A85783:870
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.
Thirdly, the day of affliction makes discovery of much evil to be in the heart, which was not seen before. Affliction shakes and roils the creature, if any sediment be at the bottom it will appear then. Sometimes it discovers the heart to be quite naught, that before had some seeming good, these suds wash off the hypocrites paint, Natura vexata prodit seipsam. When corrupt nature is vexed it shows it self, and some afflictions do that to purpose. We read of such as are offended when persecution comes, they fall quite out with their Profession, because it puts them to such cost and trouble; others in their distress that curse their God, Isa. 8.21. It is impossible for a naughty heart to think well of an afflicting God. The hireling, if his Master takes up a staff to beat him, throws down his work and runs away; and so doth a false heart serve God. Yea, even where the person is gracious, corruption is oft found to be stronger, and grace weaker then they were thought to be. Peter, who set out so valiantly at first to walk on the sea, the wind doth but rise and ⟨p. 355⟩he begins to sink; now he sees there was more unbelief in his heart then he before suspected. Sharp afflictions are to the soul as a driving rain to the house; we know not that there are such crannies and holes in the house, till we see it drop down here and there. Thus we perceive not how unmortified this corruption, nor how weak that grace is, till we are thus searched, and made more fully to know what is in our hearts by such trials. This is the reason why none have such humble thoughts of themselves, and such pitiful and forbearing thoughts towards others in their infirmities; as those who are most acquainted with afflictions, they meet with so many foils in their conflicts, as make them carry a low sail in respect of their own grace, and a tender respect to their brethren, more ready to pity then censure them in their weaknesses.
Thirdly, the day of affliction makes discovery of much evil to be in the heart, which was not seen before. Affliction shakes and royles the creature, if any sediment be at the bottome it will appear then. Sometimes it discovers the heart to be quite naught, that before had some seeming good, these suds wash off the hypocrites paint, Natura vexata prodit seipsam. When corrupt nature is vext it shews it self, and some afflictions do that to purpose. We reade of such as are offended when persecution comes, they fall quite out with their Profession, because it puts them to such cost and trouble; others in their distresse that curse their God,