A85783:936
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.
Thirdly, let us see whether Satan be able to pluck the Christian away, and step betwixt him and home. I have had occasion to speak of this subject in another place, the less here shall serve. Abundant provision is made against his assaults. The Saint is wrapped up in the everlasting arms of Almighty power, and what can a cursed devil do against God, who laid those chains on him which he cannot shake off? when he is able to pluck that dart of divine fury out of his own conscience which God hath fastened there, then let him think of such an enterprise as this. How can he overcome thee that cannot tempt thee but in Gods appointed time? And if God set Satan his time to assault ⟨p. 385⟩the Christian whom he loves so dearly, surely it shall be when he shall be repulsed with greatest shame.
Thirdly, let us see whether Satan be able to pluck the Christian away, and step betwixt him and home. I have had occasion to speak of this subject in another place, the lesse here shall serve. Abundant provision is made against his assaults. The Saint is wrap't up in the everlasting armes of Almighty power, and what can a cursed devil do against God, who laid those chaines on him which he cannot shake off? when he is able to pluck that dart of divine fury out of his own conscicnce which God hath fastened there, then let him think of such an enterprise as this. How can he overcome thee that cannot tempt thee but in Gods appointed time? And if God set Satan his time to assault ⟨p. 385⟩the Christian whom he loves so dearly, surely it shall be when he shall be repulsed with greatest shame.
Use 1 Away then with that doctrine, which saith, one may be a Saint to day, and none to morrow; now a Peter, anon a Judas; O what unsavoury stuff is this! a principle it is that at once crosseth the main design of God in the Gospel-Covenant, reflects sadly on the honour of Christ, and wounds the Saints comfort to the heart.