A85783:609
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 6 › 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.
First, the devil is a spirit, that is, his essence is immaterial and simple, not compounded (as corporal beings are) of matter and form: Handle and see me (saith Christ to his disciples, that thought they had seen a Spirit) a Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have, Luke 24.39. If they were not thus immaterial, how could they enter into bodies and possess them, as the Scripture tells us they have, even a legion into one man? Luke 8.30. one body cannot thus enter into another.
First, the devil is a spirit, that is, his essence is immaterial and simple, not compounded (as corporal beings are) of matter and forme: Handle and see me (saith Christ to his disciples, that thought they had seen a Spirit) a Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have, Luke 24.39. If they were not thus immaterial, how could they enter into bodies and possesse them, as the Scripture tells us they have, even a legion into one man? Luke 8.30. one body cannot thus enter into another.
Secondly, the devils are spiritual substances, not qualities, or evil motions, arising from us, as some have absurdly conceived. So the Sadducees, and others following them deny any such being, as Angel good or evil: but this is so fond a conceit, that we must both forfeit our reason, and deny the Scriptures to maintain it, where we find their Creation related, Col. 1.18. the fall of some from their first estate, Jude 6. and the standing of others called the Elect Angels; The happiness of the one, who behold Gods face; and their employment, are sent out to attend on the Saints as servants on their Masters heirs,