A85783:732
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 11 › 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.
SECT. II.
A second Privilege is, when God honours a person to suffer for his truth, this is a great Privilege. Unto you it is given not only to believe, but to suffer for his sake. God doth not use to give worthless gifts to his Saints, there is some preciousness in it which a carnal eye cannot see. Faith you will say is a great gift, but perseverance greater, without which faith would be little worth, and perseverance in suffering this above both honourable; This made John Careless. our English Martyr, (who though he died not at the stake, yet in prison for Christ,) say, Such an honour 'tis, as Angels are not permitted to have, therefore God forgive me mine unthankfulness. Now when Satan cannot scare a soul from prison, yet then he will labour to puff him up in prison; when he cannot make him pity himself, then he will flatter him till he prides in himself; Affliction from God exposeth to impatience, for God to pride; and therefore (Christians) labour to fortify your selves against this temptation of Satan, how soon you may be called to suffering work you know not, such clouds oft are not long arising. Now to keep thy heart humble when thou art honoured to suffer for the truth; Consider,
A second Priviledge is, when God honours a person to suffer for his truth, this is a great Priviledge. Ʋnto you it is given not only to beleeve, but to suffer for his sake. God doth not use to give worthless gifts to his Saints, there is some preciousnesse in it which a carnal eye cannot see. Faith you will say is a great gift, but perseverance greater, without which faith would be little worth, and perseverance in suffering this above both honourable; This made John Carelesse. our English Martyr, (who though he died not at the stake, yet in prison for Christ,) say, Such an honour 'tis, as Angels are not permitted to have, therefore God forgive me mine unthankfulnesse. Now when Satan cannot scare a soul from prison, yet then he will labour to puffe him up in prison; when he cannot make him pity himself, then he will flatter him till he prides in himself; Affliction from God exposeth to impatience, for God to pride; and therefore (Christians) labour to fortifie your selves against this temptation of Satan, how soon you may be called to suffering work you know not, such clouds oft are not long arising. Now to keep thy heart humble when thou art honoured to suffer for the truth; Consider,