A85783:839
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 hast renewed thy repentance, forget not, delay not then to renew thy faith on the promise for pardon. Repentance that is like purging physic to evacuate the peccant humour; but if faith come not presently with its restorative, the poor creature will never get heart, or recover his strength. A soul may die of a flux of sorrow as well as of sin; faith hath an incarnating virtue, as they say of some strengthening meats, it feeds upon the promise, and that is perfect, converting (or rather restoring) the soul, Psal. 19.7. Though thou wert pined to skin and bones, all thy strength wasted, yet faith would soon recruit thee, and enable every grace to perform its office cheerfully. Faith sucks peace from the promise, called peace in believing; from peace flows joys, Being justified by faith we have peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and, v. 2. We rejoice in the hope of glory; and joy affords strength: The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Secondly, when thou hast renewed thy repentance, forget not, delay not then to renew thy faith on the promise for pardon. Repentance that is like purging physick to evacuate the peccant humour; but if faith come not presently with its restorative, the poor creature will never get heart, or recover his strength. A soule may die of a fluxe of sorrow as well as of sin; faith hath an incarnating vertue, as they say of some strengthening meats, it feeds upon the promise, and that is perfect, converting (or rather restoring) the soule, Psal. 19.7. Though thou wert pined to skin and bones, all thy strength wasted, yet faith would soon recruit thee, and enable every grace to perform its office chearfully. Faith sucks peace from the promise, call'd peace in beleeving; from peace flowes joyes, Being justified by faith we have peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and, v. 2. We rejoyce in the hope of glory; and joy affords strength: The joy of the Lord is our strength.