This shield is made (as
holy St. Bernard saith) broad above with the Godhead and narrow
beneath with the Manhood, so that it is our Saviour Christ himself.
And yet is this shield not like other shields of the world, which
are so made that while they defend one part the man may be wounded
upon another. But this shield is such that, as the prophet saith,
it shall round about enclose and compass thee, so that thine enemy
shall hurt thy soul on no side. For "with a shield," saith he,
"shall his truth environ and compass thee round about."
And then incontinently following, to the intent that we should see
that it is not without necessity that the shield of God should
compass us about upon every side, he showeth in what wise we are
environed by the devil upon every side with snares and assaults,
by four kinds of temptations and tribulations. Against all this
compass of temptations and tribulations that round-compassing
shield of God's truth shall so defend us and keep us safe that we
shall need to dread none of them at all.
XII
First, he saith, "thou shalt not be afraid of the fear of the
night." By the night is there in scripture sometimes understood
tribulation, as appeareth in the thirty-fourth chapter of Job: "God
hath known the works of them, and therefore shall he bring night
upon them," that is, tribulation for their wickedness.
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