A85783:956
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
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, to stand, doth here also (as the complement of their reward) denote the Saints standing in heavens glory. Princes when they would reward any of their subjects, that in their wars have done eminent service to the crown, (as the utmost they can do for them) do prefer them to Court, there to enjoy their Princely favour, and stand in some place of honourable service before them continually. Solomon sets it out as the greatest reward of faithful subjects to stand before Kings. Heaven is the royal city where the great God keeps his Court. The happiness of glorious Angels is to stand there before God. I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, Luke 1.19. That is, I am one of those heavenly spirits who wait on the great God, and stand before his face, as Courtiers do about their Prince. Now such honour shall every faithful soul have. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, I will give thee places to walk, among these that stand by, Zech. 3.7. He alludes to the Temple, which had rooms joining to it for the Priests that waited on the Lord in his holy service there. Or to Courtiers, that have stately galleries and lodgings becoming their place at Court allowed them in the Kings Palace they wait upon. Thus all the Saints, (whose representative Joshua was) shall after they have kept the Lords charge in a short life's service on earth, be called up to stand before God in heaven, where with Angels they shall have their galleries, and mansions of glory also. O happy they who shall stand before the Lord in glory! The greatest Peers of a Realm (such as Earls, Marquesses and Dukes are) count it greater honour to stand before their King, though bare-headed and oft upon the knee, then to live in the country, where all bow and stand bare to them; yea, let but their Prince forbid them coming to Court, and 'tis not their great estates or respect they have where they live will content them. 'Tis better to wait in heaven then to reign on earth. 'Tis sweet standing before the Lord here in an Ordinance, one day in the worship of God is better then many elsewhere; O what then is it to stand before God in glory! If the Saints spikenard sendeth forth so sweet a smell,1 while the King sits at his table here in a Sermon or Sacrament: