A85783:641
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 7 › Section 2
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.
Answ. I suppose thee a Christian, that makest this question; and if thou dost it in the plainness of thy heart it proves thee one. Who besides will, or can desire in earnest to be eased of these guests? even when a carnal heart prays for deliverance from them, he would be loath his prayer should be heard. Not yet Lord, the heart of such a one cries, as Austin confessed of himself. Sin is as truly the off-spring of the soul as children are of our bodies, and it finds as much favour in our eyes, yea more, for the sinner can slay a son to save a sin alive, Micah 6.7. and of all sins none are more made on then these heart sins.
Answ. I suppose thee a Christian, that makest this question; and if thou dost it in the plainnesse of thy heart it proves thee one. Who besides will, or can desire in earnest to be eased of these guests? even when a carnal heart prayes for deliverance from them, he would be loath his prayer should be heard. Not yet Lord, the heart of such a one cries, as Austin confessed of himself. Sin is as truly the off-spring of the soule as children are of our bodies, and it findes as much favour in our eyes, yea more, for the sinner can slay a son to save a sin alive, Micah 6.7. and of all sinnes none are more made on then these heart sins.
First, because they are the first-born of the sinful heart, and the chiefest strength of the soul is laid out upon them.
First, because they are the first-born of the sinful heart, and the chiefest strength of the soule is laid out upon them.
Secondly, because the heart hath more scope in them then in outward acts. The proud man is staked down oft to a short state, and cannot ruffle it in the world, and appear to others in that pomp he would; but within his own bosom he can set up a stage, and in his own foolish heart present himself as great a Prince as he pleaseth. The malicious can kill in his desires as many in a few minutes, as the Angel smote in a night of Sennacherib's host. Nero thus could slay all Rome on the block at once.