A85783:475
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.
Thirdly, to whom goest thou for protection? as it belongs to the Prince to protect his subjects, so Princes expect their subjects should trust them with their safety; the very bramble bids, Judg. 9.15. If in truth ye anoint me King, then put your trust under my shadow. Now who hath thy confidence? Darest thou trust God with thy soul, and the affairs of it in well-doing? Good subjects follow their calling, commit State-matters to the wisdom ⟨p. 190⟩of their Prince and his Council; when wronged, they appeal to their Prince in his Laws for right; and when they do offend their Prince, they submit to the penalty of the Law; and bear his displeasure patiently, till humbling themselves they recover his favour, and do not in a discontent fall to open rebellion. Thus a gracious soul follows his Christian calling, committing himself to God as a faithful Creator, to be ordered by his wise Providence. If he meets with violence from any, he scorns to beg aid of the devil to help him, or be his own Judge to right himself; No, he acquiesceth in the counsel and comfort the Word of God gives him. If himself offends, and so comes under the lash of Gods correcting hand, he doth not then take up rebellious arms against God, and refuse to receive correction, but saith, Why should a living man complain? a man for the punishment of his sin; whereas a naughty heart dares not venture his estate, life, credit, or any thing he hath with God in well-doing, he thinks he shall be undone presently, if he sits still under the shadow of Gods promise for protection; and therefore he runs from God as from under an old house that would fall on his head, and lays the weight of his confidence in wicked policy, making lies his refuge, like Israel, he trusts in perverseness, when God, tells him, In returning and rest he shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be his strength: he hath not faith to take Gods Word for his security in ways of obedience.
Thirdly, to whom goest thou for protection? as it belongs to the Prince to protect his subjects, so Princes expect their subjects should trust them with their safety; the very bramble bids, Iudg. 9.15. If in truth ye anoint me King, then put your trust under my shadow. Now who hath thy confidence? Darest thou trust God with thy soule, and the affaires of it in well-doing? Good subjects follow their calling, commit State-matters to the wisdom