A01979:1067
The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God
The whole-armour of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keep him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well use it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sin against the Holy Ghost. By William Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Black Fryers London. ...The vvhole-armor of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keepe him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well vse it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. By VVilliam Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Blacke Fryers London. ...
London: printed by John Beale, 1619London: printed by Iohn Beale, 1619
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 9. Of the high account which we ought to make of Faith.
§. 9. Of the high account which wee ought to make of Faith.
AS Ministers are most to preach this Doctrine, so are people to learn it above all, to be very well instructed in it, that they may know what true faith is: yea, to examine themselves whether they have in them this grace or no: if not, to enquire how it may be gotten, how discerned and proved: if they have it, to labour well to preserve, increase, and use it: for Faith is a capital grace. We must therefore in this respect learn wisdom of the Serpent, who hath an especial care of his head: if he be assaulted and cannot fly, he will cover his head with the rest of his body, and suffer it to be strucken and wounded rather then his head. We ought to be the more careful of this Head Virtue, because Satan (who⟨p. 206⟩ well knoweth the worth of it) seeketh most to assault it. Is it not good wisdom to look to that most of all, which he most of all si•teth? Of these points I shall more distinctly speak afterwards. This I thought good to premise by way of preparation unto the discourse following, taking occasion from the Apostles Preface, above all.
AS Ministers are most to preach this Doctrine, so are people to learne it aboue all, to be very well instructed in it, that they may know what true faith is: yea, to examine themselues whether they haue in them this grace or no: if not, to enquire how it may be gotten, how discerned and proued: if they haue it, to labour well to preserue, increase, and vse it: for Faith is a capitall grace. We must therefore in this respect learne wisdome of the Serpent, who hath an especiall care of his head: if hee be assaulted and cannot flie, hee will couer his head with the rest of his body, and suffer it to be strucken and wounded rather then his head. Wee ought to bee the more carefull of this Head Vertue, because Satan (who