h) 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. And well you
know that the night is of its own nature discomfortable and full of
fear. And therefore by the night's fear here I understand the
tribulation by which the devil, through the sufference of God,
either by himself or by others who are his instruments, tempteth
good folk to impatience as he did Job. But he who, as the prophet
saith, dwelleth and continueth faithfully in the hope of God's
help, shall so be clipped in on every side with the shield of God
that he shall have no need to be afraid of such tribulation as is
here called the night's fear. And it may be also fittingly called
the night's fear for two causes: One, because many times, unto him
who suffereth, the cause of his tribulation is dark and unknown.
And therein it varieth and differeth from that tribulation by which
the devil tempteth a man with open fight and assault for a known
good thing from which he would withdraw him, or for some known evil
thing into which he would drive him by force of such persecution.
Another cause for which it is called the night's fear may be
because the night is so far out of courage, and naturally so
casteth folk into fear, tha