the parts and pieces of armour; and teacheth them how to apparel every
part of the body with this armour. He beginneth yet again, saying, "Be
strong, having your reins, or your loins girded about." Some men of war
use to have about their loins an apron or girdle of mail, gird fast for
the safeguard of the nether part of their body. So St. Paul would we
should gird our loins, which betokeneth lechery or other sinfulness, with
a girdle, which is to be taken for a restraint or continence from such
vices. In "truth," or "truly gird:" it may not be feigned, or falsely
girt, but in verity and truth. There be many bachelors, as yet men
unmarried, which seem to be girt with the girdle of continence, and yet
it is not in truth, it is but feignedly. And some religious persons make
a profession of continence or chastity, and yet not in truth, their
hearts be not truly chaste. Such feigned girding of the loins cannot
make a man strong to resist the assaults of the great captain or enemy in
the evil day. Yet some get them girdles with great knots, as though they
would be surely girt, and as though they would break the devil's head
with their knotted girdles. Nay, he will not be so overcome: it is no
knot of an hempton girdle that he feareth; that is no piece of harness of
the armour of God, which may resist the assault in the evil day; it is
but feigned gear; it must be in the heart, &c.

"And be ye apparelled or clothed," saith Paul, "with the habergeon or
coat-armour of justice, that is, righteousness." Let your body be
clothed in the armour of righteousness: ye may do no wrong to any man,
but live in righteousness; not clothed with any false quarrel or privy
grudge. Ye must live rightly in God's law, following his commandments
and doctrine, clothed righteously in his armour, and not in any feigned
armour, as in a friar's coat or cowl. For the assaults of the devil be
crafty to make us put our trust in such armour, he will feign himself to
fly; but then we be most in jeopardy: for he can give us an after-clap