A85783:38
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.
1. The word of encouragement to battle. With this he begins his speech; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord: the best way indeed to prepare them for the following directions. A soul deeply possest with fear, and dispirited with strong impressions of danger, is in no posture for counsel. As we see in an Army when put to the run with some sudden alarm, and apprehensions of danger; 'tis hard rallying them into order while the scare and fear is over; therefore the Apostle first raiseth up their spirits, Be strong in the Lord: as if he should say, perhaps some drooping souls find their hearts fail them, while they see their enemies so strong, and they so weak; so numerous, and they so few; so well appointed, and they so naked and unarmed; so skilful and expert at arms, but they green and raw soldiers; Let not these or any other thoughts dismay you, but with undaunted courage march on, and be strong in the Lord; on whose performance lies the stress of the battle, and not on your ⟨p. 4⟩skill or strength: It is not the least of a Ministers care, and skill in dividing the Word, so to press the Christians duty, as not to oppress his Spirit with the weight of it, by laying it on the creatures own shoulders, and not on the Lords strength, as here our Apostle teacheth us.
1. The word of encouragement to battel. With this he begins his speech; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord: the best way indeed to prepare them for the following directions. A soul deeply possest with fear, and disspirited with strong impressions of danger, is in no posture for counsel. As we see in an Army when put to the run with some sudden alarm, and apprehensions of danger; 'tis hard rallying them into order while the scare and feare is over; therefore the Apostle first raiseth up their spirits, Be strong in the Lord: as if he should say, perhaps some drooping soules finde their hearts faile them, while they see their enemies so strong, and they so weak; so numerous, and they so few; so well appointed, and they so naked and unarmed; so skilful and expert at armes, but they green and raw souldiers; Let not these or any other thoughts dismay you, but with undaunted courage march on, and be strong in the Lord; on whose performance lies the stresse of the battel, and not on your ⟨p. 4⟩skill or strength: It is not the least of a Ministers care, and skill in dividing the Word, so to presse the Christians duty, as not to oppresse his Spirit with the weight of it, by laying it on the creatures own shoulders, and not on the Lords strength, as here our Apostle teacheth us.