A85783:135
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.
Thirdly, if after long waiting for strength from God, it be as thou complainest, enquire whether the [Greek or Hebrew], that which hinders, be not found in thy self. The head is the seat of animal spirits, yet there may be such obstructions in the body, as the other members may for a time be deprived of them; till the passage be free between Christ thy head and thee, thy strength will not come, and therefore be willing to enquire.
Thirdly, if after long waiting for strength from God, it be as thou complainest, enquire whether the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that which hinders, be not found in thy self. The head is the seat of animal spirits, yet there may be such obstructions in the body, as the other members may for a time be deprived of them; till the passage be free between Christ thy head and thee, thy strength will not come, and therefore be willing to enquire.
First, hast thou come indeed to God for strength to perform ⟨p. 48⟩duty, to mortify corruption and the like? perhaps thou wilt say, Yes, I have waited on those Ordinances, which are the way in which he hath promised to give out strength. But is this all? thou mayest come to them, and not wait on God in them. Hast thou not carnally expected strength from them, and so put the Ordinance, as she her husband in Gods stead? Hath not the frame of thy spirit some affinity with theirs in James 4.13. We will go into such a city, and buy, and sell, and get gain: Hath not thy heart said, I will go and hear such a man, and get comfort, get strength? and doest thou wonder thou art weak, barren and unfruitful? Are Ordinances God, that they should make you strong or comfortable? Thou mayest hear them answer thee, poor soul, as the King to the woman in the siege of Samaria: Help, O prayer, sayest thou, or, O Minister; How can they help except the Lord help: These are but Christs servants: Christ keeps the Key of his wine-cellar, they cannot so much as make you drink, when you come to their Masters house; and therefore, poor soul, stay not short of Christ, but press through all the crowd of Ordinances, and ask to speak with Jesus, to see Jesus and touch him, and virtue will come forth.