A85783:370
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
A TREATISE Of the whole Armour Of God. › Introduction › Chapter 9 › Section 3
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.
Answ. 1 First, from his own pitiful nature; You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. God loves not to rake in bleeding wounds, he knows a mourning soul is subject to be discouraged. A frown or an angry look from God, whom the Saint so dearly loves, must needs go near the heart, therefore God declares himself at hand to revive such, Isa. 57, 15. and he gives the reason, verse 16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wreth, for the spirit should fail before me. Whose spirit is there meant? not of the presumptuous sinner; he goes on, and never blinks; but of the contrite and humble ones. As the father observes the disposition of his children, one commits a fault and goes on rebelliously, despising his fathers anger, another (when offending him) lays it to heart, refuseth ⟨p. 149⟩to eat, gets into some corner to lament the displeasure of his father; the father sees it, and his bowels yearn towards him. Indeed should he not put his child out of fear by discovering his love, the spirit of such a one would fail; 'tis not possible there should be a long breach between such a father and such a son, the one relenting over his sin, the other over his mourning son.
Answ. 1 First, from his own pitiful nature; You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lordis very pitiful, and of tender mercy. God loves not to rake in bleeding wounds, he knowes a mourning soul is subject to be discouraged. A frown or an angry look from God, whom the Saint so dearly loves, must needs go near the heart, therefore God declares himself at hand to revive such, Isa. 57, 15. and he gives the reason, verse 16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwayes wreth, for the spirit should faile before me. Whose spirit is there meant? not of the presumptuous sinner; he goes on, and never blunks; but of the contrite and humble ones. As the father observes the disposition of his children, one commits a fault and goes on rebelliously, despising his fathers anger, another (when offending him) layes it to heart, refuseth ⟨p. 149⟩