A85783:444
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 2 › 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.
'tis time for God to part his children, when they cannot live in peace together.
Secondly, the Christian wrestles with wicked men. Because you are not of the world, saith Christ, the world hates you. The Saints nature and life are Antipodes to the world, fire and water, heaven and hell, may as soon be reconciled as they with it. The Heretic is his enemy for truths sake, the profane for holiness, to both the Christian is an abomination, as the Israelite to the Egyptian; hence come wars▪ the fire of persecution never goes out in the hearts of the wicked, who say in their hearts as they once with their lips, Christiani ad leones. Now in all the Saints wars with the wicked, Satan is Commander in chief, 'tis their fathers work they do, his lusts they fulfil. The Sabeans plundered Job, but went on Satan's errand. The Heretic broacheth corrupt doctrine, perverts the faith of many, but in that the Minister of Satan, 2 Cor. 11.15. they have their call, their wiles and wages from him. Persecutors their work ascribed to hell; is it a persecution of the tongue? 'tis hell sets it on fire; is it of the hand? still they are but the devils instruments, Rev. 2.10. The devil shall cast some of you into prison.
Secondly, the Christian wrestles with wicked men. Because you are not of the world, saith Christ, the world hates you. The Saints nature and life are Antipodes to the world, fire and water, heaven and hell, may assoon be reconciled as they with it. The Heretick is his enemy for truths sake, the prophane for holinesse, to both the Christian is an abomination, as the Israelite to the Egyptian; hence come wars▪ the fire of persecution never goes out in the hearts of the wicked, who say in their hearts as they once with their lips, Christiani ad leones. Now in all the Saints wars with the wicked, Satan is Commander in chief, 'tis their fathers work they do, his lusts they fulfil. The Sabeans plunder'd Job, but went on Satans errand. The Heretick broacheth corrupt doctrine, perverts the faith of many, but in that the Minister of Satan,