A85783:597
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.
Thirdly, Thou must be a retentive hearer, without this the work will ever be to begin again. Truths to a forgetful hearer are as a seal set on water, the impression lasts no longer then the seal is on; the Sermon once done, and all is undone; be therefore very careful to fasten what thou hearest on thy memory; which that thou mayest do,
Thirdly, Thou must be a retentive hearer, without this the worke will ever be to begin againe. Truths to a forgetfull hearer are as a seale set on water, the impression lasts no longer then the seale is on; the Sermon once done, and all is undone; be therefore very carefull to fasten what thou hearest on thy memory; which that thou maiest do,
First, receive the truth in the love of it, An affectionate hearer will not be a forgetful hearer. Love helps the memory; Can a woman forget her child, or a maid her ornaments, or a bride her attire? No, they love them too well: Were the truths of God thus precious to thee, thou wouldest with David, think of them day and night. Even when the Christian through weakness of memory cannot remember the very words ⟨p. 249⟩he hears, to repeat them; ye then he keeps the power and savour of them in his spirit; as when sugar is dissolved in wine, you cannot see it, but you may taste it; when meat is eaten and digested, it is not to be found as it was received, but the man is cheered and strengthened by it, more able to walk and work then before, by which you may know it is not lost: so you may taste the truths the Christian heard in his spirit, see them in his life. Perhaps if you ask him what the particulars were the Minister had about faith, mortification, repentance, and the like, he cannot tell you; yet this you may find, his heart is more broken for sin, more enabled to rely on the promises, and now weaned from the world. As that good woman answered one, that coming from Sermon, asked her what she remembered of the Sermon? said, she could not at present recall much, but she heard that which should make her reform some things as soon as she came home.