A01979:2086
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.
1 Not only Atheists, but even few of those that bear the title of calling upon God, 1come to this extent of love to pray for their enemies. Many can pray for their friends, but who for their enemies? I doubt not but many finding this point so clearly and evidently laid⟨p. 390⟩ down in the Scriptures, are persuaded that it is a duty, and thereupon sometimes when their blood is cold, and the wrongs of their enemies somewhat out of their minds, can say God forgive them: or for form and custom sake, when they hear the Minister utter this clause of the Litany, That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts, can answer; We beseech thee to hear us good Lord: but from the heart to pray for them even when they wrong us, or while their injuries are fresh in our memories (asa Christ andb Stephen did) is a rare matter, so rare as few attain unto it: witness that proneness which is in the best (if not openly to curse, and use fearful imprecations as the worser sort do, yet) inwardly to wish, and imagine many evils against them. This desire of revenge being one of the lusts of the flesh, we must labour to maintain a contrary lust of the spirit, which is to love our enemies, and pray for them: forc The spirit lusteth against the flesh. If we be led by the spirit, we shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
1 Not onely Atheists, but euen few of those that beare the title of calling vpon God, 1come to this extent of loue to pray for their enemies. Many can pray for their friends, but who for their enemies? I doubt not but many finding this point so clearely and euidently laid⟨p. 390⟩ downe in the Scriptures, are perswaded that it is a duty, and thereupon sometimes when their blood is colde, and the wrongs of their enemies somewhat out of their minds, can say God forgiue them: or for forme and custome sake, when they heare the Minister vtter this clause of the Letany, That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies, persecuters, and slanderers, and to turne their hearts, can answer; We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord: but from the heart to pray for them euen when they wrong vs, or while their iniuries are fresh in our memories (as