BookiV. SAINTS coMPARED TO SOLDIERS. 715 Chriftian is commanded to enter the Lift, and to fight againft thefe Principalities and Powers. Eph. vi. 11, 12. . 2. The World; this is another, grand, potent, and,[uf,tile Adverfary; many have been overcome and fubdued by it. ( r.) The Thino-s of the World, viz. the Pleafures, Honors, and Profits of the World. Thefe, as one well obferves, have their Hooks and Snares hid under their pleafant Baits, they ufually prevail by Craft; their Flatteries and AllurementS are very dangerous. By this Part of the World Satan fet upon our blelfed Savwr, Matt. tv. 8. (z.) The Men of the World, who are the SubjeCts of the Prince of Darknefs, and his Soldiers, the Militia of Hell, and the Auxiliaries of Satan, the Seed of the Old Ser– pent, who are filled with Enmity againft the Woman's Seed. He that is born after the Flejb, perfecuteth him that is born after the Spirit, &c. Rom. viii. 4, 5· re are of;•our Father the Devil, and the Lufts of ;·our Fatherye w:ll do. Thefe contmually oppofe the Truth, •nd hare Godlinds, and thofe who profefs it. • (3.) The Worlhips of the World. SaintS have been often expofed to great Dangers, for oppoong the Ways, Ipventions; and Superftitions of Men, the Wodhip of the Bcafl, and curfcd Fornications of the great Whore; but whilfl they are able to ftand, or have Life in them, they mutt oppofe and reofl all falfe Ways and Worthippers, fuch as ftrive to make void the DoCtrine of Chrift, and the Commands of God by their Traditions. (4.) There are alfo the Lufts of the World, the Lufts of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, which Saints are engaged to fight againft, and oppofe, I John ii. ·, 6. Secondly; They have their domeftic Enemies: 1. Sin, which is a wretched and treacherous Inmate, and cut·fed Adverfary. 2. The Fleth. Thefe two made the holy Apoftle to cry out, 0 wretched Man that I am, who jha/1 deliver me! &c. Rom. vii. Hence we are exhorted, as Strangers and Pil– grims, to abftain from filthy Lu.fts, that war again.ft the Soul, I Pet. ii. I 1. METAPHOR. PARALLEL Vlll. A Soldier expeCts, and VIII. So a Saint expeCts, and therefore ought therefore ought to prepare to meet to make ready to meet with fpiritual OppolitJon w1th his Enemies; he knows he is from the Enemies of the Soul, as loon as ever he chofen, liftea, and placed under is lifted, and entered into Chrift's Service. As it the Command of his Captain, on fell out with the Captain himfelf, who no fooner purpole to fight. was baptized, but prefcnrly he was led into tbe W'ildernefs, to be tempted •f the Devil, Nfatt. iv. So. a Chriftian muft always be prepared and refolved to engage and fight them, Whonz reji.ft .ftedfaftly in the Faith. , JX.ASoldiergoethnot on aWar– fare at his own Charge; his Prince bears the Expence of the War, and furn itherh him with whatfoever is neceffary fer that Atchievement. X. A Soldier ought to be ex– pert, and well-fkilled in Martial Difc1pline, to know all the poftures of War, particularly the Word of Command, and to obey prefcnt!y: He mutt not dilpute the Matter, nor make t~e kaft Pau!c. Thofc Soldiers rhat wne unde-r the Cen– turion, were very traCtable upon this Account as himfelf conftOi:d: I fay to one, Go, and hegoetb ; and to another, Come, and he cometb, Matt. viii. 9· IX. A Believer goeth not out in the fpiritual Warfare at his own Charge. Chrift furnithe<h him with Cloathes, Armor, Weapons, and with all Things needful and neceffary, all is managed by his gracious and bleffed Spirit. X. So aSaintought to be well-fkilled in all Things neceffary for a Chriftian Soldier; it requires much vVittiom and Experience; he muft underftand the Word of Command, and be ready to obey his Captain, as foon as ever the Word is given. Da– vid had learned this part well : I made ha.fte, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments, Pfal. cxix. 6o. And Paul faith, He immediately obeyed the heavenly 1/i)ion, Atls xxvi. '9· It is a very un– becoming Thing in Chriftians, to frand, or make a Paufe about their Obedience to Chrifr, in thofe Things they are convinced to be their indifputable Duty; it argues they have but little Reo-arc! ro the Honor of their Captain, the Lord Jefn~Chrijl. Shall Soldiers be fo careful and ready to obey their earthly Leaders, who arc but Men! And thallnot we be as ready and forward to obey the Lord Jefus Chrift, our heavenly Leader, who is the moft wili: and blefii:d God! XI. So
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