A01979:1352
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
THE Whole Armour of GOD. › Treatise 2 › Part 6 › Section 67: §. 67. Of prayer for increase of Faith.
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.
§. 67. Of prayer for increase of Faith.
2 Prayer is that means which God hath appointed to obtain all grace,1 all strength of grace, yea and a blessing upon all his ordinances (as I will* after show) so that it must needs in that respect be a notable preservative of Faith. Besides, by prayer we make our selves after an holy manner familiar with God, and so have more and more evidence of Gods love and favour to us, whereby our Faith must needs be much strengthened. When Satan desired to winnow the Apostles, what means did Christ use to preserve Peters Faith:g I have prayed (saith he to Peter) for thee that thy Faith fail not. Thereby Christ also teacheth us what we must do to preserve our Faith. After that once Faith is bred in us, in Faith we may pray that it fail not, but we cannot so pray to get Faith. A man that heareth the sweet promises of the Gospel, and withal heareth that Faith is that means whereby the benefit of them is received, may earnestly wish for Faith, and desire God to give it him: but in Faith (which yet he hath not) he cannot pray for Faith, as after he hath it, he may for the preservation of it: therefore faithful prayer is a proper means to cherish, keep, strengthen and increase Faith.
2 PRayer is that meanes which God hath appointed to obtaine all grace,1 all strength of grace, yea and a blessing vpon all his ordinances (as I will