A85783:408
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 1 › Section 4
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.
Secondly, to the Saints, seeing your life is a continual wrestling here on earth, 'tis your wisdom to study how you may best manage the combat with your best enemy, which that you may do, take these few directions.
Secondly, to the Saints, seeing your life is a continual wrestling here on earth, 'tis your wisdom to study how you may best manage the combate with your best enemy, which that you may do, take these few directions.
First, look thou goest not into the field without thy Second; my meaning is, engage God by prayer to stand at thy back; God is in a league offensive and defensive with thee, but he looks to be called. Did the Ephraimites take it ill, that Gideon called them into the field, and may not God much more? as if thou meanedst to steal a victory before he should know it. Thou hast more valour then Moses, who would not stir without God, no, though he sent an Angel for his Lieutenant. Thou art wiser then Jacob, who to overcome Esau, now marching up, turns from him, and falls upon God; he knew if he could wrestle with God, he might trust God to deal with his brother. Engage God and the back-door is shut, no enemy can come behind thee, yea, thine enemy shall fall before thee. God turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness, saith David, Heaven saith Amen to his prayer, and the wretch hangs himself.
First, look thou goest not into the field without thy Second; my meaning is, engage God by prayer to stand at thy back; God is in a league offensive and defensive with thee, but he looks to be called. Did the Ephraimites take it ill, that Gideon called them into the field, and may not God much more? as if thou meanedst to steal a victory before he should know it. Thou hast more valour then Moses, who would not stir without God, no, though he sent an Angel for his Lieutenant. Thou art wiser then Iacob, who to overcome Esau, now marching up, turnes from him, and falls upon God; he knew if he could wrestle with God, he might trust God to deale with his brother. Engage God and the back-door is shut, no enemy can come behinde thee, yea, thine enemy shall fall before thee. God turne the counsel of Achitophel into foolishnesse, saith David, Heaven saith Amen to his prayer, and the wretch hangs himself.