A85783:161
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.
Use 1 First, this takes away the wonder of Satan's great Conquests in the world: when you look abroad, and see his vast Empire, and what a little spot of ground contains Christs subjects, what heaps of precious souls lie prostrate under this foot of pride, and what a little regiment of Saints march under Christs banner; perhaps the strangeness of the thing may make you ask, Is hell stronger then heaven? the arms of Satan more victorious then the Cross of Christ? No such matter: Consider but this one thing, and you will wonder that Christ hath any to follow him, rather then that he hath so few. Satan finds the world unarmed, when the Prince of the world comes, he finds nothing to oppose; the whole soul is in a disposition to yield at first summons; and if Conscience, Governor for God in the creature stands out a while, all the other powers, as will and affections are in a discontent, (like mutinous soldiers in a garrison) who never rest till they have brought over conscience to yield, or ⟨p. 58⟩against its command set open the City gate to the enemy, and so deliver traitorously their conscience prisoner to their lusts: But when Christ comes to demand the soul, he meets a scornful answer: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of the most High. We will not have this man to reign over us. With one consent they vote against him, and rise up as the Philistines against Samson whom they called the Destroyer of the country. Ye will not come, unto me, saith Christ. O how true are poor sinners to the devils trust! They will not deliver the Castle they hold for Satan, till fired over their heads. Pharaoh opposeth Moses on one hand, and Israel cry out upon him on the other. Such measure hath Christ both at Satan's hand, and the sinners. That which lessened Alexander's Conquests, was, he overcame a people buried in barbarism, without arms or discipline of war; and that which heightened Caesars, (though not so many) he overcame a people more warlike and furnished. Satan's victories are of poor ignorant, graceless souls, who have neither arms, nor hands, nor hearts to oppose; but when he assaults a Saint, then he sits down before a city with gates and bars, and ever riseth with shame; unable to take the weakest hold, to pluck the weakest Saint out of Christs hands;
Ʋse 1 First, this takes away the wonder of Satans great Conquests in the world: when you look abroad, and see his vast Empire, and what a little spot of ground contains Christs subjects, what heaps of precious souls lie prostrate under this foot of pride, and what a little regiment of Saints march under Christs banner; perhaps the strangenesse of the thing may make you ask, Is hell stronger then heaven? the armes of Satan more victorious then the Crosse of Christ? No such matter: Consider but this one thing, and you will wonder that Christ hath any to follow him, rather then that he hath so few. Satan findes the world unarm'd, when the Prince of the world comes, he findes nothing to oppose; the whole soule is in a disposition to yield at first summons; and if Conscience, Governour for God in the creature stands out a while, all the other powers, as will and affections are in a discontent, (like mutinous souldiers in a garrison) who never rest till they have brought over conscience to yield, or