Alexander Henderson’s Sermons

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Changes to "Sermon—Ephesians 6:11-12"

Date: Tue Jun 2 10:39:15 2026 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index 309862b..7d15d68 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ thee; and it shall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

The second piece of this armour is "The breast-plate of righteousness." The breast, it has very great need to be keepedkept and defended; for there lies all the noble parts of a man, and a small wound at the breast will kill a man, especially if he get but the least wound in the heart, for the heart lies in the breast. Now the piece of armour that he ordains, or I may say the Spirit of God ordains, for defending of it, is "righteousness." Now, ye may not think

Date: Fri Oct 31 09:13:48 2025 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index 0b269b7..309862b 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ wonderful and strange a manner, "Against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." And then the apostle, he repeats his warning again, and desires them "to take unto them the whole armour of God." And he does this for two ends especially, whilkwhich are both set down in the words. First, "That ye may stand out in the evil day." That is, ye know not how soon evil days may come upon you, and therefore it is fitting for you to take unto you the whole armour of God, that so ye may not be overcome then. The second end wherefore he would have them to take unto them this armour is, That they may persevere, and keep their station to the end; that when they have wrestled against all their enemies, and has overcome even the last enemy, whilkwhich is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in these words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the @@ -36,23 +36,23 @@ First, he would have them belted about with the girdle or belt of truth; he begins at that. Now when ye hear of this truth, I am sure ye have either one thought or other what this truth can be. The word of God is called truth; but that cannot be the thing that is meant here, for the word of God is that piece of armour whilkwhich is called the sword of the Spirit. And therefore this belt or girdle must be some other thing than to be girded with the truth of God's word; for a sword and a girdle cannot both of them be one thing. Neither can this girdle of truth, the meaning of it be the verity of our speeches, whilkwhich is truth; for being clothed with this armour of God, we are armed against him who is a liar and the father of all lies; and so by being clothed with this armour it is that we speak the truth, and so that cannot be the meaning of it. And so this truth, it must be the soundness of the heart, uprightness, godly simplicity, and honesty in all our actions, striving to do everything as in the sight of God. And this truth is the thing whilkwhich every one thinks they have, and they think they do all things with an honest heart; but when the godly begins to examine themselves whether they have this truth or not, they find themselves to be scarce enough of it. And he calls this truth a girdle or a belt, taking a comparison from soldiers; even as if there were a gaping between the upper part of their armour, whilkwhich covereth the head and the breast, and that whilkwhich covers their belly, their thighs, their legs, etc.; this belt or girdle, it covers that part whilkwhich is naked there. And this belt or covering, in old times it served also for ornament or decoring. So it was studded with brass, or silver, or gold, or some finer things than any of these, as precious stones and so the belt was put about them to decore (adorn) them. And it served @@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ armour to fight, but also in a journey. And therefore ye must get an honest, upright, and a pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilkwhich is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it shall be a guard to that part whilkwhich is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It shall also serve for an ornament to thee; and it shall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry. @@ -77,10 +77,10 @@ the noble parts of a man, and a small wound at the breast will kill a man, especially if he get but the least wound in the heart, for the heart lies in the breast. Now the piece of armour that he ordains, or I may say the Spirit of God ordains, for defending of it, is "righteousness." Now, ye may not think that this righteousness, whilkwhich is here spoken of, is the righteousness of faith; for the shield of faith, it follows after this, as another several piece of this armour. Nor can I call this, chiefly and properly, that inherent righteousness whilkwhich we receive at our first regeneration, for that is it whilkwhich makes a man first to be a Christian, and to enter to be a soldier of Christ; whereas here he is spoken of as one who is a Christian and a soldier already, and is bidden put on this armour to defend himself, as a Christian soldier. But @@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ they are not the chosen nor elect of God, this righteousness, it is a breastplate to ding (beat) back that tentation in his teeth, and to repel all these. When they have a conscience telling them that they hate every sin, and strives against all sins, and so it keeps them from committing of many sins whilkwhich otherwise they would commit, it saves them from being discouraged by the calumnies of the world and the devil, and it is a testimony and seal to them of their election.

@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ also. And this hope is not only, that the Lord will give to his own life everlasting, and a crown of glory in heaven; but this hope, it is also this,--- they who have sound and upright faith, they hope also that the Lord will do good to them all the days of their life, while they are here. And this is as a helmet to the head, whilkwhich keeps them many times from being harmed by Satan.

The sixth piece of this armour is "The sword of the Spirit." Now the exposition of this also is set down in the next words, "which is the word of @@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ sword rousted, but it must be clear; it must be always in readiness to guard and defend ourselves, and to offend and hurt Satan and his instruments, whensoever they assault us.

And then, in the last roum (place), follows "prayer," whilk,which, as I told you before, is a matter of fact, and a mustering of all our armour. And it is diversely expressed, and that in very pithy words here. First, "Praying always." This is not to pray at every time, but the meaning of it is to pray at @@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ must pray to God, both to remove all our ills from us, and to supply all our wants, etc.; even for everything let us pray to God. Thirdly, we must pray "in the Spirit;" that is, we must pray with the heart, sensibly, and not use lip-labour only, for that will not do the turn; but there must be a presenting of the heart, without the whilk,which, even without a present heart, our words cannot be free, without wandering here and there. And this present heart, it will be only when thou art touched with a sense of the presence of God, who is looking upon thee, and with a sense of thy own vileness, and of thy need and necessity. @@ -271,10 +271,10 @@ and tempted by Satan; he used only this piece of armour against him, and by that same it was that he did beat back his tentations. Even so ye must do also, when Satan tempts you any way; say as our Lord did, "It is written, it is written." And then, because it is prayer that makes all these pieces ferdy (ready for use), it is a mustering of our armour, and that whilkwhich holds us always upon our guard, therefore strive to have the right form of praying to God. Pray at all occasions, in everything pray, pray in the Spirit, with all watchfulness: and with thyself remember all the rest of God's children. Whilkwhich sort of prayer will only be acceptable to God, and comfortable to thy own soul.

By this ye may perceive (It is a pitiful thing to see you so senseless that @@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ when I am speaking to you of armour wherewith to defend yourselves, and whereby to offend your enemies, that yet ye will not leave your sleeping: and I speak it after such a manner for that end that ye may take up (comprehend) things, that I am even almost ashamed of myself; and yet ye will not take heed to that whilkwhich is spoken, and hold up your heads from sleeping). Always (nevertheless) I say, by this ye may perceive how pitiful and lamentable a case that soul is in, who wants these spiritual weapons and this armour. Now if ye would consider of this aright, and know how doolful a case it is, look upon the contraries of

Date: Thu Oct 30 17:22:32 2025 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index 5be56dd..0b269b7 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -1,14 +1,14 @@ #lang pollen

Ye were first of all exhorted in the conclusion of this epistle, because we have no strength of our own, and we have much ado with strength, "To be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Draw once the Lord to be upon our side, and then we shall be strong enough against all our enemies, and we shall be sure to prevail over them. Next, there is a duty proponed---"Put on the whole armour of God." The end is, "That ye may be able to stand out against the wiles of the devil." And the reason that he gives to move us to put it on is, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood," at least we wrestle not chiefly and principally against them, even when we have flesh and blood for our enemies, but we wrestle against these who are described hereafter after so wonderful and strange a manner, "Against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high @@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ has overcome even the last enemy, whilk is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in these words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the description of the particular pieces of this armour. Now, what I shall do to you in this purpose shall be only this. Without diversity of interpretations, I shall show unto you what is likeliest, and what to my judgment is meant by every one of these pieces severally. 1 shall then give unto you some general properties and qualities of the whole pieces of this armour together. And so I shall close this purpose, not being minded to insist curiously upon it; for it would require a long time.

First, he would have them belted about with the girdle or belt of truth; he begins at that. Now when ye hear of this truth, I am sure ye have either one @@ -66,9 +66,10 @@ yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it shall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It shall also serve for an ornament to thee; and it shall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

The second piece of this armour is "The breast-plate of righteousness." The breast, it has very great need to be keeped and defended; for there lies all @@ -98,10 +99,10 @@ to God; when Satan begins to assault any man, and to tempt him to sin, this beats back his tentation again. For come to a man who has gotten a sight of his sins, and has found grief and sorrow of heart for them, when Satan or any of his instruments comes to tempt him to do anything that is wrong, he will answer with Joseph, Shall such a man as I am commit such a sin, and offend God? Sin has already brought me to great grief and sorrow; I have confessed my sins to God, and I have purposed, and promised to him to strive against them; and so it will be a shame for me to offend my God in committing more sins, and bring more guiltiness, and so more grief and sorrow to my own soul. Secondly, a man who has this inward testimony of his own righteousness, when he meets with reproaches into the world, and men are lying against him and calumniating him, @@ -150,9 +151,9 @@ this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to them that love God: and if all things work for their best, then afHlictions work for their best also. It's true, if it were to my choose (choice), I could choose fewer afflictions; but when God gives many afflictions and crosses into the way, the more of them that I meet with into this way, there is the more good for me. Why then should not I undergo them willingly, seeing they tend for my good? And so that is the preparation of the gospel of peace, when I am persuaded by it of the favour of God, through Jesus Christ,~---that through him all my sins are done away; and when I am persuaded that everything he does to me is in love and for my good, and not from hatred and to my destruction; and @@ -164,15 +165,15 @@ that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.

The fourth piece of this armour is, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the devil." Faith is a thing that is often spoken of, and O but there be much spoken concerning faith, both in preaching and otherwise! Will ye come to any preaching, wherever it be, but ye will hear of faith? but it is a pitiful thing that the most part both of preachers and hearers understands not what faith is; and because we understand it not, therefore we get it not into our hand, as a shield to defend us. And by reason of the want of this shield, Satan lends out many lashes and straikes (strokes) at us, by himself and by his instruments; and by them wounds our souls deep, and often deadly. This is faith;---when I hear of Christ, of the promises made by him in the gospel, I believe in him, and believes his promises; and not only do I believe his promises, but all other things that are contained in his word,---threatenings and precepts and all, by one and the same faith. For there is not one faith for believing the promises, another for @@ -200,8 +201,8 @@ be that it be a tentation to sin, then it runs to the Spirit of Christ, to get the bloody issue of its corruptions cured, that so they may not commit sin. So that there is in tentation no dart, albeit it were never so fiery, that it would even threaten to burn and to destroy the soul, but if thou have faith, and hold it as a shield into thy left hand, it shall be able to quench all these fiery darts.

The fifth piece of this armour is "The helmet of salvation." The apostle, writing to the Thessalonians, he has eased us of the pains we might have in

Date: Thu Oct 30 14:50:55 2025 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index 205ecb3..5be56dd 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ #lang pollen

Ye were first of all exhorted in the conclusion of this epistle, because we have no strength of our own, and we have ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much ado with strength, "To be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Draw once the Lord to be upon our side, and then we shall be strong enough against all our enemies, and we shall be sure to prevail over them. Next, there is a duty proponed---"Put on @@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ station to the end; that when they have wrestled against all their enemies, and has overcome even the last enemy, whilk is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the description of the particular pieces of this armour. Now, what I shall do to you in this purpose shall be only this. Without diversity of interpretations, I shall show unto you what is likeliest, and what to my judgment is meant by every one of ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these pieces severally. 1 shall then give unto you some general properties and qualities of the whole pieces of this armour together. And so I shall close this purpose, not being minded to insist curiously upon it; for it would require a long time. @@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ it is that we speak the truth, and so that cannot be the meaning of it. And so this truth, it must be the soundness of the heart, uprightness, godly simplicity, and honesty in all our actions, striving to do everything as in the sight of God. And this truth is the thing whilk every one thinks they have, and they think they do all things with ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an honest heart; but when the godly begins to examine themselves whether they have this truth or not, they find themselves to be scarce enough of it. And he calls this truth a girdle or a belt, taking a comparison from soldiers; even as if there were a gaping between @@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ also for buckling of their armour together, that it should not get low, to fall sundry (asunder), and for strengthening them; so it was not only requisite for armour to fight, but also in a journey.

And therefore ye must get ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an honest, upright, and a pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it shall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It shall also serve for ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an ornament to thee; and it shall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

The second piece of this armour is "The breast-plate of righteousness." The @@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ it;---when I am prepared by this gospel of peace to go through every hard trouble, and to oppose every adversary that can encounter me, coming from the devil, and the world, and my own flesh. For the gospel of peace, it does this;---it prepares a man in peace to go through all troubles peaceably, that he can meet with. And he goes through them all on ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these two grounds. 1. By this gospel of peace I get assurance that all my sins are done away through the blood of Jesus Christ; and this makes me willing to undergo all troubles. 2. By this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to @@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.

The fourth piece of this armour is, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the devil." Faith is a thing that is often spoken of, and O but there be ◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great}much spoken concerning faith, both in preaching and otherwise! Will ye come to any preaching, wherever it be, but ye will hear of faith? but it is a pitiful thing that the most part both of preachers and hearers understands not what faith is; and because we @@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ it after such a manner for that end that ye may take up (comprehend) things, that I am even almost ashamed of myself; and yet ye will not take heed to that whilk is spoken, and hold up your heads from sleeping). Always (nevertheless) I say, by this ye may perceive how pitiful and lamentable a case that soul is in, who wants ◊scottish{thir#these|those}these spiritual weapons and this armour. Now if ye would consider of this aright, and know how doolful a case it is, look upon the contraries of these, and think upon that, what it is to have them. First, that thou has a counterfeit, false, and hypocritical heart, that did never mind the honour of @@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ God. but does ever mind thy own honour in everything thou does, as is too evident in many in the world. Ye will never hear them discourse of anything but a part of their discourse will be of themselves, and for themselves, while it may be many times there will not be one word of it for the honour of God. Then to have [◊scottish{ane#an|one}[an evil] and ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an accusing conscience crying to thee night and day, telling thee that thou had never a purpose to serve God, and to save thy own soul, by anything that thou did. And when any evil comes upon thee, thou not having the assurance of the pardon and remission of thy sins, thou takes it as @@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ comes of thee, whoever thou be, for he spares none.

It were good for us, therefore, that we should labour always to have on this armour,---to get it on, and to hold it on. Beseech the Lord that he would give unto you ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an honest and ◊scottish{ane#an|one}an upright heart, that he would give unto you a sound and a quiet conscience, that he would certify thee that thou has had repentance for thy by-gane sins, that thou has purposed, and striven, and still resolves to strive against all tentations to sin, and avoideth all occasions thereof,

Date: Thu Oct 30 11:03:09 2025 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index fb5b36f..205ecb3 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -1,10 +1,10 @@ #lang pollen

Ye were first of all exhorted in the conclusion of this epistle, because we have no strength of our own, and we have mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} ado with strength, "To be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Draw anesonce the Lord to be upon our side, and then we sallshall be strong enough against all our enemies, and we sallshall be sure to prevail over them. Next, there is a duty proponed---"Put on the whole armour of God." The end is, "That ye may be able to stand out against the wiles of the devil." And the reason that he gives to move us to put it on is, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood," at least we wrestle not @@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ station to the end; that when they have wrestled against all their enemies, and has overcome even the last enemy, whilk is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the description of the particular pieces of this armour. Now, what I sallshall do to you in this purpose sallshall be only this. Without diversity of interpretations, I sallshall show unto you what is likeliest, and what to my judgment is meant by every one of thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} pieces severally. 1 sallshall then give unto you some general properties and qualities of the whole pieces of this armour together. And so I sallshall close this purpose, not being minded to insist curiously upon it; for it would require a long time.

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ it is that we speak the truth, and so that cannot be the meaning of it. And so this truth, it must be the soundness of the heart, uprightness, godly simplicity, and honesty in all our actions, striving to do everything as in the sight of God. And this truth is the thing whilk every one thinks they have, and they think they do all things with ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} honest heart; but when the godly begins to examine themselves whether they have this truth or not, they find themselves to be scarce enough of it. And he calls this truth a girdle or a belt, taking a comparison from soldiers; even as if there were a gaping between @@ -60,15 +60,15 @@ also for buckling of their armour together, that it should not get low, to fall sundry (asunder), and for strengthening them; so it was not only requisite for armour to fight, but also in a journey.

And therefore ye must get ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} honest, upright, and a pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it sallshall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It sallshall also serve for ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} ornament to thee; and it sallshall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

The second piece of this armour is "The breast-plate of righteousness." The breast, it has very great need to be keeped and defended; for there lies all @@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ to God; when Satan begins to assault any man, and to tempt him to sin, this beats back his tentation again. For come to a man who has gotten a sight of his sins, and has found grief and sorrow of heart for them, when Satan or any of his instruments comes to tempt him to do anything that is wrong, he will answer with Joseph, SallShall such a man as I am commit such a sin, and offend God? Sin has already brought me to great grief and sorrow; I have confessed my sins to God, and I have purposed, and promised to him to strive against them; and so it will be a shame for me to offend my God in committing moemore sins, and bring more guiltiness, and so more grief and sorrow to my own soul. Secondly, a man who has this inward testimony of his own righteousness, when he meets with reproaches into the world, and men are lying against him and calumniating him, @@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ we had need to have our feet and our legs armed, as well as any of the rest of our members. And surely, in our whole pilgrimage in this world, we are in a rough and thorny way, so that we cannot set down our feet but upon stones, thorns, or briers, or something of that kind. But there is a promise made unto the godly, that they sallshall be led over the hole of the asp and of the cockatrice, and sallshall not be harmed. Now this could not be done if they were barefooted, but they must kep (catch) skaith (harm) by walking there; but they get on shoes upon their feet, and so it is that they walk and are safe. And in the Canticles, the spouse there is said to be cled with badgers' skins, @@ -143,14 +143,14 @@ it;---when I am prepared by this gospel of peace to go through every hard trouble, and to oppose every adversary that can encounter me, coming from the devil, and the world, and my own flesh. For the gospel of peace, it does this;---it prepares a man in peace to go through all troubles peaceably, that he can meet with. And he goes through them all on thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} two grounds. 1. By this gospel of peace I get assurance that all my sins are done away through the blood of Jesus Christ; and this makes me willing to undergo all troubles. 2. By this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to them that love God: and if all things work for their best, then afHlictions work for their best also. It's true, if it were to my choose (choice), I could choose fewer afflictions; but when God gives many afflictions and crosses into the way, the moemore of them that I meet with into this way, there is the more good for me. Why then should not I undergo them willingly, seeing they tend for my good? And so that is the preparation of the gospel of peace, when I am persuaded by it of the favour of God, through Jesus Christ,~---that through him @@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ this life, and for everlasting comfort in the life to come. By these it is, that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.

The fourth piece of this armour is, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye sallshall be able to quench the fiery darts of the devil." Faith is a thing that is often spoken of, and O but there be mickle◊scottish{mickle#large|much|great} spoken concerning faith, both in preaching and otherwise! Will ye come to any preaching, wherever it be, but ye will hear of faith? but it is a pitiful thing that the most part both of preachers and hearers understands not what faith is; and because we @@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ be that it be a tentation to sin, then it runs to the Spirit of Christ, to get the bloody issue of its corruptions cured, that so they may not commit sin. So that there is in tentation no dart, albeit it were never so fiery, that it would even threaten to burn and to destroy the soul, but if thou have faith, and hold it as a shield into thy left hand, it sallshall be able to quench all these fiery darts.

The fifth piece of this armour is "The helmet of salvation." The apostle, @@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ it after such a manner for that end that ye may take up (comprehend) things, that I am even almost ashamed of myself; and yet ye will not take heed to that whilk is spoken, and hold up your heads from sleeping). Always (nevertheless) I say, by this ye may perceive how pitiful and lamentable a case that soul is in, who wants thir◊scottish{thir#these|those} spiritual weapons and this armour. Now if ye would consider of this aright, and know how doolful a case it is, look upon the contraries of these, and think upon that, what it is to have them. First, that thou has a counterfeit, false, and hypocritical heart, that did never mind the honour of @@ -291,11 +291,11 @@ God. but does ever mind thy own honour in everything thou does, as is too evident in many in the world. Ye will never hear them discourse of anything but a part of their discourse will be of themselves, and for themselves, while it may be many times there will not be one word of it for the honour of God. Then to have [ane[◊scottish{ane#an|one} evil] and ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} accusing conscience crying to thee night and day, telling thee that thou had never a purpose to serve God, and to save thy own soul, by anything that thou did. And when any evil comes upon thee, thou not having the assurance of the pardon and remission of thy sins, thou takes it as a punishment for sin, and has no assurance that it sallshall tend for thy good. And then, when Satan casts his fiery darts at thee, thou has no faith to repulse them, and so they burn and torment thy soul. And then thou lives without hope in the world, and so lives without any good thing; for thou lives without God, @@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ comes of thee, whoever thou be, for he spares none.

It were good for us, therefore, that we should labour always to have on this armour,---to get it on, and to hold it on. Beseech the Lord that he would give unto you ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} honest and ane◊scottish{ane#an|one} upright heart, that he would give unto you a sound and a quiet conscience, that he would certify thee that thou has had repentance for thy by-gane sins, that thou has purposed, and striven, and still resolves to strive against all tentations to sin, and avoideth all occasions thereof,

Date: Wed Oct 29 16:57:11 2025 -0300

a/src/0077.pm b/src/0077.pm index ecc6631..fb5b36f 100644 --- a/src/0077.pm +++ b/src/0077.pm @@ -351,5 +351,3 @@ reason of this, it may be taken from these words that the apostle James uses in his epistle.◊footnote{◊ref{Jas.4.7}} He says there, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." So when the devil is pursuing us, we must◊footnote{The rest of the MS. is wanting.}...

Date: Wed Oct 29 16:00:51 2025 -0300

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SERMON. 517

by your wakening, of what sort your peace is; and that s sure, there will be a wakening either soon or syne (sooner or later). And if so be that thy peace be a sick peace, then terrible and fearful will thy wakening be; and thou will rue that ever thou was at peace, but will wish from thy heart that rather thou had been troubled all thy time. Whereas, again, if thy peace be a right and a sound peace, it furnishes to them who has it strength, comfort, refreshment; and when he finds it, he cannot rejoice enough into it, nor be thankful enough to God, who has dealt so graciously and so favourably with him. And this sound and perfect peace is not to be found without that warfare whereunto ye were exhorted the day, and the former Sabbath also; for our peace consists not in this, that we have no enemies: that sort of peace is only the peace of the kingdom of heaven, and so that peace is not to be looked for, nor to be found here. 'We must, so long as we are here, have malicious, crafty, and powerful enemies. But our peace here consists in this, that we have the favour of God, that we are clothed with his armour, and stands by his strength.

And therefore let us labour earnestly, and cry for this peace. And because this peace comes through repentance for sin, and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus Christ, therefore let us cry unto the Lord for these things, through the blood of Jesus Christ, by the whilk remission of sins is attained unto: that so we may find and feel this peace to be m our souls, and may be refreshed in the sense thereof, through Jesus Christ.

SERMON. B v 1an 85 1.6y 107, 1 8.

Ye were first of all exhorted in the conclusion of this epistle, because we have no strength of our own, and we* «Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation

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518 SERMON. have mickle ado with strength, ¢ To"To be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Draw anes the Lord to be upon our side, and then we sall be strong enough against all our enemies, and we sall be sure to prevail over them. Next, there is a duty proponed---* Putproponed---"Put on the whole armour of God." The end is, "That ye may be able to stand out against the wiles of the devil." And the reason that he gives to move us to put it on is, *TFor"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood," (atat least we wrestle not chiefly and principally against them, even when we have flesh and blood for our enemies, but we wrestle against these who are described hereafter after so wonderful and strange a manner, ¢ Against"Against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." And then the apostle, he repeats his warning again, and desires them ‘to"to take unto them the whole armour of God." And he does this for two ends especially, whilk are both set down in the words. First, That"That ye may stand out in the evil day." That is, ye know not how soon evil days may come upon you, and therefore it is fitting for you to take unto you the whole armour of God, that so ye may not be overcome then. The second end wherefore he would have them to take unto them this armour is, That they may persevere, and keep their station to the end; that when they have wrestled against all their enemies, and has overcome even the last enemy, whilk is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in thir words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the description of the particular pieces of this armour. Now, what I sall do to you in this purpose sall be only this. Without diversity of interpretations, I sall show unto you what is likeliest, and what to my judgment is meant by every one of thir pieces severally. 1 sall then give unto you some general properties and qualities of the whole pieces ofthe gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.""

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EPH. VI. 14-18. 519

of this armour together. And so I sall close this purpose, not being minded to insist curiously upon it; for it would require a long time.

First, he would have them belted about with the girdle or belt of truth; he begins at that. Now when ye hear of this truth, I am sure ye have either one thought or other what this truth can be. The word of God is called truth; but that cannot be the thing that is meant here, for the word of God is that piece of armour whilk is called the sword of the Spirit.~ And therefore this belt or girdle must be some other thing than to be girded with the truth of God's word; for a sword and a girdle cannot both of them be one thing. Neither can this girdle of truth, the meaning of it be the verity of our speeches, whilk is truth; for being clothed with this armour of God, we are armed against him who is a liar and the father of all lies; and so by being clothed with this armour it is that we speak the truth, and so that cannot be the meaning of it.~ And so this truth, it must be the soundness of the heart, uprightness, godly simplicity, and honesty in all our actions, striving to do everything as in the sight of God. And this truth is the thing whilk every one thinks they have, and they think they do all things with ane honest heart; but when the godly @@ -119,45 +52,30 @@ themselves to be scarce enough of it. And he calls this truth a girdle or a belt, taking a comparison from soldiers; even as if there were a gaping between the upper part of their armour, whilk covereth the head and the breast, and that whilk covers their belly, their thighs, their legs, etc.; this belt or girdle, it covers that part whilk is naked there. ~AndAnd this belt or covering, in old times it served also for ornament or decoring. So it was studded with brass, or silver, or gold, or some finer things than any of these, as precious stones and so the belt was put about them to decore (adorn) them. And it served also for buckling of their armour together, that it should not get low, to fall sundry (asunder), and for strengthening them; so it was not only requisite for armour to fight, but also in a journey.

And therefore ye must get ane honest, upright, and a pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it sall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It sall also serve for ane ornament to thee; and it sall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

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2

520 SERMON.

pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it sall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It sall also serve for ane ornament to thee; and it sall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.The second piece of this armour is ‘"The"The breast-plate of righteousness." The breast, it has very great need to be keeped and defended; for there lies all the noble parts of a man, and a small wound at the breast will kill a man, especially if he get but the least wound in the heart, for the heart lies in the breast. Now the piece of armour that he ordains, or I may say the Spirit of God ordains, for defending of it, is *righteousness.""righteousness." Now, ye may not think that this righteousness, whilk is here spoken of, is the righteousness of faith; for the shield of faith, it follows after this, as another several piece of this armour. Nor can I call this, chiefly and properly, that inherent @@ -166,164 +84,112 @@ makes a man first to be a Christian, and to enter to be a soldier of Christ; whereas here he is spoken of as one who is a Christian and a soldier already, and is bidden put on this armour to defend himself, as a Christian soldier. But this righteousness is a holy and unblamable conversation, and a good conscience. 'WhenWhen he looks upon his by-gane sins, he is heartily sorrowful for them; and when he looks upon the tentations that he may have to sin, he purposes to strive against them. And he is busied in trying of his sins, aud confessing them before God; and is earnest in begging strength from the Lord, that he may hereafter serve him, in holiness and in righteousness, all the days of his life. And this righteousness, it is a breastplate to him, because it fences the heart and the noble parts many times. For a man who has seen his by-gane sins, and been sorrowful for them; has been busied in striving against them, and purposes to strive against all tentations to sin for times to come; and is aye purging out sin as fast as he can, and when he sees it, confesses it to God; when Satan begins to assault any man, and to tempt him to sin, this beats back his tentation again. For come to a man who has gotten a sight of his sins, and has found grief and sorrow of heart for them, when Satan or any of his instruments comes to tempt him to do anything that is wrong, he will answer with Joseph, Sall such a man as I am commit such a sin, and offend God? Sin has already brought me to great grief and sorrow; I have confessed my sins to God, and I have purposed, and promised to him to strive against them; and so it will be a shame for me to offend my God in committing moe sins, and bring more guiltiness, and so more grief and sorrow to my own soul. Secondly, a man who has this inward testimony of his own righteousness, when he meets with reproaches into the world, and men are lying against him and calumniating him, he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness. And albeit it is true he be guilty in many cases before God, yet he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness in that cause. For there be many who are guilty in their persons, and yet will be righteous as concerning that cause wherefore they are challenged as guilty. Thirdly, when Satan begins to cast up that to them (upbraid them with that), and to brangle (disturb) them in that point, that they are not the chosen nor elect of God, this righteousness, it is a breastplate to ding (beat) back that tentation in his teeth, and to repel all these. When they have a conscience telling them that they hate every sin, and strives against all sins, and so it keeps them from committing of many sins whilk otherwise they would commit, it saves them from being discouraged by the calumnies of the world and the devil, and it is a testimony and seal to them of their election.

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EPH. VL. 14-18. 521

ful for them; has been busied in striving against them, and purposes to strive against all tentations to sin for times to come; and is aye purging out sin as fast as he can, and when he sees it, confesses it to God; when Satan begins to assault any man, and to tempt him to sin, this beats back his tentation again. For come to a man who has gotten a sight of his sins, and has found grief and sorrow of heart for them, when Satan or any of his instruments comes to tempt him to do anything that is wrong, he will answer with Joseph, Sall such a man as I am commit such a sin, and offend God? Sin has already brought me to great grief and sorrow; I have confessed my sins to God, and I have purposed, and promised to him to strive against them; and so it will be a shame for me to offend my God in committing moe sins, and bring more guiltiness, and so more grief and sorrow to my own soul. Secondly, a man who has this inward testimony of his own righteousness, when he meets with reproaches into the world, and men are lying against him and calumniating him, he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness. And albeit it is true he be guilty in many cases before God, yet he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness in that cause. For there be many who are guilty in their persons, and yet will be righteous as concerning that cause wherefore they are challenged as guilty. Thirdly, when Satan begins to cast up that to them (upbraid them with that), and to brangle (disturb) them in that point, that they are not the chosen nor elect of God, this righteousness, it is a breastplate to ding (beat) back that tentation in his teeth, and to repel all these. "When they have a conscience telling them that they hate every sin, and strives against all sins, and so it keeps them from committing of many sins whilk otherwise they would commit, it saves them from being discouraged by the calumnies of the world and the devil, and it is a testimony and seal to them of their election.The third piece of this armour is, * Having"Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." For while we are in this world, fighting in this warfare, still we are in danger; and there is even danger for our feet. For there are many high mountains and many rough pieces in this way; and therefore we had need to have our feet and our legs armed, as well as any of the rest of our members. And surely, in our whole pilgrimage in this world, we are in a rough and thorny way, so that we cannot set down our feet but upon stones, thorns, or briers, or something of that kind. But there is a promise made unto the godly, that they sall be led over the hole of the asp and of the cockatrice, and sall not be harmed. Now this could not be done if they were barefooted, but they must kep (catch) skaith (harm) by walking there; but they get on shoes upon their feet, and so it is that they walk and are safe. And in the Canticles, the spouse there is said to be cled with badgers' skins, typifying this same, to have her feet shod.◊footnote{It is not in Canticles that the spouse is said to be shod with badgers' skins, but in ◊ref{Ezek.16.10}. The preacher has been evidently thinking of the passage in Canticles in which it is said, "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter!"} Now to make it plain to you what the meaning of this is, to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, this is it;---when I am prepared by this gospel of peace to go through every hard trouble, and to oppose every adversary that can encounter me, coming from the devil, and the world, and my own flesh. For the gospel of peace, it does this;---it prepares a man in peace to go through all troubles peaceably, that he can meet with. And he goes through them all on thir two grounds. 1. By this gospel of peace I get assurance that all my sins are done away through the blood of Jesus Christ; and this makes me willing to undergo all troubles. 2. By this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to them that love God: and if all things work for their best, then afHlictions work for their best also. It's true, if it were to my choose (choice), I could choose fewer afflictions; but when God gives many afflictions and crosses into the way, the moe of them that I meet with into this way, there is the more good for me. Why then should not I undergo them willingly, seeing they tend for my good? And so that is the preparation of the gospel of peace, when I am persuaded by it of the favour of God, through Jesus Christ,~---that through him all my sins are done away; and when I am persuaded that everything he does to me is in love and for my good, and not from hatred and to my destruction; and everything that I can meet with into this way, although it were never so crooked and never so troublesome, yet it serves for the honour of God, and for my eternal happiness, and now and then, albeit not always, for my comfort in this life, and for everlasting comfort in the life to come. By these it is, that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.

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523 SERMON.

are in danger; and there is even danger for our feet. For there are many high mountains and many rough pieces in this way; and therefore we had need to have our feet and our legs armed, as well as any of the rest of our members. And surely, in our whole pilgrimage in this world, we are in a rough and thorny way, so that we cannot set down our feet but upon stones, thorns, or briers, or something of that kind. But there is a promise made unto the godly, that they sall be led over the hole of the asp and of the cockatrice, and sall not be harmed. Now this could not be done if they were barefooted, but they must kep (catch) skaith (harm) by walking there; but they get on shoes upon their feet, and so it is that they walk and are safe. And in the Canticles, the spouse there is said to be cled with badgers' skins, typifying this same, to have her feet shod.* Now to make it plain to you what the meaning of this is, *to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, this is it;---when I am prepared by this gospel of peace to go through every hard trouble, and to oppose every adversary that can encounter me, coming from the devil, and the ~ world, and my own flesh. For the gospel of peace, it does this;---it prepares a man in peace to go through all troubles peaceably, that he can meet with. And he goes through them all on thir two grounds. 1. By this gospel of peace I get assurance that all my sins are done away through the blood of Jesus Christ; and this makes me willing to undergo all troubles. 2. By this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to them that love God: and if all things work for their best, then afHlictions work for their best also. It's true, if it were to my choose (choice), I could choose fewer afflictions; but when God gives many afflictions and crosses into the way, the moe of them that I meet with into this way, there is the more good for me. Why then should not I undergo them willingly, seeing they tend for my good? And so that is the pre * It is not in Canticles that the spouse is said to be shod with badgers' skins, but in Ezek. xvi. 10. The preacher has been evidently thinking of the passage in Canticles in which it is said, ¢ How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter ! "'

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EPH. VI, 14-18. 523

paration of the gospel of peace, when I am persuaded by it of the favour of God, through Jesus Christ,~---that through him all my sins are done away; and when I am persuaded that everything he does to me is in love and for my good, and not from hatred and to my destruction; and everything that I can meet with into this way, although it were never so crooked and never so troublesome, yet it serves for the honour of God, and for my eternal happiness, and now and then, albeit not always, for my comfort in this life, and for everlasting comfort in the life to come. By these it is, that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.The fourth piece of this armour is, ¢ Above"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye sall be able to quench the fiery darts of the devil." Faith is a thing that is often spoken of, and O but there be mickle spoken concerning "faith,faith, both in preaching and otherwise! Will ye come to any preaching, wherever it be, but ye will hear of faith? but it is a pitiful thing that the most part both of preachers and hearers understands not what faith is; and because we understand it not, therefore we get it not into our hand, as a shield to defend us. And by reason of the want of this shield, Satan lends out many lashes and straikes (strokes) at us, by himself and by his instruments; and by them wounds our souls deep, and often deadly. This is faith;---when I hear of Christ, of the promises made by him in the gospel, I believe in him, and believes his promises; and not only do I believe his promises, but all other things that are contained in his word,---threatenings and precepts and all, by one and the same faith. For there is not one faith for believing the promises, another for believing the threatenings, and a third for believing the precepts; there is not one faith whereby I believe for life, and another whereby I believe the promises of life. There is but one faith for all, even as it is one and the same soul and spirit that works both in reason, in sense, and vegitation (velitation?),* and

* The(velitation?),◊footnote{The correct word is probably welitation,◊it{velitation}, which means properly a skirmishing with words, a wrangling or dispute, bat which may be here used in the wider sense of reasoning or argumentation. The same word is applied, in a letter of Balcanquall to Laud of this year, to the controversy between the Aberdeen doctors and the Covenanters,---See Baillie 1. 476.

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3 ey &

524 SERMON.476.} and not three diverse souls. Even so it is faith, and one and the same faith, that takes hold of all things in the word of God. This faith, it is a shield to the soul, so that when-- everwhenever Satan comes with his tentations, presently faith repels it, and it quenches all the fiery darts that he can cast at thy. soul. When Satan casts a fiery dart, if it be for sin, if this faith be inlaking (deficient), it makes the soul to burn into despair; and if it be a fiery dart of tentation to sin, it will burn for a long time, if there be not faith, so that hardly can it be gotten extinguished. But if so be that there be faith in @@ -337,43 +203,29 @@ would even threaten to burn and to destroy the soul, but if thou have faith, and hold it as a shield into thy left hand, it sall be able to quench all these fiery darts.

The fifth piece of this armour is ¢ The"The helmet of salvation." The apostle, writing to the Thessalonians, he has eased us of the pains we might have in exponing what this is; he calls this helmet of salvation, "hope."®"hope."◊footnote{◊ref{1Thess.5.8}} And so we may see that this helmet is salvation hoped for: and this piece of armour, it is put upon the head, as being the principal part of the body. For faith, it is the mother of hope, and hope is the daughter of faith; for where there is true faith, there is hope also. ~AndAnd this hope is not only, that the Lord will give to his own life everlasting, and a crown of glory in heaven; but this hope, it is also this,--- they who have sound and upright faith, they hope also that the Lord will do good to them all the days of their life, while they are here. And this is as a helmet to the head, whilk keeps them many times from being harmed by Satan.

The sixth piece of this armour is ¢ The"The sword of the Spirit." Now the exposition of this also is set down in the next words, "which is the word of God." And this sword, it is not enough for you to have it in the scabbard, or in a book lying in your windows, at the back of your buird (table), or anywhere else, but ye must have this sword into your hand; and ye may not have this sword rousted, but it must be clear; it must be always in readiness to guard and defend ourselves, and to offend and hurt Satan and his instruments, whensoever they assault us.

* 1 Thess; 7.48.

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EPH. VI. 14-18. 525

next words, ¢ which is the word of God." And this sword, it is not enough for you to have it in the scabbard, or in a book lying in your windows, at the back of your buird (table), or anywhere else, but ye must have this sword into your hand; and ye may not have this sword rousted, but it must be clear; it must be always in readiness to guard and defend ourselves, and to offend and hurt Satan and his instruments, whensoever they assault us.And then, in the last roum (place), follows ¢ prayer,""prayer," whilk, as I told you before, is a matter of fact, and a mustering of all our armour. And it is diversely expressed, and that in very pithy words here. First, "Praying always." This is not to pray at every time, but the meaning of it is to pray at @@ -384,9 +236,9 @@ ready for it always when the Lord offers occasion; and albeit we be not always about express prayer, yet we should still have holy ejaculations, and be lifting up our souls inwardly to God. If we would do this we would find the blessing of God more sensibly upon everything we take inhand than we do. Secondly, we must pray ¢ with"with all manner of supplications." In everything we must pray to God, both to remove all our ills from us, and to supply all our wants, etc.; even for everything let us pray to God. Thirdly, we must pray ‘"in"in the Spirit;" that is, we must pray with the heart, sensibly, and not use lip-labour only, for that will not do the turn; but there must be a presenting of the heart, without the whilk, even without a present heart, our words cannot @@ -394,23 +246,12 @@ be free, without wandering here and there. And this present heart, it will be only when thou art touched with a sense of the presence of God, who is looking upon thee, and with a sense of thy own vileness, and of thy need and necessity. But having these, it will make thee to be hearty and earnest in prayer, even to pray with the spirit. Fourthly, we must pray ¢with"with all watchfulness." So in- prayer we must always watch, both before prayer, in the time of prayer, and when we have ended our prayer, that so- [ ] Completed?

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$.4 o 4 526 v, SERMON. thou may walk worthy ot thy calling, and accordingly as such a matter requires of thee. And then he enjoins them to pray for all saints, and for him in particular. This is the description of these several pieces of armour shortly.

If so be that ye would fight against Satan, ye must have honest and upright hearts, in all things seeking the glory and honour of God, and not seeking @@ -427,7 +268,7 @@ Ye must be well acquainted with the word of God, that so, ye being well acquainted with it, ye may be as our Saviour Chiist was, when he was invaded and tempted by Satan; he used only this piece of armour against him, and by that same it was that he did beat back his tentations. Even so ye must do also, when Satan tempts you any way; say as our Lord did, «Tt"It is written, it is written." And then, because it is prayer that makes all these pieces ferdy (ready for use), it is a mustering of our armour, and that whilk holds us always upon our guard, therefore strive to have the right form of praying to @@ -439,80 +280,48 @@ By this ye may perceive (It is a pitiful thing to see you so senseless that when I am speaking to you of armour wherewith to defend yourselves, and whereby to offend your enemies, that yet ye will not leave your sleeping: and I speak it after such a manner for that end that ye may take up (comprehend) things, that I am even almost ashamed of- [ ] Completed?

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¥

EPH VL. 14-18. " 527 myself; and yet ye will not take heed to that whilk is spoken, and hold up your heads from sleeping). ~AlwaysAlways (nevertheless) I say, by this ye may perceive how pitiful and lamentable a case that soul is in, who wants thir spiritual weapons and this armour. Now if ye would consider of this aright, and know how doolful a case it is, look upon the contraries of these, and think upon that, what it is to have them. First, that thou has a counterfeit, false, and hypocritical heart, that did never mind the honour of God. but does ever mind thy own honour in everything thou does, as is too evident in many in the world. Ye will never hear them discourse of anything but a part of their discourse will be of themselves, and for themselves, while it may be many times there will not be one word of it for the honour of God. Then to have [ane evil] and ane accusing conscience crying to thee night and day, telling thee that thou had never a purpose to serve God, and to save thy own soul, by anything that thou did. And when any evil comes upon thee, thou not having the assurance of the pardon and remission of thy sins, thou takes it as a punishment for sin, and has no assurance that it sall tend for thy good. And then, when Satan casts his fiery darts at thee, thou has no faith to repulse them, and so they burn and torment thy soul. And then thou lives without hope in the world, and so lives without any good thing; for thou lives without God, without faith, and without hope. And then thou knows not what the sword of the Spirit means. Thou has not a sentence of the word of God in readiness when thou has ado with it, either to defend thyself or to offend thy enemies. And then, for prayer, thou may well for a fashion say on the ten commandments, the belief, and the Lord's prayer, morning and evening, and in the morning for a fashion seek God's blessing to thy- work, etc.; but thou knows not what this is, to pray at every occasion, to pray to God for everything, to pray in the spirit as well as in word, and to pray with all watchfulness, both before prayer, in the time of prayer, and after prayer, and [lastly] to pray for others as well as for thyself, Now, when the soul is thus, and is naked of all these pieces of armour, then the devil may do with thee what he likes.- [ ] Completed?

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o

> 528 SERMON.

i d He may muster thy sins before thee, and make thee to despair because of them; and he can lead thee on from one sin to another, till the cup be full; and so thou be delivered to him, and be cast in hell by him. And what wonder is it that he lead thee thus, when he is so strong and well armed, and thou are so weak and unarmed? It's even as (as if) a giant, who were strong and well armed, should set upon a weak unarmed man to destroy him; how should the poor weak man escape? For him to flee, the strong man is swifter than he is, and so he will overtake him: he is not able to defend himself, and so he is forced to stand still, and come under the enemy's power, and be in his will; and there he overcomes him, wounds him deadly, and taketh him captive. Even so is it with Satan; when thou art naked, and he pursues thee, thou art in his power for want of this armour; and so comes of thee, whoever thou be, for he spares none.

It were good for us, therefore, that we should labour always to have on this armour,---to get it on, and to hold it on. Beseech the Lord that he would give @@ -531,32 +340,16 @@ enemies whatsoever; and that he would pour out the spirit of prayer upon thee, according to his promise. And, having on that complete armour, thou may be sure to overcome all enemies that can come against thee.

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EPH. V1. 14-18. 52 marked here, and ye may see it clearly from the words. And this is it, that all the several pieces of armour that are set down here, they are all of them for defence of the fore part of a man, and none of them are appointed for the back. At least, negatively we may say that none of them are ordained for the back. The shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, and all armour of that kind, are for the fore part, and not for the back. And the reason of this, it may be taken from these words that the apostle James uses in his epistle.*epistle.◊footnote{◊ref{Jas.4.7}} He says there, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." So when the devil is pursuing us, we must+ . . . . . . .

Rav.' 74 t Themust◊footnote{The rest of the MS. is wanting.wanting.}...

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SERMON. 517

by your wakening, of what sort your peace is; and that s sure, there will be a wakening either soon or syne (sooner or later). And if so be that thy peace be a sick peace, then terrible and fearful will thy wakening be; and thou will rue that ever thou was at peace, but will wish from thy heart that rather thou had been troubled all thy time. Whereas, again, if thy peace be a right and a sound peace, it furnishes to them who has it strength, comfort, refreshment; and when he finds it, he cannot rejoice enough into it, nor be thankful enough to God, who has dealt so graciously and so favourably with him. And this sound and perfect peace is not to be found without that warfare whereunto ye were exhorted the day, and the former Sabbath also; for our peace consists not in this, that we have no enemies: that sort of peace is only the peace of the kingdom of heaven, and so that peace is not to be looked for, nor to be found here. 'We must, so long as we are here, have malicious, crafty, and powerful enemies. But our peace here consists in this, that we have the favour of God, that we are clothed with his armour, and stands by his strength.

And therefore let us labour earnestly, and cry for this peace. And because this peace comes through repentance for sin, and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus Christ, therefore let us cry unto the Lord for these things, through the blood of Jesus Christ, by the whilk remission of sins is attained unto: that so we may find and feel this peace to be m our souls, and may be refreshed in the sense thereof, through Jesus Christ.

SERMON. B v 1an 85 1.6y 107, 1 8.

Ye were first of all exhorted in the conclusion of this epistle, because we have no strength of our own, and we

* «Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation

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518 SERMON.

have mickle ado with strength, ¢ To be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Draw anes the Lord to be upon our side, and then we sall be strong enough against all our enemies, and we sall be sure to prevail over them. Next, there is a duty proponed---* Put on the whole armour of God." The end is, "That ye may be able to stand out against the wiles of the devil." And the reason that he gives to move us to put it on is, *TFor we wrestle not against flesh and blood," (at least we wrestle not chiefly and principally against them, even when we have flesh and blood for our enemies, but we wrestle against these who are described hereafter after so wonderful and strange a manner, ¢ Against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." And then the apostle, he repeats his warning again, and desires them ‘to take unto them the whole armour of God." And he does this for two ends especially, whilk are both set down in the words. First, That ye may stand out in the evil day." That is, ye know not how soon evil days may come upon you, and therefore it is fitting for you to take unto you the whole armour of God, that so ye may not be overcome then. The second end wherefore he would have them to take unto them this armour is, That they may persevere, and keep their station to the end; that when they have wrestled against all their enemies, and has overcome even the last enemy, whilk is death, they may be found standing in their own room and station unremoved.

Now, in thir words that presently I have read to you, he comes to the description of the particular pieces of this armour. Now, what I sall do to you in this purpose sall be only this. Without diversity of interpretations, I sall show unto you what is likeliest, and what to my judgment is meant by every one of thir pieces severally. 1 sall then give unto you some general properties and qualities of the whole pieces

of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.""

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EPH. VI. 14-18. 519

of this armour together. And so I sall close this purpose, not being minded to insist curiously upon it; for it would require a long time.

First, he would have them belted about with the girdle or belt of truth; he begins at that. Now when ye hear of this truth, I am sure ye have either one thought or other what this truth can be. The word of God is called truth; but that cannot be the thing that is meant here, for the word of God is that piece of armour whilk is called the sword of the Spirit. ~ And therefore this belt or girdle must be some other thing than to be girded with the truth of God's word; for a sword and a girdle cannot both of them be one thing. Neither can this girdle of truth, the meaning of it be the verity of our speeches, whilk is truth; for being clothed with this armour of God, we are armed against him who is a liar and the father of all lies; and so by being clothed with this armour it is that we speak the truth, and so that cannot be the meaning of it. ~ And so this truth, it must be the soundness of the heart, uprightness, godly simplicity, and honesty in all our actions, striving to do everything as in the sight of God. And this truth is the thing whilk every one thinks they have, and they think they do all things with ane honest heart; but when the godly begins to examine themselves whether they have this truth or not, they find themselves to be scarce enough of it. And he calls this truth a girdle or a belt, taking a comparison from soldiers; even as if there were a gaping between the upper part of their armour, whilk covereth the head and the breast, and that whilk covers their belly, their thighs, their legs, etc.; this belt or girdle, it covers that part whilk is naked there. ~And this belt or covering, in old times it served also for ornament or decoring. So it was studded with brass, or silver, or gold, or some finer things than any of these, as precious stones and so the belt was put about them to decore (adorn) them. And it served also for buckling of their armour together, that it should not get low, to fall sundry (asunder), and for strengthening them; so it was not only requisite for armour to fight, but also in a journey.

And therefore ye must get ane honest, upright, and a

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520 SERMON.

pure heart, aiming in all things ye do principally and chiefly at the honour of God, and denying yourselves in all things, or seeking of your own pleasure, gain, or ease, or reputation; whilk is contrair to hypocrisy. For hypocrisy neglects that part,---to seek after the honour of God, and seeks only itself, and after credit and estimation in the world. And therefore get that belt or girdle, and it sall be a guard to that part whilk is bare, and the enemy will get advantage at it, if it be not covered. It sall also serve for ane ornament to thee; and it sall serve for buckling of thy armour together, that it go not sundry.

The second piece of this armour is ‘"The breast-plate of righteousness." The breast, it has very great need to be keeped and defended; for there lies all the noble parts of a man, and a small wound at the breast will kill a man, especially if he get but the least wound in the heart, for the heart lies in the breast. Now the piece of armour that he ordains, or I may say the Spirit of God ordains, for defending of it, is *righteousness." Now, ye may not think that this righteousness, whilk is here spoken of, is the righteousness of faith; for the shield of faith, it follows after this, as another several piece of this armour. Nor can I call this, chiefly and properly, that inherent righteousness whilk we receive at our first regeneration, for that is it whilk makes a man first to be a Christian, and to enter to be a soldier of Christ; whereas here he is spoken of as one who is a Christian and a soldier already, and is bidden put on this armour to defend himself, as a Christian soldier. But this righteousness is a holy and unblamable conversation, and a good conscience. 'When he looks upon his by-gane sins, he is heartily sorrowful for them; and when he looks upon the tentations that he may have to sin, he purposes to strive against them. And he is busied in trying of his sins, aud confessing them before God; and is earnest in begging strength from the Lord, that he may hereafter serve him, in holiness and in righteousness, all the days of his life. And this righteousness, it is a breastplate to him, because it fences the heart and the noble parts many times. For a man who has seen his by-gane sins, and been sorrow

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EPH. VL. 14-18. 521

ful for them; has been busied in striving against them, and purposes to strive against all tentations to sin for times to come; and is aye purging out sin as fast as he can, and when he sees it, confesses it to God; when Satan begins to assault any man, and to tempt him to sin, this beats back his tentation again. For come to a man who has gotten a sight of his sins, and has found grief and sorrow of heart for them, when Satan or any of his instruments comes to tempt him to do anything that is wrong, he will answer with Joseph, Sall such a man as I am commit such a sin, and offend God? Sin has already brought me to great grief and sorrow; I have confessed my sins to God, and I have purposed, and promised to him to strive against them; and so it will be a shame for me to offend my God in committing moe sins, and bring more guiltiness, and so more grief and sorrow to my own soul. Secondly, a man who has this inward testimony of his own righteousness, when he meets with reproaches into the world, and men are lying against him and calumniating him, he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness. And albeit it is true he be guilty in many cases before God, yet he comforts himself with this, even with that testimony that he has of his own righteousness in that cause. For there be many who are guilty in their persons, and yet will be righteous as concerning that cause wherefore they are challenged as guilty. Thirdly, when Satan begins to cast up that to them (upbraid them with that), and to brangle (disturb) them in that point, that they are not the chosen nor elect of God, this righteousness, it is a breastplate to ding (beat) back that tentation in his teeth, and to repel all these. "When they have a conscience telling them that they hate every sin, and strives against all sins, and so it keeps them from committing of many sins whilk otherwise they would commit, it saves them from being discouraged by the calumnies of the world and the devil, and it is a testimony and seal to them of their election.

The third piece of this armour is, * Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." For while we are in this world, fighting in this warfare, still we

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523 SERMON.

are in danger; and there is even danger for our feet. For there are many high mountains and many rough pieces in this way; and therefore we had need to have our feet and our legs armed, as well as any of the rest of our members. And surely, in our whole pilgrimage in this world, we are in a rough and thorny way, so that we cannot set down our feet but upon stones, thorns, or briers, or something of that kind. But there is a promise made unto the godly, that they sall be led over the hole of the asp and of the cockatrice, and sall not be harmed. Now this could not be done if they were barefooted, but they must kep (catch) skaith (harm) by walking there; but they get on shoes upon their feet, and so it is that they walk and are safe. And in the Canticles, the spouse there is said to be cled with badgers' skins, typifying this same, to have her feet shod.* Now to make it plain to you what the meaning of this is, *to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, this is it;---when I am prepared by this gospel of peace to go through every hard trouble, and to oppose every adversary that can encounter me, coming from the devil, and the ~ world, and my own flesh. For the gospel of peace, it does this;---it prepares a man in peace to go through all troubles peaceably, that he can meet with. And he goes through them all on thir two grounds. 1. By this gospel of peace I get assurance that all my sins are done away through the blood of Jesus Christ; and this makes me willing to undergo all troubles. 2. By this gospel of peace I am assured that all things work together for the best to them that love God: and if all things work for their best, then afHlictions work for their best also. It's true, if it were to my choose (choice), I could choose fewer afflictions; but when God gives many afflictions and crosses into the way, the moe of them that I meet with into this way, there is the more good for me. Why then should not I undergo them willingly, seeing they tend for my good? And so that is the pre * It is not in Canticles that the spouse is said to be shod with badgers' skins, but in Ezek. xvi. 10. The preacher has been evidently thinking of the passage in Canticles in which it is said, ¢ How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter ! "'

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EPH. VI, 14-18. 523

paration of the gospel of peace, when I am persuaded by it of the favour of God, through Jesus Christ,~---that through him all my sins are done away; and when I am persuaded that everything he does to me is in love and for my good, and not from hatred and to my destruction; and everything that I can meet with into this way, although it were never so crooked and never so troublesome, yet it serves for the honour of God, and for my eternal happiness, and now and then, albeit not always, for my comfort in this life, and for everlasting comfort in the life to come. By these it is, that a man is prepared to go through all troubles patiently.

The fourth piece of this armour is, ¢ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye sall be able to quench the fiery darts of the devil." Faith is a thing that is often spoken of, and O but there be mickle spoken concerning

"faith, both in preaching and otherwise! Will ye come to any preaching, wherever it be, but ye will hear of faith? but it is a pitiful thing that the most part both of preachers and hearers understands not what faith is; and because we understand it not, therefore we get it not into our hand, as a shield to defend us. And by reason of the want of this shield, Satan lends out many lashes and straikes (strokes) at us, by himself and by his instruments; and by them wounds our souls deep, and often deadly. This is faith;---when I hear of Christ, of the promises made by him in the gospel, I believe in him, and believes his promises; and not only do I believe his promises, but all other things that are contained in his word,---threatenings and precepts and all, by one and the same faith. For there is not one faith for believing the promises, another for believing the threatenings, and a third for believing the precepts; there is not one faith whereby I believe for life, and another whereby I believe the promises of life. There is but one faith for all, even as it is one and the same soul and spirit that works both in reason, in sense, and vegitation (velitation?),* and

* The correct word is probably welitation, which means properly a skirmishing with words, a wrangling or dispute, bat which may be here used in the wider sense of reasoning or argumentation. The same word is applied, in a letter of Balcanquall to Laud of this year, to the controversy between the Aberdeen doctors and the Covenanters,---See Baillie 1. 476.

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3 ey &

524 SERMON.

not three diverse souls. Even so it is faith, and one and the same faith, that takes hold of all things in the word of God. This faith, it is a shield to the soul, so that when-- ever Satan comes with his tentations, presently faith repels it, and it quenches all the fiery darts that he can cast at thy . soul. When Satan casts a fiery dart, if it be for sin, if this faith be inlaking (deficient), it makes the soul to burn into despair; and if it be a fiery dart of tentation to sin, it will burn for a long time, if there be not faith, so that hardly can it be gotten extinguished. But if so be that there be faith in the soul, it is like water cast upon fire, to quench all these. If so be that the fiery dart that is casten be for sin committed, then it runs to the blood of Jesus Christ, and so it gets that fiery dart slockened (quenched); and if so be that it be a tentation to sin, then it runs to the Spirit of Christ, to get the bloody issue of its corruptions cured, that so they may not commit sin. So that there is in tentation no dart, albeit it were never so fiery, that it would even threaten to burn and to destroy the soul, but if thou have faith, and hold it as a shield into thy left hand, it sall be able to quench all these fiery darts.

The fifth piece of this armour is ¢ The helmet of salvation." The apostle, writing to the Thessalonians, he has eased us of the pains we might have in exponing what this is; he calls this helmet of salvation, "hope."® And so we may see that this helmet is salvation hoped for: and this piece of armour, it is put upon the head, as being the principal part of the body. For faith, it is the mother of hope, and hope is the daughter of faith; for where there is true faith, there is hope also. ~And this hope is not only, that the Lord will give to his own life everlasting, and a crown of glory in heaven; but this hope, it is also this,--- they who have sound and upright faith, they hope also that the Lord will do good to them all the days of their life, while they are here. And this is as a helmet to the head, whilk keeps them many times from being harmed by Satan.

The sixth piece of this armour is ¢ The sword of the Spirit." Now the exposition of this also is set down in the

* 1 Thess; 7.48.

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EPH. VI. 14-18. 525

next words, ¢ which is the word of God." And this sword, it is not enough for you to have it in the scabbard, or in a book lying in your windows, at the back of your buird (table), or anywhere else, but ye must have this sword into your hand; and ye may not have this sword rousted, but it must be clear; it must be always in readiness to guard and defend ourselves, and to offend and hurt Satan and his instruments, whensoever they assault us.

And then, in the last roum (place), follows ¢ prayer," whilk, as I told you before, is a matter of fact, and a mustering of all our armour. And it is diversely expressed, and that in very pithy words here. First, "Praying always." This is not to pray at every time, but the meaning of it is to pray at every occasion. It is not that we should do no other thing but pray, but we must pray and do the works of our calling, eat, drink, etc.; howsoever, indeed, 1 grant, we should not at any time make ourselves unfit for prayer, but be ready for it always when the Lord offers occasion; and albeit we be not always about express prayer, yet we should still have holy ejaculations, and be lifting up our souls inwardly to God. If we would do this we would find the blessing of God more sensibly upon everything we take inhand than we do. Secondly, we must pray ¢ with all manner of supplications." In everything we must pray to God, both to remove all our ills from us, and to supply all our wants, etc.; even for everything let us pray to God. Thirdly, we must pray ‘"in the Spirit;" that is, we must pray with the heart, sensibly, and not use lip-labour only, for that will not do the turn; but there must be a presenting of the heart, without the whilk, even without a present heart, our words cannot be free, without wandering here and there. And this present heart, it will be only when thou art touched with a sense of the presence of God, who is looking upon thee, and with a sense of thy own vileness, and of thy need and necessity. But having these, it will make thee to be hearty and earnest in prayer, even to pray with the spirit. Fourthly, we must pray ¢with all watchfulness." So in - prayer we must always watch, both before prayer, in the time of prayer, and when we have ended our prayer, that so

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$.4 o 4 526 v, SERMON. thou may walk worthy ot thy calling, and accordingly as such a matter requires of thee. And then he enjoins them to pray for all saints, and for him in particular. This is the description of these several pieces of armour shortly.

If so be that ye would fight against Satan, ye must have honest and upright hearts, in all things seeking the glory and honour of God, and not seeking yourselves, or your own glory, ease, or pleasure. 2. Ye must have a good, a peaceable, a calm and quiet conscience, upon good grounds. 3. Ye must have such a knowledge of the gospel of peace, that by it ye may be persuaded of the remission of your sins, as also that everything that the Lord sends unto you is out of love, and that all things work together for the best to them that love him. 4. Ye must have faith to believe, both for the pardon and remission of your sins and that the ‘Lord will provide every necessary thing for you---for grace here, and for glory hereafter. 5. Ye must have hope, not only for life everlasting, but even that the Lord will bestow good things upon you here. 6. Ye must be well acquainted with the word of God, that so, ye being well acquainted with it, ye may be as our Saviour Chiist was, when he was invaded and tempted by Satan; he used only this piece of armour against him, and by that same it was that he did beat back his tentations. Even so ye must do also, when Satan tempts you any way; say as our Lord did, «Tt is written, it is written." And then, because it is prayer that makes all these pieces ferdy (ready for use), it is a mustering of our armour, and that whilk holds us always upon our guard, therefore strive to have the right form of praying to God. Pray at all occasions, in everything pray, pray in the Spirit, with all watchfulness: and with thyself remember all the rest of God's children. Whilk sort of prayer will only be acceptable to God, and comfortable to thy own soul.

By this ye may perceive (It is a pitiful thing to see you so senseless that when I am speaking to you of armour wherewith to defend yourselves, and whereby to offend your enemies, that yet ye will not leave your sleeping: and I speak it after such a manner for that end that ye may take up (comprehend) things, that I am even almost ashamed of

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EPH VL. 14-18. " 527

myself; and yet ye will not take heed to that whilk is spoken, and hold up your heads from sleeping). ~Always (nevertheless) I say, by this ye may perceive how pitiful and lamentable a case that soul is in, who wants thir spiritual weapons and this armour. Now if ye would consider of this aright, and know how doolful a case it is, look upon the contraries of these, and think upon that, what it is to have them. First, that thou has a counterfeit, false, and hypocritical heart, that did never mind the honour of God. but does ever mind thy own honour in everything thou does, as is too evident in many in the world. Ye will never hear them discourse of anything but a part of their discourse will be of themselves, and for themselves, while it may be many times there will not be one word of it for the honour of God. Then to have [ane evil] and ane accusing conscience crying to thee night and day, telling thee that thou had never a purpose to serve God, and to save thy own soul, by anything that thou did. And when any evil comes upon thee, thou not having the assurance of the pardon and remission of thy sins, thou takes it as a punishment for sin, and has no assurance that it sall tend for thy good. And then, when Satan casts his fiery darts at thee, thou has no faith to repulse them, and so they burn and torment thy soul. And then thou lives without hope in the world, and so lives without any good thing; for thou lives without God, without faith, and without hope. And then thou knows not what the sword of the Spirit means. Thou has not a sentence of the word of God in readiness when thou has ado with it, either to defend thyself or to offend thy enemies. And then, for prayer, thou may well for a fashion say on the ten commandments, the belief, and the Lord's prayer, morning and evening, and in the morning for a fashion seek God's blessing to thy - work, etc.; but thou knows not what this is, to pray at

every occasion, to pray to God for everything, to pray in the spirit as well as in word, and to pray with all watchfulness, both before prayer, in the time of prayer, and after prayer, and [lastly] to pray for others as well as for thyself, Now, when the soul is thus, and is naked of all these pieces of armour, then the devil may do with thee what he likes.

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> 528 SERMON.

i d

He may muster thy sins before thee, and make thee to despair because of them; and he can lead thee on from one sin to another, till the cup be full; and so thou be delivered to him, and be cast in hell by him. And what wonder is it that he lead thee thus, when he is so strong and well armed, and thou are so weak and unarmed? It's even as (as if) a giant, who were strong and well armed, should set upon a weak unarmed man to destroy him; how should the poor weak man escape? For him to flee, the strong man is swifter than he is, and so he will overtake him: he is not able to defend himself, and so he is forced to stand still, and come under the enemy's power, and be in his will; and there he overcomes him, wounds him deadly, and taketh him captive. Even so is it with Satan; when thou art naked, and he pursues thee, thou art in his power for want of this armour; and so comes of thee, whoever thou be, for he spares none.

It were good for us, therefore, that we should labour always to have on this armour,---to get it on, and to hold it on. Beseech the Lord that he would give unto you ane honest and ane upright heart, that he would give unto you a sound and a quiet conscience, that he would certify thee that thou has had repentance for thy by-gane sins, that thou has purposed, and striven, and still resolves to strive against all tentations to sin, and avoideth all occasions thereof, confesses thy sins to God, and beggeth strength from him to serve him better hereafter. And beseech him also to give thee shoes upon thy feet, that thou may be able to go through all rough and perilous ways. Beseech him also to give thee the shield of faith, that thou may be able to stand out against all tentations either to sin or for sin; and thou may have thy head covered with the helmet of hope. And beseech him to give thee the sword of the spirit in thy hand, that thou may stand as the soldier of God, ready to fight against all enemies whatsoever; and that he would pour out the spirit of prayer upon thee, according to his promise. And, having on that complete armour, thou may be sure to overcome all enemies that can come against thee.

One thing there remains that would be (should be)

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o

EPH. V1. 14-18. 52

marked here, and ye may see it clearly from the words. And this is it, that all the several pieces of armour that are set down here, they are all of them for defence of the fore part of a man, and none of them are appointed for the back. At least, negatively we may say that none of them are ordained for the back. The shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, and all armour of that kind, are for the fore part, and not for the back. And the reason of this, it may be taken from these words that the apostle James uses in his epistle.* He says there, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." So when the devil is pursuing us, we must+ . . . . . . .

Rav.' 74 t The rest of the MS. is wanting.