A85783:935
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
A TREATISE Of the whole Armour Of God. › Introduction › Chapter 8 › Section 5
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, it is one main business of Christ intercession, to obtain of God perseverance for our weak graces. I have prayed, (saith Christ to Peter) that thy faith fail not. But was not that a ⟨p. 384⟩particular privilege granted to him, which may be denied to another? O Sirs, do we think that Christs love looks a squint? doth he pray for one child more then another? such fears and jealousies foolish children are ready to take up, and therefore Christ prevents them, by bidding Peter in the very next words. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren, Luke 22.31. that is, when thou feelest the efficacy and force of my prayer for thy faith, carry this good news to them, that their hearts may be strengthened also; and what strengthening had it been to them, if Christ prayed not for them as well as Peter? does Christ pray for us? yea, doth he not live to pray for us? O how can children of so many prayers, of such prayers perish? The Saints prayers have a mighty power. Jacob wrestled and had power with God, this was his sword and bow (to allude to what he said of the parcel of ground he took, from the Amorite,) by which he got the victory and had power with God. This was the Key with which Elijah opened and shut heaven. And if the weak prayers of Saints (coming in his Name) have such credit in heaven, that with them they can go to Gods treasure, and carry away as much as their arms of faith can hold; O then, what prevalency has Christs intercession, who is a Son, an obedient Son, that is come from finishing his great work on earth, and now prays his Father for nothing, but what he hath bid him ask, yea, for nothing but what he is beforehand with him for, and all this to a Father that loves those he prays for as well as himself? Bid Satan avaunt, Say not thy weak faith shall perish, till thou hearest that Christ hath left praying, or meets with a repulse.
Secondly, it is one main businesse of Christe intercession, to obtain of God perseverance for our weak graces. I have prayed, (saith Christ to Peter) that thy faith faile not. But was not that a ⟨p. 384⟩particular priviledge granted to him, which may be denied to another? O Sirs, do we think that Christs love looks a squint? doth he pray for one childe more then another? such feares and jealousies foolish children are ready to take up, and therefore Christ prevents them, by bidding Peter in the very next words. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,