A55301:127
Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day showing how Christians…Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day shewing how Christians…
Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day showing how Christians are to bear sufferings, and what graces are requisite thereunto : suited for all good Christians in this present time / by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.Armatura Dei, or, A preparation for suffering in an evil day shewing how Christians are to bear sufferings, and what graces are requisite thereunto : suited for all good Christians in this present time / by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1682
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 sense of this is so deeply humbling, that it disposes him that hath it to be willing to go into any Furnace, which God orders for the melting out of his Dross. The excellent Martyr Mr. Hooper, carried his humility with him to the Fiery Trial, there he prayed thus; Lord I am Hell, but thou art Heaven; I am a Sink of Sin, but thou art a gracious Redeemer: The sense of his own imperfections made him lye very Low. Moreover, when the humble man looks ⟨p. 105⟩to the Grace of God, he adores that pure self-moving Fountain of all Good; and withal, abases himself under his great unworthiness of the Least drop of it: The evil that is in me (saith he) is my own, but all the good that is in me is entirely from Grace. This taste of Grace to a mans unworthy self, admirably disposes him to bear the Cross: Such an one will argue with himself, Shall God give me Grace and Glory, and shall I not suffer for him? The suffering is not the Hell I deserve, but that which is much less, and shall I not suffer? There is a glorious Heaven to come after it, and why should I hang back?1 The words of Doctor Sclater are very remarkable, God (saith he) rewards ultra condignum, afflicts citra condignum; that Persuasion who so carries, and is acquainted with his foul sins, willingly prays with Austin, Hîc ure, hîc seca, ut in aeternum parcas; here burn, here cut me, that thou mayest spare for ever. Thus humility, by the rays that it hath from God, makes a man very vile in his own eyes, and so prepares him for the Cross. The proud man, that thinks highly of himself, will murmur at any thing; and the humble man that thinks meanly of himself will bear with any thing.
The sense of this is so deeply humbling, that it disposes him that hath it to be willing to go into any Furnace, which God orders for the melting out of his Dross. The excellent Martyr Mr. Hooper, carried his humility with him to the Fiery Trial, there he prayed thus; Lord I am Hell, but thou art Heaven; I am a Sink of Sin, but thou art a gracious Redeemer: The sense of his own imperfections made him lye very Low. Moreover, when the humble man looks ⟨p. 105⟩to the Grace of God, he adores that pure self-moving Fountain of all Good; and withal, abases himself under his great unworthiness of the Least drop of it: The evil that is in me (saith he) is my own, but all the good that is in me is entirely from Grace. This tast of Grace to a mans unworthy self, admirably disposes him to bear the Cross: Such an one will argue with himself, Shall God give me Grace and Glory, and shall I not suffer for him? The suffering is not the Hell I deserve, but that which is much less, and shall I not suffer? There is a glorious Heaven to come after it, and why should I hang back?