161 / 772
Hold,
the
Chri/fian
being
foiled
maybe
raid.
i
33
rage
vs
to
fight
the fpirituall
combate, with
affured
hope
of
vidorie,
feeing
it
is
n,anifea
that
we
Eland
not by
our ovine
power, which
like
a
broken
Gaffe
or crackt weapon
would
faile
vs
when
we
did moil
trua
and relie upon
it,
but
by the
almightie power
of God,
againa
which neither
Satan
nor
the gates
of
hell
can
anie
iot
preuaile. And in this
regard
wee may well reioyce in
our
infirmities
with
the Apoale
Paul,
becaufe
by
reafon
ofthem it
more
manifef}lie
appea-
reth
that
the power
ofChria
dwelleth in
vs,
which
is
able
to
defend
vs
from
Satans malice
and violent
rage,
not
onelie
when
we (land manfullie
in
the encounter,
but
alfo when we
are
foiled and put
to the
worn.
Yea
in
this
refpe61the
more weake
and
full
of
infirmities
the
poore
chriaian is,the
more
is
the
praife
ofGods
glorious
might
manifeflcd
and
magnified
;
for
when Satan,
who
is
fo
malitious,
puiffant
and politike
an
enemie, hath
long
time
affaulted
a
filly
weakeman
or woman,
and yet
cannot
whollie preuaile,
but
returneth
away foiled
and
ouercorne;
it
mufl needes be confeffed
that
they
are
affiaed and
areng-
thened by
force
fuperior
power which
farre excelleth Sa-
tan
in
flrength
and policie
;
whereas
it
feemeth no fuch
wonder
when
as
the firong Chriftian, who hath
obtained
a
great
meafure
of
knowledge, faith, and othergraces,giueth
Satan
the
repulfe.
Neither
are
men
fo
readie
to
afcribe
the
praife
ofvi&orie to the Lord,
becaufe
his
immediate
power
and helping hand
doth not
fo
manifealy
appeare;
although
in
truth their
vi
&orie alto
commeth wholly
from
him,
for
without
his
gifts
and
graces, they were
as
feeble
and unable
to
Eland
as
the weakeft;
but
yet the
weaker and
finaller
the
meanes
are,the
moremanifeft
is
the
Lords
power
and
Wif-
dome,
who
hereby
doth
accomplifh things which
are
aboue
the
power
ofmen
and
Angels. For
example
;
the power and
goodneffe
of
God
appeareth
great,when
as
he
prouideth
for
vs
foode
conuenient,and giueth
arength
thereto to nourifh
and
fuaaine
vs
;
and yet
it
is
more tnanifefl,
when
as
hee
fo
f
rengtheneth
vs
by
vertue
ofone
meale
that
wee neede
no
more in fortie
daies,
as
he
did
Elias
;
but
then
it
fhineth
as
it
were
in
his full
arength,
when
as
he
fullaineth
vs
without.
K
3
any
§.Se:fi`.Ttb
Godi power
'soft
cleerely
ap;.eareth
in
our
aeaknee.,