A85783:945
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.
First, beware of falling into a neglect of duty upon this score; if a Christian, thou canst not fall away from grace. Take for an antidote against this three particulars.
First, there are other arguments to invite, yea, that will constrain thee to a constant vigorous performing of duty, though the fear of falling away should not come in, or else thou art not a Christian; what? nothing make the child diligent about his fathers business, but fear of being disinherited and turned out of doors? There is sure some better motive to duty in a Saints heart, or else Religion is a melancholy work. Speak for your selves, O ye Saints, is self-preservation all you pray for, and hear for? should a messenger come from Heaven, and tell you Heaven were yours, would this make you give over your spiritual trade and not care whether you had any more acquaintance with God till you came thither? O how harsh doth this sound in your ears! There are such principles engraven in the Christians bosom, that will not suffer a strangeness long to grow betwixt God and him. He is under the Law of a new life, which carries him naturally to desire communion with God, as the child doth to see the face of his dear father, and every duty is a Mount wherein God presents himself to be seen and enjoyed by the Christian.
First, there are other arguments to invite, yea, that will constrain thee to a constant vigourous performing of duty, though the feare of falling away should not come in, or else thou art not a Christian; what? nothing make the childe diligent about his fathers businesse, but feare of being disinherited and turned out of doors? There is sure some better motive to duty in a Saints heart, or else Religion is a melancholy work. Speak for your selves, O ye Saints, is self-preservation all you pray for, and heare for? should a messenger come from Heaven, and tell you Heaven were yours, would this make you give over your spiritual trade and not care whether you had any more acquaintance with God till you came thither? O how harsh doth this sound in your eares! There are such principles engraven in the Christians bosome, that will not suffer a strangenesse long to grow betwixt God and him. He is under the Law of a new life, which carries him naturally to desire communion with God, as the childe doth to see the face of his deare father, and every duty is a Mount wherein God presents himself to be seen and enjoyed by the Christian.