A85783:941
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.
Use 2 This truth prepares a sovereign cordial to restore the fainting spirits of weak believers, who are surprised with many fears, concerning their persevering and holding out to the end of their warfare. Be of good cheer, poor soul; God hath given Christ the life of every soul within the Ark of his Covenant. Your eternal safety is provided for; Whom he loves he loves to the end, J•h. 13.1. Hath he made thee willing in the day of his power to march under his banner, and espouse his quarrel against sin and hell? the same power that overcame thy rebellious heart to himself, will overcome all thy enemies within and without for thee; say not thou art a bruised reed; with this he will break Satan's head, and not cease till he hath brought forth judgement into complete victory in thy soul. He that can make a few wounded men rise up and take a strong city,1 can make a wounded spirit triumph over sin and devils. The Ark stood in the midst of Jordan, till the whole Camp of Israel was safely got over into Canaan, Josh. 3. And so doth the Covenant (which the Ark did but typify;) yea, Christ, Covenant and all stand to secure the Saints a safe passage to Heaven. If but one believer drowns, the Covenant must drown with him. Christ and the Saint are put together as co-heirs of the same inheritance, Rom. 8.17. If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. We cannot dispute against one, but we question the firmness of the others title. When you hear Christ is turned out of heaven, or himself to be willing to sell his inheritance there, then, poor Christian, fear thy coming thither and not till then. Co-heirs cannot sell the inheritance except both give up their right, which Christ will never do nor suffer thee.
Ʋse 2 This truth prepares a sovereign cordial to restore the fainting spirits of weak believers, who are surprised with many feares, concerning their persevering and holding out to the end of their warfare. Be of good cheer, poor soule; God hath given Christ the life of every soule within the Ark of his Covenant. Your eternal safety is provided for; Whom he loves he loves to the end, J•h. 13.1. Hath he made thee willing in the day of his power to march under his banner, and espouse his quarrel against sin and hell? the same power that overcame thy rebellious heart to himself, will overcome all thy enemies within and without for thee; say not thou art a bruised reed; with this he will break Satans head, and not cease till he hath brought forth judgement into compleat victory in thy soule. He that can make a few wounded men rise up and take a strong city,