A85783:82
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.
First, a settled firm persuasion, that the Lord is Almighty in Power. Be strong in the Power of his might, that is, be strongly rooted in your faith, concerning this one foundation-truth, that God is Almighty.
First, a setled firme perswasion, that the Lord is Almighty in Power. Be strong in the Power of his might, that is, be strongly rooted in your faith, concerning this one foundation-truth, that God is Almighty.
Secondly, it implies a further act of faith, not only to believe, that God is Almighty, but also that this Almighty Power of God is engaged for its defence: so as to bear up in the midst of all trials and temptations undauntedly, leaning on the arm of God Almighty, as if it were his own strength; for that is the Apostles drift, as to beat us off from leaning on our own strength, so to encourage the Christian to make use of Gods Almighty Power, as freely as if it were his own; when ever assaulted by Satan in any kind. As a man set upon by a thief, stirs up all the force and strength he hath in his whole body to ⟨p. 24⟩defend himself and offend his adversary; so the Apostle bids the Christian be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his might, that is, Soul, away to thy God, whose mighty Power is all intended and devoted by God himself for thy succour and defence. Go strengthen and entrench thy self in it by a steadfast faith, as that which shall be laid out to the utmost for thy good. From whence these two Notes, I conceive, will draw out the fatness of the words.
Secondly, it implies a further act of faith, not only to believe, that God is Almighty, but also that this Almighty Power of God is engaged for its defence: so as to bear up in the midst of all trials and temptations undauntedly, leaning on the arme of God Almighty, as if it were his own strength; for that is the Apostles drift, as to beat us off from leaning on our own strength, so to encourage the Christian to make use of Gods Almighty Power, as freely as if it were his own; when ever assaulted by Satan in any kinde. As a man set upon by a thief, stirs up all the force and strength he hath in his whole body to