GOOD news FOR ALL CHRISTIAN soldiers. OR The way to overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb. As it was delivered in a Sermon BY JOHN EACHARD, pastor of Darsham in Suffolk. REVEL. 12. 11. They overcame them by the blood of the lamb. Published according to Order. LONDON; Printed by Matthew Simmons in aldersgate-street. 1645. ❧ To the Christian Reader. The Question of a Presbytery or Independent decided; and also of Christmas day. dear Christian Reader, bought full dearly with the precious blood of the lamb; There is a Question in our tottering and falling kingdom of England, divided against itself, and therefore as our Saviour testifieth, cannot stand, Mark. 3. 24. Which I conceive, if it be not taken up, will bring it to desolation the sooner. And that is the Question now in agitation; Some for a Presbytery, and others for an Independent-Government of the Church. unto whom I answer, as our Saviour did, to the two sons of Zebedee, Mat. 20. 20. desiring a Petition; The one to sit on his right hand, and the other on his left, in his kingdom. Christ told them; You know not what you ask; Are ye able to drink of the cup, that I shall drink of, and to be baptised, with the baptism, that I shall be baptised with? And though you may; yet that shall be given of my Father, to them for whom it is prepared, Mat. 20. 20. As if he should have said; do you dream of a temporal kingdom, wherein you desire to be chief? This is but Ambition; you know not what you ask. For my kingdom is not of this world: Prepare yourselves for the cross, and through many afflictions, to enter into the kingdom of heaven, Act. 14. 22. You must drink of the cup and baptism of afflictions. And though they said, They were able; yet it was not in their power; for they fled in his passion: ye shall be baptised with the baptism of affliction, which you cannot escape; but to fit at my right hand, and at my left, it is not mine to give, nor wisely done of you to ask it; for that shall be given of my Father: So I say to you, Presbyters, and Independents; You would sit on the right hand, and at the left, in his Church, and kingdom; I tell you, you know not what you ask; for our Church of lukewarm Laodicea, shall drink of a bitter cup of calamities, and be baptised with great afflictions: And do you dream of a temporal kingdom? Wherein you desire to be chief? You know not what you ask; for the Government of a Church, must be given of the Father of heaven; not such as you imagine; and also to whom he please. What did the two brethren get, but disdain of the ten? So there be ten to two against you in heart, for your Petition, and think themselves as wise, as you, and have the disdain of five to one against you; and you two Brethren, are ready to destroy each other, for the pre-eminence. Do you not know that old axiom of Satan, and of the Jesuits? Divide, & vince, divide them, and overcome; it must needs be of Satan; for God is the Author of peace, and lover of concord, and blesser of it, Psal. 133. 1, 2, 3. I desire you to love it also. Satan by his instruments hath buzzed into the fantasies of many people, that we shall have a worse Government, for the Conscience, than before; to set them against the Parliament, and one side against another; and they have tossed this ball, up and down, by many reasons in print; and they strive for the live-child; 'tis mine say the Presbyters, and thine is dead; nay, 'tis mine, say the Independents, and thine is dead: and many people desire a new Government, before they be handsomely rid of the old. Are not you like the couple of men, that strove for the bear's skin before she was dead? And she bit them both: So this bear of a civil war, will bite you both, before it end. For there is a Solomon that hath called for a sword, to divide the living child, as you suppose, that you strive for; for thus saith the Lord: Behold, that which I have built, will I destroy, and that which I have planted, will I pluck up, even this whole Land: And seekest thou great things for thyself? (a Presbytery, or Independent) seek them not; for, behold, I will bring a plague upon all flesh, saith the Lord; but thy life will I give thee for a prey, in all places whither thou goest. i. If thou desire not great things, of a Presbytery, or Independent; for they shall not have their lives for a prey, that desire great things, in such dangerous times as these are; for others will make a prey of them; for if man seek for great things of a Presbytery, the Papists, and Prelates, and Independents, will seek to make a prey of them: and if men seek the great things of an Independent, all others will make a prey of them. Therefore seek them not, Jer. 45. 4. & 5. Consider what the Lord saith in Hag. 2. 22, 23. I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and I will overthrow the Thrones of kingdoms, (beware England) and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the Heathen, and I will overthrow the Chariots (or Ships) and those that ride in them, and the horse, and the riders, shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. i. By a civil war. This was spoken about the time of the building of old Jerusalem, and how know you, but that it doth agree to this time, wherein the New Jerusalem, shall begin to be built? and Rome shall be burnt, and the Jews called. I do find that the Lord threatened the Angels of the Church of Sardis, of the Lutherans, for lying in the dead faith, and not watching, but sleeping in sin, that he would come on them, as a thief, and they should not know what hour he would come upon them, Rev. 3. 3. That is, by a plundering, robbing, and spoiling civil war, that Germany shall be like an house robbed of thieves: as Mr Brightman prophesied, of the sword to come upon the Lutherans, sixteen years before it began. Do you think it were a fit time now, for the Lutherans, and Protestants in Ireland, now the sword is upon them, to quarrel one with another, for a new Church-Government, when they know not whether they shall have any or no. So Christ is now come, as a thief upon our lukewarm Church of Laodicea, in England; with the judgement of a plundering, robbing, spoiling, stealing, civil war; that both England, and Ireland, shall be like an house robbed of thieves; for Christ is now come, to fulfil his promise, or threat, against the lukewarm Angels, of our Church of Laodicea, in England; Because thou art lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, it will come to pass, that I shall spew thee out of my mouth, Rev. 3. 16. Is not this Scripture fulfilling in your ears, this day? That Christ is spewing out the lukewarm Angels of England, out of his mouth. And some have a little hope to remain, and yet you cannot tell, whether Christ will spew them out also; they fall to strife for a Church-Government, when you do not know, whether Christ will spew out the lukewarm Church of England out of his mouth; as well as the Angels? And you reasoned so fair both, that you have divided your city, and Armies; as you remember lately at Dunnington Castle: If you go on with this controversy, the kite is at hand, to catch both at strife. See another place of Scripture, Rev. 16. 15. Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, that he may not walk naked, and they see his filthiness, I would fain know why this Scripture is not fulfilled in our days. This place troubled Theodore Beza, as if it had come into a place unmeet: but I gather this is the Reason, that it might not be known, at what time, Christ would come upon all the world, whether under the fourth, fift, or sixt vial, and therefore you see it comes in by a parenthesis, that it might not be known; Revel. 3. 3. for Christ said to Sardis, he would come on them, as a thief, and thou shalt not know, what hour I will come upon thee, as a thief. So this general coming of Christ as a thief, by a civil war, on all the world, is so brought in, that it might not be known, until he came, which now it appears, is come upon England, and upon all the world. For when the fourth Angel had poured out his vial on the sun, Rev. 16. 8. here in England, and it was given him to torment men with heat of fire, and men have boiled in great heat, and blasphemed the Name of God, (i. by railing on the truth, and the Children of God; as Brightman) therefore behold Christ is come as a thief upon England, and on all the world. Now he saith, Blessed is he that keepeth his garments, which are neither an episcopacy, nor Presbytery, nor Independent, but they are the white wedding garment of Christ's righteousness, that is bright, and shining, the righteousness of the Saints; which make us trim and ready for our bridegroom; which was put on at baptism, by the Father, son, and Holy Ghost, when she was baptised into Christ, and put on Christ, Gal. 3. 27. And what say you to this Scripture; son of man prophecy, and say, A sword, a sword, both sharp, and furbushed. It is sharpened, to make a sore slaughter, Ezek. 21. 9 I will overtune, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until he come, ver. 27. A kingdom divided cannot stand. The reason why, Because thou remainest in thy filthiness, and wickedness. Because I would have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee; I the Lord have spoken it, it shall come to pass, and I will do it, I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and works, shall they judge thee, Ezek. 24. 13, 14. But God hath purged the lukewarm Angels, and Church of England, by baptism, but they will not believe it, and I have counselled thee, and thou wilt not be counselled, Rev. 3. 18. to buy of me gold, white raiment, and eyesalve, for thou wilt not believe, that I have purged thee from thy sins in baptism, and clothed thee with white raiment, that no filthiness of sin should appear. Ergo. Thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness, till I have caused my wrath to seize upon thee: I the Lord have spoken it, it shall come to pass, and I will do it, I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; I will spew thee out of my mouth, Rev. 3. 16. And here is one cause why the lukewarm hierarchy is spewed out of Christ's mouth, and when God can lie, they shall be in hope to remain there still. Tell me, you that strive for a presbyterial, or Independent garment, whether you be sure, that Christ is not come in now, to see his guests? that have been a bidding to the Marriage of the King's son of Heaven, by faith, and baptism, these 1600 years; for no question those by the hedges, and high ways, are the Gentiles, which were called by faith, and baptism, to be married to Christ. When the Jews refused, and would not come (saith Brightman) his servants have called the Gentiles to the marriage, and the marriage is furnished with guests, of good and bad, Mat. 22. 10. Then the King came in to see the guests; signifying not before it was furnished with guests; which is now accomplished; For Christ is now come as a thief, unexpected, to view all the guests of the Churches of Christendom, whether they have a wedding garment or no; not whether they have an episcopal, or a presbyterial, or an Independent; but white raiment of the righteousness of the Saints, which is Christ's, wherein no sin appears; such as have none, shall be bound hand and foot, and cast into hell, as Mat. 22. 13. And such as have defiled their garments, shall be spoiled by a civil war, Rev. 3. 3. & 4. And so the Jews shall be called, and that bride shall make herself ready, and trim, for her bridegroom, by faith, and baptism; for the word, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, in the Parable, signifieth, that there shall be two marriages; the one of the Gentiles (the last called, was first married) and the other of the Jews; (the first called, shall be the last married) for there shall be an Hallelujah sung in heaven, for the marriage of the Church of the Jews unto Christ, Rev. 19 6. & 7. Well, Christ is come as a thief, by a civil war, and to view his guests; you must make account, he will not return until he have put them all out of the marriage-chamber, that have not on a wedding garment, and he be married to the bride of the Jews. Now he saith, Blessed is he that keepeth his garments, that he may not walk naked in sin before God. That Church, or people, is blessed, and shall have a Government given them of my Father. For they keep the word of my patience, which is the faith in the merits of Christ's death in baptism, and Christ's blood; therefore I will deliver them from the hour of tentation that is come upon all the world, to try them that are upon the earth, Rev. 2. 10. Now let any man show that there shall come another hour of tentation, i. a more general judgement of a civil war upon all the world, but this, which is now come. For my part, I look not for another; but that this civil war begun, shall last till Rome be burnt, and the Jews called; and therefore is it time now, to strive for a presbytery, or Independent, in such an hurly-burly, of a civil war? where no face of a Church shall scarce remain, when it is more needful to strive for a wedding garment; for to him that overcometh, and keepeth his garments, Rev. 16. 15. will I give, saith Christ, to sit with me in my Throne, Rev. 3. 21. signifying that shall be the conquering and reigning people, whom Christ hath loved and washed from their sins in his own blood, and made Kings and Priests to God his Father, and they shall reign upon earth, Rev. 1. 5. and 5. 10. Let England consider Christ's words; Rev. 3. 18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold, tried in the fire, that thou mayest be made rich; which is the lively faith, in the merits of Christ's death, in baptism which make men rich, that were poor by Adam: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, that the filthiness of the wickeness of sin may not appear, which is the white wedding garment of justification, which makes a Christian know, he is ready for Christ, when he hath it; and eyesalve of the spirit of Christ, that we may see, how to walk by the Spirit, and in discipline of the Word; for, until this counsel of Christ be taken in England, both of the Angels and Church, this war will not cease: for until a man's ways (or Churches ways) please the Lord, he will not make all his enemies to be at peace with him, Prov. 16. 7. And when shall that be in England, think you? when they will be guided by his counsel, i. Rev. 3. 18. he will then receive them to glory, Psal. 73. Now many men dote so much about Discipline, that they think to make a rare Church by it, but are greatly deceived. For if a man should take a company of Vipers, to make them nightingales, do you think he can make them such by Discipline? all the orders and skill, let him order them how he can, will not make them become nightingales; but if he can make them new creatures, they may be made nightingales, as well as any other creature. There were two Pharisees which were the generation of Vipers, Matth. 3. which were made sweet nightingales by baptism, wherein they were made new creatures, and sang sweetly in the night; as Nicodemus, that having learned the doctrine of regeneration, of water and the Spirit in baptism, he was so changed, that in the night, when the other Pharisees as Vipers, would have condemned Christ, sang for him thus; Doth our law condemn any man before it hear him? and he sweetly buried him with sweet odours: And another notorious Viper, that was a murderer, and a blasphemer, Saul, was so changed by baptism, when he did arise and was baptised, he washed away his sins, in calling on the name of the Lord, that of a murderer and blasphemer, he became a sweet Preacher of the Gospel, by night, and till the dawning of the day, and sang psalms in the night, so sweetly, that the Lord heard him, and sent an earthquake, Acts 16. Wherefore, if you would make a good Church, it must be by faith in our baptism into Christ, when we were little children; and by the white raiment of Christ's righteousness applied by faith: Discipline may order a child in good manners, but he must have a soul and body first. Now baptism and the white raiment, is as the soul and body of all Christianity, he that wants faith in this, cannot tell, whether he be in Christ or no: Discipline may order a Church, but cannot make one. Truly, I never look to see a pure Discipline, until the Jews be called, (which I wish all the faithful to pray for) except the woman clothed with the Sun, begin to make one, which hath the bright morning Star, which are that chaste and holy Congregation, as Mr. Brightman calls them, which are the place of God's pleasures, and the hill of his delights, wherein God taketh more delight, then in any thing of the world, as Rev. 19 17. which Church is now arising out of the corruption of the Church of Laodicea, Corruptio unius est generatio alterius, for though he will spew the lukewarm out, yet there is a few names in Laodicea, that shall sit with Christ in his Throne; wherefore if you be brethren, and going to the new Jerusalem, remember Joseph's words to his brethren, Fall not out by the way for a Discipline, who shall have the preeminence: Let not him that putteth on the armour, boast as he that putteth it off; for as victory is of the Lord, so is government. If you look for government before we have peace, the gift of God, you reckon without your host; wherefore I command you from the Lord, study to be quiet, and do your own business, 1 Thes. 4. and work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and persuade Euodius of the Presbyters, and beseech Syntiche of the Independents, to be of one accord in the Lord, and labour all to overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, as this Sermon shows you, who would set you together by the ears, to kill one another, that he might get both. I have writ of the miseries of England, and of the remedies of the same, and have shown at least forty causes, how the Bishops have brought the sword upon the land, and therefore are justly put down of the Lord and his Parliament, which I purpose to set in print, if Satan hinder it not. Let it not be said, that the Presbyters and Independents have set dissension in the Parliament, and City, and in the Armies, and brought the sword into their own bowels, to make the Papists sport; wherefore let no man speak any more of any government, in the Church of England, except by Parliament, until the wars cease; those that shall remain, shall pray unto the Lord, to show them such a Discipline out of God's Word, as shall be pleasing unto him. Men may imagine, that there may be a smiling show of peace, but they shall find, that Male sarta gratia nequicquam coit, there is so much blood in the mortar, that it will not daub, love will not grow within, there is so much blood without; and yet for my part, I desire, if the Lord will, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, that peace may be within our walls, and plenteousness within our palaces; for no peace, no plenty: for where wars and sedition remain, we must look for earthquakes, famine, and pestilence, Luke 21. 9, 10, 11. you shall have little pleasure in a presbytery, or independency, before these wars cease; for there is a flood of God's judgements coming now on all the world; there shall none escape, but those that get into the Ark of the faith of their baptism into Christ, 1 Pet. 3. 21. and such as take Christ's counsel, Rev. 3. 18. which are the blessed people, that keep Christ's garments unto them, that their filthy nakedness may not be seen, Rev. 16. 15. and such as keep the word of his patience, Rev. 3. 10. these shall be delivered from this hour of tentation. Question. 2 Now there is another Question also, among many people; for they dote about questions now, whether the 25day day of December ought to be kept, for Christmas day, as an holy day, in remembrance that Christ was born on that day; for how know you, say many, that Christ was born on that day more than another? the Papists keep it ten days before us, and other Churches not on our day, and they say it was the shortest day of the year, and therefore seeing it is so uncertain, let it be abolished, we will keep none. Answer. I answer, How did the Jews know which was the right Sabbath, but by the Manna the day before? And how did they know by the rods, which was chosen to be Priest; but because one budded and blossomed, and brought forth ripe Almonds? So I know that England do keep the right day that Christ was borne on, above all the Nations in Christendom, because we have a miracle hath often been seen in England upon that day; for we have a tree in England, called the Holy thorn, by Glassenbury abbey, nigh the bath, which on the 25. day of December, which is our Christmas day, hath constantly blossomed; which the people of that place have received from antiquity, that it was that kind of thorn, wherewith Christ was crowned: Which I have received from credible men, that have seen the thorn, that have inquired, and took the testimony of the substantialst-men in that country, which did affirm, that if you come to that tree overnight, there appears nothing, but a bare thorn; but come on Christmas day, and it is blossomed; Many people have come, and seen it, so that they would cut off a piece with their knives, that it is much whittled; and some nigh that place have graffed some of that thorn upon others, which do also blossom on that day. You may read of this Miracle in many Authors, and especially in Cambden's Britannia, a Chronicler to be credited, for that matter, because there are so many eye-witnesses of known credit, that have seen, and testified of the same. Wherefore so long as that thorn shall blossom in England, on Christ's nativity day, or can be proved, that it hath blossomed on that day, England shall keep that day of praising God, for the birth of Christ. Because the Angels sung an hymn on that day, Glory be to God on high, peace on earth, and good will towards men; never more need for us, to pray, and sing so; for peace is taken from the earth, and there is ill will towards men. I am persuaded that the Jews shall receive their Christ's nativity day from England, and from our blossoming thorn, rather than from any other Church in Christendom. I wish if there be any Jews in England, that are incredulous, in this point, that they might be sent to that place, to prove the truth of it; for what do we know, but that some of the Jews may be convinced by it, to be sorry that they crowned Christ with Thornes, and desired his blood to be upon them, and their children, by whose blood we must overcome the devil? Brethren, we say, that Omni & nulli credere, utrumque nefas, for to believe all the false miracles of Papists; as of the coming of souls out of Purgatory, which is but the delusion of the devil, were evil; and for me not to believe this of the thorn, were also nought. Because for these Reasons, I am bound to believe it. 1. Because my Father, which dedicated me to the Ministry, before I was borne, to be for the Lord. (And the world should see I was dedicated to the Lord, if they would let my Books come out.) He having seen the tree, told me the discourse of it, and the blossoming on that day. I pondered it in my heart, with Mary. After that my brother went to the bath, and saw the tree, and took the Testimony of honest, and substantial men in the country, which told him, of the constant coming of people to see it, and how that some have graffed of it, upon other thorns, which also do blossom on Christmas day; and how it was whittled; caused me further to ponder it; and then hearing it confirmed by many that came from the bath, and by the testimony of credible Chroniclers, Cambden, and others, that writ so of it, being a thing that hath been seen of five hundred Brethren. Now for me not to believe my Father, and brother, and so many honest Witnesses, and Historiographers, that write so of it, were to account them all liars, which in me were a sin. Well, you see my reasons, why I am bound to believe it. I will also show some reasons, why such a perpetual miracle shall remain in the world. All will grant thus much, that Christ was crowned with thorns; for the Scripture is clear, Mat. 27. 29. and that thorns and thistles were the curse of the earth for Adam's sin, is plain, Gen. 3. 18. Now it is certain, that Christ being crowned with thorns, took the curse upon him; for as God the Father hath thrown upon him the iniquities of us all, Isa. 53. 6. and so he threw on him the curses of us all, and set the curse of the earth upon his head, in that he was crowned with thorns by the soldiers; it was the determinate counsel of God, that Christ should be made a curse for us; Gal. 3. 13. for cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree; and that he should bear the curse of the earth also, which was imposed, as the fruit of man's sin, and therefore he did not only bear our sins in his own body upon the tree, 1 Pet. 2. 24. but also the curse of the earth, which was thorns, which came for man's sin. Now when sin was thrown upon everlasting righteousness, sin must needs be overcome, saith Luther; for righteousness was infinite, and could not be overcome; and therefore must needs conquer sin: So the curse of thorns being set upon Christ's head, which was everlasting holiness, Christ hath turned away the curse of that thorn, and in token that it was set upon the head of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, God-man, that he hath taken away the curse of the earth to believers, Gal. 3. 13. That thorn by a perpetual miracle shall blossom on Christmas day morning, to the end of the world, for the convincing of unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. That Christ did come on that day, and for the confirmation of the faith of believers, not only by the world of God, Gal. 3. 13. but by that miracle also, that Christ was made a curse for us, and hath taken away the curse of thorns of the earth to all believers; and being everlasting blessedness, hath made the cursed thorn to become a blessed thorn, and therefore called an Holy thorn to this day; and that as the Angels sung on that day, so should we sing with them that sung on that day; Glory be to God on high, peace on earth, and good will towards men. And I wish that all faithful Preachers of England might preach on that text, on every Christ's nativity day, because the Angels have given us that text from heaven; saying, Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, that unto you is borne this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Therefore sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord: Glory be to God on high, peace on earth, and good will towards men. They which do this in faith, that they are in him that is true, in that his son Jesus Christ, which is very God, and eternal life, 1 Joh. 5. 20. by baptism into him, shall find more peace with God in conscience, and find good will with men, that are the children of God. I speak not this, that I would have a carnal Christmas kept, in profaneness, as it hath been much abused, but a spiritual day, in duties of piety and charity to the poor, to show ourselves Christians, by honouring Christ in his birth day. Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ, J. E. ¶ The Contents of the Doctrines, Reasons, and Uses, handled in this ensuing Treatise. GOod news for soldiers, or the way to overcome the devil, by the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 12. 11. The Exposition from the 7. verse, to the 12. to make entrance. 1. Doctrine, That all faithful soldiers, that love not their lives to the death, shall overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb: and the proofs. Three things requisite for to make a man able to overcome the devil, and all his enemies. 1. He must have the golden faith of his baptism for his Regeneration. 2. He must have a lively faith in the white raiment of Christ's righteousness. And 3. Eyesalve of the Spirit of Christ. Six Reasons. 1. Reason. When Satan tempts to sin, or despair, show him the blood of the lamb. 2. Reason. When he shows to Conscience the curse of the Law, show him the blood of Christ. 3. Reason. When he fights against Conscience with the fear of death, say, O death, where is thy sting? here is the blood of the lamb. 4. Reason. When he fights against Conscience with the fear of hell, show him the blood of the lamb, saying, O Hell, where is thy victory? 5. Reason. For by the blood of the lamb we are conquerors already. 6. Reason. For by the blood of the lamb, we are more than conquerors. And that in four Respects. Uses how to disarm Satan. Objection. I am not afraid of the devil, but I am afraid of the Papists, and Rebels of Ireland, to cut my throat. Answer. If thou hast prevailed over the God of this world, thou shalt prevail with men. Object. They are wonderful strong; They have great Iron and brass Ordnance. Ans. So had the Canaanites Chariots of Iron. 2. Doctrine, That all that fight against the devil, with the shield of Faith, of the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony, shall surely overcome him; for they by it quench all his fiery darts. 1. Reason. First, Because by the word of our testimony, we give God the glory of his holiness. 2. Reason. Because by it, we give him the glory of his wisdom. 3. Reason. We give him the glory of his truth. 4. Reason. We give him the glory of his power. 5. Reason. We give him the glory of his mercy. 6. Reason. We give unto God the glory of his Justice, in three points of Justice. Four sleights of Satan, to take this shield of faith out of thine hand. 1. Use. If soldiers will give God the glory of his holiness, than they must beware of whoredom, and keep their bodies chaste, and pure, Temples for the Holy Ghost. 2. Use. If you give God the glory of his wisdom; then ask counsel of the Lord for every battle; as David did; and you shall prevail, as he did. 3. Use. If you give glory to the truth of God; then soldiers must speak and practise truth; accuse none falsely, and then plunder them. 4. Use. If you give glory to the power of God; sprinkle the blood of the lamb well, and you shall be shot-free; howsoever, gavel-free. 5. Use. If you give glory to the mercy of God; you must be merciful, as your Father is merciful; not cruel: and to whom Justice. 6. Use. If you give God the glory of his Justice; you must practise Justice towards men in three points. Against the Anabaptiss, which would not have the Law Preached. These things may do good to many Christian soldiers. Let none stop them from the press. Written by J. E. GOOD news FOR ALL CHRISTIAN soldiers. Dear Christians, in stead of complementing Eloquence, I shall endeavour to show you, that love not your lives unto the death, how to overcome the devil, by the blood of the lamb, and by that word of your testimony. Revel. 12. 11. In the 7th verse, we hear there was a battle in Heaven, i. in the Church, saith Brightman; and so there is now; Michael, and his Angels fought▪ Michael, which is by interpretation, Quis sicut Deus, he was sent to destroy his enemies, that rose up against his Church, when it lay in the wilderness; for the wrath of the Dragon, as it doth now lie in war by the wrath of the Dragon the devil, and the Beast, and false Prophet. Michael, the Lord Jesus Christ, than whom none is stronger in heaven or earth. For who is like our God (as Meyer noteth) in heaven? i. in the justified Church, which is rightly called heaven; as, Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is above, is the mother of us all; is the holy Catholic Church (saith Luther) out of which Satan was cast, which led the people to dumb idols, Eph. 2. 2. And so he shall in this battle; for Michael, and his Angels, will fight for you, which is called the great Prince, for the people of God, Dan. 10. 21. i. Christ Jesus, whose Angels are (as Bullenger noteth) those blessed ministering Spirits, and all faithful Christians, which serve the Lord Jesus, to fight against Antichrist, and his instruments. And the Dragon, and his Angels fought, i. all evil spirits, and all evil men, as the wise and rich of this world, that fight against the Gospel, and against a reformation: whose power, and subtlety, are their armour, to fight against the Church; against whom you must fight with spiritual armour, Eph. 6. 13. For you have Michael your Prince, that will give you the crown of victory, Rev. 2. 10. Marlorat. A great battle; first, in respect of the soldiers, all believers on the one part, and all unbelievers on the other part. Secondly, In respect of the time; the enmity between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent, is the cause of it; and therefore as the seed of the bondwoman persecuted the seed of the freewoman, so it is now, Gal. 4. 29. that now reached to you, and will be to posterity. Thirdly, The manner of the battle; all believers fight by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, which are invincible. But the adversaries fight with infidelity, and armed with lies: the justified must fight by faith in the blood of the Lamb, that he hath loved you, and washed you from your sins in his own blood, to make you without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. 5. 26. and made you Kings and Priests to God his Father; and prove it by the Word, Rev. 1. 5. Col. 1. 22. That he hath thrown upon Christ the iniquities of us all, i. e. guilt and punishment. The other fight by infidelity, which do not believe this, but by hatred, lies, and sword, persecute them that believe so; for the devil was a liar from the beginning, and a murderer, as his children are. Ver. 8. But they prevailed not. Here is comfort for all you faithful soldiers, they shall not prevail against you; for the gates of bell shall not prevail against the faith of your free justification by Christ, Mat. 16. His place was no more found in heaven. i. The devil was cast out of heaven, that accused the Saints before God day and night, by the victory of Christ upon the cross, (saith Elton.) And the Heathen Emperor, a Dragon, was cast out of the heaven of the Church, by Constantine, saith Brightman; and the Beast and the false Prophet must be cast out of the heaven of the Church, by our Michael. i. Christ, and his soldiers, which all you are, that are faithful; For by our Michael, he is cast out of the hearts of the Elect; as the Apostles saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, Luk. 10. 18. as Meyer. For now is the Judgement of this world, now shall the Prince of this world be cast out; so now shall Antichrist be cast out of the Church of England; not so much for the sword, as by the Word preached. For where the death of Christ is preached, and by faith received, (that he bare all our sins in his body upon the tree, 1 Pet. 2. 24. That we being dead to sin, should live in righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed) the devil must needs be cast out, saith Marlorat. So that here is the cause why Satan dwells in the hearts of the wicked, they believe not, that the blood of the Lamb hath purged their hearts from all sin; therefore Satan an unclean spirit will dwell in that heart that is not washed by faith in the blood of the lamb. But where the heart is washed by faith in that blood, Christ dwells there, as Eph. 3. 17. For where Christ is received into the heart, for Idolatry and superstition, true Religion and piety comes in; for carnal reason, the Spirit of God comes in, which illuminates the mind, and changeth the will to God, from uncleanness, to sanctity; as Marlorat. Ver. 9 And the great Dragon, the old Serpent, &c. The devil is called the old Serpent (saith Pignetius) because he hath always deadly poison, prepared to infect men. Secondly, He is the same that labours by all means, to hinder you from Paradise, as he caused our first parents to be cast out, and therefore so much the rather to be taken heed of, in his practice, to bring thee to sin; for if he did thus to our first parents, when they were pure from all spot of inherent sins, what will he do against thee that art inherently unclean by sin, if thou hast not the blood of the lamb? Which is called the devil, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, i. Calumniator, a Caviller, or an Accuser; so that you see, that cavillers against the faithful, and accusers of the Brethren, for the true faith in Christ's blood, and righteousness, change names with the devil, called Satanas, i. adversarius, an adversary. i. because he is such an enemy, as his children are, and adversary to the professors of free Justification, that by the blood of Christ, and his righteousness, men should be saved and be made without spot, before the Throne of God, Rev. 14. 5. Satan cannot abide that doctrine. Which deceiveth all the world; Because he persuadeth men, contrary to the Word of God (as Bullenger and Musculus. i. the Reprobate) by his fallacies, and lies, (as Paul saith) to fear, lest as Satan seduced Eve, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, 2 Cor. 11. 3. He was cast down to the Earth, even to be trodden under foot of men; as Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt go upon the Lion, and the asp; the young Lion, and the Dragon, shalt thou tread under thy feet; as Luk. 10. 19 He is cast down to the earth. i. to hurt earthly minded men only; for woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea, because the devil is come down amongst you, that hath great wrath, because his time is but short: So you shall find that these wars shall be woeful to the Inhabitants of the earth, and Sea, by the devil's means; but it shall not hurt the true Church. For Satan departing from them that are faithful, and overcoming him by the blood of the lamb, he shall hurt only earthly-minded men, that prefer earthly things before heavenly, and contemn the truth, as Erasmus. And they are cast into the earth, in respect of any power to do hurt to you the children of God, but shall hurt earthly men by Sea and Land. Ver. 10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven. For the faithful cannot but praise God for the confusion of Satan, their deadly enemy, saith Pignetius. Hic ergo {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, a song of triumph, of the Church triumphing over the devil that is overcome; which shows the cause why many men do not praise the Lord with a loud voice, they believe not the devil is overcome, therefore they are afraid of him. In Heaven. i. In the Church, which dwells in the large heaven of remission of sins, and in the kingdom of heaven, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, as Luther. And hath her conversation in heaven, Phil. 3. 2●. Now is salvation; For where sin reigned, there perdition had a place; but where the Gospel reigns, i. the glad tidings, that Christ hath purged your sins in his own person, and is set down at the right hand of God, Heb. 1. 3. there is life and salvation. And strength; Not of men, but of God; for the right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence, and therefore he will give his Church the victory. And the kingdom of our God, wherein the devil reigned (saith Musculus) by Idolatry. And the power of his Christ: for his power appears especially in converting men to his righteousness. For the accuser of the Brethren is cast down; for this is the property of the devil and his Instruments, and if he can, to lay open to damnation, those that he suspects shall be heirs of heaven, and ascend to that place from which he fell, which he doth most commonly by Scripture, Matth. 3. as to Christ; wherefore I have laboured in these fourteen differences, to disarm Satan (against the consciences of all true believers) of his strong holds to accuse the conscience, and to show you a most certain victory by Christ's blood, as you may see: but they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, i. Vers. 11. they got victory, not by their own strength or merits, but by the free grace and favour of Jesus Christ, they overcame the power of the devil, as Meyer. By the blood of the Lamb, i. By faith in the death of Christ, which makes men conquerors (as Marlorat) over all enemies; for we are to understand, that Christ hath not only got victory over the devil in his person, but hath left power to his justified children, to get victory also over him in our person, and in our consciences, and that is, by the blood of the Lamb. Doctr. Hence I gather, That all faithful soldiers, that love not their lives unto the death, shall overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. All you that truly believe, that the blood of the Lamb hath purged you from all sins, shall get victory over the devil; this is not only plain by the Text, which saith, They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, &c. the word of their testimony, but also by the Apostle Paul, that giveth thanks for the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15. And what victory is that, but even over sin, death, and the devil? for Christ by his blo●d on the cross, spoiled Principalities, and Powers, and destroyed him that had the power of death, the devil, Ephes. 2. 15. for he took away the sting of death, which is sin: By his blood, &c. and the strength of sin, which is the law, which was by that blood blotted out, Col. 2. 14. And therefore we say, Thanks be to God, which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, to our faith, and hath given you power to get victory over the devil to yourselves and consciences, by the blood of the Lamb; for that must needs be fulfilled in the members, that is fulfilled already in the Head, saith Meyer. The second proof is 1 John 4. 4. Little Children, ye are of God, and have overcome them; for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. For where Christ's blood dwells he dwells: in vers. 3. he saith, that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God; but this is the spirit of Antichrist. Some may object the devil, and the Pope confess so much, therefore to the word come in the flesh you must understand, And washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us Kings and Priests to God his Father, and that the blood of the Lamb hath made us clean from all sin, before the Throne of God, Rev. 14. 5. That neither the Devil nor the Pope believe, 1 Joh. 1. 7. for he hath invented a Purgatory to purge them from sin after death; for he believes not the blood of the Lamb hath purged them from all sin in this life. But little children, ye are of God (i. all you true Believers, that have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ hath purged your sins) and have overcome them, i. Satan, Antichrist, and all his servants; for seeing Christ hath given you victory over the devil, certainly you have victory over his servants, saith Aug. Marlorat; for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in world; for Christ dwells in your hearts; where his blood dwells by faith, that is greater than the devil that dwells in the hearts of all unbelievers, where the blood of the Lamb is not sprinkled by faith. And therefore we overcome not by our own power, but by the strength of Christ; for we must needs be overcome, if we trust to our own strength, saith Calvin: as to the arm of flesh, or great ordnance, ammunition, &c. which he will cause them sometime to lose, to cause them know, that their victory must be by the blood of the Lamb. Now there be three things requisite to make a man able to overcome the devil, and all his enemies. First, he must be born anew in Christ, of water, and the holy Ghost, as 1 John 5. 4. for so by regeneration, he is freed from the bondage of sin, death, the devil, and Hell: he must believe his baptism, that he is new born of God, which is the foundation of our victory over the devil; as the Virgin said to the devil, tempting her, I am a Christian, and am baptised, and the devil fled. This is that gold of a lively faith, in the merit of Christ's death in baptism, Rev. 3. 18. in our infancy, when we knew not what Christ did for us; as John 13. 7. but do know it after that we are there buried with Christ, and new born, and so were made capable to overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, when we should have faith in the same afterward. If we do not forsake our first baptism to take a second, for that is to depart from the faith; for if God have but one baptism, the second is of the Devil, and all that are baptised again shall be overcome of the devil, which do not believe Christ's words, that he that is washed, i. in baptism, if elect, is clean every whit, needeth not save to wash his feet, i. his conscience and conversation in the blood of the Lamb, in the other Sacrament, but like fools, will have their hands and head washed again, which is a thing abhorred of God, and of all his true Churches, that ever have been since the Apostles time. Secondly, he must have true faith in the virtue of Christ's resurrection; that he is risen again for our justification; that he hath clothed you with the white raiment of his own righteousness, that your filthy nakedness should not appear: as Rev. 3. 18. for if any sin be imputed before God, the devil will be too hard for thee; for thou that believest not, that the blood of the Lamb hath washed away all thy fins before God, and that the white raiment of Christ's righteousness hath not covered all thy sins, Psal. 32. 1. thou art not fit to be a Captain, or soldier, for the devil & the World will overcome thee; for by this, a man denies himself, to be all in Christ, and in his righteousness: for whosoever is clothed with the garment of salvation, he shall be saved, and overcome the devil and the World; but by faith in the white raiment, we believe we are clothed with the garment of salvation, Es●. 61. 10. therefore we shall overcome. Thus, when a man will be nothing in himself, or in his own righteousness, or sanctification, but to be altogether in him, 1 Joh. 5. 4. Phil. 3. 9 therefore St. John saith in the same place, this is our victory which overcometh the world, even our faith; What faith is that? Vers. 20. he tells you in 20th verse, that we are in him that is true: in that his Son Jesus Christ, the same is very God, and eternal life: for when a man is in Christ by baptism, for his person, and in his white raiment by faith to his conscience, he is made partaker of Christ's victory upon the cross, over sin, death, the devil, and Hell; for by faith in the white raiment, that Christ is risen again for our justification, and hath justified us, we receive power to subdue sin, the world and the devil, which are all overcome by faith in our first resurrection, which is to our persons and baptism, when our bodies are washed with pure water, Heb. 10. 23. but the first resurrection to our consciences, is when we are converted, and believe the white raiment is ours, that clotheth us, that our filthy nakedness should not appear, Rev. 3. 18. wherein we show we are risen with Christ, Col. 3. v. 1. for all that appeared to bring tidings of Christ's resurrection, appeared in white, or shining raiment, to show, that no man can tell of his first resurrection, until he can tell of his white raiment: as Matth. 28. 3. Mar. 16. 5. Luke 24. 4. Jo●. 21. 12. all in white; so must you, if you be risen with Christ, you must appear in white, or else no victory over the devil. Thirdly, he that would overcome the devil, and all his Instruments of the world, he must not be a blind soldier, as many are that fight for money, and by ends, but get the devil into their hearts by covetousness and cheating soldiers, as Judas did, and the devil gets them, as he did him; you must therefore buy of Christ, eyesalve of his Spirit, i. to walk by the Spirit, to fight by the Spirit, i. by the directions of the Oracle of God's Word: for men ought not to fight any battle, before they have asked counsel at the Oracle of God's Word, as David did, to know whether God do approve of that war or no; and eyesalve to discern the true Religion from the false, for else he may fight for the false Religion, for Antichrist, and not for Christ; and also for eyesalve of the Spirit, he may keep himself from all wickedness when he goes forth with the host, Deut. 23. 9 to keep a good conscience before God and before men; for he that will plunder, rob, spoil, and steal, and whore, and do wickedly, shall not overcome the devil, but is overcome of him. Thus must a true Christian soldier stand out in life and death, against all adversary power whatsoever. Now, being thus prepared by Christ's counsel, to fight against the World, and the devil, I will show you, how you shall overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, by divers Reasons. Reason 1 The first Reason, why the best way to overcome the devil, is by the blood of the Lamb, because you know the devil fights against all men by sin, either tempting men to sin, or to despair for sin committed. Now when a Christian, tempted to commit sin, shows unto Satan the blood of the lamb, (as Joseph said) How can I do this evil, Gen. 39 9 and sin against God? So say thou, How can I do this evil, and sin against the blood of the Lamb? Thou shalt overcome him, as Joseph did. Or if Satan tempt thee to despair, as he did Judas; if thou show him the blood of the Lamb, he must needs be conquered; for by that, thou wilt testify thy redemption, and the murder of Satan, that thou hast redemption through the blood of the Lamb, the forgiveness of thy sins; but the devil hath not; for this blood of the Lamb testifies that Satan was a murderer from the beginning, to our first parents, to the first Adam, and that he hath slain the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ; here is the blood of the Lamb, that thou hast shed; for, who put into the heart of Judas, to betray him, and into the hearts of the Jews to crucify him, but thou Satan? Therefore this blood of the Lamb testifies the remission of my sins, and it testifies that thou art a murderer; and thus the red colours of Christ's blood, being displayed, Satan cannot endure the field, but will fly like a beaten soldier; for hereby the devil is redargued to be the sinner, and must despair. Reason 2 A second Reason, why you shall overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, because Satan fights against men by the curse of the Law, to show them how cursed they are by it; but by the blood of the Lamb, you shall show unto him, that Christ by his blood hath redeemed you from the curse of that law, was made a curse for you; for, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree; that we might obtain the blessing of Abraham. And this testifies my blessedness, that Christ hath blotted out the hand-writing of the Law, that made us cursed, by his own blood, Col. 2. 14. Thus by the blood of the Lamb, thou shalt testify against the devil, that thou art freed, John 8. 36. and if the son hath made thee free, thou art free indeed, Joh. 8. But this blood of the Lamb testifies, Satan is a murderer, and so a transgressor of the Law, and therefore cursed. Now as men that have committed murder, and they see 'tis discovered, will presently run away; so Satan, seeing men fighting against him, by the blood of the Lamb, that testifies their freedom from the curse of the Law; and how they stand fulfillers of the Law; and also testifying how the devil is a transgressor, a murderer, and so cursed by it; he will not endure the field, 'tis time for him to run. Reason 3 A third Reason, why thou shalt overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, because Satan fights against all men, by the fear of death. Now when thou showest unto Satan the blood of the Lamb, thou dost thereby testify the victory of Christ over death, saying, Thanks be unto God, that hath given us victory over death, by Christ's blood; so that death is unto me advantage; and by the blood of the Lamb testifiest to Satan, that he is guilty of the blood of thy husband. Now what murderer amongst men, will endure, when he shall hear a faithful wife making an outcry against him, thus; O this man hath murdered my faithful dear husband, here is his blood, that this man hath shed, Murder, murder, murder, make hue and cry after him, lay hold of him, carry him to prison, to the bar, and to the gallows; so when Satan hears the faithful say, O thou art guilty of the blood of my dear and faithful husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, here is his blood, carry him to the prison of hell. Now as Satan is like his children, that are murderers, he must run, and be fearful, as murderers are afraid, and flee when none pursue them; so is Satan the most fearful coward in the world, that will flee fast enough, if you show him the blood of the Lamb; Resist the devil by it, and he shall flee from you, Jam. 4. 7. Reason 4 A fourth Reason, Because when Satan fights against you, by the fear of hell; saying, O thou hast sinned so many thousand times; when I sinned but once, I was cast out of heaven, and thrown down to hell, and reserved in chains of darkness; but thou hast deserved hell many thousand times, why shouldest not thou go to hell? thou must show Satan the blood of the Lamb, and in that, thy victory over hell; and say with Paul, O hell, where is thy victory? thou hast no victory over me; for here is my discharge, and victory in the blood of the Lamb; hell is for murderers; it is for thee Satan, that wast a murderer from the beginning, and therefore hell hath victory over thee; for hell is prepared for the devil, and his Angels; but heaven for you that overcome by the blood of the Lamb; For to him that overcometh, will I give to sit with me in my Throne; as I overcame, and sit with my Father in his Throne, Revel. 3. 21. Reason 5 A fift Reason, Because Christ's blood makes men conquerors already, over the world, the flesh, and the devil; for Christ's victory is ours; for he that can say, by faith, thanks be unto God, that hath given us victory, is a conqueror already. But all true believers can say so, 1 Cor. 15. Ergo, they are conquerors already. Again, All that are saved already, by the blood of the Lamb, are conquerors already. But all true believers are saved already, as Eph. 2. 8. & 2 Tim. 1. 9 They are conquerors already. i. to faith, though not to feeling; for you are conquerors over the world by faith; as, 1 Joh. 5. For this is our victory, that overcometh the world, even our faith. And you are conquerors over the flesh, by self-denial, and mortification; for he that so conquereth himself, is better than he that winneth a city; and you are conquerors over the devil, by the blood of the Lamb; as the Text. Reason 6 A sixt Reason, why, Because faith in the blood of the Lamb makes you more than conquerors; as Rom. 8. 37. How can that be, may some say? Can a man get more than the victory? I answer, By faith in the blood of the Lamb, if thou wilt believe, thou art washed in it by baptism, it makes thee such a famous, renowned conqueror, that thou shalt be a noble triumpher for ever in Christ, which is more than a conqueror; for as concerning conquerors of this world, they may have victory to day, and lose it to morrow; as Saul did; and many conquerors in the world, as Alexander when he had conquered the world, he was conquered of his own lust, Gladio vicit, vitiis victus, he overcame by the sword, but was overcome of vice; but he that gets victory by the blood of the Lamb, is more than a conqueror; because he is a conqueror over sin, the world, and devil, through Christ for ever. Objection. Objection. How can this be? Doth not the devil cast some into prison, and persecute some to death; how are they then conquerors over him? Answer. I answer; 'Tis true, Satan shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried ten days, Rev. 2. 9 'Tis but for a trial of your faith, in the blood of the Lamb▪ God will deliver you, as he did Joseph out of prison; and though Satan persecute some to death, yet shall you be more than conquerors, even triumphers in heaven; for as the Martyrs were more than conquerors in four respects, so shall you be. 1. In regard of the torments; they put the Martyrs to death, to make them deny the blood of Christ, they rejoiced in tribulation; as the Disciples when whipped, rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer any thing for Christ's sake, they were more than conquerors by the joy which they have in suffering; but conquerors of men or Cities, when they have got the greatest victories, may sit down, and weep; as Titus Vespasianus, when he had conquered, and saw the destruction of Jerusalem, wept to see the greatness of the misery of his enemies; saying, This is not I, but the hand of God for their sins; but triumphant joy belongs to the conquerors by Christ's blood; as hawks in the Acts and Monuments, pag. 1447. in token of triumphant victory, to give a sign to his friends, when his eyes were burnt out, and his hands on a flaming fire, yet lifted up both the stumps of his hands, and clapped them over his head, declaring he was more than a conqueror. 2. They are more than conquerors, in respect of the tormentors; for they strive to make them deny the blood of Christ; but the true believers, for all their torments, confess Christ so much the more; the one fumes and chafes, that he hath not his will, and is overcome; but the Christian rejoiceth, and goes away with the victory; as the tormentors of Blandina confessed that she overcame them. 3. They are more than conquerors, in regard of the unconverted; for they put them to death, that they may convert no more; but as Samson slew more Philistines at his death, than he did in all his life; so do the Martyrs often convert more at their death, than they did in any time before; for when men seek to conquer Christianity, it conquers them (saith Justin Martyr:) as the Papists confessed in the Marian days, it was in vain to burn any more heretics, as they called them; for the more they burned, the more they increased; and the converted were the more confirmed by the patient sufferings of the Martyrs; because they would suffer for it, they believed it was the truth. 4. We are more than conquerors; because we slay our enemies with their own sword; Bis perimitur qui suo gladio interimitur, he is double slain that is killed with his own sword; for true believers take the sword out of their own hands, and kill them with it; as David did Goliath with his own sword; so said the Martyrs; Thou sittest here to judge me, but I shall judge thee one day; thou by killing my body, crownest me with life, but killest thyself with eternal death; as 1 Joh. 3. 15. Thus the sword, which the wicked have drawn, shall go through their own bowels. use. Well, is it so, Satan fights against thee with sin, the curse of the Law, with death, and hell; learn thou to disarm the devil; as it is a special point of policy in war, to disarm their enemies, for so they shall deal with them as they list; so seeing Satan is the strong man armed with sin, and the rest; but as Christ disarmed him of all these by his death, so shalt thou by the blood of the lamb disarm Satan of all his armour. First, for sin; Doth Satan tell thee, thou art a great sinner? display the red colours of Christ's blood, tell him, 'tis true, I confess, I am by Adam a great sinner, and if I were not a sinner, I should not need the blood of the Lamb; for he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; therefore I repent, and the blood of the Lamb by faith purgeth me from all sin. I have read in Luther's every day's Sacrifice, p. 59 who reporteth of a poor man in Friburge in Misnia, being distressed for his sins, and crying out of the greatness of his sins; the devil appeared unto him with a writer's inkhorn, and bade him he should repeat all his sins, and he would write them down for him; the man perceiving it was the devil, bade him write, The seed of the woman shall crush the serpent's head; and with that, the devil fled, and left such a stink, as if he would have choked them all; so if thou shalt tell Satan of the blood of the Lamb, thou dost thereby declare, that the seed of the woman hath broken his head, he will flee. Secondly, Doth he tell thee of the curse of the Law, and come against thee with that armour? take this sword of the blood of the Lamb; you may read of David, when he asked for the sword of Ahimelech, they told him there was none but the sword of Goliath; O said David, there is none to that; so if thou desire a sword to go disarm the devil with, take the blood of the Lamb, 'tis like the sword of Goliath, for his head was cut off with it; so take the blood of the Lamb, for the devil's head was broken with it; doth he cast the curses of the Law upon thee? cast on him the blood of the lamb. Thirdly, Doth Satan fight against thee with the fear of death, and hell? show unto him the blood of the Lamb, bid him read, Here's thy victory, O Death, O Hell; I have victory by the blood of the Lamb; I have an eternal redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of my sins, and I am a conqueror over death and hell. But as we read of men, that have committed wilful murder, the blood of the slain will hang upon them, that although they rub and wipe, yet still the blood will hang upon them, and discover them, they cannot get it off, especially not from their consciences, that tells them of death and hell; so when thou dost tell Satan of the blood of the Lamb, thy faithful dear husband, he cannot wipe nor rub off the cry of that innocent blood, it will hang about him, especially upon his conscience, and tell him of death, and hell. Now when Satan hears thee testify the greatness of his sins by the blood of the Lamb, he will be gone; for he is like a mere civil honest man, that can be content to hear of any thing rather than his own sins; he can be content to hear of other men's sins, and laugh at them; for fools make a sport of sin; they rejoice at other men's sins, especially of professors; if they fall but once, the devil, and all civilians, will rejoice at it; but tell them of their own sins, and they will be gone; and so will Satan not endure to see the terribleness of his sins in the blood of the lamb. use. Is it so that by the blood of the Lamb you are conquerors already, 1 Cor. 15. because you have victory already given unto you, and are saved already? see Deut. 33. 29. Blessed art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people! saved by the Lord; the shield of thine help, and which is the sword of thy glory; therefore thine enemies shall be in subjection unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places. Here is admirable comfort for you that are the faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ, to encourage you to the war, against all your spiritual enemies, because you are sure of victory; for what is the reason that many are so loath to go to war? because they know not whether they shall have victory, or no; but if you could assure every one of victory, of a crown, and of a kingdom, you should have soldiers enough; I tell thee that art a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, fight valiantly with the blood of the lamb till death, against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and thou shalt be sure of victory; for Christ having overcome already, his victory is thine; Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. And fear not little flock, (i. that fight by the blood of the Lamb) for it is your father's pleasure to give you a kingdom, Luk. 12. You have conquered the world by faith, 1 Joh. 5. 4. conquer yourselves, for so shall you be wiser than he that conquers a city; be an enemy to the world, be an enemy to the devil, but especially to thine own flesh; as a Martyr wrote to his wife, fight by the blood of the lamb, and fear none of these. Object. Object. O may, some say, I am not afraid of the devil, but I am afraid of the Papists, and Rebels of Ireland, that they will cut our throats, and take all; they are Devils incarnate; they do more harm than the Devils to the Protestants. Ans. Ans. I answer, as the Lord said to Jacob, Thou hast prevailed with God, thou shalt also prevail with men; though his brother Esau came against him with four hundred men; so I say to thee, thou hast prevailed with the blood of the Lamb, over the God of this world the devil, thou shalt also by the blood of the Lamb prevail with men. Therefore fear not thou Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. Thus saith the Lord, that redeemed thee, fear not, he will help thee; as Isa. 44. 1, 2. & 44. Thou hast overcome the devil, the Prince of the world, shouldest thou fear men? Object. Object. O they are wonderful strong, for they have great brass and iron Ordnance. Ans. Ans. I answer thee, as Joshua did the Children of Joseph, when they objected that the Canaanites had chariots of iron; He said unto the house of Joseph, Thou art a great people, and hast great power, and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and be strong, Thou shalt not have one lot. Therefore the mountain shall be thine, for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down, and the ends of it shall be thine, and thou shalt cast out the Canaanites, Josh. 17. 18. For the blessing of Joshua, and his telling them of victory, made them valiant in battle; so when the Protestants understand what the Lord saith to them in that place of Joshua, and in the 25. of Numbers, 17. & 18. and learn to fight against them by the blood of the Lamb; they shall vex those midianities', and Canaanites, and smite them that have beguiled them with their wiles, concerning Idolatry, and as concerning their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Prince of Midian. By these two wiles, are England and Ireland beguiled, and the plague is come of a civil war, you shall overcome them by the blood of the Lamb. It followeth; And by that word of their testimony. This is added, saith Meyer, that we should know that the blood of Jesus Christ shall not be profitable to us, except we believe it, and give testimony of it. Many will boast that they are redeemed by the blood of Christ, when in the mean time, they refuse the Gospel. i. they refuse to believe the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth them from all sin before God. And when men have lost this, how many inventions do men deceive themselves with, to take away their sins? Some hope to take them away by pilgrimages; some by the Pope's pardons, or by Purgatory; some by their holy walking, almsdeeds, or repentance a little before they die, or good meaning; but such are deceived, because as Christ hath sanctified his Church & cleansed it by the washing of water, through the Word; so the way to overcome sin, and the devil, is by the blood of the Lamb, and by that word of their testimony. Hence we gather this Doctrine, Doct. That all that would overcome the devil, by the blood of the lamb, must fight with the word of their testimony. i. must not only have the shield of faith in the blood of the lamb, but the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, whereby we give testimony, or testify of the blood of the Lamb. i. we must show our true faith by the word of our testimony. Ephes. 6. 6. Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; for he that can quench all his fiery darts, shall surely overcome him. This shield of faith that quencheth, is the blood of the lamb. Above all, signifying that this is the most special thing, of greatest weight, to overcome the devil by, which is called the wicked; and when the children of the wicked shoot fiery bullets, the best way to quench them, is by faith in the blood of the lamb. Now you know, if a man had such a shield, as would stop, and quench, and fence all the fiery bullets of the enemies in war, what man would go to war without it? so when you know that the blood of the lamb will quench all the fiery darts of the devil, who would go to war without it? When the enemies shoot wildfire into a town, you soldiers know, milk will presently quench it, though it be shot upon thatched houses, though it be the fiercest fire; for 'tis a secret in nature, for milk to quench wildfire. Now we are all in respect of the fiery darts of the devil, like unto thatched houses, ready to fire presently, by reason of original sin, dwelling in us. That if the devil shoot his fiery dart of lust, we are ready to fly on fire, as David did by looking on Bathsheba; we must quench it by the blood of the lamb. If he shoot his fiery dart of covetousness, we are ready to burn, as A●han, if we have not the blood of the lamb, that quencheth covetousness. If he shoot the fiery dart of anger, and wrath, and revenge, we are ready to burn, as Joah; power on the blood of the lamb, and it will quench it. If he shoot the fiery dart of despair, as to Cain, and Judas, we are ready to flame, as they did; quench it with the blood of the lamb, for the Apostle says directly, by the shield of faith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; then if you do not take it, thank yourselves, if you burn, for here is a secret in divinity, that the blood of the lamb will quench all the fiery darts of the devil; therefore, above all, take the shield of faith, signifying that this is the most special thing for a soldier, and of greatest necessity, to be sure he take the shield of faith, in the blood of the Lamb, the helmet of salvation, and the breastplate of Christ's righteousness, and the girdle of verity, & be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; yet Satan may shoot such a fiery dart into thy heart, as may set thee on fire; therefore above all these, take the shield of faith, whereby ye may quench Satan's fiery darts. Things in Scripture that have the speciallest Item, are of most special use; as when he saith, do good to all, especially to the household of faith. i. that are known to be the true Disciples of Christ; that are the children of the marriage chamber; so the Apostle says, The Elders that rule well, are worthy of double honour, especially, they that labour in the word and doctrine, 1 Tim. 5. 17. So above all pieces of spiritual armour, especially take the shield of faith, of the blood of the Lamb, to overcome the devil by, to quench his fiery darts. And by the word of their Testimony. i. by that word which testifies of the blood of the Lamb we overcome him. In John's testimony of Christ, we read that he called Christ the Lamb of God, that which taketh away the sins of the world. i. he was come to take them away. But now the Apostles and faithful Ministers of Christ, that are greater than John, for they bear a greater testimony; for they testify by the word, that the blood of the Lamb hath washed away our sins; for so it is written in the word, and we testify of it, Rev. 1. 5. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. That he hath loved us, and washed us from our sins, in his own blood, and in whom we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins. mark, he testifieth we have, not we shall have, and he hath loved us, not he will. Now there be six Reasons, why the devil is overcome, or a Christian overcomes the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of that testimony. First Reason, Because by our testimony of that blood, we give unto God the glory of his holiness, against the devil, and sight, and feeling; for when Satan says, Thou art an unclean sinner, and unholy, how shouldest thou come near so pure and so holy a God? seeing thou art so unclean, and filthy by sin, and sight, and feeling, will help Satan to condemn a man's own conscience. Now first we must confess it; For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John. 1. 9 By confessing the truth, we shame the devil; for we well know, we are defiled with sin by Adam; but by the word of our testimony of the blood of the lamb, that hath purged us from all sin, and having our garments washed white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7. 14. He hath made us holy, and unblameable, and without fault in his sight, Col. 1. 22. and we are made the Temple of God, 1 Cor. 3. 17. that is holy, which are ye; that so we may appear beautiful in the fight of God. And by this manner of appearing before God, by the blood of the holy Lamb, we acknowledge God to be so perfectly holy, that he cannot endure the sight of any unclean thing. And thus we give God the glory of his holiness, Hab. 1. 13. and overcome the devil, and sight, and reason, that we are made holy in the holy blood of the lamb, and of the holy Catholic Church. For should the blood of Adam make us unholy, and should not the blood of the Lamb make us holy? when God saith, we are holy; and tells us, how he hath made us holy; for Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate, Heb. 13. 12. Thus by our word of testimony of the blood of the lamb, God hath the glory of his holiness, the devil and reason are redargued, and overcome, and our souls comforted by believing. Reason. 2 A second Reason, Why, because by the word of our testimony of the blood of the Lamb, we give glory to the wisdom of God, and give him the glory of his wisdom; for whereas 'tis the practice of the devil to tempt men to blaspheme God, by counting him unwise, as to count preaching of the Gospel foolishness, and the bringing Infants to holy baptism a foolish thing, as an Anabaptist said, and by counting him unwise in his providence, as all do, that are discontented with their estates; Now the word of our testimony of the blood of the Lamb, persuadeth us to believe that God is wisest, and best knoweth how to save Infants by baptism, as 1 Pet. 3. 21. and therefore commandeth them to be brought to him, as all true Churches have done. And he knoweth by his wisdom to save them that believe, by preaching the Gospel, which the world calls foolishness. Also this faith persuadeth us to believe, God is wisest, and best knoweth what estate is best for us; that so against the devil, sense, and reason, we wholly resign ourselves unto his wise providence, and in that respect to be thankful, in all estates, as Rev. 1. 5. As thus the faithful say in all estates, health, or sickness, wealth, or poverty; unto him that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, &c. he glory and wisdom. And thus Job overcame the devil, that would have had Job charge God foolishly, as if he had been unwise in his providence. No; Job 1. The Lord hath given, (health, wealth, and children) and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the Name of the Lord. As if he should say, Blessed be his wisdom, I am his, let him deal with me according to his wisdom. Many men would have cried out, I am undone; I shall starve; have I served God for this? I'll serve him no more; I'll go serve the Queen of Heaven, as the Jews said, Jer. 44. 17. No, but he says, the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, blessed be the Name of the Lord; He is wisest, blessed be his wisdom; I'll serve him still, though he kill me, yet will I trust in him, Job 13. 15. So when we see and feel sin rebelling in us, and see our houses burnt, and all we have taken away, and our bodies sick and sore, then to give glory to the wisdom of God, that God hath thrown on Christ the iniquities of us all; the sins I see and feel, and weep for, and mortify, Christ hath borne them all in his own body on the tree; he is wise enough to let sin remain in me, to my feeling, and yet by the blood of the lamb to make me without fault before his throne. Thus the devil, and sense and reason are overcome, and all the glory given to God's wisdom. Reason. 3 A third Reason, Why we overcome him by the word of our testimony of the blood of the Lamb, because we give God thereby the glory of his truth; for this is the practice of Satan, to make men count God a liar; as to Eve, that she should not die at all; and all that believe not, make him a liar, because he beleveeth not the testimony that God hath given of his son, namely, that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin; but he that believeth this, hath sealed that God is true, Joh. 3. 33. he hath set to his seal, that the blood of the Lamb hath made him clean from all sin; for what maketh a man believe, but that they judge him faithful and true? Faith then in this blood, is the acknowledging of God's truth, which is an high honour given to God; for he maketh a great reckoning and account of this truth. Thus faith in the blood of the Lamb, gets victory over the devil, when he persuades men not to believe, but maketh God false; but faith in the word of our testimony of the blood of the Lamb, testifieth that the seed of the woman hath broke the serpent's head; and so the devil and infidelity are overcome. Reason. 4 A fourth Reason, Why, for this faith gives glory to God, in acknowledging his almighty power; for this is the practice of Satan, to persuade men against the power of God, that it was impossible; as he persuaded Cain, his sins were greater than could be forgiven him. Many of the promises of God to his children, are of things which seem impossible, yet faith gives assent thereunto, and testifieth that God is almighty; as Abraham when he heard that he should have a son by Sarah, when she was barren, and when it ceased to be with her after the manner of women; here was a battle of faith against sight and reason, and above ●ope, yet he believed under hope, and gave glory unto God, that he which had promised, was able to do it, and got victory. So it is against sight and reason, that the justified should have sin dwelling in them as long as they live, and rebelling; and yet the blood of the Lamb should take away their sins before the Throne of God; this cannot be, said Bildad, against Job 25. For how should a man be clean that is born of a woman? and therefore reproved of God for it, Job 42. 7. but faith in the word of our testimony in Christ's blood, teacheth us to believe the Almighty power of the blood of the Lamb, that it is able to do it against sight and reason, and persuasion of the devil, and gives glory to the Lamb, that his blood was able to do it, that promised that the new covenant was sealed in his blood, i. that our sins and iniquities should be remembered no more, and thus the devil and reason are overcome. Reason. 5 A fifth Reason, why we overcome him by the word of our testimony in that blood, because so we give glory to the mercy of God, which is the proper object of Faith: For, when Satan persuades a poor sinner, that there is no mercy for him, but anger, and wrath by our testimony of the blood of the Lamb; we are persuaded that God is rich, yea infinitely abundant in mercy; and therefore believeth the pardon of his sins from the rich price of Christ's blood, that was more worth than all the world; for while men are persuaded by Satan, that God is poor in mercy; or that he hath mercy for Abraham and the Righteous, and for others, but not for them that are great sinners; therefore they despair, and do not believe the pardon of their sins. But by faith in the blood of the Lamb, we give God the glory of the riches of his mercy; for had he not been rich in mercy, he would never have given such a rich price as the blood of Christ, which is more worth than all the world; and by it, we prove God is rich in mercy, and the devil is overcome, that persuades us that God is poor in mercy, or hath no mercy for us. Reason. 6 A sixth Reason, Why we overcome him by faith, in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb, because thereby we give glory to the justice of God: for when Satan objects, that God is a just God, infinite in justice, and therefore must needs punish sin; thou hast sinned, and therefore shalt thou be punished; but by the blood of Christ, we give God the glory of his justice, by believing, that God is perfectly just, that without expiation and satisfaction for sin, there can be no hope of mercy. But now by the blood of Christ, that was of infinite value, we testify that satisfaction is made to God's justice; and therefore we believe that God's justice will not exact that of us, for which Christ hath satisfied with his own blood, but will manifest his mercy and favour, which is purchased for us with the blood of God, Act. 20. 28. Thus justice and mercy are met together in the blood of the Lamb, the justice of God is satisfied by throwing upon him the iniquities of us all, by shedding his blood, and mercy is showed unto us, that he suffered for us, the just for the unjust to bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3. 18. For there are three points of Justice: First, to require satisfaction for a trespass committed. Secondly, to remit that for which satisfaction is made. Thirdly, to bestow that which is merited and purchased. Now, faith in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb, gives glory to the justice of God in all these: For, First, it giveth testimony, that God hath required satisfaction for all our sins in his son's blood, when he bare all our sins in his own body upon the tree, 1 Pet. 3. 24. Secondly, faith knows justice hath forgiven that, for which satisfaction is made by the blood of the Lamb. Thirdly, it believeth that that shall be bestowed, that Christ hath purchased and merited by his blood, i. life and eternal glory; thus by our testimony of the blood of the Lamb, we magnify the justice of God, as well as his mercy, and so the devil is overcome. I have stood the longer, to show you how to get the victory over Satan, because he that can conquer and prevail over the god of the world, shall prevail and overcome the world. Now, for as much as Satan knows, that faith in the blood of the Lamb will overcome him, mark his wiles and sleights to wrest the shield of faith out of thine hand; for you must not think to go away conquerors without a combat: for he assaulted Eve, Gen. 1. and Christ himself, Matth. 4. 3. and Moses, Numb. 20. 12. and Peter, Luke 22. 32. and the Thessalonians, 1. 3. 5. Slight. 1 The first slight that Satan useth against natural men, that have no assurance of salvation, to persuade them that no man can have assurance of salvation; and because he hath none, he is ready to believe it: for say the doctrine of Devils, Can any be assured by faith, that the blood of Christ is his? whosoever hath any such conceit, 'tis but presumption, say the Papists. Answ. To let pass how this point of Popery confutes the real presence of the same body and blood of Christ, that was conceived in the virgin's womb, if when they have received it, they cannot be assured that the blood of Christ is theirs, I answer, That the assurance of faith in Christ's blood is no presumption; for thus they differ: First, because when a man hath seen himself wounded by sin, both person and actions, his own righteousness and sanctification, all unclean, and an horrible sinner, by the curse of the Law, than faith in the blood of the Lamb driveth a man out of himself, to cast himself wholly upon Christ (as Esther did upon the King's mercy) as upon the precious blood of the Lamb undefiled and without spot, 1 Pet. 1. 19 But presumption finds some good heart or meaning, some righteousness, as he calls it, to trust to. Secondly, faith in the testimony of Christ's blood, resteth on a sure foundation, which is God's Word, that both commandeth us to believe, and promiseth to perform that which we do believe: as 1 Joh. 3. 23. and Joh. 16. 24. but presumption relieth upon fantasy, to do as well as others. Thirdly, true faith delighteth in the blood of the Lamb, and can never hear too much of it, and useth the means whereby it was first bred; as David said, I will never forget thy promise, for by it thou hast quickened me, Psal. 119. so faith will never forget the blood of the Lamb, for by it thou hast cleansed me; they will not be weary to hear of it. But presumption hateth that doctrine, and the professors of it, and such as preach most of it, and most purely, shall have some gross name or other. Fourthly, true faith increaseth by degrees, from faith to faith, from a weak to a strong: as, 1. To know the virtue of it. 2. To grieve for the want of it. 3. To hunger and thirst after it, and set an high price of it. Presumption is a sudden flash, and so continues, it had no assurance forty years ago, and no more it hath yet. Fiftly, true faith in the testimony of the blood of the Lamb, maketh a man truly valiant; for he that believeth, the blood of the Lamb hath cleansed him from all sin before God, and is a child of God by his baptism, as Gal. 3. 26, 27. What need he fear? he doth not fear to go to heaven, and therefore he doth not fear death, the devil or man; for the righteous are bold as a Lion, Prov. 26. 1. but presumption, though it be foolhardy at first, yet will fly at the last, where no fear is. Sixthly, true faith in that testimony, maketh a man depart from all iniquity, and keep a good conscience before God and men, in hope of the resurrection. But presumption hath an evil conscience before both, by reason of sin. Slight. 2 The second slight; that true faith in the blood of the Lamb is wonderful hard; where is there one of a thousand that obtain it? Therefore will Satan persuade, 'tis in vain for thee to seek it; as he persuades many never to begin to learn to read, because it is so hard, that they shall never obtain it, such are beguiled of the devil to neglect to learn, though they see a child of four years old can. Answ. Though faith be hard to the carnal sense, not yet inspired; yet it is easy to the mind enlightened; for, as Solomon saith, Knowledge is easy to him that will understand, Prov. 14. 6. i. if he be willing, and love it: so faith is easy to him that will believe, not that it is in man's power, but where the Spirit of God works a desire to ask, seek and knock, wisdom will open the door; for, none that come unto me put I away, saith Christ. Quest. Quest. What is the reason then, that so many never get faith for the assurance of salvation? Answ. Answ. 1. Because they ask amiss, not in faith of the blood of the Lamb, that he hath washed them from their sins in his own blood (in baptism) Rev. 1. 5. If they miss this mark, they shoot wide of the assurance of salvation; For if I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me, Joh. 13. 8. Secondly, because they seek faith in themselves, carnal reason, fleshly devices by wit of man's fantasy, and not in the blood of the Lamb; the god of this world blindeth their minds, that the glorious Gospel of the blood of the Lamb and his white raiment should not shine to them. Thirdly, because they oppose the doctrine of free justification by Christ's blood and righteousness, and wink at it, and embrace not the purity of that doctrine, but count it an error, and receive not the love of the truth, they are given over to believe an error and falsities, which can give thee no assurance of salvation. Fourthly, because they turn to the greatest multitude which scoff at, and persecute the truth; God gives them over to walk in blindness as the Pharisees did. Slight. 3 The third slight; that faith is needless, there is more need of works; many prate of faith, but let me see good works; a good hope is enough with good works. Answ. I answer, that there is great need of faith; for works severed from faith, are abominable before God, Heb. 11. 6. And if a good hope were enough; why did the Apostles pray, Lord increase our faith, Luk. 17. 5. and Mark. 9 24. For, as all things are possible to him that believeth; so all things are impossible to him that believeth not, Heb. 11. 6. Slight. 4 The 4th slight; Thy faith is not sound, but counterfeit, & thou an hypocrite, thy faith is mixed with imperfections, sins, & wavering. Answ. I answer; I prove my faith by the causes: for he hath given us a mind to know him which is true, and we are in him, that is true, in that his Son Jesus Christ, the same is very God, and eternal life, 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this is the true Jesus that came by water and blood, not by water (of baptism) only, but by water and blood, and it is the Spirit that beareth witness (i. to my spirit, that I am a child of God, Rom. 8. 16.) and that Spirit is truth, 1 Joh. 5. 6. therefore having my heart sprinkled (with the blood of the Lamb) from an evil conscience, and my body washed with pure water, i. in baptism, I may keep my profession without wavering, Heb. 10. 23. This faith worketh by love, and a desire to live honestly, Heb. 13. 18. use. 1 Is it so, that the faithful overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony? You see, Christian soldiers, that love not your lives unto the death; and therefore you that give up your bodies and souls living, and acceptable sacrifices unto God, which is your reasonable service of God, and lay down your lives for the brethren, and for the Gospel, are to be honoured as martyrs. You see that by true faith in the blood of the Lamb, you shall overcome the devil, because you give testimony to the holiness of God. Let this move all you that are soldiers of Jesus Christ, to give glory to the holiness of God, in keeping your bodies chaste and pure, and Temples for the Holy Ghost, to dwell in, for the Temple of God is holy, which are ye, 1 Cor. 3. 17. If you say you give glory to the holiness of God, give him glory in keeping yourselves holy Temples of God. But, if any man destroy the Temple of God, him shall God destroy. he that destroys it by whoredom, for thereby thou becomest one flesh with an whore, Latrina Diaboli, for as the Temple of God was destroyed when it was made a Jakes, so is the Temple of God destroyed when it is made the devils Jakes; for he that is made one flesh with an whore, which is the Devils Jakes, 1 Cor. 6. 16. is thereby made the Devils Jakes; but all whoremongers are made one flesh with his whore; that is the devil's jakes, Ergo, they are made the devil's jakes, and so the Temple of God is destroyed, and therefore their destiny is to be destroyed, that do not repent; for, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13. 4. he will destroy such as destroy the Temple of God; therefore you may perceive such to prove cowards, for fearfulness goes before destruction, and an high mind before a fall. There is a conceit among soldiers, that Wine will make men valiant, but it is false; for whoredom, wine, and new wine take away the heart, i. whoredom & drunkenness make men arrant cowards, Hos. 4. 11. For whoredom & drunkenness make an evil conscience, and an evil conscience make men fearful, and flee where no fear is, Prov. 28. 1. For an evil conscience, and the curse of God runs after him, and will overtake him. use. 2 Is it so, that by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb, you overcome the devil, by giving glory to the wisdom of God? then let this faith guide you, to follow his wisdom, and deny your own, as the Psalmist said, Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory, Psal. 73. 24. And therefore, as David did, so do you, ask counsel of the Lord for every battle, at the Oracle of God's Word, i. whether God doth allow it or no, as Jehosaphat said, 1 King. 22. 5. Ask counsel, I pray thee of the Lord of day; for there can be no war or battle lawful, but that we may find some warrant out of the Word of God, that doth warrant it to be lawful; so shall you be sure, both to overcome your spiritual enemy the devil, by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of your testimony, and also your temporal enemies, by faith in that blood, and by the word of your testimony; for should not a people inquire at their God? signifying yes, they should, to the Law and to the testimony, if they speak, or fight not, according to this word, it is, because there is no light in them, Isa. 8. 20. So shall you say, Thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies by thy commandments, for they are ever with me, Psal. 119. 98, my delight and counsels. use. 3 Is it so, that by the word of your testimony of the blood of the Lamb you overcome the devil, because you give God the glory of his truth? then look you show yourselves to be the children of the God of truth, by delighting in the truth; for it is a common practice of evil soldiers, to accuse men falsely; and therefore John the Baptist gave you this caveat: that as you would be true soldiers of Jesus Christ, so you must practise to speak the truth, and accuse no man falsely, and then plunder them; for what shall it profit you, to say God is a true God, if you in the mean time be liars? you declare that the God of truth is none of your God; there are so many lies fly among men, that the honest cannot tell what to believe. Now you that have received his testimony, that the blood of Jesus Christ hath cleansed you from all sin before God, and that the righteousness of Christ hath made you everlastingly righteous, Rev. 1. 5. you have sealed that God is true. Let the power of this grace teach you to love to speak the truth, and to shame the devil. For, as he that telleth lies shall not tarry in God's sight, because he credits the devil, that was a liar from the beginning, but he that speaks the truth overcoms Satan with his tongue, as he that believes the truth hath overcome the devil in his heart, & he that fights for the truth shall overcome the enemy with his hand, for the God of truth will uphold his children that fight for the truth, by the blood of the Lamb. use. 4 Is it so, that they overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony, because they give glory to the power of God? Then consider how the Israelites overcame the Destroyer, that slew all the first-born of Egypt; by faith they slew the Paschal Lamb, and the effusion of blood, Heb. 11. lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them, they sprinkled the two side posts, and the upper door post, with the blood of the Lamb, with a bunch of hyssop, and they overcame the Destroyer by faith, that he could not hurt them, for they gave God the glory of his wisdom and Power, that he was able to deliver them: so seeing Christ your Passeover is sacrificed for you, look that your two door posts of your life, body and soul, and the upper door post of your spirit be sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb; 1 Thes. 5. 23. Now the very God of peace, sanctify you throughout, that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; and how are they sanctified? even by the blood of Christ: for, Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate, Heb. 13. 12. Now should they overcome the destroying Angel, that he could not hurt them, when by faith they sprinkled the two door posts, and the lintel, with the blood of the Lamb, with a bunch of hyssop, and the Destroyer passed over all their houses, and could do them no hurt, when he destroyed all the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast: So you Christian soldiers, that fight under the banners of the Gospel, the blood of the Lamb, and the white raiment of Christ's righteousness, which you shall find to be the conquering banner: For, if the blood of Bulls, and Goats, and Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling them that are unclean, sanctifieth concerning the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, which through the eternal Spirit offered himself without fault to God, purge ●our consciences from dead works? Look the blood of the Lamb begin there first, to purge your consciences from sin: confess yourselves to be wretched, miserable poor and damnable sinners by Adam and original sin, the tree evil, and the fruit evil, and by the Law accursed, in debt ten thousand talents of sin; For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 9 then confess that the blood of the Lamb is able to wash away all your sins from your consciences, and rely upon it, take the Sacrament upon it, that when you take the cup of the new Testament in Christ's blood, and drink of it, the warm blood of the Lamb will testify in thy conscience, the remission of all thy sins, and that God is become my father, and I am one of his children, and my sins and iniquities shall be remembered no more: and we may conclude as Paul, for, if the blood of Bulls and Goats, &c. If the blood of the Lamb sprinkled, did deliver from the Destroyer that slew the Egyptians; how much more shall the blood of the Lamb of God, being sprinkled by faith on your bodies and souls, and spirits, deliver you from the destroying bullets that are sent to destroy your first-born, all the true believers of the Gospel. There is a strong delusion that goes among ill soldiers, that annulets or Charms, or enchantment will make them shot-free, but I will warrant them, they are not devil free, for by such means they have made themselves an abomination to the Lord, Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12. and the devil will destroy them, they shall not escape the devil's shot, but he that shall fight against his enemies by faith in the blood of the Lamb, and in his lawful calling, asking counsel of the Lord for every battle at the Oracle of God's Word, whether God doth approve of the war or no? he shall not only be Devil-free, but shot-free also; Psal. 91. 11. for, he shall give his Angels a charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways; and they shall bear thee up in their hands, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone; keep thy calling, and the Angels shall keep thee, but if thou keep not thy calling, the Angels will not keep thee; take heed to keep thy general calling, to be a faithful Christian, and keep thee from all wickedness, Deut. 23. 9 And keep thy particular calling, and the Angels shall keep thee. use. 5 Is it so, faith by the testimony of the blood of the lamb, gets victory over the devil, because it gives glory to the mercy of God, that as thou sayest thou givest him the glory of his mercy, it must cause thee show mercy, as your heavenly Father is merciful; for what though your heavenly Father be merciful? if you be cruel, you shall be of your father in Hell; for his works you will do, he was a murderer from the beginning; and if you be cruel murderers, you shall be of him; therefore if you give God the glory of his mercy, give him glory in the practice of mercy; to be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful, even to your enemies. Quest. What shall we spare all, and put none of our enemies to death, when we have conquered them? Answ. I answer; He that spareth God's enemies, when God hath delivered them into your hands, as Ahab did Benhadad to be slain, thy life shall go for his life, thy people for his people. By sparing Benhadad, he was cruel to the Israelites; for he was the cause of the death of all those Israelites, that Benhadad slew afterward, whom if he had slain, If the King be in the battle, you must sight flying, to save his person; as David; but if the Phil●stims besiege K●●●●, you shall overcome by the blood of the lamb. he had showed mercy to Israel. So concerning the Rebels of Ireland, that have cut the throats of your brethren in Ireland, and are come over to do the like here; seeing the sword is put into your hands, by the Parliament, send an herald or trumpeter before every battle unto your enemy, or send men through all the army, or Shire, saying, What wickedness is this that is committed of the Rebels, Jesuits, and Papists of Ireland? Now therefore deliver us those wicked men, which are in your army, or city, that we may put them to death for their villainy, and put away evil from England, Judg. 20. 12. & 13. If they refuse to deliver them, they shall maintain murderers, and you shall overcome them by the blood of the lamb; proclaim free quarter for all true Protestants, which are forced to fight against you; show yourselves unto them; saying, Sirs, we are brethren, why do we wrong one another, Act. 7. 26? Send messengers unto them; saying, What have we to do to fight with thee, thou King of Judah? we come not against thee this day, but against the house of our enemy; and God hath commanded us to make haste; leave off to come against God, which is with us, lest he destroy you; see 2 Chron. 35. 21. And when God gives them into your hands, say unto Zebah and Salmana, What manner of men were they, whom ye slew at Tabor, in Ireland, or England? As thou art (a Protestant) so were they; every one was like the children of a King; say, They were my brethren, even my mother (Churches) children; As the Lord liveth, if ye had saved their lives, I would not slay you, Judg. 7. 18, 19 signifying, if you had showed mercy, you should have found mercy, but you have been merciless enemies to my brethren, therefore I will slay you; as your sword hath made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among other women; with Samuel, I will hew you in pieces before the Lord, 1 Sam. 15. 33. for though you come pleasantly, and say truly, the bitterness of death is passed, by a pacification, yet you shall not escape the sword; for he that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Gen. 9 6. Therefore show mercy unto your brethren, by slaying of those that have and will slay more of your brethren; for if any lead into captivity, he shall go into captivity, if any kill with the sword, be must be killed by a sword; true is the patience and faith of the Saints, Rev. 13. 10. that is, to kill them with the sword, that have killed their brethren with the sword, as Gideon did. use. 6 Is it so, that by the testimony of the blood of the Lamb, you give glory to the justice of God? by testifying God's justice is satisfied by the blood of the Lamb; justice and mercy are met together in the blood of Christ, his justice hath full satisfaction, and his mercy is showed to us, Isaiah 53. 6. in throwing upon him the iniquities of us all; and righteousness and peace have kissed each other. i. Christ's righteousness is ours, and therefore we have peace with God, Rom. 5. 1. Now can you give God the glory of his justice, and then practise no justice to your brethren, but plunder, and rob, and spoil, and steal? be it far from you; can you be children of the just God of heaven and earth, and practise such unjustice to your brethren? for how can you say, there is satisfaction made to God's justice, for thy trespasses, by the blood of the Lamb, but that must move thee to give satisfaction for the trespasses you have done to your brethren. And secondly, doth his justice require that, that should be remitted, for which satisfaction is made by the blood of the Lamb? so doth justice require, that they should be plundered, which have made satisfaction by their weekly pay? should not a faithful soldier be content with his wages? Yes, saith the soldier, if he could get it. Ans. Will you wrong your brethren, and plunder, and spoil them, because some deceive you of your wages? inquire who have received it, and that true satisfaction may be made; be not unjust to others, because others are unjust to you; for the unjust shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, 1 Cor. 6. 9 Lose not your souls for a little pay. And thirdly, doth Justice require that that should be enjoyed, that is purchased by the blood of the lamb, as remission of sins, and an inheritance in heaven? let the power of this grace move all soldiers to suffer the fatherless and the widow, enjoy that which is purchased for them, and not to destroy your brethren, and their inheritance. The sheep and the oxen made an ill sound in Samuel's ears, though they were brought for a good intent to do sacrifice, but they made a worse sound in God's ears, which made Saul lose his kingdom for disobedience. What an ill sound do all the sheep and oxen make in the ears of God, from all armies that are taken, with an ill intent, to do mischief to the poor and needy? the tears of the oppressed cry in the ears of the Lord of hosts; woe unto him that increaseth that which is not his; and woe unto him that covereth an evil covetousness, Hab. 2. 6. & 9 Woe unto you that spoil, and thou ●●st not spoiled; for when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled: I● you magnify the justice of the great God of heaven and earth, practise justice to your brethren, or he will practise justice toward you. Remember the counsel of the Lord often in Deut. 23. 9 When thou goest out with the Host against thine enemies, keep thee then from all wickedness; for thou art in danger to be slain every hour, and a good conscience by the blood of the Lamb is a continual feast; it is murus aheneus nil conscire sibi, null apallescere culpa. i. 'tis a brazen wall to have a good conscience, the devil cannot shoot through that; and the destroyers that are sent by fire out of the mouths of guns, shall pass over the houses where such an Israelite is within, namely, a good conscience, sprinkled with the blood of the lamb. Cause the Law, and the Gospel to be preached powerfully in your armies. There be some Anabaptiss, that would not have the law preached. I met with an Anabaptist lately that heard me preach the Law, and the Gospel, and he told me to my face after the Sermon, that he had been oftentimes scared by the Law; he would have heard none of the Law, but only the Gospel; and to speak so much of baptism was an offence to him. Herein are two Doctrines of Devils; 1. To forbid the Law to be preached: 2. To forbid children to be married to Christ. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh evidently, that in the later times, (which are now) some shall depart from the faith. i. of their baptism, and counteth the blood of the Covenant, as an unholy thing, wherewith he was sanctified in baptism, and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace. i. in despite of the Spirit, that saith, he that is washed. i. in baptism, in Christ's blood, is clean every whit, needeth not save to wash his feet. i. his conscience and conversation in the blood of the Lamb, but will have their hands and their head washed again, contrary to Christ's counsel, Joh. 13. For my part I believe, one God, one faith, and one baptism, Eph. 4. 5. The first is of God; the second must needs be of the devil, that deny little children to come to Christ, which can come no other way to him, but by baptism, either of themselves, or of their parents; for baptism is the ark, for the parents, and their household, 1 Pet. 3. 21. and then withdraw themselves from the children of God to perdition, Heb. 10. 39 Now the Law hath most need to be thundered out in the most killing manner that can be, in the Armies, to make them flee, and stand a far off from injustice, and all sin; for although the Law is not given to the righteous man, who are freed from the condemnation, accusation, malediction, & coaction of the Law, as they are in Christ; but it is given to the lawless, and disobedient, to the ungodly, and to sinners, to the unholy, and to the profane, and to the murderers of fathers and mothers, to manslayers, to whoremongers, to buggers, to menstealers, to liars, to the perjured, and to whatsoever is contrary to wholesome doctrine, 1 Tim. 1. 9, 10. And therefore it must be preached to them; you must hold out to them, first the glass of the Law, to see their faces how foul they are, they may go wash their hearts in the blood of the Lamb; and than show them the glass of the Gospel. Thus did Christ, Mat. 5. Thus did Peter, when he converted three thousand, he showed them by the law, what betrayers and murderers they were of the Lord of glory; and than be preached baptism unto them, for salvation, and showed the promises were made to them, and to their children, and as many as the Lord shall call. i. to believe that baptism belongs to them; and all the true Churches of Christ have ever so understood it. FINIS.