverse and opposite soever) work for his good, Rom. 8. 28. that is, for his most Glorious, Everlasting Triumph in the highest Heavens. As the Afflictions and Troubles which happened to Paul in the course of his Ministerial Warfare fell out to the furtherance of the Gospel, Phil. 1. 12. so the Opposition which a Believer meets with from all his Ad|versaries, falls out to the furtherance of his victorious proceedings in the course of his Christian Warfare, and of his After-Triumph and Glory. Nay this Victory is Glorious, in that he gives his Enemies a total Defeat and Overthrow at last. He hath a perfect and absoute Victory and Conquest over them, so as never to be molested with them more. He passes to Hea|ven through the midst of his Enemies, and gets out of the reach of their oppo|sition, or molestation, and there Triumphs Gloriously to Eternity.

Concl. 6. Every Believer obtains this Glorious Victory and Conquest through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are more then Conquerours through him that loved us, that is, through Jesus Christ, or God in Christ which is the same thing. The Apostle having discoursed excellently of this Spiritual War with one of the greatest Enemies that a Christian hath to do with, name|ly, In-dwelling sin, issues all triumphantly in thanks to God through Christ for Deliverance and Victory, Rom. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And having spoken of Death & the Grave, very formidable Adversaries, & triumphed over them, Thanks God who gives Victory through Christ, 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56, 57. And there is the like Reason as to all the Enemies of a Christian. A Believer obtains this incomparable Victory and Glorious Conquest over all through Christ. For,

1. The Lord Jesus Christ hath procured and purchased this Victory and Conquest for Believers. Therefore he hath Suffered and Dyed, Satisfied and M••••ted, that his People might obtain a Glorious Victory over Sin, Satan, World, Death, and all their Enemies. The Foundation of this Victory hath been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by an high hand of Grace in the Death and Mediation of the Lord Jesus. Man having revolted from under the Government and Domi|nion of Gods revealed Will and Law, and thrown off his, Obedience, and made Election of Sin and Satan for his Lords and Sovereigns; The Holy God in Justice and Righteous Severity, delivers him up to the Authority and

Sovereignty of Sin and Satan, and his Spiritual Enemies, even Death it self: and they put in their Claim to a Soveraignty, yea, and actually exercise a Dominion over Him; So that man in this Condition is a Captive, Prisoner, Slave, and cannot get his Liberty. If He struggle sometimes, and rise up to warre against them; All his Contendings are vain, He is overcome pre|sently, and held in bondage. The Reason is, because his Enemies are (in a Sense) as strong as the Law and Justice of God. The strength of Sin (and by parity of Reason, of other Enemies) is the Law, 1 Cor. 15. 56. that is, the Law broken, and the Justice of God offended. But the Lord Jesus having satisfied and merited, when there is an Application of that Redemption which is in Christ to any man; Now Sin, Satan, World, have no Right to exercise this Dominion; they lose their Claim and Title to such Dominion, and this is the Foundation of any mans Conquest of them. Hence though ••in may Tyrannise sometimes, yet it shall not reign over them; not have any of their Enemies any Right to Conquer or prevail, as before. Nay, Christ hath p••id 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great price, and bought the Victory for them of Him in whose Hand it is to adjudge it unto them. They overcome by the Bloud of the Lamb, Rev. 12. ••1.

2. He hath actually in his own person conquered their enemies for them, Be of good Comfort (faith our Saviour) I have overcome the World, Joh. 16. 3••. That is, the Lusts of the world, the men of the world, the prince of the world, the snares, temptations, terrours and evils of the World. He hath bru••sed the Serpents bead, Gen. 3. 15. destroyed the works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3. 8. Now (faith the Lord Jesus with reference to the time of his sufferings) is the judge|ment of this World, n••w shall the Prince of this World be cast out, Joh. 12. 31. The Dethroning of Satan, and destruction of his Dominion by Jesus Christ is that which is intended in that expression. Hence the Apostle saith, that ••e spoiled Principalities and Powers, and and made a shew of them openly tri|umphing over them in it (that is, his Cross) or in himself, Col. 2. 15. The Lord Jesus took away the Prey or Booty of Souls, which Satan had gotten, and led away the Devil and his Angels, as Prisoners of War: He divested Principalities and Powers, that is, the Apostate Angels, of all that Title they had got to the World by the sin of man, yea he triumphed over them as lawful Captives to be disposed of at his pleasure. He hath bound the strong man armed & spoiled his Goods. Thas Christ is said to wound the Head (for so it is in the Original, not Heads) over many Countries, Psal. 110. 6. By the Head over the large Earth, Some understand Satan that ruleth as Head o|ver all the Children of disobedience every where: though I judge it better to expound it to the most comprehensive sense, and then the meaning is, that Christ breaks in pieces the Head, that is, the counsel and power of Satan and all his Instruments, crushing and conquering all the Enemies of his People.

He hath conquered Death it self, and having grapled and fought with that Serpent, he hath pulled out the Sting, and he hath disarmed that King of Terrours, that it may be in no condition to hurt and ruine his People. Death can be no longer a Curse to them, but a Blessing: An Out let as to Misery•• and an In-let to all Happiness. He hath Conquered and triumphed over all the Enemies of Believers, vertually on his Crosse, but actually and effectually in his Exaltation: when he ascended up on high, he led Captivity Captive, Eph. 4. 8. Psal. 68. 18. And he hath Conquered and Triumphed over all our Enemies, not for himself, but on our behalf, and for our behoof and advan|tage. Victoria Domini est Servorum Triumphus. Hieron. The Victory of the Lord is the Triumph of the Servants. Well may tho Army of Be|lievers be assured of Victory and Triumph, when as they fight with a con|quered Enemy, and their General alone in his own person hath routed their Adversaries.

3. He puts them into a Conquering-capacity. He sends his Spirit to make the Application of his Redemption to all his Redeemed ones by working Faith in their Hearts, drawing them to himself, giving them an actual Inte|rest in himself, and his Benefits, and putting them into a State of Justifica|tion, which is a State of Victory and Triumph. A justified person is in a Conquering-capacity and condition. He is under Grace, and not under the Law, therefore neither Sin, nor any other Enemy shall have dominion over him, Rom 6. 14. Take an Elect person, that was given to Christ by the Father from Eternity, and Redeemed by Christ in the fulness of time, yet before his effectual vocation, he is under the feet of his Enemies, in no better condition to fight it out with them then other men; Sin, and Satan, and World are much too hard for him. But when once the Spirit of Christ hath wrought an effectual work of Grace in his Soul, & by uniting him to the Lord Jesus hath brought him into a state of Justification: now he is in a condition to dispute it out to the last with all his Enemies, and to get the day also. A Justified person is invincible, be cannot be Conquered; and he is victorious, ••one of his Enemies can stand before him. Victory & Triumph are adjudged ••••y the Lord to a state of Justification, and are infallible consequents thereof. Hence Paul's comfortable perswasion, and Triumphant Expressions, Rom. 8. 38, 39. Now all the People of God are admitted into this state of Justification, and vested in the Glorious Priviledges of it, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. He furnisheth Believers with skill, and Strength, and Courage, and Weapons, and all War-like Furniture, and Military Qualifications, and Ac|complishments. They are in all respects well appointed for the War: and it is the Lord Jesus that sets them forth, and furnisheth them with Arms and Weapons for the Battel. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Christians Maga|zin. All those Arms and Weapons which a Believer useth in his spiritual

conflicts (of which you have an enumeration, Eph••s. 6. 13, 14, &c.) are such as come out of Christs Armory. As he puts the Believer into a con|quering state, in his Justification; so he gives him conquering Abilities in his Sanctification. He gives them Skill and Valour, and Resolution, and all other Qualifications and Endowments that a Militant condition calls for.

5. He Administers seasonable supplies and recruits of Grace and Strength unto them. He sends them Auxiliary Forces, and gives them such Assi|stance as they need for every Conflict. He giveth Power to them when they are faint, and when they have no might, encreaseth their strength, Isai. 40. 29. He gives them a sufficiency of Grace, and his Power rests on them. Hence when they are we••k, yet then they are strong, 2 Cor. 12. 9, 1••. Because habitual inherent Grace will not carry them through their difficult Engagements, therefore he affords actual, and occasional Assistance as their necessities re|quire. All that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that seasonable help which is Admini|nistred to Believers from the Throne of Grace (Heb. 4. 16.) comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. They have the immutable Assistance of the Spirit of Christ that dwells in them. They must needs overcome in this respect, be|cause greater is be that is in them, then he that is in the World, ••sword•• Joh. 4. 4. Hence the Apostle, that had low thoughts of himself, and was as much no|thing in his own eyes as any man, yet attributes a kind of Omnipotency to himself. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, Phil. 4 13. He strengtheneth them with all might, Col. 1. 11.

Concl. 7. The Love of God in Christ is the absolute first cause of these victorious proceedings, and this infallible conquest of Believers. For,

1. The Everlasting love of God determines, that the Victory shall fall on the side of Believers. The will of God is that all Believers shall conquer. Hence the Apostle layes the Foundation of this Triumph in Divine Predesti|nation, and in Gods being for us, Rom. 8 30, 31. Those that are appointed to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ (as it may be concluded of all Believers; saving Faith being a special fruit of Election) may meet with many Ene|mies in their way, but shall infallibly break through all opposition, & get to Heaven at last. The Love of God hath Decreed them Victory.

2. The everlasting Love of God layes in suitable provision of means for an infallible conquest. Divine Love concluded upon the mission of Christ into the World, to purchase it for his People, and obtain the victory in his own person, as a common person representing all Believers. This Love gives them a Leader and General (the Lord Jesus Christ) that is invincible, th•• Captain of the Host of the Lord, that appeared to Joshu••, Josh. 5. 13, 14. It arms them with invincible Graces, offensive and defensive; and orders them the insuperable and invincible Assistance of the Spirit of Christ, and the needful supplies and recruits of Assisting Grace. The Love of God in

Christ furnisheth the Christian Souldier compleatly every way with all that he needs in order to the Conquest of his Enemies; so that he is better provided for the Combate, and hath more Assistance in the Combate, and more assurance (consequently) of success, then any other Conquerours have. The Christian Souldier is well appointed and set forth for the War, Recruited and Assisted in it at the cost and charges of the Love of God in Jesus Christ.

3. The Everlasting Love of God adjudges them Triumph at last, and Crowns them with it. Divine Love sets the Glorious Crown upon the Head of the persevering, victorious, all-conquering Believer. There is a Glorious Day coming, wherein the Believer shall receive the reward of all his Labours and Travels and Combatings with the Flesh, the World, and the Devil: And this reward will be adjudged to him that overcometh, and actu|ally conferred upon him by the Grace and Love of God in Jesus Christ. Not his Merit, but Gods Mercy and Love will then Crown him. His present sufferings in the time of his Warfare are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in him, Rom. 8. 18. When Paul had fought his good fight, and finished the course of his warfare, he expected his Triumphal Crown from the Lord, the Righteous judge, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8 A Crown of Mer|cy and Grace it is, and also a Crown of Righteousness: there being a sweet concurrence of the Remunerative Justice of God with his Infinite Mer••y, Grace, and Love in that Glorious work of Crowning a persevering Christian Souldier with everlasting Triumph and Glory. Divine Love adjudges and bestows upon Believers at last the Heavenly Prize they run for, and the in|corruptible Crown they fight for in this World. That they Triumph Eter|nally is from the Love of God in Christ. Thus much for the Doctrinal Part.

Use 1. We might improve this Observation, To crush that Errone|ous conceit of the Arminians, concerning the possibility of a Regenerate man's total and final Apostacy. For to assert this, is to say, that a Believer may be totally defeated and overcome, and Sin, Satan and World may prevaile over him to his utter Ruine. The Truth we have discoursed, is ready prest to militate against the men of that Heterodox pers••asion: and is alone (without the Levy of any other forces) of strength sufficient to fight that Enemy and beat him out of the field. This Text of the Apostle, and the Ob|servation we have deduced from it, smites those Adversaries of the Doctrine of Perseverance under the fifth Rib, or rather stabs their fifth Article con|cerning the Apostasy of Saints to the Heart. This one Weapon, if it be well managed and weilded will do real and through Execution. For if there may be a total & final defection of Believers, or falling from Grace, & out of the favour of God, then there is a possibility that a Believer may be totally & fi|nally separated from the love of God: & so totally conquered; which is diame|••rally

opposite to the Strain and Genius, and Intendment of the Apostles Dis|course & what we have been regularly superstructing upon it. But let it be enough to have thus Face•• that Grand Enemy the Armin••an, without engaging further on this occasion in any pitch'd confutation of him.

Use 2. This makes it appear who are the bravest Souldiers, the most Re|nowned Warriours, Persons of the greatest Bravery and Gallantry in the World. They are Believing Men and Women. A Christian Man or Wo|man is by many degrees a better Souldier then C••sat or A••xander. Sincere Believers, of all degrees and conditions, are persons of eminency this way. Among the victorious Worthies, whose Famous Exploits and Atchieve|ments are Recorded, Hib. 11. The Apostle doth not leave Believing Wo|men out of the Catalogue. We read of great Exploits that have been per|formed, even by those of the weaker S••x, both in Sacred and Common Hi|story: but none to be compared with those which Believing Women, through Faith, have enterprized and accomplished O Woman, great is thy Faith, saith our Saviour, Mat. 15 28. Why then it might be said also, O Woman, great is thy Victory: For this is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith, 1 Joh. 5 4. True Faith, though it be but as a Grain of Mustard S••••d, will overcome and bear down all that opposition the World can make against it. As to this Christian Warfare, Victory and Triumph, Believers of all sorts share in it: there is no difference in this matter, but Iew and Greek, Bond and Free, Male and Female are all one in this respect through Jesus Christ. The weakest Believer will be too hard for the strongest Adversary. This is a clear Consequence from what we have discoursed, that a Believer is the bravest, and most victorious Soul|dier in the World.

Use 3. A word of singular Encouragement and Comfort unto all that mourn for the sorrowful state and Condition of Jerusalem. Know it, and Be|lieve it, that the Church of God, however afflicted and oppressed in the world, shall certainly prevail and get the Day at last. The Victories & Triumphs that God hath decreed and determined shall certainly be awarded and given to the conflicting Militant-Church in the Season thereof. How might we ex|postulate the Case with the mightiest of the Churches Adversaries? with the High and Low, Great and Small ones of the Earth in this respect? why do the Nations rage and People imagine a vain Thing? vain it is, and will be found so in the Issue, to oppose the Lord Jesus, to fight against his Members, to plot and project, design and endeavour the Ruine of the Interest of Christ in the World. For the Lord Jesus, and his called, and Faithful & Chosen, shall certainly more then overcome at last. The Lamb and his Followers shall be Illustrious Conquerours. The Beast may arise out of the Bottomless pit, and raise the Posse Inferni, or Inferorum, come with Legions of Devils, and their

Instruments, and set their Hellish Armies in Aray, and make warre upon the Witnesses and overcome them for a while: but they shall overcome at last in a glorious manner. Verily, no Weapon that is formed against the Church shall prosper. Christ laughs at all the Confederacies and Complotments, and mad Rage of the world against his Interest and Members: Psal. 2. 4. And his People (that are at present in a sad and sorrowful Condition in the Heat of the Engagement) shall laugh too, and Triumph over all. Excellent were the Expressions of that man of Faith, Martin Luther to this purpose.

That the Kings and Princes & People do sorage against the Lord and his Christ, I account (faith he) an Happy Omen, and much better then if they fawned and flattered: For it follows (in the second Psalm) He that fitteth in the Heavens shall laugh at them. Hoc autem principe nostro illos ridente, non video cur nobis flendum sit a facie illorum. As long as our King laughs at them, I see no Reason why we should cry for them.

They that make Christ laugh by their ridiculous Opposition, should not make his People cry. Ve|rily every Believer hath that in his Heart (I mean the Victorious all-conque|ring Grace of Faith) whose Prerogative it is to laugh to scorn all the foolish plots, and ill contrived Designs, and feeble Attempts of men against Christ and his Church. For indeed their wisest Contrivances are Foolishness, and their strongest Endeavours against the impregnable and invincible Interest of Christ and his Church, are weakness it self, and will appear so at last. And if Christ laughs at them, why should not his Friends and Followers also?

For he laughs (as Luther goes on) not for his own, but for our sake, that we also through Faith may laugh at the vain Counsels of Men: So much need there it of Faith, that the Cause of Faith may not be managed without Faith, Ne Causa Fidei sit fine Fide.

He that is sure of Victory may well laugh in the Face of his Enemies. Now though wicked men are plowing and making long Furrows on the Backs of the Righteous, yet the Lord will cer|tainly cut their Traces. The blessed Lord Jesus leads and assists his People▪ and the Shout of a King and General is among them, Numb: 23 21 And that is assurance enough of Victory. What an invincible Army must the Body Saints and Believers needs be, whereof not only the General, but every private Souldier is Invincible? They shall say at last, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, And he hath saved us,: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, and now we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation, when all Moabs shall be trodden down as Stra•• for the Dunghil, Isai. 25 9, 10. O Beloved! Lift up your Heads and Hands and be encouraged. Though it is a day of Trouble and perplexity and of doubtful Expectations in many re|spects, yet in the eye of Faith it is an hopeful Time and a promising Season, when the world this blind and mad world is in a Tumult and Uproar against the Church of Christ. The great and glorious Things that are to be

fulfilled, the faithful and true sayings of God cannot be accomplished by the Quietness and sitting still of the Nations. When the world rageth against the Church, and is up in Arms to make havock of it; then Christ Jesus, and those Veteran Legions, the glorious Angels; the Lord Jesus, the Man up|on the ••••d Horse among the Myrtle Trees, attended with R••d, speckled and white Horses, Angels deputed to several Offices and Administrations, (Zech. 1. 8.) are in a posture of readiness to charge the Enemy, and bring off the people of God with Safety and Honour, that are hotly engaged in the Conflict with their Adversaries. The Witnesses may be overcome and killed, but they shall live again. They that mourn for Jerusalem, shall have a Time to rejoyce for Her, and with Her, Isai. 66. 10. men that wage warre against Heaven, and bid open defiance to the great Interest of the Lord Jesus (who is Faithful and True, and in Righteousness doth judge and make warre; who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 19. 11, &c.) shall be confounded; and Jerusalem shall be a Burdensome Stone and a Cup of trembling to the Adversaries thereof. Indeed we must wait Christs Time for the exerting of his Power, and the Lighting down of his Omnipotent Arm, the Day of his power and wrath, when He shall gird his Sword on his Thigh, and his Arrows shall be sharp in the Heart of his Enemies, and he shall Smite through the Loines of them that rise up against him, and of them that hate Him, that they rise not again. There is a Day coming when the Right Hand of Christ shall teach Him terrible Things, Psal 45. 4. In the mean while our work is to wait and pray, and exercise Faith and Patience (For here, or in this matter is the Faith and Patience of the Saints proved and exercised) and when the Day comes which God hath determined, your ve|ry General alone can win the Field, and turn the Battel to the Gate, and give you a signal Victory: and will do it right-early for his Suffering Servants, that shall need to do nothing then, but stand still, and see the Salvation of the Lord, and what Destructions He will make among their Adversaries. If one Saint be thus Victorious (as you have heard) never question but the whole Body of them shall (in Gods Time and way) prevail and Conquer in a glorious manner.

Use 4. Of Exhortation, to such as have Believed through Grace; in several Branches.

1. Be Encouraged then to fight this good Fight, where there is so much Hope, may such Assurance to Believers of a Glorious victory. They must needs Conquer, that fight on such Termes as we have mentioned, and have such Provision laid in for Victory and Triumph. They must needs Conquer, whose very General alone, is able to Conquer all their Enemies. Well may the Christian Souldier be hardy, daring, venturous, couragious, resolute in has way to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon his Enemies, that hath such Assurance of being Tri|umphantly

successfull in all his Engagements. Here is encouragement enough, one would think, to make any Coward valiant in fight. Never despair nor give in then, but fight this good fight of Faith. Therefore for Direction;

1. Let all Believers know and consider well that they are Souldiers, and have fighting work before them. That they have many Foes to deal withal, and that they are in the Field deeply engaged in a sharp contest about the things of their Peace: And that there is no retreating, or drawing off, or looking back without shame and misery. That they are waging a War, that is of greatest importance, of everlasting Consequence, and of infinite concernment to them. Do not rest in slight Apprehensions, transient and overly Thoughts of your State and Condition in this respect; lest you fall into a Laish like frame, (Judg. 18. 27.) and dwell secu••ely and carelesly in the World, and expose your selves to the inrodes and incursions of your E|nemies. Know that you do not dwell far from evil Neighbours: you have Mortal Enemies bordering upon you, that will make all Advantage of your Security. You have a Troublesome, Quarrelsome In-mate, one that was bred and born with you, and hath grown up with you, and is a constant Lodger in your House, and Companion at home and abroad. Indwelling sin (I mean) with its Confederates, that hold exact intelligence one with another, and watch all Advantages against you.

2. Labour to get accurate Intelligence of the Policies and Designs of your Adversaries. Acquaint your selves with the deceitfulness of sin, the Frauds and Impostures of the World, the Wiles, Methods, Depths and Advanta|ges of the Devil, the desperate wickedness of the Heart, and the deep wa|ters of evil Counsel there. Finde out the Cabinet Counsels and Politick de|sign of your Enemies against you: what they design, what Stratagems they use, what advantagious seasons they chuse to fight you in, what fals•• Co|lours they put out, that they may surprize you in the Disguise of Friends, what politick Retreats they make, what Ambushments they lay, what Re|serves of fresh Forces they have in readiness, what gradual and secret Ap|proaches they make, where they plant their Artillery, and are designing to make a Breach in your Graces or Comforts, that they may Storm your Souls, and make themselves Masters of all. Do what you can to inform your selves what it is they drive at, how and where, and which way they are like to Assault you. In waging of War there is (as One speaks) the greatest improvement of Humane Wisdome and Inaustry. Discover as much as may be the Subtleties and Policies, and Forces and Advantages of your Enemies, that you may be provided to obviate them.

3. Get Skill and Dexterity in using the Arms and Weapons of your Spiri|tual Warfare. How to put on the Girdle of Truth, and Brest-plate of Righ|teousness:

how to use the Shield of Faith, and Helmet of Hope, and to wield the Sword of the Spirit, (the Word of God) and to improve all the pieces of your Spiritual Armour, and all the Weapons that your General puts into your Hands. A Christian is compleatly armed and appointed, but many times knows not how to use his Weapons. Have your Arms in rea|diness, and learn to make a ready and dexterous use of them. That you should not only have Grace, but be well Skilled in the vigorous, lively, sea|sonable Acting and Exercising of all the Grace you have, is the meaning of this Direction.

4. List your selves into some particular Company that is engaged in the same Warfare. It is a great Disadvantage to a Christian to stand and fight alone, and not to have a particular and peculiar Interest in the Help of other Christians: which is the Case of those that live out of Church-Fellow|ship, and do not put themselves under the Watch and Discipline, and Conduct of particular Churches. Wo (saith Solomon, declaring the Inconveniency of Solitariness) to Him that is Alone, when he falleth, for he hath not another to help Him up: And if one prevail against him (that hath a Companion and Helper) two shall withstand him, Eccles. 4. 10, 12. It is as true in Spiritual as in Civil and Common Cases. It is a great Advantage in our Spiritual Conflicts to have good Company, whose Help and Assistance it engaged to us. It is the Lords Appointment that Mankind should live together in Societies, as in Families, Common-wealths, Churches, in order to common Help-fulness. It is the singular priviledge of Church members to have a peculiar engaged in|terest in the Prayers, & Counsels, & Help of their Fellow-Brethren, which is a very desireable Thing, and a considerable Advantage, 1 Cor. 12. 25, 26. Do not therefore Combate alone, but get into some particular Body of Saints Militant.

5. Keep Order. Fight every one in your own places where you are set. Be sure you keep Rank and File. Order is the Beauty of the World, and of an Army in Special (In Allusion whereunto the Stars are frequently called the Host of Heaven, because of the exactness of their Order & Regularness of their Motion) and of the Christian Army (the Church of Christ in its Mil••••an•• Condition) most of all. Of the Spouse of Christ it is said, Thy cheeks are comely with Rows of Iewels, Cant. 1. 10. that is, the outward Face and Coun|tenance of the Church is Comely, beautiful and Glorious with keeping their right place and order, as well as the manner of Gods own Ordinances, a some Expound it. A Church well ordered is Beautiful as Tirzab, comely as 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and terrible to her Adversaries as an Army with Banners, 〈…〉〈…〉 and Ordered under their Banners and Ensigns Cant 6 4. This of Order is one respect wherein Churches are well compared to Armies that 〈…〉〈…〉 ordered and disciplined. This is the Glory and strength of such

Christian Societies, and no small Advantage to every Christian. Those are the best Souldiers that are best exercised to keep their own Place and Order. So Material a Thing it is, that it is the Character and Description of good Souldiers, that they were such as could keep Rank, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chron. 12. 33, 36, 38. The private Souldier must not straggle, or leave his place, or thrust Himself into the place and Command of the Officer, but every one keep the place assigned Him. A Souldier that is commanded to stand such a Ground, must not stir from it, though He is sure to dye upon the place: If He leave it, he dies for it by Marital Law. No personal danger will excuse him for such breach of order. There is no dispensing with it. A Christian Souldier must not be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, One that keeps not his place if I may so render it. Nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 One that breaks orders, and behaves himself disorderly. Rules of Order must be carefully attended. Many of you see the Beauty, and ac|knowledge the benefit of Order in other Societies, and observe it with much exactness at your Trainings and Artillery Exercises, and must do so in real Engagements. And why should not Christians apprehend the like necessity of attending Order (Christs Order I mean) in every Christian Army, eve|ry Ecclesiastical Society, and the like inconveniences of the contrary.

6. Maintain Peace and Union with your Fellow-Souldiers, or with those of the same Company, or Regiment, or Army, as much as in you lies: Com|munion I mean with the Members of the Church wherein you stand, and with the rest of the Churches of Christ. There are some cases wherein peace with men cannot be kept; nay, wherein it is a duty to contend against them ear|nestly for the Faith, for the Truth, for the Glory of God, and for the good of the Publick: But if it be possible, as much as lieth in you (as far as it is pos|sible, lawful and expedient) live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12. 18. espe|cially seek and follow peace with your Fellow Souldiers, your Brethren and Companions in Tribulation, and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ. Peace among, and mutual Communion of Churches and Church-members is as necessary a thing, as peace and union in an Army. I wish with all my Soul that this might be attended in this great Town of Boston. That these three Churches might be as a three••old Cord, so twisted together, that they might not be easily broken. Mutinies in an Army between one Company, or Regiment, and another, are hazardous to the safety and good of the whole, and therefore severely punished. A wise General will take the least 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of any Overture that way, because it is a thing of dangerous Consequence to the Army. Christ, your General, is as apprehensive and jealous of such things among his People. Wo••ul was the case of Jerusalem, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Romans on this account of divided 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈…〉〈…〉 which hastened their mine, and facilitated the Roman Conquest. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉

you think that Divisions in and among Churches are not of threatning Consequence to such societies? The Lord be merciful to us in this respect. Must 〈…〉〈…〉 Do you not know that it will be bitterness in 〈…〉〈…〉 hope you do not wage here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 An irrecon|cileable 〈◊〉〈◊〉. It the 〈…〉〈…〉 should be implacable, yet one would think the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, God should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on (as the Elect of God, Holy and Be|loved) 〈…〉〈…〉 Kindness, Humbleness of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Meekness, Long|Suffering, For be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one another, and Forgiving, if any Man have a Quar|ter against any, as they expect Forgiveness from the Lord Jesus, p••••ting on 〈…〉〈…〉 perfectness, Col. 3. 12 13, 14. Shall that of the Apo|stle, speaking of the worst of the Heathen, (Rom. 1. 31.) be verified in any of the Professors among us, that they are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Implacable God forbid. They are your Enemies, yea, common Enemies to the Interest of Christ, and his people that will go about to ••oment these Divisions, or advise to the perpetuating of these Differences. If I were not well assured that Christs Name, and Interest, and your own Souls suffer unspeakably hereby, I should not have opened my Mouth in this manner. However I hope none here are so much in love with Contention as to be angry with Counsels of Peace. It is a matter of great Consequence. O let us not turn our Swords into one another•• Bowels, as the Midianites (Judg. 7. 22.) Philistines (1 Sam. 14 15, 20.) Moabites, Ammonites and the Inhabitants of Mount Seir (2 Chron. 20. 23.) as well as others, have done to their own Destruction. I believe really that it is with these Churches, or Companies of Christian Souldiers in this place, so far as there is any Contention among them, as it is with Soul|diers now & then in the Heat of Battel. Sometimes through mistake in the Hurry and Confusion of Battel, one Regiment or Company chargeth another of the same Army, slaughtering and destroying their own dear Friends, en|gaged on the same side, and for the same cause, instead of their Enemies. This hath occasioned great Mischief. So through Darkness, Confusions, Mis-understandings, and Mis-representations of Persons and Actions in an Hour of Temptation, it comes to pass that Brethren contend and quarrel, and wound one another with the wound of an Enemy, and of a cruel One. Mistakes and Mis-apprehensions are the usual, sad occasions of great Divi|sions. We had need watch and Pray, that we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not into Temptation in this respect, and to exercise Charity toward•• such as differ from us in Cir|cumstantials, or in matters of Doubtful Disputation only; left we blindly and precipitately run over and ruine, hack and hew down our Friends and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Under the notion of Enemies. Oh make and M••••ntain Peace a|mong your selves, you Souldiers and Military Companies of Jesus Christ A Cessation of Arms for the Present is not enough. It is a League of Ami••••

and Friendship, and Brotherly Communion that I contend for. O that it might be speedily effected! left a Common Enemy prove the only effe|ctual Mediatour between the Brethren at variance, and a pacification be made at last by such Instruments and Means as neither Party will have any joy or pleasure in. And the Blessing of the Peace-maker be upon the heads of those persons that shall be graciously instrumental in Gods way to settle a good and lasting Peace and Correspondence among these Churches, or sin|cerely and vigorously endeavour it.

7. Make it your chief care and business all the time of your Warfare to please your Great General the Lord of Hosts, the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. That is the property of a good Souldier, 2 Tim. 2 4. He designs to please his Commander in chief, by a ready Obedience. This was the sin|gular commendation of the Centurions Souldiers, Mat. 8. 9. Luk. 7. 8. No Men are under more absolute Command then Souldiers, that must not di|spute, but obey the Orders of their General. In like manner do you ob|serve all the Orders of the Lord Jesus, obey all his Words of Command, ad|venture upon the hottest and hardest pieces of Service, when he requires it; hold no Intelligence, or Treacherous, close Correspondence with his Enemies; In every Motion or Action consider with your selves whether this or that course, and carriage and Posture will please Christ. And in particular please him by a ready and cheerful Obedience to Inferiour, Commissioned Officers for his sake. Obey them that have the Ruleover you is one great word of Com|mand which our Lord & Saviour gives, Heb. 13. 7, 17. Though I am as truly & heartily opposite to the Presbyterian Perswasion (with due respect to the Piety and Learning, and Orthodoxy and Excellent Abilities and Accom|plishments of those our Fellow-Brethren, and Souldiers that match on that side of the way, be it spoken) wherein it lies in direct Opposition to the Substantials of the Congregational-way, as any of you: and though I am remote enough from the intention of improving the Text but now menti|oned, to the establishing of such an Absolute and Arbitrary Rule 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Presbytery, as is really inconsistent, and incomportable with the due pri|viledge and liberty of the People: yet I am sure that all are not Guider, Ove••••eers, and Rulers, but that there are Rulers and Ruled, the Governours and the Governed in all particular Churches according the Sovereign Institu|tion of Jesus Christ; there are Officers and Private Souldiers according to the appointment of our Lord General: And I must say freely, that that way of Church-Government that allows not the Rule and Government truely and properly so called, to Church Officers, is not the way of Christs Institution. Obey therefore such as the Lord Jesus hath set over you in the Lord; if you mean to please him. Otherwise you may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 General will severely punish the undue contempt of the 〈…〉〈…〉 the Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉

8. Be willing to endu••e Hardship. This is another Qualification of a Souldier, 2 Tim, 2 3. Church-Officers are called to this in a special manner: but it is duty also of every Christian Soulders, that must expect to wrestle with many Difficulties. A man must never think to be a Souldier that is nice and delicate, and loves to favour himself and indulgeth to pleasure and ••ase. Ni••is delicatus es Christians, qui volu••tatem hoc seculo concupiscis. Tertull. Every Souldier must resolve upon enduring Hunger, and Thirst, and Cold, and Wet, and Weariness, and lying upon the Ground, many Hard|ships and Inconveniences in the course of his Military Imployment. As A••eas the Scythian said to Philip of Macedon: You Command Macedoni|ans that can fight with men; But I Command Scythians that are able to fight with Hunger and Thirst. A Course of Warfare is usually a Course of Hardship, as well as Hazards. Christians must look for many hardships in their way, ill Usage, and course Entertainment, and sore Inconveniencies, and hard Duty in their Warfare. It is their great Wisdome and Duty to expect them, and learn to comport ••••ght with them.

9. Do not encumber your selves with other Occasions, or with anything that may take you off, or hinder you in your Warfare. No man that Warreth en|tangleth himself with the Affairs of this life, 2 Tim. 2 4 Souldiers are great|ly taken off from other employments; they cannot follow Merchandizing or Husbandry, or this or that Trade to any great purpose. They have enough to do to attend their Watchings and Wardings, Marchings and Motions, the Orders and Commands of their Leaders. True it is that a particular Calling is very well consistent with the General Calling of a Christian Souldier, and should be so attended and managed, that it may be a further|ance and no hindrance thereunto. But may we not fear that there is a fault among Christian Souldiers in this respect? and that they are generally too much engaged in other matters, and entangled with the World and the Af|fairs thereof, and thereby rendred less disposed to the service of Christ in their Christian Warfare? Certainly inordinate Affection to the thing of his World, and over eager pursuit of them doth in no wise become a good Soul|dier of Christ.

10. Be content with your Wages. That is the good Quality of a Soul|dier, as John the Baptist intimates, Luk. 3. 14. A Christian properly hath no wages, because all he enjoyes is of meer Grace and Courtesie. When he hath done all, He is an unprofitable Servant, Luk. 17. 10. But my meaning is, be contented with what the Lord Jesus Christ affords you at present for your sustentation and encouragement. Yea, though he keep you at short Allowance, as to comforts and spiritual suavities, and such a sufficiency of Grace to prevail, and conquer, and tread down all your Enemies, as you could desire; yet be quiet and contented with your present portion; do

not Mutiny or Murmure, but be Humbly Thankful for, and well sufficed with such things as you have, Heb. 13 5. And be assured that the Lord Jesus, though he owe you nothing, and keep you short at present, will pay you well atlast. The time is coming, when you shall be drawn out of the Field, and discharged from this Warfare, and then he will pay you all your Arrears, over and over, and gratifie you for all your Service (such is his Grace) with that which you may comfortably subsist on to Eternity.

This is the first Branch of the Exhortation. Let all true Believers be great|ly encouraged to fight against their Spiritual Enemies; & that both in their pri|vate and publick Capacities. For every Believer must engage in a Warfare, not only General and Common to all Christians, but also proper and peculi|ar to himself in his place and Condition. * 1.1 Therefore I would crave leave to Address my self here with a word or two of Encouragement to our Pious, Faithful, Honourable Rulers in their Warfare, not as they are Christians only, but as they are Christian Magistrates also, and the Nursing Fathers of our Common-Wealth and Churches. It would indeed be a most importune and intollerable Thing, notorious Boldness and Rudeness in me this Day, and on such an Occasion, to stand here and dictate to our Ho|nourable Patriots and Worthies, or to direct and advise them about the par|ticular management of their Civil Affairs. As every man should be wise•••• in his own Calling and Concerns: So it is the great Happiness of New-Eng|land that we have Persons of great worth and Wisdom, Integrity and Experi|ence, ruling over us, and guiding us by the Skilfulness of their Hands; and such as have no need of the Instructions of such a piece of weakness and un|worthiness as stands before you. They know their own Business, and are taught of God to manage the great Affairs under their Hands. I remember well, that I am an unworthy Minister of the Gospel; not a Statesman, or projector. And therefore I am very farre from the Design of obtruding upon you (much Honoured my raw and indigested Apprehensions about the Condition of your Affairs, and what may seem Counsellable in that respect. But I would with all Humility, Respect and Affection, administer to you a word of Encouragement, in a particular Application of what hath been discoursed of the Christians Warfare in General to your Warfare in Special. You must Combate with Prophaneness, with turbulent Heresies, with Blasphemies, with Injustice, with Disorders of many Kinds: and in so doing will be exposed to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and hard-Speeches, yea, to many Difficulties and Discouragements. And if you should be ready sometimes to faint in this publick Engagement, and complain that you are not able to bear this heavy Burthen that is laid upon you: it would be no more then what we read of Moses, the meekest man, and one of the best accomplished Leaders and Gover|nour••

that ever was upon Earth, Numb 11. 1••. 12, 14. The Eminency of your place and work makes you the more 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that you will be the fatter Mark for Satan, and his Instruments. Qu••••regit Signumest in quod Satanas omnia ••acula dirigit. Satan and his Followers, that fight un|der his Banner, will be casting all their Darts at you.

Magis••••atus indi|cat v••••um. Magistrates places are as Furnaces to try them in. Place of Government 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Spirit of a man, whether he be just or corrupt, liberal or covetous, valiant or fearful, for God or for Man;

as Mr. Cotton observs on Eccles. 3. 18—22. Every Calling hath its Temptation: and yours (as High and Honourable as it is) is not priviledged in that respect. You are Gods indeed in the Scripture Dialect (Psal. 82 1, 6.) but you are Men too, subject to the like passions, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Conflicts and Temptations, that other men are: nay, more exposed thereunto on some Accounts. Your Places are High, and you dwell in the u••••er Region; but you are wiser then to look for nothing but Stilness and Serenity there, where you are not out of the way & walk of the Prince of the Power of the Air, who will be sure (if he can) to raise many a Storm and Tempest upon you. I am not much acquainted with the State of your Affairs▪ but if I should improve my Observations, and conjecture from what I have noted elsewhere, I might well conclude, that you have Difficulties more then enough before you in your way. You are continually travelling in Birth with the publick good, and there may be some that (as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said of the Dragon, that he stood before the Woman that was ready to be delivered, to devour her Child as soon as it was born, Rev. 12. 4. So) will be ready to stifle the Issues of your Counsels in the Birth, or to over|lay them, and devour them as soon as they are born. Now the word of the Lord to you is (as sometimes to Joshua, Josh. 1. 9 Be strong and of a good Cou|rage, be not afraid, neither b•• you dismayed: For the Lord your God is with you. O take Courage and acquit your selves as the good Souldiers of Christ, and valiant Worthies in your Warfare. You have growing Sins in a growing Common-wealth to grapple withal. O be Couragious, and fight your Fight against such Enormities. Do not draw your Sword meer ••to flourish and beat the Air; but strike home: And if you have not Swords that are sharp enough, or long enough to reach, to do thorough 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the Ene|mies of our peace, the God-provoking & State disturbing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & evils among us; Be sure you get such as may do it; I mean such Laws as may be keen and comprehensive enough to reach them. And the Lord bless you, (with the Honoured Deputies) at your great Council of Warre, as I would take Liber|ty, this Day, to stile your General Assembly, where you are considering what to do de••hellare, to conquer and beat down the Sins and Disorders that life up the Head amongst us, and are the great Enemies of the Prosperity of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Common wealth and Churches. I might also particularly apply this

word of Encouragement to the pious and 〈…〉〈…〉 the work of the Ministry. O my Brethren and Fathers! you are the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, 2 Tim. 2. 3. Paul calis Epa|phroditus the Pastor of the Church of the Philippians, his Fellow-Souldier, Phil 2. 25. Both ••••••raordinary and ordinary Church-Officers are Souldiers. Your Life is a Warfare in a way of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Besides the Enemies you have to Engage with as you are Christians, you have Enemies also to con|flict with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you are Ministers I speak not of the persons of men which are to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and tendered: but of their Vices, which must be opposed and com|bated withal. You have Unruliness, Disorderly Behaviour, Prejudices, Re|proaches, base Nick-names, hard Usage, and injurious dealings among men; the Pride, Ignorance, Obstinacy, Unfruitfulness, and Ingratitude of some you have to do with, besides your particular Temptations from Satan (who maligns the Ministers of Christ more then other men) to conflict and com|bate withal. Some of you may be in Pauls Case, Fears within, and Figh|tings without, and Trouble on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 side, 2 Cor. 7 ••. You are Souldiers and must expect Knocks and Blows in your Warfare: but you may be assured of a most Glorious Victory. We live in ••imes of great Degeneracy, and in special o•• great Disaffection to the Ministers of Christ: Times wherein Sa|tan industriously instills and infuses endless Jealousies and prejudices into the Heads and Hearts of People concerning the Faithful Ministers of the Gos|pel. As the King of Syria said to his Captains, Fight neither with small nor Great, save only with the King of Israel, 1 King. 22. 31. So doth Satan seem to say to his Followers at this Day; Do you fight neither with one or other, so much as with the Ministers of Christ. This is the Ball that Satan hath as his Foot, the great Game that He is playing, up and down; to asperse, and vilifie, and bring down the price and esteem of Christs Messengers: as well knowing then how to destroy the Souls of Men and Women, Heaps upon Heaps, as it were. Well, you are Souldiers, and must not be discouraged. You are well appointed; you have Arms to sight withal. Prayers and Tears and Ministerial Authoritative Dispensation of the word and Ordinances of Christ, with Courage And undaunted Resolution, are the Weapon•• of your Warfare, which are not Carnal, but Spiritual and mighty throng God assisting, 2 Cor. 10 4. And if it would not sound too much like the Word of a Commander; if it were not too much Boldness and Ar|rogance, I would say to my Reverend Fathers and Brethren, Fellow Souldiers Stand to you 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Day is your own, and the Victory will be finally determined on your side. You Sigh••, and Groans, and Prayers, and Tears, and M••n••••••erial Conflict shall not be in vain; but the Lord will shortly give you the Victory. Take head ••f Short-spiritedness, of Impatience, of Faint|ing in the Contest, though it may be sharp and severe for a time. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Spirit the Antiministerial Spirit, the Heretical evil Spirit, the Le|velling and Disorderly, Spirit, or whatever else it is that you combate withal shall be routed, run down, put to flight; And the folly of such Things and persons will be made manifest to all men. Nothing will abide, but what is built, not on the variable and uncertain Fancies and Affections of men, but on the Everlasting Foundations of Scripture and Reason. Reason and Truth will stand their Ground, and keep the Field when all that is opposite thereunto will be put to flight and totally discomfited. I shall say no more to you but in the words of the Lord to the Prophet, Jer. 1. 18, 19. The Lord hath made you Defenced Cities, Iron Pillars, and Brazen Walls; and though men fight against you they shall not prevail; For the Lord is with you. Nay, further, If I could but get into the Hearts of any of the People of God in this Assembly, and make discovery of the particular Corruptions and Tempta|tions that this or that Believing Man or Woman is Conflicting and Combating with; I would say to them, Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. As the Priests were ordered by the Lord to give a Word of Encou|ragement to the People of Israel, when they were approaching to Battel a|gainst their Enemies, Deut. 20 3, 4. So give me leave at the Head of this Christian Camp here Assembled before the Lord, to bespeak the Israel of God, and to say, Let not your Hearts Faint, Fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified, because of your Enemies: For the Lord your God (even your great Lord General, the Lord Jesus Christ) i•• he that goeth with you to sight for you against your Enemies, and to save you. What should I do but say to them that are of a fearful Heart, Be strong, fear not: strengthen ye the weak Hands, and confirm the feeble Knees, Isai 35. 3, 4. You are it may be Buffered with Satans Messenger, pained with the Thorn in the Flesh, Molested and Tor|tured (as persons held upon the Rack) with Temptations to Atheism, and Un|belief, with Blasphemous Injections, and Amazing Suggestions, Tormented with the poysonous fiery Darts and Arrows of that evil one, Combated with Fleshly, Worldly Lusts and Corruptions that give you no rest. Oh Courage, Courage, Dear Hearts, Fight it out to the last. And if you are Foiled, get up again by Repentance, and renew the C••mba in the strength of Christ, and never ask Quarter, or make a Surrender of your selves to the Will of your Enemies; for you shall obtain a Glorious Victory. Possibly (O Believer) thou hast been sleeping in the Lap of some Dalilah, and hast lost thy strength, and art fallen into the Hands of the Philistines, that have bound thee with 〈…〉〈…〉 made thee to Grinde (which is the sad condition which some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Souldiers through Security reduce themselves unto) yet let me tell thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Encouragement, that though thy Locks are shaven off, yet 〈…〉〈…〉 Grace) the Lo••ks of thy Strength will grow again, and thou shall 〈…〉〈…〉 of those Philistines. Let all the Followers of Christ be warne••

by the Falls and Surprizes of themselves and others to stand upon their Guard, and continue in a vigilant fighting Posture, that they may not give up themselves to the Will of their Adversaries, that ly in Ambush, and watch all Advantages against them. Watch ye, stand fest in the Faith, quit you like men, be strong, 1 Cor. 16. 13. Yet a little while, and you shall triumph over all your Enemies. The Lord will shortly deliver you from Sin and Sorrow, and the Snares of an evil World, and bruise Satan under your Feet, Rom. 16. 20. The God of peace shall do it for you, when the time of your Warfare shall be accomplished.

Thus much for the first Branch of the Exhortation. The second is.

2. Learn and Labour to improve the Lord Jesus Christ in all your Spiritual Conflicts and Engagements. For want of this Holy skill Men do but beat the Air, and make a vain flourish, and contend to no purpose at all with the Enemies that War against their Souls. Here all the false Religions in the World, and that of the Papists in special, fail Exceedingly. They are wholly unacquainted with the Mystery of the Gospel, the Efficacy of the Performances of Jesus Christ, the orderly way of improving the Satisfa|ction, Merit and Intercession, or the Humiliation and Exaltation of the Me|diatour: and what course do they fix upon? Truly they think to Vanquish their Corruptions in the strength of their Vo••s, and Fastings and Pennances, and self-devised, self-macerating Austerities; which may possibly kill the Natural Man, but will never destroy the Corrupt Old Man: and to fright away Satan (the same and timerous Devil) with their Crossings and Holy|Water, and such like Fopperies. That which lies at the bottome of all their Miscarriages in this business is, that they know not how to improve the Lord Jesus in order to the Defeat and Overthrow of their Spiritual Adver|saries: without which Divine skill Men may Scuffle and Skirmish with their Foes, raise much Dust, and make a great noise and bustle, as if they would do great Exploits; and yet all end in Shame and Disappointment. For you see that all the Victories and Conquests which Believers obtain are through him that loved them, even the Lord Jesus Christ. O therefore learn that Spiritual Art of improving the Lord Jesus in all your Combates, or you do nothing. Much should have been said here about that fulness of Provi|sion that is laid up in Jesus Christ for the support, Relief and Assistance of Believers in their Conflicts, and their Enablement to make a Conquest of their Enemies: and about the ••ctings of Faith upon the Lord Jesus, and ••et••hing in all suitable and seasonable supplies of Strength and Grace from his store. Time and Strength would fail me, If I should enter upon so large and spacious a Subject; and I had rather say nothing, then speak generally, superficiarily, and flightily to a matter of such importance; therefore I shall thus pass it with a brief mention of it. The third Branch is;

3. Acknowledge the Love of God in Christ, and bless the God and Father of our Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ for all your partial and present Victories and Conquests in any of your Engagements with the Enemies of your Souls. Doth the Lord help you to acquit your selves like Men (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) or like Christians rather, & the Souldiers of Jesus Christ in any Conflicts with your own Cor|ruptions, or Satans Temptations? Oh remember that it is through the Love of God in Christ that you Prevail and Conquer: And therefore bless God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be thankful to him for all your Victorious Atchievements, and offer him the Sacrifice of Praise and Thank giving. When Iehosaphat and his People went forth against that great Multitude of Moabites, Ammonites, and the Inhabitants of Mount S••ir with full assurance from the Lord of Victory; Singers to the Lord were appointed, that should praise the Beauty of Holi|ness, as they went out before the Army, and say, Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever, 2 Chron. 20 21. They met the Enemy with Thanks|giving in their Mouths for promised and assured Victory. And when their Enemies were overthrown in a wonderful manner, they Assembled in the Valley of Berachah, so called, because they blessed the Lord there: and they returned to Ierusalem with Psalteries, and Harpss and Trumpets unto the House of the Lord, ver. 26, 28. In like manner Believers have Assurance from the Lord of the utter Defeat and Overthrow, and of the absolute Con|quest of their Foes through the love of God in Christ; and may well go forth against their Enemies in the strength of the Lord, with the High praises of God in their Mouth, and a two edged Sword in their hand, even the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, that is sharper then a two edged Sword, and will not fail, if it be rightly managed, to do notable Execution. And when they obtained any signal Victory in this or that particular Engagement with their Spiritual Enemies, what should they do but give the name of Berachah to their Closets and Places of Retirement, and bless the Lord and his Holy Name (in which they are to set up their Banners (Psal. 20 5.) and through which they have done valiantly, and trodden down all their Enemies, Psal. 108. 13.) with their Souls and all that is within them. Though you cannot in this Life hope for the total Defeat and overthrow of the Enemies of your Souls: yet be sure to erect a Trophy, and rear up a Monumental Pillar of thankful Acknowledgement and Remembrance to the Power and Grace and Love of God in Christ, upon every partial and particular Victory you obtain in the Field against them.

4. Lastly, Wait, and Pray, and Look, and Long for that Glorious Day, when your Warfare shall be ended, and you shall go out of the Field Victorious, and Triumphant, yea, absolute Conquerours. I perswade not to any Impa|tience during the heat of your present Engagements. Take heed of tiring and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in your Conflicts, and in the laborious course of your Warfare:

Though your General put you upon hard Duty and Service. He that stri|veth for Masteries is not Crowned, except he strive lawfully, 2 Tim 2. 5. L••|gitime cer••are (faith Judicious Calvin) est prol qui certamen quantum vel quoad Lex prescribit: ••cquis sibi modum ante tempus definiat. To strive lawfully is to hold on the Contest, or continue and persevere in the Conflict, as long as the Law prescribes: and no men is to give over before the Time appoint|ed. He that is tired with a first or second Conflict, and withdraws himself out of the Field before his Time; will lose his Crown. Perseverance in a Course of Running and Wrestling, and Combating, with Patience, and Sub|mission to the good will of God, is the Duty of every Christian. But with|all, it is the Duty, as well as Allowance, of the Followers of Christ, to have respect to the Recompence of Reward, and the joy that is set before them: and to wait (with Hope and Desire) all the Dayes of their Appointed time or of their Warfare (as the Original hath it) till their change come, Job. 14. 14. that happy great Change, when their present Warfare shall be changed into everlasting peace and rest from trouble, and their Helmets shall be chan|ged into Croans of everlasting Joy upon their Heads, and their Swords and Spears (not beaten into Plow shares and Pruning-••ooks, as Isai. 2. 4 but) changed into Palms in their hands in token of assured Victory and Tri|umph. O therefore let all Christian Souldiers love and long for the Glo|rious Appearance of Christ: And when you are beset and encumbred, and engaged in any hot dispute with your Enemies, Lock upwards, and Sigh to Heaven, as for present Assistance and Enablement, so also for after perfect Deliverance, Victory and Triumph, which shall be brought to you at the Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

With this word I should have concluded and issued the whole Discourse, and put an End to the present Engagement; but that I conceive it may be ••ationally expected that I should address my self in the close (in a word or two at least) to the Military men the worthy and much Honoured Gentle|men, that have pressed and called me forth to the Service of this Day. I need not tell you that I am no Souldier. Possibly mine inept Usage of some Military and Martial phrases in the past Discourse may but too plainly tell you, that I am but little acquainted with the Military Science or Faculty. I am no Friend to warre, ••••at an unfeigned lover of Peace. I long for an End of the warres and Bloud-sheds, the Destructions and Desolations that the poor world is filled withal. O when will this I ron-Age expire, and that glo|rious Morn appear, that Lightsome Day dawn, wherein the Nations shall beat their Swords into plough-Shears, and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks, neither shall Nation left up Sword against Nation, nor the Sons of men learn warre any more? The God of Peace will certainly put an end unto these miserable 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

In the mean time it is the wisdom and duty of the people of God to improve all Advantages that are providentially put into their Hands, to secure their peace and precious Enjoyments, and to put themselves into a Posture and Condition of disputing it with those that may invade or assault them, Military Skill is necessary in Military times and Martial Dayes; and these Military exercises are not only Lawful and Allowable, but lauda|ble, yea, and necessary also: and the persons by whom they are supported and carried on deserve singular Commendation and Encouragement. Da|vids Mart al mighty men are Catalogui••ed in holy writ, as men of Renown and worthy to be had in Honourable Remembrance: And surely the Gentle|men among us that are men of Skill and Conduct, and expertness in Military affairs should not be slighted or discouraged. We live in times of great Com|motions and doubtful Expectations. How long we may si•• under our Vines and Fig-trees and have none to make us afraid, The God of our Peace, our great Protector, only knows. The Day may come upon us, when we may wish there were many more worthy men of Martial Spirits and Military Accompleshments, then yet appear among us. True it is, that I have not directed my Discourse to the Souldiers this Day: Considering that I was not (unless I mistook my Summons) to make a Military Oration (which is more proper for some Gentleman of that Profession) but to preach a Sermon, on a Military occasion, that might be of Use (if the Lord please) to the whole Assembly. I have weakly, but designedly endeavou|red to imitate and tread in the steps of our Blessed Saviour (the Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 2 10. with whom it was usual and Customary in the Days of his Commoration and Conversa upon Earth, to take the least Hint to make a Spiritual U••e and Advantage of Common Things, and to improve obvious Occasions and Occurrences in a Pa••ab••lical, Allegorical, and Spi|ritual way. In like manner I have taken Rise and Advantage from the Mili|tary occasions of this Day to discourse (as the Lord hath enabled) of the Spiritual and Christian Warfare. Souldiers love to hear of Battels at Land or Sea, of Victories and Triumphs, and the Consequents thereof, the Spoils, the Plunder, the Booty, the Rewards of Gallantry and good Behaviour in such Engagements: And I have been acquainting you with such Things in a Spi|ritual way. And I hope none of you will judge this wholly impertinent, un|less you have so farre put on the Artillery man this morning, that you have also put off the Christian Souldier. I shall say further (by way of Defence and Apology) that what I have discoursed may be of great Use unto the Gentlemen I am speaking to in their Military Capacity. That which con|duces to the making of men good Christians hath a general Influence into the due deportment of men in all Capacities and Relations. That man that hath Conquered and Subdued Himself will know how to command, how to

obey, much better then One that is a slave to Himself, and his own perverse will, and in Bondage to his own Lusts and Corruptions. Such a man will give serious and conscionable Attendance to the Improvement of all means affoarded him, that may accomplish Him in a Military way, and furnish Him with Skill and Dexterity, whereby He may be enabled to fight the Lords Battels against Injurious and malignant Adversaries; He will de|pend on that God that teacheth his Hands to warre, and his Fingers to sight, (Psal. 144. 1.) and umpires or determines the successes and Events of all Military Engagements according to the Counsel of his own will, sometimes contrary to the Law and Common Rule of second Causes: So that the Battel is not alwayes to the strong, but Time and Chance (some intervening providen|tial Occurrences) happen to this, as well as other Affairs, Eccles. 9. 11. He will go forth, when God calls to the Defence of Civil and Religious Liber|ties in the strength of the Lord, and not in his own might or Sufficiency, ha|ving had such sensible and instructing Experience, that all his Spiritual and greater Conquests are acquired through him that loved Him. He will be one of the Legio Fulminate, the thundring Legion, that by their powerful and princely Prayers will obtain signal Victories over their Enemies. He will be one of the Called, and Faithful, and Chosen, that will follow the Lamb 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tha••so••ver he leads them. He that (through the Grace and strength 〈…〉〈…〉) hath conquered Sin, and Self, and Satan, and an evil World, and is 〈…〉〈…〉 conquer his last Enemy Death (which is the happy Condition of a Christian Souldier) will not fear the Face of any man in a Righteous Cause, but have the Spirit, and Courage, and undaunted Resolution of a Souldier indeed. He will say, as Nehemiah in his Case, Neham. 6. 11. Should such a man as I flee? well may He be above Fear and Frights, and Coward••se, and acquit Himself in all respects as a Magnanimous Person, who hath Deliverance from the fear of Death, to the Bondage whereof all men are naturally Sub|ject, Heb. 2. 15. He that expects to gain by dying (as that Champion Paul did, Phil. 1. 21.) and therefore Hopes rather then Fears to dy, will not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 afraid of the point of the Sword, or mouth of the Canon, or any other Instru|ments of Death, when God calls Him to adventure Himself. If Alexander, Julius Coesar, and others accomplished such great Things by their natural Courage and Valour; what will not that man do that hath the Spirit and Valour of a Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He will not be acted by the pride, and Ambi|tion, and vain glorious 〈…〉〈…〉 mercenary Spirit that other Souldiers are carried with, but will bear up in the Greatness of his God, and the Goodness of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Himself in the High places of the Field. These and the like Things considered, my Discourse may not seem to be wholly For|reign, or unaccommodable to the affairs of this day. Whether it hath been perti|nent and proper to the Design and Business of the Day is left to the judge|ment

of my Auditors. But sure I am that I have discoursed of the Best and most Important Warfare, and the most desireable and glorious Victory and Triumph. And though I cannot but approve and commend and wish the prosperous Continuance of your Trainings and Artillery-Exercises: Yet behold (as Paul speaks in another Case, 1 Cor. 12. 31.) I have been shewing you a more excellent way. Of all Souldiers, the Christian Souldier is the best: No Warre, nor Victory, nor Triumph can be comparable to His. He is more then a Souldier; more then a Conqueror. And happy will that man be that at the end of his Race, and when he is matching out of the Field, shall be able to say (as that great Apostle and Renowned Souldier of Jesus Christ, a Tim. 4. 7, 8.) I have fought a good fight, I have finished the Course of my Warfare: and henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteo••sness, which the Lord, the Righteous ludge, shall give me at the Blessed Day of his Glorious Appearing.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Sermon was Preached when the General Court was sitting, and in the Audience of the much Ho|noured Members of it.