PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Christian in Complete Armour
William Gurnall, 1617–1679 · 726,331 words · 834 reading sections
776 ^^^ SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS.
beat thee from liis door ? Why then art thou no more thankful for his leave to wait there, though thou be not presently served ? Secondly, Consider who he is thou prayest to: is he not the great and glorious Majesty of heaven and earth ? And is not this a part of the obedience he expects at the hands of his poor creatu…
897 wordsSECTION 782OF THE PLULIC SPIKIT THAT SHOULD BREATHE IN OUR PRAYERS FOR OTHERS.
clotli ; it wastes the soul's strength, so that it cannot look up to God with any hope; ' They made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened,' Neh. vi. 9. Resist, therefore, Satan ; be stedfast in the faith ; never let thy heart suffer the power, mercy, or truth of God to be called into question ; thou hadst as…
798 wordsSECTION 783778 ^'^^ SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS.
Section I. — The Christian ought to have a public spirit in prayer. This is a duty of common interest, in which others are to share with ourselves ; like tlie buckets that hang in our houses, wliich are for the use of any person whose house is on fire. The spirit of prayer is a public treasure, though laid up in some f…
873 wordsSECTION 784AND SUPPLICATION FOK ALL SAINTS. 779
for they serve them no worse than then- own souls. A time is coming, wherein they shall know, that one hearty prayer found upon the file for their relations, would speak more for the love they pretended towai'd them, than all the bags of money which they fill for them. Others, if they shew a little natural aftection to…
902 wordsSECTION 785780 -^^"^ SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS
and places round about them ; ' Israel shall be a blessing in the land of Assyria,' Isa. xix. 24. They are compared to a fountain, which is a common benefit. Now, one way wherein the godly are eminently serviceable to others, is, by the mterest thej' have in God, and the prevalency of their prayers with him : ' By the …
884 wordsSECTION 786AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS. ^^J
relations or neighbours : lay them not out of thy prayers, bury them not in thy thoughts for reprobates, because thou canst not perceive any sign of spiritual life in them, though thou hast many a time stretched thy hands in prayer over them ; their souls are yet in their bodies, and it is not too much for God to breat…
870 wordsSECTION 787AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS. ^^J
him liere, and liis wrath poured on them shall praise him hereafter; but no thanks to them, for they do their utmost to lay the honour of Clod in the dirt : but the saints are a people, who are not merely passive, but active in the praising of God, it is their mother-language to bless the name of God ; whatever is thei…
891 wordsSECTION 788AND SUPPLICATION FOK ALL SAINTS. 783
heart pvizctli higlily, though it costs him dear to promote it. Now, in praying but for one single saint, thou dost both, 2 Cor. i. 1 1 : ' Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.' Paid begging prayers enforce…
822 wordsSECTION 789AND SUPPLICATION FOK ALL SAINTS. 783
xloors : as any were reformed in their lives bj' turning Chi-istians, so tliey became offenders. It were well if this were only the heathen's sin, but by woful experience we find that the true Christian hath not more cruel enemies in the whole world than some of his own name. The sharpest persecutions of the church hav…
904 wordsSECTION 790SHEWS THAT ALL SAINTS ARE THE SUBJECT OF OUR PRAYERS.
why the word preached hath been no more effectual to convert the wicked, or to edify the saints : I believe one of the chief causes is the divisions amongst those that have made the greatest profession of the truth. 1. For the saints ; it is no wonder they should thrive no more under the word ; for the body of Christ i…
867 wordsSECTION 791786 AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS.
Jesus, and love unto all the saints :' so Col. i. 4 ; Philemon 5. Now, if we love all, we cannot hut pray for all ; to say we love one, and not pray for him, is a solecism. Can a courtier love his friend, and not speak to his prince for him, when he maj' do him a favour hy it ? Love prompts a man to do that wherein he …
834 wordsSECTION 792AND FOR ME. 787
of Judea, inquired how it failed witli his brethren there ; and from the sad re- port he heai'd of their afflictions, is put into a bitter passion, which he emptied with prayers and tears for them, into the bosom of God, Neh. i. 4. How could he have done this so feelingly, had he not first been acquainted with their di…
907 wordsSECTION 793AND FOR ME.
We shall close this with a caution. Though we arc to pray for all saints, yet some call for a more special remembrance at our hands : for instance, those that are near to us by bond of nature as well as of grace. 'A brother beloved, espe- cially to me ; but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord,' …
878 wordsSECTION 794AND FOR ME.
First, His request : and for me. First, We may note here, that people are to be taught the duty they owe to their minister, as well as to others ; though, indeed, no duty is harder for the minister to press, or for the people to hear, — for him to preach with humility and wisdom, or for them to receive without prejudic…
841 wordsSECTION 795AND FOR ME.
if thou dost not, thou overlayest his motions, and so committest a sin. Again, thou quenchest the spirit of prayer in tliyself, by dcpri\'ing thyself of that assist- ance which thou mightest receive in thy own prayers through theirs : for the Spirit conveys his quickening grace to us in the use of instruments and means…
873 wordsSECTION 796AM) FOR MK. 791
But why, then, may we not desire the prayers of the deceased saints, for the same purpose that we desire the prayers of those that live yet with us ? First, We have no precept or example for this in the word ; and what is unbidden there, in duties of worship, is forbidden : we must not ' be wise above what is written.'…
872 wordsSECTION 797792 ^^^ ^^^^ ^^•
the very dam, and lifted uiJ tlie very sluice, to let in ruin upon himself. Foiu-thly, Such as desire others to pray for them, but vain-gloriously, to gain reputation for being religious. Beware of this ; yet charge not all for the hypocrisy of some ; neither deprive tliyself of the benefit of others' prayers, out of a…
836 wordsSECTION 798THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO ME. 793
the minister's labour ; they are called soldiers, watchmen, husbandmen, yea, their work is set out by the pangs of a woman in travail : some of them indeed have easier labours than others, those who find more success of their ministry tlian their brethren ; but who can tell the throes that their souls feel, who all the…
883 wordsSECTION 799794 THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO ME.
infection J^ if he be loose and scandalous in his life, he is like a common well, corrupted and muddied, at which all the town draw their water. The devil aimed at more than Peter, when he desired leave to try a fall with him, Luke xxii. .'jI, ' Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you…
863 wordsSECTION 800THAT UTTKRANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO ME. 795
also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mys- tery of Christ,' Col. iv. 3. Admirable are the expressions whereby this holy man declares how deeply his heart was engaged in the Lord, Rom. i. 9. He tells them that his very soul and spirit was set upon it ; ' whom I serve with my spirit i…
931 wordsSECTION 801WQ/» THAT UTTERANCE MAV BE GIVEN TO ME.
pie up to lieaven ; we could Letter spare the sun out of its orb, than the preaching of the gospel out of the church. Souls might find the way to heaven, though the sun did not lend them its light ; but without the light of truth, they cannot take one step I'ight toward it : work ' while ye have light,' John xii. 36. T…
876 wordsSECTION 802THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. ' 797
who was so slow in speecli, was miglity in words, Acts vii. 22, able to make Pharaoh's stout heart tremble, though he might stammer in the delivery of it. God promised indeed to be with his mouth, yet it is probable he did not cure his natural infirmity, for we find him complaining afterward of it. Such natural imperfe…
893 wordsSECTION 803Y98 "1'^^^ MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
Tlie i)eopIe should take heed not to stop tlie minister's mouth : this they nuiy do, First, By admiring liis gifts, and apphiuding his person, especially when tliis is accompanied with unthankfulness to God who gives him ; when tliey applaud the man, but do not bless (iod for him. Princes have an evil eye upon tliose s…
819 wordsSECTION 804THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. 799
is but a day younger than truth. When the gospel began first to be preached by Christ and his apostles, error presently put forth her hand to take it by the heel, and supplant it. The Avhole system of antichrist is a mystery of policy and impiety ; mystery is written upon the whore of Babylon's forehead, Rev. xvii. 2; …
895 wordsSECTION 805THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. 799
whom it is revealed. Secrets are wliispered into the ears of a few, and not exposed to all : ' Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God,' Mark iv. 11. Who were those, but a few disciples who believed on his name ? The greater part of the world were ever strangers to this mystery. Befoi-e Christ's …
901 wordsSECTION 806THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL." OQ1
compared with those under the law ; but childish, compared with the knowledge whicli glorified saints have ; therefore, as Paul saith, 1 Cor. xiii. 10, 11, he put away childish things, when he grew up into farther knowledge of the gospel ; so he tells us of an imperfect knowledge, which yet he had, that must be done aw…
835 wordsSECTION 8073 K
intellectual food, and prize a Iccdiro move than a feast, will be highly pleased with the truths the gospel brings to light, being such rare mysteries that they can find in no other book; yet we see that the gospel as little' pleases this rank of men, as any other. Had it been filled with flowers of rhetoric, chemical …
817 wordsSECTION 808THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. 803
a short gospel; a mystery indeed to him, all wrapped up in one promise, and that a dark one ; but now that one wedge of gold is beaten out into the whole Bible, a gospel, written at length, and not in figures. You hear the gos- pel preached, not in law terms, as the Jews did under Moses, but in gospel lan- guage : the …
902 wordsSECTION 809§Q^ THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSVEL.
art. Christ bears with the saints' imperfections ; well may the saints bear one with another. How deficient were the disciples in their knowledge ! How long did they stand at one lesson before they conld learn it !. ' Do ye now believe ?' says Christ, John xvi. 31. He had inculcated the same thing often, before it ente…
860 wordsSECTION 810AN EXUORTATION TO STUDY THIS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
ing, \vc fihnll need neitlier raiment for the back, nor food for the hodJ^ O, happy death that will case lis of all the aches of onr bodies, and conflicts in onrsonls! Thon art the only physician to cure all the saints' distempers. When that blessed hour comes, then lift up your heads with joy, for it will lead you int…
866 wordsSECTION 811AN EXUORTATION TO STUDY THIS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
Well might he say so ; for a man may feed all his lifetime on human learning, and be lost at last. It was the saying of Bonaventure, that he had rather lose all his philosophy, than one article of his faith. We read that those. Acts xix., were no sooner converted, hut they burned their hooks of cvnious arts ; neither w…
929 wordsSECTION 812AN EXUORTATION TO STUDY THIS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
Section II. — Secondly, Thou must become a disciple to Christ. Men do not teach strangers the mystery of their trade, but their servants, and such as are willing to be bovmd to them ; neither doth Christ promise to reveal the mys- teries of the gospel to any but those that will give up their names to be his servants an…
867 wordsSECTION 813CHAPTER VIII.
what I never could till I had acquaintance with its heavenly truths. This is to know the truth as it is in Jesus, Eph. iv. 21. If gospel truths work not effec- tually on thee for thy renovation and sanctification, thou art a lost man ; the}' will undoubtedly.be a savour of death to thee. How can you then rest till you …
871 wordsSECTION 814TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY. §Q()
committing of it; how we bring God, with all his strength against us. Now, this is necessary for the sinner's entertaining the gospel. The sharp point of the law must prick the conscience, before the creature can by the promises of the gospel be drawn to Chi'ist. The field is not fit for the seed to be cast into it, ti…
915 wordsSECTION 815TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY. §Q()
Section III. — Fii'st, To tlie ininistors. It reproves the vain-glorious preacher ; who, instead of making known the mystery of the gospel, enters the pulpit to make himself known ; who blows up his sermon with a windy pomp of words ; and frames his discourse rather to tickle their ears, than to profit their souls ; to…
860 wordsSECTION 816AN ENCOUHAGEMKNT TO FAITHFUL MINISTERS. ^^ JJ
be their righteousness before God: the robe whicli must cover their souls must not be the homespun garment of tlieir own inherent righteousness wrought in them, but of Christ's righteousness which he wrought for them. CHAPTER IX. AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO FAITHFUL MINISTERS. The gospel affords a word of sweet encouragemen…
865 wordsSECTION 817BOLDNESS A DUTY IN A MINISTER.
is the best attractive to win others to the love of religion. Had Clirist's doves more sweet spices of luunility, charity, patience, and other heavenly graces in their wings, as they fly about in the world, they would soon bring more com- pany home with them. This is the gold that should over-lay the temple of Christ's…
794 wordsSECTION 818BOLDLY. 313
impenitent sinners. They are commanded to lift up their voice like a trumpet, and tell Jerusalem her sins. ' Preach the word,' saith St. Paul, ' be instant in season and out of season : reprove, rebuke with all long-suifering.' He must reprove, and continue therein, while they continue to sin. A minister without this b…
879 wordsSECTION 819BOLDLY. 313
of tlninder afar off, which affrights not as a clap over our head. I toUl you the minister's hohhiess must ho meek and merciful; hut not to prejudice zeal. 'V\w physician may sweeten his pill, to nuike his patient swallow it the hetter; hut not to such a degree as to weaken the force of its operation. Section IV. — So…
903 wordsSECTION 820CHAPTER XI.
thee, as it was once to Jeremiah. Thou mayest, indeed, be mocked by some, but thou wilt be reverenced by more : yea, even they that wag their heads at thee, carry that in their conscience which will make them fear thee : they are the flattering preachers who become base among the people, Mai. ii. 9. Fifthly, Consider,…
916 wordsSECTION 821CHAPTER XI.
The last general head in the words, is the argument with which the apostle backs his request, the more eftectually to provoke them to the rememhrance of him in their prayers ; and it is double : first from his office, — ' For which I am an ambassador:" the second, from his present afflicted state, — ' An ambassador in …
763 wordsSECTION 822CHAPTER XI.
they say : so, by a slanting blow, tliey hit God himself in contemning his ambassador. Secondlj', The greatness of the person, whose place the minister snpplies, Ministers are but deputy ambassadors ; C'lu-ist himself had the first patent, called therefore the Messenger of the Covenant, Mai. iii. 1 ; and the Apostle of…
855 wordsSECTION 823CHAPTER XI.
head, but force the very heart out of our body, yet offers peace on such gracious terms, there being nothing in tlie whole instrument of peace pi'ovided for himself, but the securing of his own glory in our salvation. See a little of his terms. He offers to seal an act of oblivion, wherein all wrongs done to his crown …
876 wordsSECTION 824FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR. §J9
liis counsfl, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,' &c. Now, the greater secvnity God enables his ambassadors to offer ]iooY sinners for the salvation they preach in his name, the more prodigiously provoking is their unbeli…
876 wordsSECTION 825WHY GOD SKNDS AMBASSADORS; AND WHY UF- USETH MEN, NOT ANGELS.
on earth lies in a free trade with heaven. Tliis workl is a barren place ; nothing is here to be had that an immortal sonl can live upon, or find satisfaction from. In heaven alone is to be found what it needs ; the food it must live on, the clothes it nuist wear, are both of the growth of that country. Man's first sin…
822 wordsSECTION 826CHAPTER XIII.
But if" God will treat with his poor creatiu'es, why by ambassadors, and not by himself immediately ? This is the fruit of Divine indulgence : sin hath made the presence of God dreadful ; man cannot now well bear it. What a fright was Adam put into when he heard but the voice of God, walking toward him in the garden, a…
840 wordsSECTION 827FOR WHICH 1 AM AN AMBASSADOR.
Are ministers ambassadors? This shews the gospel ministry to be an ofiice peculiar to some, not a work connnon to all. An ambassador, we know, is one that hatli his commission and credential letters from his prince to shew for his employment ; it is not a man's skill in state atl'airs that makes him an ambas- sador, no…
818 wordsSECTION 828FOR WHICH 1 AM AN AMBASSADOR.
tlie success of which he passionately desires, and from which he proniiseth him- self much honoin-, and he meets with opposition, he is greatly provoked. There is nothing that God sets his heart more upon than the exaltation of Christ, and his grace through him, in the salvation of poor sinners : this therefore is call…
904 wordsSECTION 829CHAPTER XIV.
Secondly, To the ministers of the gospel. You see, brethren, yovn- calling ; lot it be your care to comport with this your honourable employment. CHAPTER XIV. now MINISTCKS saOULO DO THE DUTY OT A.MUASSADORS. Stain not the dignity of your office by any base unworthy practices. O lay not the dignity of your function …
869 wordsSECTION 830CHAPTER XV.
that this is not what they come foi", or can be content with ; but that they wish them to (leal kindly with their Master, whose message they bring, and send them back to him with the joyful news of their repentance and acceptation of Christ : they should passionately endeavour their salvation, and faithfully dis- charg…
862 wordsSECTION 831CHAPTER XV.
Section I. — Observe the usage which this blessed apostle tinds from an ungi-ateful world ; a chain is put upon him, as if he were some rogue or thief. He preacheth liberty to poor sinners, and is deprived of his own ; he proclaims deliverance to the captives, and is used like a slave for his laboiu*. One would wonder …
877 wordsSECTION 832AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS. 827
Section IV. — Observe the publication Paul makes of his sufferings to the church : he, being now a prisoner, sends his despatches to this and other churches, to let them know his condition. From whence, observe, that suffer- ings for the gospel are no matter of shame. Paul doth not blush to tell, it is • for the gospel…
818 wordsSECTION 833CALVIN
receive evil, ami wisli none to him from whose liands we have it. To reserve love for him that shews wrath and hatred to us, is a gloriovis, but a difficult work. If the devil cannot leaven the saint with wrath against his persecutor, then lie will try to blow him up with a high conceit of himself, who dares sufFor for…
842 wordsSECTION 8341 1012 01019 8184
CAUSE OF GOD AND TRUTH. Svo. . . . . . GOODWIN'S CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. By Dunn. .... . REDEMPTION REDEEMED. New Edition. Svo. HALL'S CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. Svo. . HALYBURTON'S THEOLOGICAL WORKS. Svo. . . . . HANNAM'S PULPIT ASSISTANT. New Edition. Svo. LEIGHTON'S (ARCHBISHOP) WORKS. Svo. .....…
255 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.