Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

t.Sam.17.45. §.Sec ?.q.. Bodily firength cannot deliuer vs `rom evils and inruemera- b'e dangers. Pfalm.33.16. Ephef.6.ro. Philip.4.t 3. r 4 a That bodily ffrenQth is of fmall:rorth and excellencie. owne flrength, but alfo was at defiance with God himfelfe, and railed on the holy one of Ifrael. Finally,let vs confider that this vaine flrength wherin men trufl, cannot deliuer them from thofe innumerable dangers and cuils vnto which our fraile life is daily fubie6l:for as the Pfalmi l} faith, The King is not fatted by the multitude of an hoff, neither is the miQhtie man deltuered by his great flrength: it cannot defend them from the iudgements of God in the day of his vifitation, nor from the furious afh,uits ofthcir fpiritu- all enemies when they encounter them : it cannot keepe a- way fickneffes and difeafes, much leffe deliver them from the power of death : yea rather it expofes men to danger, their flrength miniflring vnto them more incouragement and boldneffe to run into perils, then power and abilitie to efcape or ouercome them; for feldome is there any fo llrong, but that at one time or other he meetes with one as able as himfelfe ; and though there be none to match him, yet (like (Milo) he may he catched in his owne trap, and his owne firength may be the caufe of his ruine, whileft his pride ma- keth him to vndergo a greater burthen then hee is able to beare, & to attemptmatters which are aboue humane power to accomplifh and performe. And therefore feeing this bo- dily flrength is vaine and momentanie, vnprofitable,andof- tentimes hurtful! and dangerous : let vs not glorie in it, nor coo much value and efleeme it, but rather let vs delire to be powerful! in the inner man, and to waxe ftronger in all ver- tuesand fpirituall graces ; but efpecially let vs carefully de- fire to bee firengthened with the power of Gods might, whereby (as the Apofile fpeaketh) we (hall be inabled to do al things, and to (land manfully inthe day ofbattaile again(' all the cruel! ,affanits of our fpirituall enemies, with Allred hope ofvi6tory: which will eafily ouercome vs notwithflan- ding ourbodily firength, if this fpirituall power and fecret vertue of Gods fpirit do faile and forfake vs in the time of trial! CPIAP.