the loud music of carnal delights, that the noise of one may drown the other ; or with Cain, they will go from the presence of the Lord, and come no more at those ordinances which make their head ache, and hinder the rest of their raving consciences. If yet the ghost haunts them, then they labour to pacify it with some good work or other, which they set against their bail ; their alms and charity in their old age must expiate the oppression and violence of their former days ; as if this little frankincense were enough to air and take away the plague of God's curse, which is in their ill-gotten goods. Thus poor creatures catch at any sorry covering, which will not so much as hide their shame, much less choke the bullet of God's wrath, when God shall fire upon them ; this must be the armour of God's appointing. Adam was naked for all his fig-leaves, while God 'taught him to make coats of skin,' Gen. iii. 21, covertly (as some think) shadowing out Christ the true 'Lamb of God,' whose righteousness alone was appointed by him to cover our shame, and arm our naked souls from the sight and stroke of his justice.
Secondly, It reproves those who use the armour of God, but not as God hath appointed ; which appears in three sorts.
First, When a person useth a duty appointed by God, not as armovir of de- fence against sin, but as a cover for sin. Who would think him an enemy that wears Christ's colours in his hat, and marcheth after Christ in the exercise of all the duties of his worship? Such a one may pass all the covirts of guard, without so much as being bid stand ; all take him for a friend ; and yet some such there are, who are fighting against Christ all the while. The hypocrite is the man; he learns his postures, gets the word, has his tongue tipped with scripture language, and walks in the habit of a Christian, merely on a design to drive his trade the more closely ; like some highwaymen in our days, who I'ob in the habit of sol- diers, that they may be the less suspected ; this is desperate wickedness indeed, to take \ip God's arms, and use them in the devil's service ; of all sinners such shall find the least mercy ; false friends shall speed worse than open enemies.
Secondly, They use not the armour of God, as God hath appointed, who put a carnal confidence therein. We must not confide in the armour of God, but in the God of this armour, because all ' our weapons are only mighty through God,' 2 Cor. x. The ark was the means of the Jews' safety, but, carnally ap- plauded and gloried in, hastened their overthrow ;• so duties and ordinances, gifts and graces, in their place, are means for the soul's defence ; Satan trembles as much as the Philistines at the ark, to see a soul diligent in the use of duty and exercise of grace ; but when the creature confides in them, this is dangerous. As some, when they have prayed, think they please God for all day, though they take little heed to their steps. Others have so good an opinion of their faith, sincerity, knowledge, that you may as soon make them believe they are dogs, as that they may ever be taken in such an error or sinful practice. Others, when assisted in duty, are prone to sti-oke their own head with a ' Bene fecisti, Bernarde,' and so promise themselves to speed, because they have done their errand so well. What speak such passages in the hearts of men, but a carnal confidence in their annour to their ruin ? Many soids, we may safely say, do not only perish praying, repenting and believing after a sort, but they perish by their praying and repenting, &c., while they carnally trust in these. As it falls out sometimes, that the soldier in battle loseth his life by means of his own armour, it is so heavy he cannot flee with it, and so close buckled to him, that he cannot get it oft", to flee for his life without it. If we be saved, we must come naked to Christ, for all our duties : we will not flee to Christ while confiding in them, and some are so locked into them, that they cannot come without them, and so in a day of temptation are trampled under the feet of God's wrath, and Satan's fury. The poor Publican throws down his arms, (that is, all confidence in himself,) cries out for quarter at the hands of mercy, ' God, be merciful unto me a sinner;' and he comes off" with his life ; he went away justified : but the Pharisee, laden with his righteousness, and conceited of it, stands to it, and is lost. Thirdly, They do not use the armour of God as such, who, in the performing of divine duties, eye not God through them ; and this makes them all weak and ineflectual. Then the word is mighty, when read as the word of God ; then the gospel preached, powerfid to convince the conscience, and revive the droop- ing spirit, when heard, as the appointment of the great God, and not the exer-
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. 33
cise of a mean creature. Now it will ajipear in three things, whether we eye divine appointment in the means.