A85783:127
The Christian in Complete Armour
The Christian in complete armour. Or, A treatise of the saints war against the Devil, wherein a discovery is made of that grand enemy of God and his people, in his policies, power, seat of his empire, wickedness, and chief design he hath against the saints. A magazine opened: from whence the Christian is furnished with spiritual arms for the battle, helped on with his armour, and taught the use of his weapon, together with the happy issue of the whole war. The first part. / By William Gurnall, Minister of the Gospel in Lavenham. Imprimatur, Edmund Calamy.The Christian in compleat armour. Or, A treatise of the saints war against the Devil, wherein a discovery is made of that grand enemy of God and his people, in his policies, power, seat of his empire, wickednesse, and chiefe designe he hath against the saints. A magazin open'd: from whence the Christian is furnished with spiritual armes for the battel, help't on with his armour, and taught the use of his weapon, together with the happy issue of the whole warre. The first part. / By William Gurnall, Minister of the Gospel in Lavenham. Imprimatur, Edmund Calamy.
London: printed for Ralph Smith, 1655
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.
CHAP. V. Wherein is answered a grand Objection, that some disconsolate souls may raise against the former Discourse.
CHAP. V. Wherein is answered a grand Objection, that some disconsolate soules may raise against the former Discourse.
Object. O But, saith some disconsolate Christian, I have prayed again and again for strength against such a corruption, and to this day my hands are weak, and these sons of Zerviah are so strong, that I am ready to say, all the Preachers do but flatter me, that do pour their oil of comfort upon my head, and tell me I shall at last get the Conquest of these mine enemies, and see that joyful day wherein with David, I shall sing to the Lord, for delivering me out of the hands of all mine enemies. I have prayed for strength for such a duty, and find it come off as weakly and dead-heartedly as before. If God be with me by his mighty power to help me, why then is all this befallen me?
Object. O But, saith some disconsolate Christian, I have prayed again and again for strength against such a corruption, and to this day my hands are weak, and these sons of Zerviah are so strong, that I am ready to say, all the Preachers do but flatter me, that do poure their oyle of comfort upon my head, and tell me I shall at last get the Conquest of these mine enemies, and see that joyful day wherein with David, I shall sing to the Lord, for delivering me out of the hands of all mine enemies. I have prayed for strength for such a duty, and finde it come off as weakly and dead-heartedly as before. If God be with me by his mighty power to help me, why then is all this befailen me?
Answ. 1 First, look once again, poor heart, into thy own bosom, and see whether thou findest not some strength sent into thee, which thou didst over-look before; this may be, yea, is very ordinary in this case, when God answers our prayer not in the letter, or when the thing itself is sent, but it comes in at the back door, while we are expecting it at the fore; and truly thus the friend thou art looking for, may be in thine house and thou not know it. Is not this thy case, poor soul? thou hast been praying for strength against such a lust, and now thou wouldest have God presently put forth his power to knock it on the head, and lay it for dead, that it should never stir more in thy bosom: is not this the door thou hast stood looking for God to come in at, and no sight or news of thy God his coming that way? thy corruption yet stirs, it may be is more troublesome then before; now thou askest, where is the strength promised to thy relief? let me entreat thee before