PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Christian in Complete Armour
William Gurnall, 1617–1679 · 726,331 words · 834 reading sections
296 -^^^ HAVING ON
Secondly, Take it for truth of heart; and so truth and holiness must go together. In vain do men pretend to sincerity, if they be imholy in their lives. God owns no unholy sincerity : the terms do clash one with another. Sincerity teacheth the soul to point at the right end of all its actions — the glory of God. Now it…
817 wordsSECTION 302THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 29^
First, In regard of God, whose great design is to have his people a holy people. This is enough to oblige, yea, to provoke every Christian to promote what God hath so strongly set upon his heart to effect. He deserves to be cashiered that endeavours not to pursue what his general declares to be his design. And he to ha…
682 wordsSECTION 303THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 29^
becoming the greatness and holiness of such a one as the Son of God to engage for, less than this. Both God and man, between whom Christ comes to nego- tiate, call for holiness: God's glory, man's happiness, neither of which can be attained, except holiness be restored to man. Not God's glory, who as he is glorious in …
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by the Spirit endued with a new life from God : ' You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins,' Eph. ii. 2. A noble principle of high extrac- tion, given you on a high design, that you should live up to that principle in righteousness and holiness. When God breathed a rational soul into man, he intended …
875 wordsSECTION 305CHAPTER IV.
more eftectual, and refresh his patient with variety, so the Lord, consulting our weakness, doth by his word administering it to ns now in this, anon in that ordinance for our greater dcliglit and profit ; aiming still at the same end in all, even tlie promoting of holiness in the liearts and lives of his people ; what…
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holiness and sin. This, one gives as the reason why amongst all the ways that Satan plagued Job, he did not choose to make a forcible entry into his body, and possess him corporally; for certainly he might, that being short of taking away his life, (the only thing reserved by God out of his commission,) and being in hi…
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through their hypocritical mask, is privy to the cabinet councils of their hearts, and those instructions which they have from the devil, that worketh so mightily in them. He tells us, ' he that will live godly' shall be persecuted : downright godliness is the butt they level their arrows at. Again, observe the kind of…
876 wordsSECTION 308THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 303
Thirdly, It is holiness, and that maintained in its power, that capacitates us for communion with God in this life. Communion with God is so desirable, that many pretend to it that know not what it means ; like some that brag of their acquaintance with such a great man, who, may be, never saw his face, or were admitted…
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himself upon a piesimiptuous hope oi'tlie mercy of God in Christ. It pleased God to lay him some while after on his bed by sickness, which for a time scared his old companions, brethren with him in iniquity, from visiting him ; but hearing he was cheery and pleasant in his sickness, ventured to see him, whom they found…
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Reproofs are good physic, but they have an unpleasing farewell ; it is hard for men not to throw them back on the face of him that gives them. Now nothing is more powerful to keep a repi'oof from thus coming back than the holiness of the person that reproves. ' Let the righteous smite me,' saith David, ' it shall be a …
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he believed it should not; ' And,' said ho, ' when I am gone, let them that come after me look to it.' This poor nation of England liath, for many generations in a succession, had a number of precious, righteous ones, who have, through God's grace, walked close with God, and been kept in a great degree unspotted from t…
907 wordsSECTION 312CONTAINS THE FIRST INSTANCE, WHEREIN THE CHRISTIAN IS TO EXPRESS THE POWER OF HOLINESS, AND THAT IS IN HIS BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS SIN; BRANCHED INTO SEVERAL PARTICULARS.
disappointing tlie just expectations of both. Nothing can save the life of this our nation, or lengthen out its tranquillity in mercy to it, but the recovery of the much decayed power of holiness. This, as a spring of new blood to a weak body, would, though almost a dying, revive it, and procure many happy days; yea, m…
829 wordsSECTION 313CONTAINS THE FIRST INSTANCE, WHEREIN THE CHRISTIAN IS TO EXPRESS THE POWER OF HOLINESS, AND THAT IS IN HIS BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS SIN; BRANCHED INTO SEVERAL PARTICULARS.
Secondly, Thou must not onl)' endeavom- asjainst all sin, but that on nohle princij^les ; here lies the power of holines.s. Many forbear to sin upon such an unworthy account that God will not thank them for it another day. As it is in the actions of piety and charity, God makes no account of them, except he be interest…
917 wordsSECTION 314THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 3()9
time as if it would presently die of its wound, and by and by it was sti-angely healed so as to recover again. Many a saint, for want of keeping a tight rein, and that constantly, over some cornxption, which they have thought they had got the mastery of, have been thrown out of the saddle, and by it dragged dangerously…
905 wordsSECTION 315CHAPTER VII.
fathom my heart any further ; and, therefore, If it he possible that yet any evil way may shroud itself under this, tell me, and lead me into the way everlasting. Sixthly, The Christian, when he shews most zeal against sin, and hath greatest victory over it, even then must he renounce all trusting and glorying in this…
840 wordsSECTION 316CHAPTER VII.
heaven, to direct him in the way he should walk, Acts x. 3. Take heed, Christian, therefore, thou neglectest not any one duty ; how knowest thou hut that is the door at which Christ stands waiting to enter at into thy soul? The Spirit is free, do not bind him to this or that duty, but wait on him in all. It is not wisd…
896 wordsSECTION 317CHAPTER VII.
and tills was it that God took so kindly at his hands, for which he obtained a testimony from God himself, that he was righteons. Whereas Cain thought it enough, if not too much, to give him a little of the fruit of the ground ; had the wretch but considered who God was, and what his end in requiring an ofi'ering at hi…
902 wordsSECTION 318THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 3] 3
water side, where they are to be had at such a price. Thus Christ calls every one that sees his need of Christ, and his graces, ' to the ordinances,' where these are to be freely had of all that come to them, for this very end. CHAPTER VIII. A THIRD INSTANCE, WHEREIN THE POWER OF HOLINESS MUST APPEAR, AND THAT IS IN …
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Thirdlv, When he expects the success of his labour from God, and accordingly if he speeds, gives his humble thanks to God. Indeed they go together ; he that doth not the one, will not the other. The worldling that goes not through his closet, by prayer, into his shop in the morning, when he enters upon his business, no…
783 wordsSECTION 320THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 315
God, and when not, whereas religion should give law to that. Then holiness is in its power, as Samson in his strength, when it can snap asunder these excuses that would keep him from his God, as easily as he did his cords of flax ; when the Christian can make his way into the presence of God through the throng of world…
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Lord's altar with tears and weeping ! There are wives to be found that are not chimorons, peevish, and froward to tlieir husbands, wlio yet are far from a work of true grace in their hearts ; do they then walk as becomes holiness, who trouble the whole house with their violent passions ? There are servants, who, from t…
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digiously wicked as any there. And no doubt but tliis made this gracious man in his banishment, before he came to the crown, having seen the evil of a dis- ordered house, to resolve what he will do when God should make him the head of such a royal family : Psa. ci. 7, ' He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my …
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when the house is hroken up by death, go one to hell, anotlier to heaven? Surely you are like to have little joy from them on earth, who you fear shall not meet you in heaven. By Lycurgus's law, the father that gave no learning to his child when young, was to lose that succour which was due from his child to him in his…
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and retain the instructions, reproofs, comforts, drawn by them out of the word ; thy conscience, that appHes these to thy own soul, till from thence they distil into thy affections, and thou becomest in love more and more with holiness thy own self, from their recommendation of it to thee. It is a sad thing to consider…
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eminent for their moral righteousness, whether in heaven or hell ; but were there ever any that doubted what would become of the unrighteous Christian in the other world ? Hell gapes for these above all others: ' Know you not,' saith the apostle, ' that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? ' 1 Coi-, v…
853 wordsSECTION 326THE BREASTPLATE OF UIGIITEOUSNEPS. 3^ [
dutiful children, obedient wives, loyal subjects, loving neighboiu'S, as the Chi'istian himself? Truly, if it be not in the motive from which, and end to which, he acts, nothing else can do it. Look, therefore, well to this, or else thou art out of the way, while thou seemest to be in the road. It is very ordi- nary fo…
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relish learning, and is pleased with its sweet taste, than he did in a month when he went to school, to please his master, whom he feared, not himself. Observe any person in tlie thing wherein he takes high content, and he is more careful and curious about that than any other : if his heart be on his garden, O how neat…
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sure to quench all true holiness, and bring them at last to have no zeal, but prove key-cold atheists. The Pharisee he must add to the commands of God the traditions of men ; the Papist, his true son and heir, hath his imwritten verities, holy orders, and rules for a more austere life than ever came into God's heart to…
901 wordsSECTION 329324 AND HAVING ON
thy holiness degenerates into wickedness. 'Wliat greater impiety than pride, — such a pride as lords it over Christ, and alters the method which God himself hath set for saving souls ? O soul, if thou wouldst be holy, learn to he lunnble ! They are clasped together, Micah vi. 8 : ' What doth the Lord require of thee, b…
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every fashion that conies up, though ever so ridiculous and oflensive ? ShouUl cards and dice ever have been found in his hands to drive time away ? And shall I indidge myself in anything that would make me unlike Christ? God forbid ! We think it enough if we can quote such a good man or great professor to countenance …
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also. Cliristiaiis are a company of theiiisflves : Acts iv. 23, ' Being let go, they went to their own company.' Who should helieversjoin themselves to but believers ! As Paul said, ' Have you not a wise man among you, but you must go to law before unbelievers V so may I say to thee, Christian, Is there never a saint i…
892 wordsSECTION 332THE I3REAS1TLATE OF HIGIITEOUSNESS. Q27
in itself, yet it helps us to a notion considerable. They who live wickedly and loosely, yet like a religious habit very well when to go into another world. As that young gallant said to his swaggering companion, after they had visited Ambrose lying in his dying bed, and saw how comfortably he lay triumphing over death…
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Section X. — Tenthly, Fortify thyself against those discoui'agenients by which Satan, if possible, will divert thee from thy purpose, and make thee lay aside this breastplate of righteousness and holiness as cumbersome, yea, preju- dicial to th)' carnal interests. Now the better to arm thee against his assaults- of thi…
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meat. The I'ich men's charge, James v. 5, runs tlms : ' Ye liave lived in pleasm-e on earth.' They lived in pleasures as if they lived for them, and could not live without tliem. When once this wine of creature-contents fumes up to the brain, intoxicates the man's judgment, tliat he begins to dote of them, and cannot t…
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whence the bee goes laden away ; nor can an unholy heart taste that sweetness which the saint doth in a creature. He hath indeed a natural fleshy palate, wliereby he relisheth the gross camial pleasure the ci'eature affords, and that he makes his whole meal on ; but a gracious heart tastes something more : all Israel d…
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First, It is a life from God, and, therefore, must needs be pleasant and joyoiis. Whatever God makes is good and pleasant in its kind. Now life is one of the choicest of God's works, insomuch that the poorest, silliest gnat or fly, in this respect, exceeds the sun in its meridian glory. To every life God hath appointed…
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life of pleasure? and what is the pleasure of his life but holiness? He takes pleasure in the graces of his saints, Psa. cxlix. 4 ; liow much more in his own essential holiness, from whence those beams which shine so beautifully to his eye in his children were at first shot ! Thou, whoever thou art, hast an art above G…
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Thirdly, A little of the world will give thee content, if holiness be kept in its power, as few clothes will serve a hale, strong man ; and better is the warmth that comes from blood and spirits within, than a load of clothes without. Better, I trow, the content which godliness gives the Christian in his poverty, than …
800 wordsSECTION 339CHAPTER XIV.
curse that cleaves unto it. ' The curse of Ciod is in tlie liouse of the wicked' Prov.iii. 33; ' but in the liousc of the righteous tliere isnuich treasure, 'Prov.xv. 6. You may come to the righteous man, and (ind, possibly, no money in his house, but you are siu'e to find a treasure ; wliereas there is no ti'easure in…
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nothing ; he had power to hurt Jacob, but God would not let him. Mordecai, one would have thought, took the readiest way to incur the king's wrath, by denying Hainan that reverence which all were, by royal command, to pay him: but the holy man's conscience would not sufter his knee to bow ; and yet we see when that pro…
876 wordsSECTION 341Section I. — Use 1. First, For information in two particulars.
they thought themselves as good men as he ; but when they wei"e nonphised in the ' plagxie of lice,' and could not, with all their art, produce the like, they acknowledged the ' finger of God to be in it,' Exod. viii. IG. Do no more than carnal men do, and you stand but level with themselves in their opinions of you, y…
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he doth truly desire, conscionably endeavour (with some success of his endea- vour, through divine grace assisting,) to walk according to the rule of God's word. I confess all Christ's scholars are not of the same form ; all his children are not of the same stature and strength ; some foot it more nimblj^ in the ways o…
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baits still of sinful pleasure, and wages of unrighteousness, by which so many millions of souls before them have been hooked into hell and damnation. Secondly, Those who are as unholy as others, naked to God's eye, and Satan's malice ; but to save their credit in the world, wear something like a breastplate, a counte…
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keep the physic administered to them, but presently cast it up before it hath any operation on them ; and therefore we are even bid to save our physic, and not so much as bestow a reproof on them, lest we have it cast in our faces : ' Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee,' Prov. ix. 7. All we can do is, to write up…
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holiness, and led, though out of their way, by the tenderness of their consciences, which, when God hath better enlightened, will bring them as fast back to their brethren as now it carrieth them from them. And truly, I think it might give a great lift to the making them think of a return, if they would but in their sa…
923 wordsSECTION 346AN EXHORTATION TO THE SAINTS, IN THREE BRANCHES.
Psa. Ixxiv. G, 7 ; of which the cliurch makes her moan, ver. 10 : ' O God, how loll"- shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy hlaspheme thy name for ever ?' What then is in tliy devilish malice, whose rage is spent, not on wood and stones, hut the carved work of his Spirit, the grace and holiness of his living te…
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Peter, a little after Iiis sad fall in denying of his master, had the testiniDny of his uprightness, John, xx. 17 : 'Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.' After Christ had thrice put it to the question, he could con- fidently voucli his sincerity ; but we nuist know, first, that his sin was not…
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ready to despise others, and bid them in thy thovights stand off', as not so holy as thyself; this smells of the Pharisee — beware of it. It is the nature of holiness to depress ourselves, and to give our brethren the advantage in measiu-ing their gifts or graces with our own : ' In lowliness of mind let each esteem ot…
890 wordsSECTION 349CHAPTER I.
think it shall at last return, and may be with a great overplus : but at present he is put to many straits, and fain to make a hard shift to rub through, so as to live anything like his noble descent and family. Thus it is joyous to the saint to think of heaven, when all his means shall come into his hands ; but truly …
881 wordsSECTION 350THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 345
WHEREIN THE GLADSOME NEWS THAT THE GOSPEL BRINGS IS DECLARED FROM THE FIVE PARTICULARS REQUISITE TO FILL UP THE JOYFULNESS OF A message; WITH A WORD TO STIR UP OUR BOWELS IN PITYING THOSE THAT never heard ANY OF THIS NEWS. Nole. The revelation of Christ, and the grace of God through him, is beyond comparison the best …
839 wordsSECTION 351Q/[,Q THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Fourthly, It would much add to the joyfulness of the news, if this were i?i- auditum or insperatum, 'unheard of, unlooked for,' when the tidings steal upon us by way of surprise. The farther our own ignorance or desjiair have set us from all thoughts of so great enjoyment, the more joy it brings with it, when we hear t…
849 wordsSECTION 352Q/[,Q THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
conscience within, and spell from the covenant without, now broken by him, nothing but his certain doom and damnation. So that the first gospel sermon preached by God himself to Adam anticipated all thoughts of such a thing intended by him. O, who can conceive, but one that hath really felt the teiTors of an approachin…
889 wordsSECTION 353CHAPTER II.
trencher, yet as thou sittest at the feast of the gospel, think of those poor souls, and that compassionately, who starve to dcalh for want of that bread with which thou art fed unto eternal life. There is an opinion which some have lately taken up, that the heathens may spell Christ out of the sim, moon, and stars. Th…
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drink tlian preacli of heaven itself. Truly, they are but a very few, and those sufficiently jeered for their pains, that like the message of the gospel so well as to receive it cordially into their hearts: if any one does but give entertainment to Christ, and it be known, what an alarm does it give to all his carnal n…
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age amongst an ungodlj', Christ-despising people, ma}' awhile prorogue the judgment and reprieve awhile the life of sueh a people ; but if there be no change made upon them for the better, ruin must needs break in upon them. Secondly, Consider of these few gracious ones found amongst us, that em- brace the gospel, how…
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when be came into the world, but now he ascends : that was an act of his hu- miUation, this of exaltation. The highest created throne that God can sit in is the soul of a believer ; no wonder then that Christ calls all his friends to joy with him at a soul's return to him and reception of him, Luke xv. 9. What joy- is …
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SO disagree from the text as to make the gladsome tidings spoken of in it more disputed and questioned in the thoughts of the unbelieving world than before. It is an error, I confess, and that a gross one, which the Papists teach, that we cannot know the Scriptures to be the word of (lod, but by tlie testimony of the c…
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angels of light,) first, could raise so many credulous souls into a fond expecta- tion of higher attainments in grace and comfort from their new pretended light, than ever yet the saints were acquainted with, and at last to make them fall so low, be so reasonable, or i-ather unreasonable, as to accept such sensual plea…
860 wordsSECTION 3593/54. THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Doct. 1. The peace of reconciliation with (Jod is the blessing of the gospel. Three things are here to be done in prosecution of the point. First, I shall shew you tliat there is a quarrel between God and man. Secondly, that tlie gospel, and only the gospel, takes this up, and makes peace betwixt God and man. Thirdly, …
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an enemy alive, that observes their motions, takes the alaiTn their sins give him, and can be too hard for them when he shall please ; but it is in hell where he falls on with his whole power. There sinners ' shall be pimished with everlast- ing destruction from the presence of the Lord, andfrom the glory of his power,…
900 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.