THE spiritual warfare: A SERMON PREACHED In the Parish Church of St. Michael Crookedlane in LONDON, on the 30 of March, being a Fast day,  
BY Mr. JOHN SPENCER, Sometime Groom to a Nobleman.  2 TIMOTHY, 2. 3. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1642.   

Mr. Spencer's SERMON  2 TIMOTHY, 2. 3. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
YOu shall find, that in the three first Verses of this Chapter I have read unto you, the Apostle laboureth to exhort Timothy to three particular duties; The first is, That he would be strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: The second is, That whatever God had communicated to him, he would make known to faithful men that might be able to teach also: The third is in the Text read unto you▪ That he would endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  
In the Text you have an Exhortation, with the quanty of the Exhortation; The Exhortation, to endure hardness: The quality of the Exhortation, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  
Beloved, there is in the Text three things considerable: The first is this, That the very best of God's people must look for afflictions; if Timothy, if Paul, if David, they must not look to be free from afflictions; Thou therefore endure hardness, &c. The second thing in the Verse, is this, That it is the mind and will of our God, that his people should mildly and patiently bear afflictions, Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier, &c. The third and last is this, (which we shall chiefly insist upon) That all God's people are Christ's soldiers.  
For the prosecution of the Point, we shall first prove it to you. Secondly, we shall show you who they must encounter with. Thirdly, what the weapons are which they are to use. Fourthly, how they are to fight, that they may overcome. Fifthly and lastly, we shall make Use and Application.  
For the proof of the Point, I say, That all God's people are Christ's soldiers; that they are so, cast your eyes on Ephes. 6. 13. and other particular verses, Paul exhorts them to put on the whole armour of God, that they may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.  
Beloved, surely God intends his people should fight, (as you shall hear by and by) therefore to prepare them to the battle, the Lord would have them with all speed to put on their armour and be ready; well, the weapons they must put on, must be God's weapons, yea & all God's weapons; Put on the whole armour of God. Rev. 12. 7. There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon and his angels.  
Beloved, I hope you do not think that there is any tumults and wars in in heaven, no; but this is the meaning, the Church of God upon earth is still fighting against the devil & his angels; Here you must look for fights if ever you would come to heaven. So, in 2 Tim. 4. 7. saith Paul, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of life. So, 1 Cor. 15. 32. he tells us, He fought with beasts at Ephesus, he was a soldier all his days, so soon as ever he came to be enlightened, he took up the weapons of Jesus Christ, and was resolved to die in his cause.  
So we come to the next particular, who they be that God's people should fight withal; they must not be idle and lazy, for they are soldiers.  
First, they are to encounter with God; 2. with themselves; 3. with the world; 4. with all wicked men; and 5. with the devil himself.  
Beloved, you see here is enemies as well as friends to fight withal, and all these you must overcome, or else you shall never enter into the kingdom of God. First of all, you must encounter with God himself, and that for three things; first, for the making good of all his promises; secondly, you must encounter with God for his gracious presence; and thirdly, for the gracious discovery of himself in the face of his Son.  
First, you must encounter with God for the making good of all his promises. Beloved, the Lord hath made rich and glorious promises in his Word; that is, a garden full of sweet and rich flowers; he hath made particular promises to you in particular, to his Church in general; you are to wrestle with God for the making good of all his promises, and not to give over your suit till he hath made Jerusalem a praise in the whole earth. The Lord hath told you, Rom. 6. Sin shall not have dominion over you. Ezek. 11. 19 That he will put a new spirit within his people, and pour out floods of waters upon the the thirsty grounds. He hath said, Rev. 18. 21. that Babylon shall fall; and told us, The day shall come, when the Moon shall shine as the Sun, seven times brighter in its glory. You are God's soldiers, and must encounter with Jesus Christ, for the making of these promises. You must be God's Remembrancers, put God in mind, and say, Lord thou hast made such a promise, that my heart which is dark, shall be enlightened; my eyes which are shut up, shall be opened; and that thou wilt pluck down the proud enemies from their seats, and set up the humble and meek, Lord when wilt thou perform them?  
Secondly, you must encounter with God for his gracious presence. Beloved, Moses knew well enough what the presence of God was, therefore desired, Exod. 23. If the presence of God went not along with him, that he might not go. Thus must you encounter with God, when you come before him in such a day as this, you must say, Lord, what shall I do with this hard heart, this ignorant, this unbelieving heart of mine; Lord, if thou shouldst pluck away my wife, my husband, my child, my friend, I shall not know what to do; but Lord, however thou dealest with me, vouchsafe me thy gracious presence: Happily I may live friendless, hopeless, be cast into darkness, where I shall see no light; Lord, let me have thy presence where ever I go; if he goeth not with you for to preach, to pray, to hear, what will ye do? He is the light of your eyes, the joy of your souls, the strength of your hearts. Thus must you encounter with God for his gracious presence.  
Thirdly, you must encounter with the Lord for the glorious discovery of himself in the face to his Son, Ephes. 3. 14. This was that Paul bowed his knee for, that the Lord would reveal to his people the glorious mysteries of Jesus Christ. Thus must you importune the God of heaven for the glorious discovery of himself in the face of his Son.  
Secondly, you are to encounter with yourselves; 1. You must encounter with all your own righteousness▪ 2. with all your own unworthiness; 3. with all your parts and abilities; and 4. with all your sins, if any of these prevail, they take away your lives, and you are undone for ever.  
First, you must encounter with your own righteousness; Every man hath a righteousness of his own, which he thinks shall lead him to heaven; he is ready to say, whoever perisheth, he shall be saved, for he fasts and prays, and sighs and groans: Paul boasted of this, but when he comes to be a soldier of Jesus Christ, Philip. 3. 8. he counts all then as loss and dung; he would have nothing to do with it.  
Beloved, you must not look to be saved by your own righteousness, not according to our own works, but of his free grace hath he saved us. If you should come to heaven gates with your bundle of prayers and tears, and sighs and groans, yet you should not have entrance, never look to come thither for the sake of these. This you must encounter with, and overcome, if you would be a soldier of Jesus Christ.  
Secondly, you must encounter with your own unworthiness; I may say of this, as was said of Saul and David, 1 Sam. 18. 7. the former hath killed his ten thousands, and this his thousands. Take heed of conceits of your own unworthiness, this may keep you out of heaven as well as the former.  
If once you begin to think you have out-sinned God's love, and that there is no pardon and remission for you, then will you grow into despair, and be ready to say, Lord there is mercy for others, but none for me; forgiveness for others, but none for me; repentance for others, but none for me; and than you will grow negligent, you will not care for holy duties. Why should I hear, read, pray any more? God will accept of nothing that I can do: Oh take heed, you must encounter with your own unworthiness.  
Thirdly, you must encounter with your own gifts and abilities: How many thousand souls are undone by those gifts & parts the Lord bestoweth upon them? God many times gives a man'a gift, not for himself, but for others; now he thinks, it may be, that the Lord bestowed this gift upon him for the good of his own particular person, when it is only for the benefit of others. Take heed of high thoughts, I am sure God hath not dealt with all as he hath with me: This is that which will sink your soul to the bottomless pit of hell; therefore labour to encounter with your own unworthiness.  
Fourthly and lastly, (which is the main) you must encounter with all your sins. Here is a hard heart, it must be broken, or else it will break thee all to pieces: Here is an unbelieving, an ignorant heart that seeth no glory, no excellency in Jesus Christ; this ignorant heart must be enlightened: Here is a defiled heart which must be purged and washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus. If you would but look into your own hearts, there you should find abundance of work to do: surely thou wouldest not then say as some, I cannot tell how to spend my time. Is not there a proud heart to be humbled, a dark soul to be enlightened, is there no spots to be gotten out? Look well about you. Beloved, you will find you had no time indeed, though you had many score of years given you to purge your souls from that dross, filth, and corruption which lieth upon them.  
Thirdly, you are to encounter with the world, and there are four things in it, which destroyeth three parts of the men of it; the pleasures, the profits, the honours, the afflictions of it; these stand in the way as so many armed men: If the pleasures catch thee not, it is a thousand to one but the riches doth; if the riches doth not, it is a thousand to one but the honours doth; if the honours doth not, it is a thousand to one but afflictions do: of these I could give you divers instances. What a long time did Demas walk with Paul? yet at length he forsaketh him, turns to the world, either to the pleasures, or riches, or honours of it; so of Ammon and Haman; therefore look to it, that the pleasures and profits of the world withdraw you not. Know this for certain, that the Lord hath condemned the world already, and you may expect the execution of it every day. The day is coming, when you shall have new heavens, new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; you shall enjoy things in another way then now you do, therefore set not your hearts upon things below, for all these must decay.  
Fourthly, you are to encounter with all the enemies of God; and know this, that the enemies of God are very subtle, they are mighty in strength, there is multitudes of them, they are not poor ones, but rich ones, they are not in low, but in high places, yet you must encounter with them all, and if they get the upper hand, you are gone for ever, but if you get the day, then are ye thrice happy. You may see in Rev. 12. the dragon and his angels makes war with the Church of God, they put out all their strength and policy against Christ, his ordinances, his people.  
There is God's honour and glory at stake, which you must vindicate, you must have the ordinances in their glory, whatever it may cost you. Happily you must lose your estates, your lives, your liberties, before you enjoy them, yet you must hold on still conquering, and to conquer. Now beloved, you will find it a hard piece of work to encounter with these enemies of God, for his ordinances, Sacraments, Sabbaths, &c. if they get the upper hand, you lose yourselves, and are not the soldiers of Jesus Christ.  
Fifthly and lastly, (because we would hasten to that which more particularly concerns us) we must encounter with the devil himself, 1 Pet. 5. 8. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Three things considerable there; 1. his diligence; 2. his power and strength; 3. his cruelty, He goes about; where can you be, but he will be with you, to trouble you with variety of temptations? There is his diligence. Then he roareth like a lion, there is his strength; he would fain make you his prey. Seeking whom he may devour; there is his malice and cruelty, he desires nothing but your blood. These are the enemies you are to encounter withal. I shall come now in the next place to show you the weapons you must use in this spiritual warfare.  
The first weapon is a holy and godly life, Ephes. 6. This is the weapon that all the Saints of God have used in all their combats, in all their fights. David, in Psal. 119. O Lord save me, for I have kept thy precepts: I cleave to thy statutes, confound me not. Beloved, you must have a holy and godly life, if ever you think to encounter with God, yourselves, or the world. Beloved, if any of you were to encounter with enemies, what kind of soldiers would you take with you, the lame, the blind, the deaf? Beloved, you must be purged and cleansed, no such kind of creatures, if ever you think to get the victory; for if you appaar in God's sight and presence, with a polluted guilty conscience, these sins will undo you. Therefore in the first place, if even you think to encounter with your enemies, and do service for God, get a holy life. The second weapon must be all your glorious experiences; you must say, Lord, I have been in six troubles, yea in seven, yet thou hast delivered me; I have known when I have sat alone, had all my bones broken, the arrows of wrath drinking up my spirit; I have known when I have lain upon my sick bed, been at the point of death, encompassed round about with enemies; yet than God did preserve and defend me, why thou art the same God still.  
You must go further, you must bring in all the glorious experiments you have had of God's designs for his Church: Tell the Lord you knew when the Church was helpless, and hopeless, and friendless: when Moses would not go down to deliver the people, nor Hester go in to the King; nay further, you must tell him you knew the Church in a most lamentable condition, the enemies pursued them, and was even at their heels, the red Sea before them, Mountains on the sides of them, yet than the Lord saved his people.  
You must tell the Lord what he hath done for England at such a time, how near we were to destruction, what dangers compassed us round about, and how by a mighty hand and outstretched arm he rescued us: Let this be the second weapon you take up to fight against your enemies.  
Thirdly, the third weapon is Faith; this weapon where ever God hath put it in any hand, hath done glorious things for the Church of God: If thou canst but get this weapon into thy hand and heart, it will cause thee to live comfortably in the worst times thou canst meet withal, and make thee say with the Prophet, Heb. 3. Though the figtree should not blossom, nor no fruit be left in the vine, though the labour of the Olive should fail, and the fields not yield their increase, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation. Faith will cause thy soul to rejoice in the worst days: Faith will enable thee to see God's love the same in every condition, Faith will comfort thee in all thy straits, make thee see God the Son when thou art sick, as when thou art well; when thou art rich, as when thou art poor; when thou art in the dungeon, as when thou art at liberty. Faith will cause thee to lay hold on that which God hath promised, as if it were already performed. Abraham desired to see my day, he saw it, and was glad, Babylon is fallen, is fallen. He that cometh to me must believe; if he have not: this weapon, he will do nothing at all. Daniel he understood by reading books, that the end of the Captivity now was at hand, which he verily believed; therefore in his ch. 9 ver. 19 he saith, O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord harken and do▪ defer not for thy own name sake, O my God. See what out-cries he useth to God for the making good of his promises: Even so must you lift up your voices as Trumpets, and say, Lord hear, Lord harken, Lord defer not, pluck down thy enemies, destroy Antichrist, and set up thy Son.  
Thus did Jacob, the Lord bid him go out of his country, and afterward bid him return to his country and kindred again, and he would deal well with him, Gen. 31. 9 His brother Esau cometh against him with four hundred men, there was little hope of life. He than begins to encounter with God, and tells him, Lord thou hast blessed me, and I hope thou wilt deliver me from the hand of Esau; and so he overcame the angel which wrestled with him, and would not let him depart without a blessing.  
The next weapon that you must take up must be the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Put on this caote of mail, and the swords point of your enemies cannot enter; get this upon you, and you need not to fear though ten thousands encompass you round about. David having this coat of male, the righteousness of Christ upon him, boldy encountered with all his enemies, and got the day.  
In the last place, you must have the spirit of prayer, this beloved hath done wonderful things with God, to overcome him, with the enemies, to overcome them, with the Devils, to overcome them; this is that which caused the prison doors to fly open, & all the chains which Peter was bound withal to be unloosed, Act. 12. This spirit of prayer will draw your hearts into the bosom of Jesus Christ; this spirit of prayer will unlock the door of heaven, and let you in, this spirit of prayer will cause the God of heaven to harken what you say, and give you audience; this spirit of prayer will do wonderful things, what, saith the Lord, I have heard the cries of my people, and am come down to deliver them.  
This spirit of prayer will cause thy stony heart to break in pieces, thy ignorant heart to be enlightened, free, and deliver thee from all troubles within or without; these are the weapons you must use.  
The next thing is to show you how you must fight, a man may have abundance of strength, be well weaponed, yet if he have not skill may lose his life; therefore I will tell you how to fight if you look to overcome, first you must fight with them, not as they are your enemies and strike at you, but as they are God's enemies and strike at God; men are too ready to appear in their own cause, they will be revenged of such and such men, but how few will stand up in God's cause? you must make war against them, as they fight against God, his glory, his ordinances, his worship, his Saints. This consideration you must have, when you make war with your enemies, that they are God's enemies, and fight against God. As thus; The soul beginneth to see the glory of Christ in his ordinances to be eclipsed; all the Saints of God, their lives and liberties lie at the stake, if I rise not up, and encounter, all will be gone if I should hold my peace, the very stones in the street would cry out against me: that is the first.  
Secondly, thou art to fight with full resolution, never to give over whilst one of thy enemies is left alive. Beloved, many men seem to be somebody, at first they gird their weapons about them courageously, they are very busy in the work of God, for an hour, or a day or two: beseech the Lord to enlighten their blind eyes, to break their hard hearts, to purge their impure souls; but alas presently they leave off, they have gotten something, therefore look no further.  
Know a little leak will drown a whole ship, a little fire burn a whole house, a little sin destroy the soul; one corruption, if thou hast not a care, will open the door and let in abundance, never give over until thou seest the life and blood of all thy sins run out before thee.  
Thirdly, you must reckon upon losing something in this fight; no soldier that goeth forth to encounter with his enemies is sure to save his life, happily thy name may be lost, thy credit and estimation amongst the men of the world, thy trading, thy liberty, and may be, thy life too; well, it matters not, thou canst never bestow it upon a better friend, nor in a better service than that of Christ: therefore resolve to lose something, if ever thou lookest to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. Did you ever read in the Book of God that any of his soldiers returned from the battle, but one time or other they lost something? Many times they have lost their lives, their friends, their liberties, their estates; And he that is not willing to lose all that he hath for Jesus Christ, is none of his soldier.  
In the next place you must be sure to fight with patience, happily thou hast been interceding at heaven gates many years, that the Lord would discover himself to thee in his Son, show thee the way wherein thou shouldst walk; it may be thou hast been there a long time, for a poor wife, for a poor husband, for a poor child, for a poor servant, and yet the Lord hath not answered thee: what though? yet still resolve with David, to harken what the Lord will say; for surely he will do it: Lord I have called upon thee to avenge thyself upon thine adversaries. Set up thy gospel amongst us, I have often cried to thee for heart-breaking, but thou delayest to answer the desires of my soul; well▪ wait still, though I now lie under a hard heart, the light of thy countenance is taken away from me, I shall at length see surely the Lord will do this for me.  
Now we come to the Uses for want of time, I shall name but three. First, an use of Instruction; secondly, an use of Examination; and thirdly, an use of Excitation.  
First, an use of Instruction, it teacheth us these things; first of all, beloved, that it is not so easy a thing to go to heaven, as men suppose, if you are Christ's soldiers, you must encounter with God, with yourselves, with the world, with wicked men, and with the devil himself, yet a day will serve one man's turn, an hour another man's, if they can but say, Lord have mercy upon us, that will let them into heaven. Surely such do not consider that they are soldiers, and to fight with so many enemies. (Beloved) the Lord tells us, The righteous shall scarce be saved, where then shall the wicked appear? If after all their wrestlings they can scarce get into heaven, what think you of them that have spent no day in performance of holy duties; could you but come to the closet doors of the people of God, and see how early they are up, and how late they go to bed, sure than you would be persuaded that it was not so easy a thing to go to heaven.  
Secondly, it teacheth us who is likeliest to do the best service for God in evil times, if you should see yourselves compassed round about with enemies, before you, behind you, who do you think was likeliest to do you good, a company of lame men, blind men, are these fit to do you service? Beloved, there is none fit to do God service, but these soldiers of Christ, that have armour of proof upon them, these are they that will do the greatest exploits for God; there was a poor man in the City, and he by his wisdom delivered it. Hence we may give a guess, what will become of all the enemies of England, Germany had but a few, Ireland but a few praying people, but the Lord hath thousand of thousands here amongst us, soldiers expert in war, that know how to encounter with God. That is the reason, that though we are beset with so many troubles, yet they all fly before the face of God's people, for they are soldiers.  
Thirdly, it teacheth us whom to prize and love most, the soldiers of Jesus Christ: If you had a thing in your Cabinets, which, if sick, could make you well, if hungry, could feed you, &c. how would you prize this? Happily thou hast a believing wife, a believing child, a believing servant; though thy house were beset round about with enemies, this man might deliver thee: when you are in Taverns, drinking, carousing, swearing, committing many abominations, this man is earnestly praying to God for thy conversion, it may be, the wife for the husband, the husband for the wife, the father weeping for the child, the child for the father, the master for the servant, the servant for the master: These you should most of all prize and love.  
A second Use shall be a Use of Examination; and Beloved, here may we take up a sad complaint over England, surely if we made a search into every Parish and family, we should find abundance of enemies, and I am afraid, but few fighting soldiers for Jesus Christ. I will show you who they be that are not Christ's soldiers, that you may weep over them, happily you may find them in the Congregation where you come, in the houses where you dwell, in the bed where you lie. Lament over the sad estate of such poor souls. First, they that know not Christ, are not his soldiers; no man will bind himself Apprentice to another, unless he knows him: you cannot be soldiers, unless you know your captain Christ Jesus, and I am afraid there is but few knows him. In the world there is a kind of a Relative knowledge, as one that hath never been in Spain, by reading of Books may tell you of the situation of the place, how many streets there be in it, and where there is such and such a nobleman's house; so that you would verily believe they had dwelled and lived there. So many there be that can talk excellently of God, have such admirable gifts and parts, that you would think, if there were a godly man in the Town, he was one; when alas he hath gotten nothing else but a Relative knowledge all this while. First of all, they that know Christ, will fully depend upon him; Dost thou say thou knowest Jesus Christ, what is the reason then there is such amazements and troubles seize on thy spirit? If thou knowest Christ, thou knowest him to be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption; thou wilt know him to be a God that maketh good all his promises. What is the reason of those blasphemous thoughts which men have? They think there is no mercy in heaven for them. What, wilt thou be saved by thy own righteousness? Then thou art no servant of Jesus Christ. You must know, Jesus Christ is enlightening grace, Jesus Christ is quickening grace, Jesus Christ is comforting grace, Jesus Christ is edifying grace.  
And then again, if you know Jesus Christ, you will live upon him; Is it all the glory of Jesus Christ you live upon? Is it his power, wisdom and goodness you live upon, try yourselves. I have no righteousness, saith the poor soul, but Christ hath righteousness; I have no power to make war with my lusts, but Christ hath power.  
Thirdly, they that refuse to do the works of Jesus Christ, make excuses; these for present are not the soldiers of Jesus Christ: Abraham had never done such things for the Lord as he did, if he had done so, Gen. 22. God bid him arise, and go into the land of Moriah, and take with him his son Isaac, to offer him there for a burnt-offering. He might have made excuses, This is my only son, the son of the promises, I am old, and my wife past childbearing; but presently he goeth to sacrifice his son. So Christ, when he was to go from his Disciples, he tells them, Mat. 16. 21. He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the Elders and chief Priests, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Vers. 23. Master, saith Peter, save thyself. Get thee behind me Satan, saith Christ. Thus must you do: happily a husband, a wife, a child, a friend may come and persuade thee to save thy honour, to save thy estate, thy wealth, thy life; you must say to them, Get thee behind me Satan. So Paul, when he was to go up to Jerusalem, they told him he must be bound there; Oh, saith Paul, why do you weep and break my heart? I am not only ready to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord. Happily you may have your wife weep, and desire you not to go in such a course, for it will be the way to beggar you; you must say, I am ready to lose my estate, my liberty, yea, my life for Jesus Christ: That is the first particular.  
Secondly, they are not the soldiers of Jesus Christ that take up weapons of rebellion, and fight against him: You must either be the servants of Christ, or not be the servants of Christ, the soldiers of Christ, or not the soldiers of Christ. Now such as take up weapons and fight against God and his people, cannot be soldiers of Jesus Christ. Why, you say you do not fight against God's people and his ordinances? Why, what dost thou fight against then? O take heed you deceive not your own souls. What is the reason thou canst lay such a drunkard, such a whoremaster in thy bosom, and so slightest the people of God? In this, one day now Christ begins to appear, you see what oppositions there are in the world, people cannot endure the ways of holiness, but if no beauty shined out in the ordinance, they would like well of it. Consider that such as these are no soldiers of Jesus Christ, that fight against his ordinance, his people, whatever they pretend.  
The next Use is an use of Excitation (though there was more things in the other use, which for want of time I have omitted) there is two branches in it; we shall speak a word or two to those that are God's soldiers, and then again to them that have not as yet entered into this spiritual warfare. First for them that are Christ's soldiers, let me entreat you to prepare for a battle, for a skirmish, which you will surely meet withal. Beloved, there is a day of death a coming, this will certainly come, a day of affliction a coming, this will certainly come; you cannot, if you have the spirit of discerning, but see and perceive there is a cloud gathered together as big as a man's hand, how quickly it may cover the heavens none knoweth. The Lord hath told you, in the last days there shall be terrible times, Michael that great Prince shall stand up, and there shall be such times as never was before. Beloved, do you not already perceive the very drops of blood begin to fall? Do you not daily hear of the cruel malice of the enemies of God? When you think the storm is blown over, and never a cloud left in the heavens, every man may sit under his own Vine, and his own figtree, and none to make him afraid; presently you perceive what hellish plots and designs are intended to draw a curtain before the light, and take it away again. Therefore, Beloved, let me entreat you to consider of these few things. Know this, you must fight or lose your lives, there is a necessity of it; you are to encounter with God, with yourselves, with the world, with your enemies, and with the Devil himself; if you overcome not all these, you lose your lives. This very consideration, will put life and strength into the greatest coward, if he seeth there is no way to escape, than he will gather up his spirits about him. Beloved, I beseech you to consider it: Do you not perceive how we are hemmed round about with enemies spiritual and temporal? have you not enemies in your own hearts? you do not know what they may do if opportunity be put into their hands, the husband may betray the wife, the father may betray the son, the servant that eateth his meat at his Master's table may destroy him. The Lord tells us, that a man's enemies should be those of his own house. Do you not perceive how you are set about with enemies? there is a proud heart to be humbled, a stubborn will to be subdued, disordered affections to be rectified, all these seek to let out the life of your souls. Let this move you to take into yourselves the righteousness of Christ, the spirit of prayer, the shield of faith, a holy and godly life to encounter with the desperate enemies of God.  
Secondly, consider this, who will accompany you in this glorious fight? if you were to go to encounter with God alone, with your own hearts, with the world, with the enemies of God, with the devil alone; truly then little hope: But consider who leads you forth, you have God, you have Christ, you have the Spirit, you have the promises, you have the Angels, you have the prayers of all the Saints on your sides. O then beloved, let this encourage you to go to God for all you want or stand in need of, this may put life in you. What saith David, Psal. 118. 11, 12. Mine enemies compassed me round about like Bees, but in the name of God will I destroy them. Consider when thou art going forth to make war against temporal, against spiritual enemies; thou goest forth with a glorious company in the name, in the wisdom of thy God; thou goest forth with the help of all Angels: Think ye not (saith Christ) that I could speak to my Father, and he could send me more than twelve Legions of Angels. So may a poor man say, it is not because their wanteth power in heaven, if God will hecan deliver me, thus you must consider who accompanieth you in this glorious fight.  
Thirdly, to provoke you further, consider whose battle it is you fight; this is that which puts life into a soldier; you that have money, estates, parts, and gifts, liberties and the like, you may come and lay out all here to your great advantage. Jesus Christ seems now to set up his glorious standard, and make a Proclamation, Who will be on my side, who? O I beseech you, flock to Jesus Christ: you that have the gift of prayer, run in with that, you that have honours run in with them, you that have riches run in with them, see if they will do any good. Let that I beseech you stir you up to the work of the Lord. Nay again, consider what a glorious opportunity you have, a man might have lived when he could not have told what to have done: that would have appeared famous in the world for Jesus Christ. Now God calleth upon you, mercy calleth upon you▪ to send in your aid and help, to fight in this great quarrel, to fight with fasting, with prayer, with tears, sighs, and groans; God now likewise calleth for the outward as well as the inward man's estate, he calleth for spiritual and temporal things.  
Again consider, the Lord hath made choice of you, you only that are his people, to fight these combats. God could have destroyed his enemies himself, if not, he could have called to his Angels to have helped him; but the Lord hath made choice of you, he will not overthrow his enemies without his people, set up the Gospel without his people; you must tell him of what he said long ago, that Babylon shall fall: Consider this, that the Lord hath chosen you out before many others. And then again, consider what you get in this battle, is for yourselves; let this pluck up your spirits. If a Captain should come to his soldiers, and tell them, if you take the Town, all shall be yours; would not this put life in the soldiers? God comes in, and saith, Be of good comfort, my sons and daughters, all you win shall be for yourselves; I have no need of these and these things; those that have mourned with him, shall rejoice with him. God saith, he will pluck down his enemies, and set up his people; and tells us, when it is so, his people shall rejoice.  
And then lastly consider, you shall be rewarded, though you do not overcome; the Lord will one day bring in his account, & show thee how many days thou hast spent for him, how many bitter complaints thou hast put up before him; and will as certainly reward thee for it, as if thou hadst the benefit of it already. This should encourage you to go on, though you should never live to see the accomplishment of what God hath promised, you shall be rewarded, as if you did overcome. But in the next place, a word or two to those that for present are not the soldiers of Jesus Christ. I beseech you hearken, you will find it a sad thing, that you are not the soldiers of Jesus Christ; surely it had been better for you, that you never had a being, then to be a rebel from birth to death to Christ.  
First, consider, if thou be not Christ's, thou must of necessity be the devil's soldier. Oh that men and women would but sit down alone, and seriously consider, whose servant am I, whose work do I, of whom do I take pay? Beloved, I beseech you consider it, you cannot serve two Masters; The Lord Christ speaketh to them that said they had Abraham to their father, you are of your father the devil, for his works you do. If we are the servants of Jesus Christ, we will fight in the cause of Jesus Christ, think upon it, what a sad thing it is to be a soldier of the devil.  
Secondly, consider who it is you fight against, if you be soldiers of the devil, you fight against Jesus Christ; and what a sad thing will it be, when God shall bring in a Bill of Indictment against you, the Saints a Bill of Indictment against thee, thy husband, thy wife, thy children? Lord here is one that fought against me all my days, did what lay in his power to take away my life & liberty; it were thousand times better thy hand should rot off, then that thou shouldest do any thing against the Lord; what will he say to thee, such a time thou livedst when such and such a thing to my dishonour was put out against me, and here is thy hand to it. It were a thousand times better for thee, that thy tongue should fall out of thy mouth, then that ever thou 〈…〉 dost be known to speak a word against Christ and his cause; take heed that thou be'st not found a fighter against God. Happily the wife may bring in sad bill of Indictment against the husband, that he strive not only to keep himself, but her out of heaven, to keep her from the places where she might edify: it will be a sad thing to thy soul, that thou wilt neither go to heaven, nor suffer others; this Christ took notice of in the Scribes and Pharises, that had the key of knowledge, and would not enter themselves, nor suffer those that would, to enter, Luke 11. 52.  
Thirdly, consider what thou must have for thy work, thou that wilt not be broken off from thy profaning of God's day, polluting his ordinances, what dost think thou shalt have? Jesus Christ hath a rich reward for those that serve him, and so likewise for those that serve him not. But Beloved, them riches will make thy heart bleed to think of. My friends, if you should come and look upon your tender hearted wife, and see her upon the Rack, but all about the place rejoicing, it would make your hearts ache within; you shall come to heaven, and see happily a poor wife, a poor husband, a poor child pulled one joint from another, God laughing, and all the Saints, and Angels laughing at it. Beloved, this will be an unspeakable torment to you; the terror of Almighty God will be upon those that fight against God. In the last place, I beseech you be exhorted to lay down your weapons: Thou hast been a fighter against God this forty or fifty years; O now be persuaded to lay down these weapons. O my people (saith God, Micah 6. 4.) what have I done to you? wherein have I wearied thee, testify against me? So saith God to many a man, What have I done to thee, that thou departest from me, and keepest company with such vile wretches. Thus Jesus Christ also, O why will you die O house of Israel? turn unto me, my blood shall make you clean. So the Spirit saith, Come; and the Church of the living God saith, Come; the ambassadors of Christ woo and beseech you to come in: Never more be seen with a weapon against Christ. These are glorious days that are a coming for the people of God, but woe be to that man that Jesus Christ shall find persecuting his Church: O the wretched estate of such a creature. But to conclude, what though thou canst not but confess that thou hast been a fighter against God all thy days; if now thou wilt come in and lay down thy weapons, thou shalt have as kind entertainment of God, as those that have been his this forty years, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall not be more beloved of God, than thou shalt be. This often troubleth a poor child, when it hath done that which is contrary to the parents will, it will not come in their sight, it is afraid of the frowns of the father. O fear not, the more polluted thou art, the more will the Lord weep over thee, he runs to meet a prodigal child, you do not know what feasts the Lord will make in heaven at your conversion; you shall see your name written in the book of life. Me thinks this should move you to come in and close with the Lord Jesus: do not conceive that you shall not find entertainment, for you shall be as welcome as any: Nay, and let me tell you, the Lord will have a thousand times more glory by you, than by the civil man. Happily you have a neighbour that hath never been known to swear an oath, to tell a lie, the Lord will have twice more glory by you, than by such a one, if he should come in. Consider also what good thou Mayst do to poor enemies, Paul intimates so much, I knew a man in Christ about 14. years ago, he will not name you who he is for fear of vainglory, yet he tells you by and by, I Paul a persecutor. O beloved, how will God's people be encouraged, yea, the enemies of God, when they shall see such a vile persecutor as Paul to come in to Jesus Christ: Such a one as Mary Magdalen to come in to Christ, this must needs be a mighty encouragement. But to conclude all, if thou dost not come and presently lay down thy weapons, the time will be past, And as the tree falleth, so it lieth, the night cometh when man cannot work. Therefore I beseech you lay down the weapons of your religion, defer not I beseech you, say not I will do it to morrow, the next day, or the third day, no do it presently; do not say I will do it when I come home, but now whilst you sit in your pews resolve to lay down your weapons, & come to Jesus Christ. Many more instructions might have been delivered, but the time hath prevented.  
FINIS.