directed rather to have phindered the Egyptians of their horse and arms (as more necessary for such an expedition) than to borrow their jewels and ear- rings ; but God will have them come out naked and on foot ; and Moses keeps close to his order; yea, when horses were taken in battle, because God com- manded they should be houghed, they obeyed, though to their seeming disad- vantage. It was God's war they waged, and therefore but reasonable they should be under his command ; they encamped and marched by his order, as the ark moved or rested; they fought by his command ; the number appointed bj^ him, the means and weapons they should use, all prescribed by God, as in the assault of Jericho ; and what is the gospel of all this (for surely God hath an eye in that to our marching to heaven, and our fighting with these cursed spirits and lusts that stand in our way,) but that we should fight law- fully, using those means which we have from his mouth in his word ?
This reproveth two sorts.
Use 1. First, those that fight Satan in armour, that hath no divine institu- tion, as.
First, The Papist. Look into his armoury, and hardly a piece that will be found armour of God. They fight in the pope's armour; his authority is the shop wherein their weapons are forged ; it were a kind of penance to your patience, to repeat all the several pieces of armour, with which they load silly souls, too heavy indeed for the broadest shoulders among them to bear ; yea, more than the wiser sort of them mean to use ; their masses, matins, vigils, pilgrimages, Lent-fasts, whippings, vows of chastity, poverty, with a world of sucli trash ; where is a word of God for these ? who hath required these things at their hands ? A thousand woes will one day fall upon those impostors, who have stripped the people of the true armour of God, and put these reeds and bidrushes in their hands. This may justify us in the sight of God and men, for our departure from them, who will force us to venture the life of our souls in such paper armour, when God hath provided better.
Secondly, The carnal Protestant, who fights in fleshy armour, 2 Cor. x. 3. The apostle speaks there of ' warring after the flesh,' that is, with weapons or means, which man's carnal wisdom prompts to, and not God's commands, and so are weak. How few are clad with other in the day of battle ! First, when Satan tempts to sin, if he hath not presently a peaceable entrance, yet the re- sistance commonly made is carnal ; the strength carnal they rest on ; their own, not God's ; the motives carnal, as the fear of man more than of God. Where one saith. How shall I do this, and sin against God ? many in their hearts say. How shall I do this, and anger man, displease my master, provoke my parents, and lose the good opinion of my minister? Herod feared John, and did many things ; had he feared God, he would have laboured to have done every thing. The like may be said of all other motives, which have their spring in the creature, not in God ; they are armour which will not out- stand shot. If thy strength lie in a creature-lock, it may be soon cut off"; if in God, it will hold, as bis command. 'It is written:' I cannot doit, but I must set my foot on the law of my Maker. Or the love of Christ ; I cannot come at my lust, but I must go over my bleeding Saviour; and therefore away, foul tempter I I hate thee and thy motion. This foundation is rock, and will stand ; but if it be some carnal respect that balanceth thee, another more weighty may be found of the same kind, which will cast the scales another way. She that likes not the man because of his dress only, may soon be gained when he comes in another habit. Satan can change his suit, and then thy mouth will be stopped when thy carnal argument is taken ofl". Secondly, When the word or conscience rebuke for sin, what is the armour that men commonly cover their guiltv soids witlial ? Truly no other than carnal. If they cannot evade the chai ge that these bring, then they labour to mitigate it, by extenuating the fact. It is true, will they say, I did (I confess) commit such a fault, but I was drawn in ; ' The woman gave me, and I did eat,' was Adam's fig-leaf amioiir ; it is but once or twice, and I hope that breaks no such squares; was this such a great business? I know jolly Christians will do as much as this comes to ; I thank (iod, I cannot be charged for whore or thief : this is the armour which nuist keep ofl" the blow. But if conscience will not be thus taken oflT, then they labour to divert their thoughts, by striking up
32 PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.