A85783:541
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 5 › 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.
Secondly, let us see how it appears, that such as are under a state of sin, are under the rule of Satan. Sinners are called the children of the devil, 1 John 3.10. and who rules the child but the Father? they are slaves; who rules the slave but the Master? they are the very mansion-house of the devil; where hath a man command, but in his own house? I will go to my house, Mat. 12.44. As if the devil had said, I have walked among the Saints of God, to and fro, knocking at this door and that, and none will bid me welcome, I can find no rest; well. I know where I may be bold; I'll even go to my own house, and there I am sure to rule the roast without control; and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept and garnished; that is, all ready for his entertainment. Servants make the house trim and handsome against their Master come home, especially when he brings guests with him, as here the devil brings seven more. Look to the sinner, there is nothing he is or hath, but the devil hath dominion over it: He rules the whole man, their minds blinding them. All the sinners apprehension of things are shaped by Satan: he looks on sin with the devils spectacles: he reads the Word with the devils comment: he sees nothing in its native ⟨p. 217⟩colours, but is under a continual delusion. The very wisdom of a wicked man is said to be devilish, James 3.15. [Greek or Hebrew], or devil-like, because taught by the devil, and also such as the devils is, wise only to do evil. He commands their Wills, though not to force them, yet effectually to draw them. His work (saith Christ) ye will do. You are resolved on your way, the devil hath got your hearts, and him you will obey: and therefore when Christ comes to recover his throne, he finds the soul in an uproar, as Ephesus at Pauls Sermon, crying him down, and Diana up. We will not have this man reign over us, what is the Almighty that we should serve him? He rules over all their members, they are called weapons of unrighteousness, all at the devils service; as all the arms of a Kingdom, to defend the Prince against any that shall invade. The head to plot, the hand to act, the feet swift to carry the body up and down about his service; He rules over all he hath. Let God come in a poor member, and beseech him to lend him a penny, or bestow a morsel to refresh his craving bowels;