A85783:261
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.
First, persons of place and power. Secondly, persons of parts and policy. Thirdly, persons of holiness, or at least reputed so. Fourthly, persons of relation and interest.
First, persons of place and power. Secondly, persons of parts and policie. Thirdly, persons of holinesse, or at least reputed so. Fourthly, persons of relation and interest.
First, Satan makes choice of persons of place and power. These are either in the Common-wealth or Church, if he can he will secure the Throne and the Pulpit, as the two Forts that command the whole line. First, men of power in the Common-wealth, 'tis his old trick to be tampering with such. A Prince, a Ruler may stand for a thousand; therefore saith Paul to Elymas, when he would have turned the Deputy from the faith; O full of all subtlety, thou child of the devil! Acts 13.8 As if he had said, you have learned this of your father the devil, to haunt the Courts of Princes, wind into the favour of great ones. There it a double policy Satan hath, in gaining such to his side. First, none have such advantage to draw others to their way: corrupt the Captain, and 'tis hard if he bring not off his troop with him.1 When the Princes, men of renown in their tribes, stood up with Corah, presently a multitude are drawn into the ⟨p. 105⟩conspiracy. Let Jeroboam set up idolatry, and Israel is soon in a snare; it's said the people willingly walked after his Commandment, Hos. 5.11. Secondly, should the sin stay at Court, and the infection go no further, yet the sin of such a one, (though a good man) may cost a whole Kingdom dear. 1 Chron. 21.1. Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number the people. He owed Israel a spite, and he pays them home in their Kings sin, which dropped in a fearful plague upon their heads. Secondly, such as are in place and office in the Church. No such way to infect the whole town, as to poison the Cistern at which they draw their water; who shall persuade Ahab that he may go to Ramoth-Gilead and fall? Satan can tell, I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of his Prophets, 2 Kings 22.21. How shall the profane be hardened in their sins? let the Preacher sow pillows under their elbows, and cry peace, peace, and it's done. How may the worship of God come to be neglected? let Hophni and Phinehas be but scandalous in their lives, and many both good and bad will abhor the sacrifice of the Lord.