A85783:142
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.
EPHESIANS 6.11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
This verse is a Key to the former, wherein the Apostle had exhorted believers to encourage, and bear up their fainting spirits on the Lord, and the power of his might. Now in these words he explains himself, and shows how he would have them do this, not presumptuously come into the field without that armour, which God hath appointed to be worn by all his soldiers, and yet with a bravado to trust in the power of God to save them. That soul is sure to fall short of home, (heaven I mean) who hath nothing but a carnal confidence on the Name of God, blown up by the ignorance of God and himself: No, he that would have his confidence duly placed on the Power of God, must conscientiously use the means appointed for his defence, and not rush naked into the battle, like that fanatic spirit at Munster, who would needs go forth, and chase away the whole army, then besieging that city, with no other cannon, then a few words charged with the Name of The Lord of hosts, (which he blasphemously made bold to use) saying, In the Name of the Lord of hosts depart. But himself soon perished; to learn others wisdom by what he paid for his folly. What foolish braving language shall you hear drop from the lips of the most profane and ignorant among us? they trust in God, hope in his mercy, defy the devil and all his works, and such like stuff, who yet are poor naked creatures, without the least piece of Gods armour upon their souls. To cashier such presumption from the Saints Camp, he annexeth this Directory to his exhortation, Put on the whole armour of God, &c. So that the words fall into these two general parts.
THis verse is a Key to the former, wherein the Apostle had exhorted believers to encourage, and bear up their fainting spirits on the Lord, and the power of his might. Now in these words he explains himself, and shewes how he would have them do this, not presumptuously come into the field without that armour, which God hath appointed to be worne by all his souldiers, and yet with a bravado to trust in the power of God to save them. That soule is sure to fall short of home, (heaven I mean) who hath nothing but a carnal confidence on the Name of God, blowen up by the ignorance of God and himself: No, he that would have his confidence duly placed on the Power of God, must conscienciously use the means appointed for his defence, and not rush naked into the battel, like that fanatick spirit at Munster, who would needs go forth, and chase away the whole army, then besieging that city, with no other cannon, then a few words charged with the Name of The Lord of hostes, (which he blasphemously made bold to use) saying, In the Name of the Lord of hostes depart. But himself soon perished; to learne others wisdom by what he paid for his folly. What foolish braving language shall you hear drop from the lips of the most prophane and ignorant among us? they trust in God, hope in his mercy, defie the devil and all his works, and such like stuffe, who yet are poor naked creatures, without the least piece of Gods armour upon their souls. To cashiere such presumption from the Saints Camp, he annexeth this Directory to his exhortation, Put on the whole armour of God, &c. So that the words fall into these two general parts.