s A I N T s COMP,ARED TO s 0 L D I E R s. Book IV. METAPHOR. I!. A Soldier leaves all other worldly Affairs and Incumbrances, to follow that particular Employ. No Man that warretb, entangletb bimfelf with the Affairs of this Life, that he may pleafe him tbat bath cbofen him to be a Soldier, 2 'fim. ii. + They ought not, like Reuben, to abide among the Seep-folds, to hear the bleating of the Sheep, Jud. v. 16 Ill. A Soldier, after he is lifted, and entered into his Company, is armed, and put into a fit Pofture for that Work and Servi>e he is called to. PARALLEL. II. So a true Chrifl:ian forfakes all, and follows ChriO:; he becomes dead to this World; he is cru– cified to it, and that many Times to him. His Heart is not fet upon Thi~gs below, but upon Things above; he looks upon Religion and God-· linels, as his great Work and Bu!inefs, Col. iii. r, 26. 'fhey that are after the Flejh, do mind the 'fbings of tbe Flejh; but they that are after the Spirit, the 'Ihings of the Spirit, Rom. viii. 5· ,, Ill. So a true Chrifl:ian alfo is no fooner con– verted,. lifted and entertd into ChriO:'s Company, vzz. hrs Church, but he rs armed hkewife. He puts on the whole Armor of God, harh his Loins girt about wirh Truth , and hath the BreaO:-plate of Righteoufnefs, his Feet fhod with the Prepara– tion of the Gofpel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the ·word of God, Epb. vi. 10 , 11, 12. And becaufe moO: of thofe Parts or Pieces of a Chriftian's Armor are fpoken to and opened under that Head of Metaphors refpecting the Graces of the Spirit, we fhall fpeak no more of it here. IV. A Soldier is known by his Habit, Armor, and Weapons from other Men ; they put off their own Cloathes, and put on theKing's, ef– pecially if poor and ragged when they are lifted. V. Soldiers many Times are cloathed at the King's Charge; and it is greatly for the Honor of a Captain to have all his Men brave– ly cloathed and glittering in their Armor. VI. It is a Reproach to Soldiers to be merely mercenary, to fight for Money, and to mind tbeir own pri– vate Advantage more than the Credit and Glory of theirSovereign, and Honor of their Captain. IV. So a true Chri fl:ian is known by the C!oathes he hath on, from the Wicked and Ungodly of the World. He is cloathed with the Garment of Holinefs and Humility, and hath on all the precious Graces of the Spirit, as Armor of Proof, fall: girt to him by the Girdle of Sincerity ; and this fhews him to be one of ChriO:'s Soldiers. V. So ChriO: cloaths all his Soldiers, and they are all attired alike, cloathed in white. Their Robes coft dear, viz. the Price of his own moO: precious Blood; and it greatly tends to his Honor, to have them kept clean, and without Spot or Srain, all glittering in their fpirimal Armor, viz. adorn– ed with the blelfed Graces of the Spirit. VI. So ir is a Reproach to a ChriO:ian, to aim at Self in all he doeth in Religion. Many Men care not to do any Thing for the Honour of God, further than it makes, as they conceive, dird\ly for their ·own IntereO: and Advantage. Tell fome Men of this or that Ordinanco and Command of Chrift, they prefently ohject, May I not be faved without it? Is it necelfary to Salvation? Thefe Men only make Religion as a Bridge to carry them to Heaven ; mere mercenary Souls ! A!as ! a true Chrifl:ian obeys and ferves Chrifl: fincerely, that he may glorify and honor his holy Name, knowing ho dc– ferves more at his Hands, than he is ever able to perform, not doubting his Labor fhall ever be in vain in the Lord; the very Work is ·wages to him. Paul was refolved, Cbrift Jbould be magnified in his Body, whether it were by Life or by Death, Phi!. i. 20. VII. A Soldier hath his WarVII. So a Chriltian hath his Warfare appointed fare appointed him, and his Enehim, his grand Enemies are made known to him, mies difcovered to him, and Orders and he bath received Commiffion alfo ro enter tbe to fight. Combat with them, wholoever tbey are, whether foreign or domdtic, whether CX[ernal or internal, fecret or open. Firfl; His foreign or external Enemies are thefe : 1 • Tbe Devil, called the King of the bottomlefs Pit, Prince of the Power of the Air, the great Dragon, the Captain General of the black Regiment, and of tbe hellifh Militia, that makes Vlf ar againfl: the Lamb, and his Followers. Every 2 Chrift~n
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