A85783:594
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 4
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.
Fifthly, If thou wouldst attain to divine knowledge, wait on the Ministry of the Word. As for those who neglect this, and come not where the Word is Preached, they do like one that should turn his back on the Sun that he may see it; if thou wouldst know God, come where he hath appointed thee to learn. Indeed, where the means is not, God hath extraordinary ways, as a Father if no School in Town, will teach his child at home, but if there be a public School, thither he sends him: God maketh manifest (saith Paul) the savour of his knowledge by us in every place, 2 Cor. 2.14. Let men talk of the Spirit what they please. He will at last be found a quencher of the Spirit, that is, a despiser of Prophecy; they both stand close together, 1 Thes. 5.19, 20. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not Prophesying. But it is not enough, to sit under the means; Woeful experience teacheth us this, there are some no Sun will tan, they keep their old ⟨p. 247⟩complexion under the most shining and burning light of the Word preached, as ignorant and profane as those that never saw Gospel-day; and therefore if thou wilt receive any spiritual advantage by the Word, take heed how thou hearest.
Fifthly, If thou wouldst attain to divine knowledge, wait on the Ministery of the Word. As for those who neglect this, and come not where the Word is Preacht, they do like one that should turn his back on the Sunne that he may see it; if thou wouldst know God, come where he hath appointed thee to learn. Indeed, where the meanes is not, God hath extraordinary wayes, as a Father if no School in Town, will teach his childe at home, but if there be a publick School, thither he sends him: God maketh manifest (saith Paul) the savour of his knowledge by us in every place, 2 Cor. 2.14. Let men talk of the Spirit what they please. He will at last be found a quencher of the Spirit, that is, a despiser of Prophecy; they both stand close together, 1 Thes. 5.19, 20. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not Prophesying. But it is not enough, to sit under the meanes; Wofull experience teacheth us this, there are some no Sun will tan, they keep their old