A01979:1923
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.
§. 26. Of the seventh motive, the honour of Praying.
§. 26. Of the seuenth motiue, the honour of Praying.
4 There is no one thing wherein and whereby God doth more honour his servants,1 then by vouchsafing unto them this high privilege and savour to pray unto him. By prayer have the Saints a free access unto the glorious throne of Gods grace: yea they have a familiar acquaintance with him. It is a great prerogative, that God in his Word vouchsafeth to speak to man; but not comparable to this, that man should talk with God. God by his Word speaketh to all, even to the wicked and rebellious, but none but Saints by Prayer speak to him: (the Prayer of the wicked is no Prayer, but mere lip-labour.) We know that it implieth much more familiarity for an inferior freely to speak to his superior,2 then a superior to his inferior. Esther though a Queen, accounted it a great favour, that she was lovingly and kindly accepted, when she approached into the presence of a mortal Monarch. Now consider how infinitely far greater the divine Majesty is, then any humane can be, and this will show how high a dignity it is to have a free access unto his glorious presence; especially if withal we consider how full of grace and goodness he is to all that come before him. The glorious Angels do admire the Saints, in regard of this honour vouchsafed unto them.
4 THere is no one thing wherein and whereby God doth more honour his seruants,1 then by vouchsafing vnto them this high priuiledge and sauour to pray vnto him. By prayer haue the Saints a free accesse vnto the glorious throne of Gods grace: yea they haue a familiar acquaintance with him. It is a great prerogatiue, that God in his Word vouchsafeth to speake to man; but not comparable to this, that man should talke with God. God by his Word speaketh to all, euen to the wicked and rebellious, but none but Saints by Prayer speake to him: (the Prayer of the wicked is no Prayer, but meere lip-labour.) We know that it implyeth much more familiarity for an inferiour freely to speake to his superior,