The Christian in Complete Armour

Thirdly, the Christian wrongs himself in not endeavouring to repair his broken armour, and recover his declining grace. By this he loses the evidence of his inheritance, at least so blots it that it cannot be so clearly perceived by him. A declining Christian must needs be a doubting Christian, because the common symptom of an hypocrite, is to wear and waste like a stake set in the ground, (which rots, while true grace like the tree grows.) Is not this the knot which the devil poseth many poor souls withal, and finds them work for many years to untie? If thou wert a Christian thou wouldest grow. Right Saints go from strength to strength, and thou goest from strength to weakness. They go up the hill to Zion, every Ordinance and Providence is a step that bears them nearer Heaven; but thou goest down the hill, and art further from thy salvation then when thou didst first believe (as thou thoughtest;) and doth it stand with thy wisdom, Christian, to put a staff into the devils hand, an argument into his mouth, to dispute against thy salvation with? If you held an estate by the life of a child, which upon the death of it should all go away from you, that child I warrant you should be well looked unto; his head should not ache, but you would post to the Physician for counsel; I pray what is your evidence for that glorious estate you hope for? Is it not Christ within you? Is not this new creature (which may well be called Christ for its likeness to him) the young heir of Heavens glory? and when that is sick or weak, is it not time to use all means for its recovery? while thus, thou canst neither live nor die comfortably. Not live; a man in a consumption has little joy of his life, he neither finds sweetness in his meat, nor delight in his work, as a healthful man doth. O how sweet is the promise to faith when active and vigorous? how easy the yoke of the Command to the Christian, when his conscience is not galled with guilt, nor hi ⟨p. 337⟩strength enfeebled by temptation? but the Christian in a declining condition, he tastes not the promise, every command is grievous, and every duty burdensome to him: he goes in pain like one whose foot is out of joint, though the way be never so pleasant. And he is as unfit to die as he is to live, such a one can like no more to hear the news of death, then a tenant that wants his rent doth to hear of the quarter-day.

Thirdly, the Christian wrongs himself in not endeavouring to repaire his broken armour, and recover his declining grace. By this he loses the evidence of his inheritance, at least so blots it that it cannot be so clearly perceived by him. A declining Christian must needs be a doubting Christian, because the common symptome of an hypocrite, is to wear and waste like a stake set in the ground, (which rots, while true grace like the tree grows.) Is not this the knot which the devil poseth many poor soules withal, and findes them work for many yeares to untie? If thou wert a Christian thou wouldest grow. Right Saints go from strength to streugth, and thou goest from strength to weaknesse. They go up the hill to Zion, every Ordinance and Providence is a step that bears them nearer Heaven; but thou goest down the hill, and art further from thy salvation then when thou didst first believe (as thou thoughtest;) and doth it stand wirh thy wisdom, Christian, to put a staffe into the devls hand, an argument into his mouth, to dispute against thy salvation with? If you held an estate by the life of a childe, which upon the death of it should all go away from you, that childe I warrant you should be well look't unto; his head should not ake, but you would post to the Physician for counsel; I pray what is your evidence for that glorious estate you hope for? Is it not Christ within you? Is not this new creature (whch may well be call'd Christ for its likenesse to him) the young heire of Heavens glory? and when that is sick or weak, is it not time to use all meanes for its recovery? while thus, thou canst neither live nor die comfortably. Not live; a man in a consumption has little joy of his life, he neither findes sweetnesse in his meat, nor delight in his work, as a healthfu man doth. O how sweet is the promise to faith when active and vigourous? how easie the yoke of the Command to the Christian, when his conscience is not gall'd with guilt, nor hi