A01979:228
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. God maketh nothing in vain. Now then God having made this whole armour,1 whole armour must be put on. If a careful and wise Captain should provide sufficient armour for all his soldiers, and some of them be careless in putting on every piece thereof, might he not be offended with them, and that justly? Much more should we provoke God, by neglecting any thing which he in his good providence hath provided for us.
1. God maketh nothing in vaine. Now then God hauing made this whole armor,1 whole armour must be put on. If a carefull and wise Captaine should prouide sufficient armour for all his souldiers, and some of them bee carelesse in putting on euery peece thereof, might hee not bee offended with them, and that iustly? Much more should we prouoke God, by neglecting any thing which he in his good prouidence hath prouided for vs.
- 1God maketh nothing in vain.God maketh nothing in vaine.
2. We stand in great need of every piece of this armour: for unless we put on every piece,1 we lye open to our enemies, even as if we had put on never a piece: for they are very subtle, they narrowly view us on every side, and soon can espy if any part be naked. What if a soldier have an helmet and want a breast-plate, if a dart light upon his breast, and pierce to his heart, what good getteth he by his head-piece? Or if he have a breast-plate, and want a girdle to knit it close, or tassets and cushes to cover his belly? Thus if faith, or hope, or righteousness, or verity, or any other part of the Christian armour be wanting, the Devil can thereby take his advantage to destroy the soul: so as not only duty to God, but safety of our selves may move us to put on the whole armour.