A01979:2188
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.
§. 67. Of giving thanks for crosses.
§. 67. Of giuing thanks for crosses.
Yet are not outward temporal judgements,1 whether public or private, always to be simply accounted evils, but many times to be reckoned and accounted in the number of Gods blessings. Fora God oft inflicteth them on his children, and that in love, for their good. They are indeed grievous, and irksome to the flesh, but many times profitable to the soul: an heavy burden they are, but they bring forth a good & precious fruit: wherefore in regard of them, we must wholly refer our selves to Gods will, asb Christ did in his bitter agony. If God be pleased to preserve us from them, or being fallen upon us, to remove them, we are to account this preservation and deliverance,4 a blessing and favour of the Lord, and to be thankful unto God for it. But otherwise if it please the Lord to lay any cross upon us, or when it lieth on us, still to continue it, we are also to take this as a token of love, and to be thankful. The reason is evident. For God being very wise, & knowing what is best for us (even much⟨p. 407⟩ better then we our selves) & withal being a loving & tender father,5 exceeding careful of our good, he doth so dispose our estate, as may most make to our good. When he seeth it to be needful, he layeth affliction upon us: when it hath lien long enough upon us, then he removeth it. In this kind he dealeth with his children, as skilful and tender Physicians or Chirurgeons do with their patients, whose cure they seek. Now therefore upon this ground, we are to think every estate whereunto the Lord bringeth us to be the best for us: health to be the best when we are in health, and sickness to be best, when we are sick: abundance to be best while we have it, and want to be best when we are in want, and so of other estates. Therefore when the Lord doth lay upon us any outward afflictions, we must put them on the score of Gods favours: especially the good fruits of afflictions, as true humiliation, sound repentance, christian watchfulness, righteousness, &c. Now then to conclude this point, afflictions being tokens of Gods love, tending to the good of the Saints, they are comprised under this general clause ALL THINGS, and are matter of thanksgiving.