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.
One offensive weapon, the word of God,1 which is a Sword, is put into our hands, so that just occasion being offered, we may and ought to do our best to repel and drive away the devil, and his instruments. Hereof I shall speak more largely on the beginning of the 17. ver.
ONe offensiue weapon, the word of God,1 which is a Sword, is put into our hands, so that iust occasion being offered, we may and ought to do our best to repell and driue away the diuell, and his instruments. Hereof I shall speake more largely on the beginning of the 17. ver.
is for the forepart of a man, never a piece for his back, or hind parts. What doth this imply, but that we should always stand against our enemies face to face, and never show them our backs, never fly from them? but have
N•hemias holy resolution, and say, should such as we fly? Oft we are stirred up to fight, wrestle, stand, resist, &c. never persuaded in the whole book of God to fly, that is, to yield the victory unto Satan. We may wisely avoid his temptations, and not yield to them, when by them he seeks to draw us from the service of our Lord, to his slavery; and thus
fly from the lusts of youth, &c. But timorously to cease from resisting temptations, and withstanding the Devil, is dangerous to our selves, and dishonourable to God: it maketh Satan even insult over God himself,
whose soldiers we are, and get great advantage against us; for flying from God whom have we to fly unto? being out of Gods protection the Devil will soon make a prey of us. Let us not think, that if we yield the field, the Devil will be contented: It is not the glory of conquest that he seeketh, so much as our destruction:
EVery part and peece of this Armour,1 is for the forepart of a man, neuer a peece for his backe, or hindparts. What doth this imply, but that we should alwayes stand against our enemies face to face, and neuer shew them our backs, neuer flie from them? but haueg N•hemias holy resolution, and say, should such as we flie? Oft we are stirred vp to fight, wrestle, stand, resist, &c. neuer perswaded in the whole book of God to flie, that is, to yeeld the victory vnto Satan. We may wisely auoid his temptations, and not yeeld to them, when by them he seekes to draw vs from the seruice of our Lord, to his slauery; and thus hwe are commanded to to flie from idolatrie, to iflie from the lusts of youth, &c. But timorously to ceasse from resisting temptations, and withstanding the Diuell, is dangerous to our selues, and dishonourable to God: it maketh Satan euen insult ouer God himselfe,5 whose souldiers we are, and get great aduantage against vs; for flying from God whom haue we to flie vnto? being out of Gods protection the Diuell will soone make a prey of vs. Let vs not thinke, that if we yeeld the field, the Diuell will be contented: It is not the glory of conquest that hee seeketh, so much as our destruction:k He seeketh whom to deuou•e
IN this particular enumeration of these several pieces,1 I find a Christian soldier armed from top to toe: for here is an Helmet for his head and face: a Breastplate, together with the tassets and cushes, from neck to middle, and from thence to the knees: a Girdle to knit them together; greaves from knees to the soles of the feet; a Sword for the right hand, and a Shield for the left. Well therefore might the Apostle term it whole Armour.
IN this particular enumeration of these seuerall peeces,1 I find a Christian souldier armed from top to toe: for here is an Helmet for his head and face: a Brestplate, together with the tassets and cushes, from necke to middle, and from thence to the knees: a Girdle to knit them together; greaues from knees to the soles of the feet; a Sword for the right hand, and a Shield for the left. Well therefore might the Apostle terme it whole Armour.
1Obs. 4. Every part fenced.Obs. 4. Euery part fenced.
Use 1 So whole and complete is this Armour, as we need seek for no other to add to it, or to cover it over: As it is madness to reject this, and trust to the clout and paper armour of Papists and worldlings: so it is childishness and mere folly to cover this whole Armour over with any other, and so needlessly clog the soul: yea it is derogatory to Gods honour and wisdom, and a degree of presumption. Such are they as acknowledge and believe that the word of God is perfect, and yet think it no harm to have humane traditions added thereto: or that Christ only is able to save, and yet the help of Saints to do no harm: or that faith only is sufficient for justification, and yet no hurt to join works also with faith, in the office of justifying a sinner, &c.
Vse 1 So whole and compleate is this Armour, as we need seek for no other to adde to it, or to couer it ouer: As it is madnesse to reiect this, and trust to the clout and paper armour of Papists and wordlings: so it is childishnesse and meere folly to couer this whole Armour ouer with any other, and so needlesly clog the soule: yea it is derogatory to Gods honour and wisedome, and a degree of presumption. Such are they as acknowledge and beleeue that the word of God is perfect, and yet thinke it no harme to haue humane traditions added thereto: or that Christ onely is able to saue, and yet the helpe of Saints to doe no harme: or that faith onely is sufficient for iustification, and yet no hurt to ioyne workes also with faith, in the office of iustifying a sinner, &c.
Use 2 Let our care be to be armed with this whole Armour, and every piece of it, and so we may well content our selves therewith, boldly may we defy our enemies having it on, and not fear what they can do unto us. These uses have been largely handled, so as I need not now further insist upon them.
Vse 2 Let our care be to be armed with this whole Armour, and euery peece of it, and so we may well content our selues therewith, boldly may we defie our enemies hauing it on, and not feare what they can do vnto vs. These vses haue bene largely handled, so as I need not now further insist vpon them.
The first piece of spiritual Armour here in order set down by the Apostle, is Truth. In handling whereof I will show, first what Truth is here meant. Secondly, how fitly it is compared to a Girdle: Thirdly, what account is to be made thereof. Fourthly, what wiles the devil hath to wrest it from us:
THe first peece of spirituall Armour heere in order set downe by the Apostle, is Truth. In handling whereof I will shew, first what Truth is heere meant. Secondly, how fitly it is compared to a Girdle: Thirdly, what account is to be made thereof. Fourthly, what wyles the diuell hath to wrest it from vs:
