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. ...
William Gouge 1578–1653London: printed by John Beale, 1619London: printed by Iohn Beale, 1619
[26], 626, [12] p. · 196k words · STC 12123 · ESTC S103304
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.
For the first,1 note what the Prophet saith in Gods name to Jerusalem, hI will pour upon them the spirit of supplications. He calleth the gifts of prayer the spirit of supplications, because it is Gods Spirit which worketh in us this gift, and enableth us to call upon God: in a like respect, Saint Paul useth this phrase,i The Spirit of faith. More plainly is this point proved, by that phrase which Saint Jude useth,k Praying in the holy Ghost: but most evidently bya Saint Paul, who layeth it down, first affirmatively, saying, The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for us: then negatively, saying, We know not what to pray, &c. What may the Apostle mean by this phrase, The Spirit it self maketh intercession? Doth the holy Ghost truly and properly pray for us, as Christ our High Priest and Mediator, or as one of us for another? Noah verily: for then should the holy Ghost be our Mediator (which was one of Arrius his heresies) an office which is never attributed to him, but appropriated to Christ:b
For there is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and man, the man Christ Jesus Besides, then also should God make request to God; for the holy Ghost is God, but not man also, as Christ was. The meaning then of the Apostle must needs be this, that the Spirit of God stirreth us up to pray, quickening, and putting life into our dead and dull spirits, yea inwardly, as it were, suggesteth unto us, and infuseth into us such desires, such sighs & groans, yea and such words, as are acceptable to God, which for
⟨p. 483⟩
the truth and sincer•••e of them, for the vehemency and ardency of them, for the power and efficacy of them are
unutterable: they pierce through the very heavens, and enter unto the glorious Throne of Gods grace, and there make a loud cry in the ears of the Almighty. Therefore
in the next verse the Apostle addeth, he that searcheth the hearts (that is, God the searcher of all hearts) knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit (that is, what desires, what sighs and groans, what prayers proceed from the work of his Spirit, being stirred up thereby in our spirits) for Gods Spirit informeth, and instructeth our spirits to make prayers to God, according to the will of God, which otherwise were most impossible for us to do: we neither could tell what to ask, nor how to ask.
FOr the first,1 note what the Prophet saith in Gods name to Ierusalem, hI will powre vpon them the spirit of supplications. He calleth the gifts of prayer the spirit of supplications, because it is Gods Spirit which worketh in vs this gift, and inableth vs to call vpon God: in a like respect, Saint Paul vseth this phrase,i The Spirit of faith. More plainely is this point proued, by that phrase which Saint Iude vseth,k Praying in the holy Ghost: but most euidently bya Saint Paul, who layeth it downe, first affirmatiuely, saying, The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for vs: then negatiuely, saying, Wee know not what to pray, &c. What may the Apostle meane by this phrase, The Spirit it selfe maketh intercession? Doth the holy Ghost truely and properly pray for vs, as Christ our High Priest and Mediator, or as one of vs for another? Noe verily: for then should the holy Ghost bee our Mediator (which was one of Arrius his heresies) an office which is neuer attributed to him, but appropriated to Christ:b For there is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and man, the man Christ Iesus Besides, then also should God make request to God; for the holy Ghost is God, but not man also, as Christ was. The meaning then of the Apostle must needs bee this, that the Spirit of God stirreth vs vp to pray, quickning, and putting life into our dead and dull spirits, yea inwardly, as it were, suggesteth vnto vs, and infuseth into vs such desires, such sighes & grones, yea and such words, as are acceptable to God, which for⟨p. 483⟩ the truth and sincer•••e of them, for the vehemencie and ardencie of them, for the power and efficacie of them are cvnutterable: they pierce thorow the very heauens, and enter vnto the glorious Throne of Gods grace, and there make a loud crie in the eares of the Almightie. Therefore din the next verse the Apostle addeth, he that searcheth the hearts (that is, God the searcher of all hearts) knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit (that is, what desires, what sighes and groanes, what prayers proceed from the work of his Spirit, being stirred vp thereby in our spirits) for Gods Spirit informeth, and instructeth our spirits to make prayers to God, according to the will of God, which otherwise were most impossible for vs to doe: we neither could tell what to aske, nor how to aske.
1Doct. 1. Prayer a work of the holy Ghost.Doct. 1. Praier a work of the holy Ghost.
Thus plainly and clearly we see, that true prayer cometh from the motion and work of Gods Spirit: which may yet further be confirmed by comparing, Gal. 4. 6. with Rom. 8. 15. in that it is said, the Spirit in our hearts crieth Abba Father: in this, by the Spirit we cry Abba Father.
Thus plainely and clearely we see, that true prayer commeth from the motion and worke of Gods Spirit: which may yet further be confirmed by comparing, Gal. 4. 6. with Rom. 8. 15. in that it is said, the Spirit in our hearts crieth Abba Father: in this, by the Spirit we crie Abba Father.
1 In regard of our natural estate,1 we have no ability at all to pray: a dead man can as well crave help of another man, as a natural man in faith crave succour of God. eWe are not sufficient of our selves, to think any thing as of our selves. Can we then be sufficient of our selves to pray aright?
1 In regard of our naturall estate,1 we haue no abilitie at all to pray: a dead man can as wel craue help of another man, as a naturall man in faith craue succour of God. eWee are not sufficient of our selues, to thinke any thing as of our selues. Can we then be sufficient of our selues to pray aright?
2 In our regenerate estate we are no longer able to do any good thing, then the Spirit helpeth and assisteth us. Though once we be enabled by the Spirit to pray aright, vet if the Spirit leave us and continue not in us his powerful work, all our ability is gone (as a wheel⟨p. 484⟩ which is turned about with an hand, if the hand be taken away, the wheel will soon stand still) it is needful that unto the first grace, following grace be added: for man after he is regenerate, still needeth the present, effectual, continual work of Gods holy Spirit. It is therefore said, fHe that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
2 In our regenerate estate wee are no longer able to doe any good thing, then the Spirit helpeth and assisteth vs. Though once we be inabled by the Spirit to pray aright, vet if the Spirit leaue vs and continue not in vs his powerfull worke, all our abilitie is gone (as a wheele⟨p. 484⟩ which is turned about with an hand, if the hand be taken away, the wheele will soone stand still) it is needfull that vnto the first grace, following grace be added: for man after he is regenerate, still needeth the present, effectuall, continual worke of Gods holy Spirit. It is therefore said, fHe that hath begunne a good worke in you, will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ.
3 Though we knew how to pray, yet would not our prayer be acceptable to God, except it came from his Spirit: git is attributed as a proper work to the Spirit, that he maketh intercession according to the will of God (that is, so as is pleasing and acceptable to God) for as God knoweth the meaning of the Spirit, so the Spirit knoweth the will of God.
3 Though we knew how to pray, yet would not our prayer be acceptable to God, except it came from his Spirit: git is attributed as a proper worke to the Spirit, that he maketh intercession according to the will of God (that is, so as is pleasing and acceptable to God) for as God knoweth the meaning of the Spirit, so the Spirit knoweth the will of God.
1 Here note how the whole Trinity hath a work in this holy exercise of prayer.h The holy Ghost frameth our requests.i The Son offereth them up unto his Father. kThe Father accepteth them thus framed, and offered up.
1 Heere note how the whole Trinitie hath a worke in this holy exercise of prayer.h The holy Ghost frameth our requests.i The Son offereth them vp vnto his Father. kThe Father accepteth them thus framed, and offered vp.
2 Note the reason, why the prayers of the Saints are so acceptable, and available, why they pierce through the clouds, and have access to Gods throne: they are the groans of Gods Spirit: not that the Spirit groaneth, but that our spirits are made to groan by Gods Spirit.
2 Note the reason, why the prayers of the Saints are so acceptable, and auaileable, why they pierce thorow the clouds, and haue accesse to Gods throne: they are the groanes of Gods Spirit: not that the Spirit groaneth, but that our spirits are made to groane by Gods Spirit.
3 Note what an admirable gift, the gift of prayer is, a singular gift, peculiar and proper to the Saints, who have the Spirit of God: ifl no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost, surely no man can call upon God, as his Father, but by the Spirit of God.m We have therefore received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.
3 Note what an admirable gift, the gift of prayer is, a singular gift, peculiar and proper to the Saints, who haue the Spirit of God: ifl no man can say that Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost, surely no man can call vpon God, as his Father, but by the Spirit of God.m We haue therefore receiued the Spirit of adoption, whereby we crie Abba Father.
4 Note how we may know whether Gods Spirit be in us, and whether we be Gods sons or no: even by the Spirit of prayer: I mean not an outward formal uttering of words, but true prayer coming from the heart.
4 Note how we may know whether Gods Spirit bee in vs, and whether we be Gods sonnes or no: euen by the Spirit of prayer: I meane not an outward formall vttering of words, but true prayer comming from the heart.
1 Labour for Gods sanctifying spirit, which is gotten by the ministry of the word, as was set forth byn those extraordinary gifts which God bestowed on Christians while they were hearing the word preached: & aso Saint Paul with great emphasis affirmeth, saying, received ye the the spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? that is, assuredly by hearing the Gospel (which is the word of faith) preached ye received the spirit: in which respect the preaching of the Gospel is called,p the ministration of the spirit.
1 Labour for Gods sanctifying spirit, which is gotten by the ministery of the word, as was set foorth byn those extraordinary gifts which God bestowed on Christians while they were hearing the word preached: & aso Saint Paul with great emphasis affirmeth, saying, receiued ye the the spirit by the workes of the law, or by hearing of faith? that is, assuredly by hearing the Gospell (which is the word of faith) preached ye receiued the spirit: in which respect the preaching of the Gospell is called,p the ministration of the spirit.
