A85783:492
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 4 › Section 1
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, the number of devils adds to their power. What lighter then the sand? yet number makes it weighty? what creature less then lice? yet what plague greater to the Egyptians? How formidable then must devils be, who are both for nature so mighty, and for number such a multitude? there are devils enough to beleaguer the whole earth; not a place under heaven where Satan hath not his troops; not a person without some of these cursed spirits haunting and watching him wherever he goes; yea, for some special service he can send a legion to keep garrison in one single person, as, Mark 5. and if so many can be spared to attend one, to what a number would the muster-roll of Satan's whole army amount if known? And now tell me, if we are not like to find our march difficult to heaven, (if ever we mean to go thither) that are to pass through the very quarters of this multitude, who are scattered over the face of all ⟨p. 199⟩the earth. When armies are disbanded and the roads full of debauched soldiers, wandering up and down, it's dangerous travelling: we hear then of murders and robberies from all quarters: These powers of hell are that party of Angels, who for their mutiny and disobedience were cashiered heaven, and thrust out of that glorious host, and ever since they have straggled here below, endeavouring to do mischief to the children of men, especially travelling in heavens road.
Thirdly, the number of devils addes to their power. What lighter then the sand? yet number makes it weighty? what creature lesse then lice? yet what plague greater to the Egyptians? How formidable then must devils be, who are both for nature so mighty, and for number such a multitude? there are devils enough to beleaguer the whole earth; not a place under heaven where Satan hath not his troops; not a person without some of these cursed spirits haunting and watching him whereever he goes; yea, for some special service he can send a legion to keep garrison in one single person, as, Mark 5. and if so many can be spared to attend one, to what a number would the muster-rolle of Satans whole army amount if known? And now tell me, if we are not like to finde our march difficult to heaven, (if ever we mean to go thither) that are to passe through the very quarters of this multitude, who are scattered over the face of all