Nevertheless are not written, according as historians say,
all the battles of Judas, for the defence of his friends,
and all the mighty deeds which he illustriously performed,
for the defence of his people, as the books tell us.
Many fold were his great battles;
and he is as holy, in the Old Testament,
as God's elect ones, in the Gospel-preaching;
because that he ever contended for the will of the Almighty.
In those days he was permitted to defeat his enemies,
and especially the heathen, that were angry against him;
and he was God's thane, that most often fought
against their conquerors, in defence of their people.
But Christ, at His coming, taught us another thing,
and bade us hold peace and truthfuluess ever;
and we ought to strive against the cruel enemies,
that is, the invisible ones, and the deceitful devils,
that wish to slay our souls with vices.
Against them we should fight with ghostly weapons,
and pray for protection for us, continually, of Christ,
that we may overcome the cruel iniquities,
and the devil's enticement, that he may not harm us;
Then shall we be God's champions in the spiritual battle,
if we despise the devil, through true belief,
and the chief vices [cardinal sins], through self-control,
and if we perform God's will with our works.
The ancient people of God had to fight then with weapons,
and their contest had the signification of holy men
who drive away vices and devils from them
in the New Testament, that Christ Himself appointed.
Nevertheless teachers say that there are four kinds of war;
