A85783:828
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.
Secondly, when thou declinest in thy care to perform duties in a spiritual sort, and to preserve the sense of those more inward failings, which in duty none but thy self can check thee of. It is not frequency of duty, but spirituality in duty causeth thriving, and therefore neglect in this point soon brings grace into a consumptive posture. Possibly, soul, the time was thou wert not satisfied with praying, but thou didst watch thy heart strictly, (as a man would every piece in a sum of money he pays, lest he should wrong his friend with any brass or uncurrent coin) thou wouldest have God not only have duty, but duty stamped with that faith which makes it currant, have that zeal and sincerity which makes it Gospel-weight; but now thou art more careless and formal, O look to it (poor soul) thou wilt, if thou continue thus careless, melt in thy spiritual estate apace. Such dealings will spoil thy trade with heaven. God will not take off these slighty duties at thy hands.
Secondly, when thou declinest in thy care to performe duties in a spiritual sort, and to preserve the sense of those more inward failings, which in duty none but thy self can check thee of. It is not frequency of duty, but spirituality in duty causeth thriving, and therefore neglect in this point soon brings grace into a consumptive posture. Possibly, soul, the time was thou wert not satisfied with praying, but thou didst watch thy heart strictly, (as a man would every piece in a summe of money he payes, lest he should wrong his friend with any brasse or uncurrant coin) thou wouldest have God not only have duty, but duty stamp't with that faith which makes it currant, have that zeal and sincerity which makes it Gospel-weight; but now thou art more careless and formal, O look to it (poor soul) thou wilt, if thou continue thus carelesse, melt in thy spiritual estate apace. Such dealings will spoil thy trade with heaven. God will not take off these slighty duties at thy hands.
Thirdly, when a Christian gets little spiritual nourishment from communion with God, to what it hath done. The time hath been (may be) thou couldest show what came of thy praying, hearing and fasting; but now the case is altered. There is a double strength communion with God imparts to a soul in a healthful disposition, strength to faith, and strength for our obediential walking; doest thou hear and pray, and get no more strength to hold by a promise, no more power over, or brokenness of heart under thy usual corruptions? what? come down the Mount and break the Tables of Gods Law, as soon as thou art off the place? as deep in thy passion, as uneven in thy course as before? there is a sure decay of that inward heat which should and would (if in its right temper) suck some nourishment from these.