A85783:692
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 9 › 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.
Thirdly, in envying the gifts of others, when they seem to blind our own, that they are not so fair a prospect as we desire. This is a weed may grow too rank in a good soil. Aaron and Miriam could not bear Moses his honour, Numb. 12.1. that was the business, though they pick a quarrel with him about his wife, (because an Ethiopian) as appears plainly, v. 2. Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? They thought Moses went away with too much of the honour, and did repine that God should use him more then themselves. And 'tis observable, that the lusting for flesh broke out among the mixed multitude and baser sort of people, Numb. 11.4, 5. but this of pride and envy took fire in the bosoms of the most eminent for place and Piety. O what need then have we, poor creatures, to watch our hearts when we see such precious servants of God led into temptation? The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy, James 4.5. Our corrupt nature is ever putting on to this sin. 'Tis as hard to keep our hearts and this sin asunder, as it is to hinder two lovers from meeting together: Thatch is not more ready to be fired with every flash of lightening, then the heart to be kindled at the shining forth of any excelling gift or grace in another. It was one of the first windows that corrupt nature looked out at, a sin that shed the first blood; Cains envy hatched Abel's murder. Now if ever thou meanest to get the mastery of this sin;
Thirdly, in envying the gifts of others, when they seeme to blinde our own, that they are not so faire a prospect as we desire. This is a weed may grow too rank in a good soile. Aaron and Miriam could not bear Moses his honour, Numb. 12.1. that was the businesse, though they pick a quarrel with him about his wife, (because an Ethiopian) as appears plainly, v. 2. Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? They thought Moses went away with too much of the honour, and did repine that God should use him more then themselves. And 'tis observable, that the lusting for flesh broke out among the mixt multitude and baser sort of people,