Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/119

 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;