A85783:777
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
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.
Alas, their heads are full of other projects, they are either as Israel, scattered over the face of the earth to gather straw, or busied in picking that straw they have gathered, labouring to get the world, or pleasing themselves with what they have got. So that it is no more then needs to use some arguments to call men off the world, to the pursuit of heaven, and what is heavenly.
Alas, their heads are full of other projects, they are either as Israel, scatter'd over the face of the earth to gather straw, or busied in picking that straw they have gathered, labouring to get the world, or pleasing themselves with what they have got. So that it is no more then needs to use some arguments to call men off the world, to the pursuit of heaven, and what is heavenly.
First, for earthly things, it is not necessary that thou hast them; that is necessary which cannot be supplied per vicarium, with somewhat besides it self. Now there is no such earthly enjoyment, but may be so supplied, as to make its room more desirable then its company. In Heaven there shall be light and no Sun, a rich feast and yet no meat, glorious robes and yet no clothes, thete shall want nothing, and yet none of this worldly glory be found there; yea, even while we are here, they may be recompensed; thou mayest be under infirmities of body, and yet better then if thou hadst health: The Inhabitant shall not say, I am sick, the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, Isa. 33.34. Thou mayest miss of worldly honour, and obtain with those Worthies of Christ, Heb. 11. a good report by faith, and that is a name better then of the great ones of the earth: thou mayest be poor in the world, and yet rich in grace, and Godliness with content is great gain. In a word, if thou partest with thy temporal life, and findest an eternal, what doest thou lose by the change? but heaven and heavenly things are such as cannot be recompensed with any other. Thou hast a heavenly soul in thy bosom, lose that, and where canst thou have another? There is but one heaven, miss that, and where can you take up your lodging but in hell? One Christ that can lead you thither, reject him, and there remains no more sacrifice