saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting." (Job xxxix. 19–25.)
But for such footmen as thou and I are, let us never desire to meet with an enemy, nor taunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others that have been foiled; nor be tickled at the thoughts of our own manhood, for such commonly come by the worst when tried. Witness Peter, of Whom I made mention before: he would swagger, ay, he would; he would, as his vain mind prompted him to say, do better, and stand more for his Master than all men; but who so foiled and run down by those Villains as he?
When, therefore, we hear that such robberies are done on the King's highway, two things become us to do:—
First, to go out harnessed, and to be sure to take a shield with us: for it was for want of that, that he who laid so lustily at Leviathan could not make him yield; for, indeed, if that be wanting, he fears us not at all. Therefore he that had skill hath said, "Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph. vi. 16,)
It is good also that we desire of the King a convoy, yea, that he will go with us himself. This made David rejoice when in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; and Moses was rather for dying Where he stood, than to go one step without his God. (Exod. xxxiii. 15.) O my brother, if he will but go along with us, What need We be afraid of ten thousands that shall set themselves against us? But without him the proud helpers fall. under the slain. (Pa iii. 6; xxvii. 1–3. Isa, x. 4.)
I, for my part, have been in the fray before now; and though, through the goodness of Him that is best, I am, as you see, alive, yet I cannot boast of my manhood. Glad shall I be if I meet with no more such brunts; though I fear we are not got beyond all danger. However, since the
