A01979:2245
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.
The first is,1 that we lift up our eyes unto the Author o• all blessings, and be persuaded that they come from God• and are brought unto us by Gods good guiding providence;⟨p. 419⟩ and not (as the vulgar and ignorant sort of people think and speak) by chance, luck, fortune, and the like. It was Israels fault,2 that she did not know that God gave her corn and wine, &c: which made her so ungrateful and rebellious against God.3 The like reason is given of Judahs ingratitude, in which respect she is made worse then the most brutish beasts that be, namely, the Ox & the Ass: for the Ox knoweth his Owner, and the Ass his Masters crib, but my people (saith God) hath not understood: what understood they not? namely who bestowed on them the good things which they enjoyed. The truth is, that most men are like swine,4 which eat the fruit that falleth from the tree, but look not up to the tree from whence it falleth. Many who daily taste of the sweetness of Gods blessings, never lift up their hearts to the Author of them.5 They think it is a good fortune, a good hap or chance that they have what they have. This is an heathenish conceit, very unbeseeming Christians, yea, an impious and sacrilegious conceit, derogatory to the honour of God. What a shame is it then for Christians to nourish it in their harts, and profess it with their mouths. For our parts let us duly consider that all good things are by Gods providence bestowed on us, that so our hearts may be raised up to him, and we moved to be the more thankful.
The first is,1 that we lift vp our eyes vnto the Author o• all blessings, and be perswaded that they come from God and are brought vnto vs by Gods good guiding prouidence;