PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Christian in Complete Armour
William Gurnall, 1617–1679 · 726,331 words · 834 reading sections
2 ()2
dark chaos made the glorious heavens, and garnished them with so many orient stars, can move upon thy dark soul, and enlighten it, though now it he as void of knowledge as the evening of the world's first day was of light. The school- master sometimes sends home the child, and bids his father to put him to another trad…
851 wordsSECTION 602AND THE SWOKD OF THE SPIRIT. 597
off the dirt they throw upon thee, and sweetly entertain thyself with the com- fort which thy own conscience will bring to thee through the reproaches of thy enemies. Salvian saith, What others say or think of us, makes us not miserable : one repi'oof from a man's own thoughts, wounds more than the reproaches of all th…
919 wordsSECTION 603598 AND THE SV/ORI) OF THE SPIRIT.
for US, leaving us an example, that ye slxnild follow his steps ; wlio, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not,'&c.; 1 Pet. ii. 20, 21, 23. This is hard work indeed, in the very lire to keep the spirits cool, and clear of wrath and revenge, toward those that throw him so unmerci- fu…
881 wordsSECTION 604DIRECTFONS TO THE CHRISTIAN, HOW TO MAKE USE OF THE SWORD OF THE WORD FOR HIS DEFENCE AGAINST ERRORS AND SEDUCERS.
man his discretion with what instrument to thresh his corn, as it is harder or softer, will not let the persecutor's wheel come upon thee who art not able to bear it. God gives us this very account why he led his people the farther way about, at their coming out of Egypt, rather than by the land of the Philistines, (th…
918 wordsSECTION 605(JOO ■'^^^ '^^^ SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
The second enemy that comes forth against the Christian is the lieretic, who is SO much more to he feared than the former, by how mucli it is worse to part with God's truth than our own life ; to be corrupted in our minds than to be tortured in our membei-s ; to have our souls damned by God, than our bodies killed by m…
866 wordsSECTION 606(JOO ■'^^^ '^^^ SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
Section III. — When thou consultest with the word, take heed thou comest not Avith a judgment pre-engaged to any opinion. He is not likely to hold the scales evenly whose judgment is bribed beforehand. A distempered eye sees the object of that colour with which itself is affected; and a mind prepossessed will be ready …
856 wordsSECTION 607602 ^^^ ^"^ SWORD OF THE SPIIUT.
which shew boththeii- detestable and damning nature. In Gal, v. 19, heresy is called a ' work of the flesh,' and reckoned among those sins which shut the doors of heaven : ' They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God,' ver. 21. They are called doctrines of devils. And if they come from the devil, wh…
887 wordsSECTION 608602 ^^^ ^"^ SWORD OF THE SPIIUT.
ral infection. Never fear speeding when the promise bids thee go and prosper. The mercy is granted before thou ask it ; only God will have thee by prayer lay thy claim to it, before thou art possessed of it. And for thy help I have set down some sweet promises, with which, if thou acquaint thyself, thou mayest be furni…
861 wordsSECTION 6096Q4 AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
years' experience in life and doctrine, they have found able and faithful ? In the fear of God, consider this ! It is not your ministers in their public ministry, but these liucksters and quacks in corners, practising upon you, that have privily brought in damnable doctrines, and leavened so great a lump of people in t…
836 wordsSECTION 610AND THE SWOUD OF THE SPIRIT. (3()5
beaten at home in his own country, who was a victor in his foreign expeditions ; so too many that do great feats at arms abroad, which makes them famous in this world, are miserably beaten and shamefully trampled upon by their own corruptions at home, which will make them much more infamous in the other world. But be n…
908 wordsSECTION 611QQQ AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
doth SO, Isa. v. 20. Never think to find lioney in the pot, when God writes poison on its cover. We may say of every sin in this respect, as Abigail of her husband ; as is its name in Scripture, so is it. If God call it folly, there is no wisdom to be found in it. The devil, indeed, teacheth sinners to cover foul pract…
932 wordsSECTION 612QQQ AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
This, O my child, is the enemy that would take away my glory, and life too, by thy means, who, by a debt both of nature and grace, owest thy whole self to live and die for the maintaining of my honour ! Art thou not as ready to fall upon thy sin, and drag it to execution, as the servants of Ahasuerus were to lay hold o…
931 wordsSECTION 613CHAPTER XXVI.
that live at one end of the world thirst for the blood and treasure of those that live at the other ; so that the earth is but as a cock-pit, where there is little else but fighting and killing one another. And is this the guest thou canst find in thy heart to bid welcome within thy bosom ? Thirdly, A damning property.…
850 wordsSECTION 614CHAPTER XXVI.
observes ; for the law is one copulative : one commandment cannot be wronged, but all are interested in the same ; as the whole body snfFers by a wovmd given to one part: 'God spake all these words,' Exod. xx. 1. They are ten words, but one law. Secondly, By allowing one sin, we disarm and deprive ourselves of having a…
893 wordsSECTION 6152 R
robe, because be bad possessed tbe world witb an opinion of Iiis batred of tliat sin, by putting sncli to deatli, yet is not afraid to go /)iro(/n/fo to one. Tberefore, as it added niueli to tbe weigbt of tbe temptations witb wbicb tlie devil assaulted Ciirist, tbat be came to bim in tbe wilderness and solicited bim to…
902 wordsSECTION 6162 R
him so bold to come before his master, and impudently lie to his head, not dreaming the least that he was aware of his sin ; yet this man is found out, and for the garments he got of Naaman by a lie, he had another given of the Lord, which he was to wear as a livery for his sin, for he was clothed with a leprosy ; a ga…
953 wordsSECTION 6170J2 AND THE SWOKD OF THE SPIRIT.
Hence it is tlie character of .sincerity, to look to the way rather than tlie company. 'Tlie higlnvay of the upright is to depart from evil,' Prov. xvi. 1 7. He consults with the word, whether the way be good or evil : if he finds it evil, he will not enter into it to bear anotlier company; no, though he be a saint. In…
827 wordsSECTION 6180J2 AND THE SWOKD OF THE SPIRIT.
Heart in Scripture is most frequently taken for tlie will and affections, — 'My son, give me thy heai't,' Prov. xxiii. 26; that is, thy love: so, Deut. x. 12, ' To love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart.' And thus, Christian, to hide the word in thy heart, would be a rare antidote against the 'poiso…
913 wordsSECTION 619CHAPTER XXVIIL
for his duty. Ts there a command to pray ? There is also a promise to ena])le for prayer, Zech. xii. 10 ; Rom. viii. 26. Doth God require us to give him our heart?—' My son, give me thy heart,' Prov. xxiii. 2G. Tlie promise saitli, ' He will give a new heart to us,' Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Doth he command us to mortify our co…
908 wordsSECTION 620AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. (315
Now, if thou wouldst improve the promises, so as not to be trampled upon by Satan in any distress that comes upon thee, bvit comfortably lift up thy head in hope and confidence above the waves of thy present sorrows, then hearken to what follows. First, Let it be thy chief care to have thy interest in, and right to the…
862 wordsSECTION 621QIQ AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
world : if he tells thee thou must be mean and poor in the world for his sake, thou art resolved to beg with him, rather than reign without him, yea, die for him, than live without him. Come forth, thou blessed of the Lord, and put on the bracelets of the i)romiscs ; they are the love-tokens which I am to deliver in hi…
924 wordsSECTION 622AND THE SWORD OF THE SPUUT. (317
he likes their company no better tlian a pack of thieves tliat breaks into his house. Neither saith he that lie fully kept the law, but he loved the lawr, even when he failed of exact obedience to it. Now from this testimony which his conscience brought in for his love to the law, his faith acts clearly and strongly on…
858 wordsSECTION 623AND THE SWORD OF THE SPUUT. (317
which he iiseth in winter ; the mariner provides his tackling in tlie harbour, before he ])uts to sea ; and the wise Christian will store himself with promises in health for sickness ; and in peace, for future perils. It is too late for a man to think of running home for his cloak, when on his way he is catched in a st…
880 wordsSECTION 624AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. QJ9
mise works eftectually, when it is bound upon the Christian's lieart, — when he wakes with it, and walks with it. No pain which he feels, no danger which he fears, can pluck him from this breast ; but as Samson went on his way eating of the honeycomb, so he, feeding on the sweetness of the promise. Here is a Christian …
908 wordsSECTION 625AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. QJ9
other, if linked by an especial affinity to the Ibrnior. In vain do we charge the gun, if we intend not to let it oiF. Meditation filleth the heart with heavenly matter, hut prayer gives the discharge, and poiu-s it forth upon God, whereby he is overcome to give the Christian his desired succour. 'J'he promise is the b…
925 wordsSECTION 626THE WHOLE DISCOURSE ON THIS PIECE SHUT UP WITH AN EXHORTATION TO THE MINISTERS, TO WHOM THIS SWORD IS ESPECIALLY COMMITTED.
or to what purpose, when an iron gate withstands us? But he riseth, and his chains fall off; he follows, and the iron gate opens itself to them. Say not, poor Christian, it is impossible to bear this affliction, or pass that temptation ; let faith follow the promise, and God will loose these knots that sense and rea- s…
854 wordsSECTION 627Section II. — In the pulpit use no others word but this, and handle it faith- fully. Renieniher who.se errand thou bringest.
Plato, Aristotle, with tlie rest of the princes of worldly learning, have written, and hadst encircled all the arts within thy circninterence, but art luiskilful in the word of righteousness, thoii wouldst he Paul's unlearned person, as unfit to be a minister as he that hath read all the body of the law is to be a j)hy…
896 wordsSECTION 628Section II. — In the pulpit use no others word but this, and handle it faith- fully. Renieniher who.se errand thou bringest.
Section II. — In the pulpit use no others word but this, and handle it faith- fully. Renieniher who.se errand thou bringest. First, Purel}', and that in a threefold respect. First, Pure from error. Tliink it not enough that your text is Scripture, but let your whole sermon be agree- able thereto. Thou art an ambassado…
869 wordsSECTION 629(524 PKAVING ALWAYS, ETC.
to tlij' own lust, 01- another's will, though the greatest in thy ])arish ! In a steward it is required, that he be faithful, 1 Cor. iv. 2. Now, the preacher's faithfulness stands in relation to him that intrusts him. It is veryimlikely that a steward, in giving out provision, should please all the servants in the hous…
843 wordsSECTION 630PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. Q25
savily required to the use of our armour. Tlie latter I shall follow, partly because it hath no piece of material armour allotted to it for a resemblance ; as also, by the connexion it hath with the whole discourse of the armour, it seems to be superadded as a general duty influential upon all the pieces before named, …
820 wordsSECTION 631PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. Q25
with the enemy below ; and the victory, it is plain, was not got by Joshua's sword, so much as by Moses's prayer. Jehoshaphat, when he liad near a mil- lion of men mustered for the field besides his garrisons, yet we find him praying as earnestly, as if he had not had a man ; ' We know not what to do, but our e3'es are…
895 wordsSECTION 632THE INFLUENCE PRAYER HATH ON ALL THE GRACES OF A SAINT SHEWN.
chain of obedience is broke. And as to a good action, there is required a concurrence of all the several ingredients and causes ; so to make a good Chris- tian, there is required a conscientious care to use all appointed means: he must follow the Lord fully, not to make here a balk, and there a furrow. It is not the le…
875 wordsSECTION 633(528 ' PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.
not when he was knocking at heaven's door by his prayer? — ' At the beginning of th}- supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee, for thou art greatly beloved.' When got the woman of Canaan the sight of her faith, not only that it was ti-ue, but strong, — •' O woman, great is thy faith!' but w…
884 wordsSECTION 634PRAYING AL^VAYS, ETC. G29
if he thought God would never give him a kind look more : ' How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever?' But by that time he had exercised himself a little in duty his distemper wears off, the mists scatter, and his faith breaks out as the sun in its strength, — ver. 5, 6 : 'I have trusted in thy mercy, my heai-t s…
939 wordsSECTION 635CHAPTER IIL
for courtiers have those that will be alwa3s undemiining them if they can : and ■ Satan is at the right hand of the Christian at every miscarriage, to accuse him unto God, saying. This is your favourite, though he be so devout in prayer ; he can do this or that, when the duty is over : and therefore if any have a tie u…
847 wordsSECTION 636THE QUESTION ANSWERED, WHY GOD REQUIRES PRAYER FOR THAT WHICH HE HATH PROMISED BEFORE TO GIVE?
Dan. ii. 20 ; 2 Sam. xv. 34 ; Esther iv. 16 ; Acts xii. 5 ; John xi. 41 ; Jonah ii. 2 ; Josh. X. 12, 14 ; 2 Kings xx. 11 ; Psa. cvi. 23 ; Ezek. xxii. 30. This is t]>e key that hath opened and shut heaven. It hath vanquished mighty armies ; and unlocked such secrets as passed the skill of the devil himself to find out. …
850 wordsSECTION 637THE QUESTION ANSWERED, WHY GOD REQUIRES PRAYER FOR THAT WHICH HE HATH PROMISED BEFORE TO GIVE?
when his crown and kingdom are gone ; but God cannot be a God except he be glorious ; neither can he be glorious unless he be holy, just, merciful, and faith- ful, &c. Now, that his glory may be seen and displayed is the great end he propounds, both in making and ordering of the world : Prov. xvi. 4, ' The Lord hath ma…
914 wordsSECTION 638A SHARP REPROOF TO ALL PRAYERLESS SOULS ; WITH THE DISMAL STATE THAT SUCH ARE IN, SHEWN.
are my people,' saitli God, ' children that will not lie ; so he was their Saviour,' Isa. Ixiii. 8. Secondly, Prayer is a means to dispose the heart to praise. Prayer and praise, like the symbolical qualities in the elements, are soon re- solved each into the other. When David begins a psalm with prayer, he com- monly …
864 wordsSECTION 639A SHARP REPROOF TO ALL PRAYERLESS SOULS ; WITH THE DISMAL STATE THAT SUCH ARE IN, SHEWN.
this pour into thy wounds, when in hell thy conscience shall fly in thy face, and tell thee tliou hadst not been there if thou had in time have humbled thy soul before God, and sought his favour in that way which cost Christ his blood ! Either thou must be dispossessed of this dumb devil, or it will be thy damnation. A…
944 wordsSECTION 640TWO STEATAGEMS WIIERF-BY SATAN LABOURS TO KEEP THE WEAK CHRISTIAN FROM THE DUTY OF PRAYER.
fain persuade himself there is no God ; and when he hath got so far the mastery of his conscience as to blot God out of his creed, he then soon leaves him out of his paternoster, Psa. xiv. 1. But some will ask, if I think that any, where the gospel is preached, neglect prayer on this account ? I do ; and, which is mor…
913 wordsSECTION 641TWO STEATAGEMS WIIERF-BY SATAN LABOURS TO KEEP THE WEAK CHRISTIAN FROM THE DUTY OF PRAYER.
TWO STEATAGEMS WIIERF-BY SATAN LABOURS TO KEEP THE WEAK CHRISTIAN FROM THE DUTY OF PRAYER. His first design upon thee will be to keep thee from prayer ; to effect which, he wants not his stratagems; many objections he will start, and discourage- ments throw in thy way to this duty, hoping that if thou stuni])lest not …
763 wordsSECTION 642CHAPTER VIII.
found in thy head than in thy heart. Thy invention in prayer by this will be more barren, but thy heart may be as fruitful over the few broken, disjointed sentences that fall from thee, as theirs with their eloquent oration. Thy lan- guage will not be so gaudy, but thy soul and spirit may be as sound, yea, more upright…
853 wordsSECTION 643CHAPTER IX.
overcome thy distempei- so far as to traffic with the world, but not to trade with heaven ? Surely all is not right. May not God say, I deserve thy company as well as the world? But supjjose thou art quite laid up, and cannot attend to thy worldly employments ; yet will this excuse thee from visiting the thi-one of gra…
820 wordsSECTION 644CHAPTER IX.
abroad, steals to bed at night, for fear of a chiding from his father. Sin and prayer are such contraries, that it is impossible at one stride to step from one to another. It is an ill time when the fountain is stopped or muddied, to go to draw water. If the workman's tools be blunt, no work can well be done till a new…
890 wordsSECTION 645CHAPTER IX.
me?' Heavy birds must take a run before they can get upon the wing. It is harder to get a great bell up, than to ring it when it is raised ; and so is it harder work to prepare our hearts for duty, than to perform it when they are in some order. Now, hast thou endeavoured to do this? If not, how canst thou make this pr…
904 wordsSECTION 646CHAPTER X.
soul, and may hope to meet God in his way with that which he cannot carry with him ; as the lepers, who, when they went in ohedience to Christ's com- mand, to shew themselves to the priest, were cured by the way, though they saw nothing of it when they set out. CHAPTER X. HOW Satan's policy to start some worldly busi…
844 wordsSECTION 647CHAPTER XI.
occasion be not so extraordinary : if it be, First, About that which is lawful in itself. Secondly, Of importance. Thirdly, Necessarily then to be despatched. And, Fourthly, If it surpriseth us, and we do not bring it upon oiu-selves by our own fault ; — the duty of prayer may, without sin, be adjourned for a fitter ti…
832 wordsSECTION 648CHAPTER XI.
control from any other. Tlie sovereign power of life and death being in his hands, he is accountable to none ; as not for acts of justice, so neither of mercy. ' It is God that justifieth : who is he that condemneth ?' Rom. viii. 33, 34. If, indeed, a man forgive thee a wrong done unto him, thou canst not think thyself…
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wlio art not put to guess at God's thoughts, hut hast tlie assui-ance of plain pro- mises for thy good speed! O, what fools, and how slow of heart are we to helieve the good word of God! If Moses supposed his hrethren would have understood, b}' the kind visit he gave them, and his friendly office in rescuing one single…
892 wordsSECTION 650PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. (345
Section V. — God is so free and redundant in communicating his mercy, that he exceeds his people's modesty in asking. He gives them commonly their prayers with an overplus, more than they have faith or face to ask; as Naaman, when Gehazi asked one talent, would needs force two upon him. Abraham asked a child of God, wh…
775 wordsSECTION 651(J4<G PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.
solemn act of divine worship, to intercept whicli is both his great ambition and endeavour : nay, he despairs not, if liis design takes, to make the Christian dishonour God most, where he expects his name should be above all sanctified. Indeed, those have the unhappy opportunity of casting the greatest indignities on G…
911 wordsSECTION 652PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. 617
sloth, or else the Spirit will be gone, — it will be worse with thee than ever. Who hast thoii then to help thee in thy work ? And thou wilt find it harder to bring him back than to keep him from going. The necessary infirmities which cleave to thy impei-fect state (if protested against) shall not drive him away, but i…
854 wordsSECTION 653CONTAINS THE SECOND CAUSE OF WANDERING THOUGHTS IN PRAYER.
Section II. — Inure thyself to holy thoughts in thy ordinary course. The best way to keep vessels from leaking is to let them stand full. A vain heart out of prayer, will be little better in prayer. The more familiar thou makest holy thoughts and savoury discourse to thee in thy constant walking, the more seasoned thou…
918 wordsSECTION 654CONTAINS A THIRD CAUSE OF WANDERING THOUGHTS IN PRAYER.
CONTAINS THE SECOND CAUSE OF WANDERING THOUGHTS IN PRAYER. A SECOND cause of these wandering thoughts in prayer, is a dead and inactive heart. If the affections be once down, then the Christian is as a city whose wall is broken ; there is no keeping then the thoughts in, or Satan out. The soul is an active creature ; …
834 wordsSECTION 655CONTAINS A THIRD CAUSE OF WANDERING THOUGHTS IN PRAYER.
A THIRD cause of I'oving thoughts is an incumbrance of worldly cares. It is no wonder that man can enjoy no privacy with God in a duty, who hath so many from the woi-ld knocking at his door to speak with him, when he is speaking to God. Religion never goes in more danger than when in a crowd of worldly business. If suc…
886 wordsSECTION 656PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. (J5 1
Section II. — Strengthen then thy faith on the providence of God for the things of this life. A distrustful heart is ever thoughtful : whatever he is doing, his thoughts will be on that which he fears he shall lose. When the merchant's adventure is insured, (that whatever comes he cannot lose much,) his heart then is a…
782 wordsSECTION 657SOME CONSOLATORY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CHRISTIAN DEJECTED OVERMUCH FOR WANDERING THOUGHTS IN PRAYER.
full hearing thereof. He sets not any about a work of which he means not to take cognizance how it was done ; and were it not better that the audit should be in thy more private court, than thou to give up thy account at his dreadful tribunal? Resolve, therefore, to commune with thy heart upon this point; and the soone…
836 wordsSECTION 658PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. 653
own house and family, thou wouldst not shew this zeal to shut the door upon them, or shriek out when they come in upon thee. The wife does not ci-y out when her husband or children come into the room, but thieves, from whom she looks for nothing but cruelty. It seems they are neither of thine acquaintance, nor art thou…
901 wordsSECTION 659654< PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.
hath given his saints, by promise, a sovereignty over sin and Satan ; he will subdue both under your feet. The dread of the saint shall fall on the proudest devil, and his foot shall be set on the neck of his fiercest lust, yet this will cost hot work before the one or other be effected. CHAPTER XVIII. SATAN's last d…
846 wordsSECTION 660654< PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.
Now, the pi'omise contains this will of God. Be siu-e thou gatherest all thy flowers of prayei- out of this gai'den, and thoii canst not do amiss ; but take heed of mingling with them any wild gourd of thy own. Remember the check our Lord gave his disciples when they were giving vent to their vindictive passion in thei…
850 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical work by William Gurnall, 1617–1679. OCR from an original historical scan hosted by Internet Archive; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.