A85783:942
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 3 Thirdly, this truth calls for a word or two of caution. Though there is no fear of a Saints falling from grace, yet there is great danger of others falling from the top of this comfortable doctrine into a careless security, and presumptuous boldness; and therefore a battlement is very necessary, that from it we may ⟨p. 388⟩with safety to our souls, stand and view the pleasant prospect this truth presents to our eye. That flower from which the Bee sucks honey, the spider draws poison. That which is a restorative to the Saints grace, proves an incentive to the lust of a wicked man. What Paul said of the Law, we may truly of the Gospel: Sin taking occasion from the grace of the Gospel, and the sweet promises thereof, deceives the carnal heart, and works in him all manner of wickedness. Indeed sin seldom grows so rank any where, as in those who water its roots with the grace of the Gospel. Two ways this doctrine may be abused.
Ʋse 3 Thirdly, this truth calls for a word or two of caution. Though there is no feare of a Saints salling from grace, yet there is great danger of others falling from the top of this comfortable doctrine into a carelesse security, and presumptuous boldnesse; and therefore a battlement is very necessary, that from it we may ⟨p. 388⟩with safety to our soules, stand and view the pleasant prospect this truth presents to our eye. That flower from which the Bee sucks honey, the spider draws poison. That which is a restorative to the Saints grace, proves an incentive to the lust of a wicked man. What Paul said of the Law, we may truly of the Gospel: Sin taking occasion from the grace of the Gospel, and the sweet promises thereof, deceives the carnal heart, and works in him all manner of wickednesse. Indeed sin seldome grows so rank any where, as in those who water its roots with the grace of the Gospel. Two wayes this doctrine may be abused.
First, into a neglect of duty.