A85783:54
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.
Use 2 Let this then exhort you, Christians, to labour for this holy resolution and prowess, which is so needful for your Christian Profession, that without it you cannot be what you profess. The fearful are in the forlorn of those that march for hell, Rev. 21. the violent and valiant are they, which take heaven by force: Cowards never wan heaven. Say not, thou hast royal blood running in thy veins, and art begotten of God, except thou canst prove thy pedigree by this heroic spirit, to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils. The Eagle tries her young ones by the Sun, Christ tries his children by their courage, that dare look on the face of death and danger for his sake, Mark 8.34, 35. O how uncomely a sight is it; a bold sinner and a fearful Saint; one resolved to be wicked, and a Christian wavering in his holy course; to see guilt put innocency to flight, and hell keep the field, impudently braving it with displayed banners of open profaneness; and Saints to hide their colours for shame, or run from them for fear, who should rather wrap themselves in them, and die upon the place, then thus betray the glorious Name of God, which is called upon by them to the scorn of the ⟨p. 11⟩uncircumcised. Take heart therefore, O ye Saints, and be strong: your cause is good, God himself espouseth your quarrel, who hath appointed you his own Son, General of the field, called The Captain of our salvation. He shall lead you on with courage,1 and bring you off with honour. He lived and died for you, he will live and die with you: for mercy and tenderness to his soldiers, none like him. Trajan, 'tis said, rent his clothes to bind up his soldiers wounds; Christ poured out his blood as balm to heal his Saints wounds, tears of his flesh to bind them up. For prowess, none to compare with him: he never turned his head from danger: no, not when hells malice and heavens justice appeared in field against him; Knowing all that should come upon him, went forth and said, Whom seek ye? John 18.4. For success insuperable; he never lost battle even when he lost his life: he wan the field, carrying the spoils thereof in the triumphant chariot of his Ascension to heaven with him: where he makes an open show of them to the unspeakable joy of Saints and Angels. You march in the midst of gallant spirits, your fellow-soldiers, every one the Son of a Prince: