Ch 4a. about the conflgi,or combate between the flefndSpirit. greateft outrages that were ever committed in the world may challenge the nefh as their chiefcaufe andauthor, and (hall we have any peace, or truce with fuch a vile, andmalicious enemy ? It was it that pierced Chrifts hand and feet, that thruft the fpear into his fide ; that put him into that agony in the Garden , and upon the croft, &c. which moves men daily to crucifie him afrefh, and to trample his precious blood under their filthy feet : and can we finde inour heart CO have peace with fuch an Enemy toour Saviour ? Its alto the caufe of all our punithments, and miferies in this life, whether inward, or outward, and laffly of death it fclf,and everlafling damnation. Laftly, confider that it we maintain the fight againi it, we (halt be fure to obtain the vielory , and not only overcome theflefh, but with it the world, and the Devil,and all the Enemies ofour falvation. Quell. What are the manes .whereby we may be enabled to overcome the Ìl? . Anfw. They are principally two. Firft, We muff take unto us, and put upon us the whole Armour of God. The batrell isagainft the Flefh, and therefore the weapons ofour warfare muff not be carnali fe:ing they will rather ftrengthen, and cherifh,thenwound, & morti- fie flefhly corruptions : Now this Armour is defcribed, Ephef. 6. 13, &c. And herein we mull be fure not toput it onby piecemeal ( for death may enter by oneplace unarmed ) but we mutt be ArmedCap ape at all points, that all being covered, none may be indangered. 2. Wemutt be perfwaded not to truft, in our own firength, but in the power of Godsmight ; nor in the weapons themfelves, which in themfelves are too weak to bear the mighty blows of our Spirituals Enemies , but in the promifes ofGod,which affure us of the vi&ory, and in his gracious afliiflance, which we are daily tobe by prayer, and by which alone we (hall be enabled to get the vi- 6tory. Secondly, Wemutt carefullyobferve, andput in pra&ice divers Rulesfit for this purpofe. weft. What are thofe Rules Anfw. They are o two forts: Forthey either tend to the weakning, and fub- duin_ of the flesh, or to the ftrengtheningof the Spirit. Qeft. Which are thofe that tend to the weakening of the flefh? Anfw. They alto areoftwo kinds ; As firft, that we withdraw, and with- held from the Flefh all means whereby it maygather (trength. z. That we ufe the contrarymeanswhereby it may be weakened. Qiteft. what is obfervable concerning theformár ? Anfw. Its the cate ofall that are to fight again(' potent Enemies, todeal with them as the Philiftines did with Sampfon: curioufly CO fearch wherein their chief ftrength lies, and then to ufe all means to difable, and deprive rhein of ir, which courfe mutt alto be heldby us in this confliet with the flesh: For which end Firft, We muff not nourish and ffrengthen this our Enemy. : we muft-notSeed our fle(h with finfull pleafures, and carnall delights, nor give it eafe,and content- ment by glutting it with fuperfluities : wemutt not pamperit with eafe, and de- licacy, with unlawful' fports , or immoderate ufe oflawfull recreations, &c. for this would firengthen it aaintt the Spirit : Neither arewe to nourish the flefh, nor to leave it to its own liberty to cater for it felt', remembrinr that its far unfit to have the liberty ofa Son, or friend, feeing itsa bafe flave, andbitter Enemy ; and if wegive it theleaf/ liberty , it will draw us from one degree to another, till at laff it bring us to all manner of licentioufnefs. Secondly, When the fleshwould take itsliberty whetherwe will or no, we muff forcibly reftrain it,otherwife it willwax proud, and infolent,foile the rege- nerate 415 IV. 1. Il. II:
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