A85783:276
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, take heed of subtlety and sinful policy, in compassing that which is lawful in it self; 'tis lawful to improve thy estate and husband it well for thy posterity, but take not the devils counsel, who will be putting thee upon some tricks in thy trade and slights in thy dealing; such may go for wise men a while, but the Prophet reads their destiny, Jer. 17.11. At his end he shall be a fool. 'Tis lawful to love our estate, life, liberty, but beware of sinful policy to save them. 'Tis no wisdom to shuffle with God, by denying his truth, or shifting of our duty to keep correspondence with men; he is a weak fencer that lays his soul at open guard to be stabbed and wounded with guilt, while he is lifting up his hands to save a broken head, Our fear commonly meets us at that door by which we think to run from it. He that will save his life shall lose it As you love your peace, Christians, be plain-hearted with God and man, and keep the Kings high-way; go the plain way of the command to obtain thy desire, and not leap over hedge and ditch to come a little sooner to the journeys end; such commonly either meet with some stop that makes them come back with shame, or else put to ⟨p. 112⟩venture their necks in some desperate leap. He is sure to come safer (if not sooner) home, that is willing to go a little about to keep God company. The Historians observation is worth the Christians remembrance: Consilia callida primâ specie laeta, tractatu dura, eventu tristia, Livius. Crafty counsels promise fair at first, but prove more difficult in the managing, and in the end do pay the undertaker home with desperate sorrow.
Thirdly, take heed of subtilty and sinful policy, in compassing that which is lawful in it selfe; 'tis lawful to improve thy estate and husband it well for thy posterity, but take not the divels counsel, who will be putting thee upon some tricks in thy trade and slights in thy dealing; such may go for wise men a while, but the Prophet reads their destiny, Ier. 17.11. At his end he shall be a fool. 'Tis lawful to love our estate, life, liberty, but beware of sinful policy to save them. 'Tis no wisdome to shuffle with God, by denying his truth, or shifting of our duty to keepe correspondence with men; he is a weak fencer that layes his soule at open guard to be stabbed and wounded with guilt, while he is lifting up his hands to save a broken head, Our fear commonly meets us at that door by which we think to run from it. He that will save his life shall lose it As you love your peace, Christians, be plain-hearted with God and man, and keep the Kings high-way; go the plain way of the command to obtain thy desire, and not leap over hedge and ditch to come a little sooner to the journeys end; such commonly either meet with some stop that makes them come back with shame, or else put to