A85783:139
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.
No wonder if thou (though rich in grace and comfort) goest behind-hand, seeing thou spendest on the old stock, and drivest no trade at present to bring in more: Or if thou doest not thus neglect duty, yet may be thou doest not perform it with that humility, which formerly beautified the same: then thou prayedst in the sense of thy weakness to get strength, now thou prayest to show thy strength, that others may admire thee. And if once (like Hezekiah) we call in Spectators to see our treasure, and applaud us for our gifts and comfort, then it is high time for God, if he indeed love us, to send some messengers to carry these away from us, which carry our hearts from him.
No wonder if thou (though rich in grace and comfort) goest behinde-hand, seeing thou spendest on the old stock, and drivest no trade at present to bring in more: Or if thou doest not thus neglect duty, yet may be thou doest not perform it with that humility, which formerly beautified the same: then thou prayedst in the sense of thy weaknesse to get strength, now thou prayest to shew thy strength, that others may admire thee. And if once (like Hezekiah) we call in Spectators to see our treasure, and applaud us for our gifts and comfort, then it is high time for God, if he indeed love us, to send some messengers to carry these away from us, which carry our hearts from him.
Fourthly, if thy heart doth not smite thee from what hath been said, but thou hast sincerely waited on God, and yet hast not received the strength thou desirest, yet let it be thy resolution to live and die waiting on him. God doth not tell us his time of coming, and it were boldness to set on of our own heads. Go, saith Christ to his disciples, Luke 24.49. Stay ye in Jerusalem, until ye be endued with Power from on High. Thus he saith to thee, stay at Jerusalem, wait on him in the means he hath appointed, till thou beest endued with further power to mortify thy corruptions, &c. And for thy comfort know
Fourthly, if thy heart doth not smite thee from what hath been said, but thou hast sincerely waited on God, and yet hast not received the strength thou desirest, yet let it be thy resolution to live and die waiting on him. God doth not tell us his time of coming, and it were boldnesse to set on of our own heads. Go, saith Christ to his disciples,