PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Christian in Complete Armour
William Gurnall, 1617–1679 · 726,331 words · 834 reading sections
358 '^^^^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
his entrance into the heart of man ; called, therefore, ' the ministration of the Spirit,' 2 Coi-. iii. 8. He fashions anew tlie heart, as he framed the world at first, with a word. This is ' the day of Ciod's power, wherein he makes his people willing.' Power, indeed, to make those that had the seeds of war sown in th…
860 wordsSECTION 362BY CHRIST.
his rebel-creature man, that liad by his revolt incurred his just wrath and ven- geance : this was a woi-k that became God himself so well to engage in, that he thought none high and worthy enough to be trusted with transacting it beneath his only Son, who stayed here but while he had brought his negotiation to a happy…
832 wordsSECTION 363BY CHRIST.
how near relation Christ stood to God, as also the infinite and unspeakable love with which it was filled, and mutually endeared on eaeli hand ; and this at the very same time, when he ascended the stage to act a bloody tragedy ; and I think that you are at the highest step the word of God can lead j'on, to ascend by i…
933 wordsSECTION 364BY CHRIST.
John vi. 32 : ' The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.' Now, observe, wherefore God chose that way of feeding them in the wilderness, Deut. viii. 16: ' Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee.' But wherein lay this gre…
894 wordsSECTION 365BY CHRIST.
seed of Abraham, made the elder serve the younger ; even angels themselves minister to the meanest saint, as unto tlieir master's heir, Heb. i. 14. Secondly, As the union is nearer, so it is stronger; therefore stronger, because nearer: the closer stones stand together, the stronger the building. The union betwixt God …
891 wordsSECTION 366THE GOSPEL.
clothes, he had bonowed of their nature, to wear them on the tlnone, in all his glory, only some princely cost bestowed, to pnt them into the fashion of that heavenly kingdom, and make them suit with his glorified state ; giving them a pattern by this, what their own vile bodies, now so dishonoiu-able, shall be made an…
811 wordsSECTION 367THE GOSPEL.
Section 1. — First, Consider what it is that is oftereil thee, ' Peace with God.' A thing so indispensahle, thou canst not have less ; and so conipi'ehensive, thou needest have no more than this, and what coineth with it, to make thee truly, fully happy ; of all the variety of enjoyments with which it is possihle thy t…
911 wordsSECTION 368THE GOSPEL.
another, as thou thinkest impossihle to trace them, yet they are all at work for thee, and thy soul is tlie hive wherein they will unlade the sweet fruit of all their labour, though possibly it may be night, the evening of thy days, before thou findest it. In a word, if reconciled, thou standest next to heaven. Whom he…
890 wordsSECTION 369THE GOSPEL.
swayed sceptre in the world, which I think it cannot, wlio, upon some horrid treason plotted against his crown and royal pei'son, and that by one obliged to him with the highest favours possible, coidd yet not only find in his heart to pardon the rebel, but also stoop so far as to be himself the messenger that should c…
901 wordsSECTION 370THE GOSPEL.
every creature.' Make no difference, rich or poor; great sinners or little, old sinners or young ; offer peace to all that will hut repent and believe ; hid as many come as will, here is room for all that come. Again, the strictness of it on the other hand. O what a solemn charge have tliey to deliver their message fai…
904 wordsSECTION 371FOUR DIRECTIONS BY WAY OF COUNSEL TO SINNERS, YET IN AN UNRECON- CILED STATE, HOW THEY MAY BE AT PEACE WITH GOD.
in the thveatening upon thee. God is under an oath to prociu'e thy destruction, if thou diest in this mind, whicli God forbid. Deatli is the trap-door which will let thee down to hell's dungeon, and when once thou art there thou art where thou wilt have space enough to weep over thy j)ast folly, though here thou hast n…
873 wordsSECTION 372THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 3(37
and low, to go to their graves, as bears down a hill, backwards ; alas ! if they should but look forward whither they are going, their hearts wovild soon be at their mouths for want of this breastplate — a comfortable persuasion of their peace made with God. Go, therefore, as a poor malefactor condemned to die would do…
913 wordsSECTION 373THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 3(37
will accrue to God by it. It is an argument God will not deny. ' This,' said Abigail to David, ' shall be no grief to thee nor offence of heart unto my lord,' 1 Sam. XXV. ; she meant, he should never have cause to repent tliat he was kept from shedding blood. Thus mayest thou plead with God, and say, O Lord, when I sha…
915 wordsSECTION 374THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 3(37
him be at peace with thy sin also ? Is it not enough to he justified from thy sin, hilt wouklst thou have God hetray his own honour, by justifying tliee in thy sin? Did you ever liear a prince give a patent to another to cut his own throat? What security canst thou give to God of thy love tn him, if thou wilt not renou…
952 wordsSECTION 3752 T?
from his head,' which hindered him ; and is any lust so precious in thy eye, that thou canst not leave it behind thee, rather than fall into the hands of God's justice ? But so sottish is foolish man, that a wise heathen could take notice of it : En .sola emi putanius, pro quibus pecimiam solvimus ; ea (jratiiJta vocam…
902 wordsSECTION 376THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. <5Y I
man in one person, who laid down his Ufe, upon agreement with his Father, to make an atonement for the sin of the world, and now offers thee that blood, which then he shed, as a price to carry in the hand of thy faith to the Father for pardon and peace. No, though they should come and call thee from Christ to Christ, f…
860 wordsSECTION 377372 THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
that do it from under thy own soul's roof? O, Christian, meditate some noble exploit against it. Now, the more to steel thy heart, and harden it against all relenting towards it, carry the blood and wounds of thy Saviour into the field with thee in the hand of thy faith ; the sight of these will certainly enrage thy he…
905 wordsSECTION 378THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. Q^^^
fields ? and will he neglect thee, thinkest thou, that art a believer ? If the prince feeds the traitor in prison, surely the child in his house shall not starve. In a word, to allude to that, Luke xii. 28, if God in his pi-ovidence so abounds to the ungodly, as we see he doth ; if he clothes this grass, (for to this t…
913 wordsSECTION 379374 "^"^^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
one heaven together. Yea, the apostle gives the advantage to this of the two for our faith to triumph in : ' For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life,' Rom. v. 10. As if the apostle had said. Can you believe that God liat…
868 wordsSECTION 380THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 375
peace is so necessary, that he cannot taste the sweetness of the first, nor indeed of any other mercy, without it. This is to the sonl what health is to the body ; it sugars and sweetens all enjoyments. A siiit, though of cloth of gold, sits not easy on a sick man's back. Nothing joyous to a distressed conscience. Mose…
891 wordsSECTION 381,'376 T"^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
forgiven thee. If a friend should come to a malefactor, on his way to the gal- lows, put a sweet posy into his hands, and bid him be of good cheer, smell on that ; alas! this would bring little joy with it to the poor man's heart, who sees the place of execution before him. But if one comes from the prince with a pardo…
871 wordsSECTION 382,'376 T"^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
punishment for that) it condemns the poor creature unto ; and to be sprinkled with the blood of Christ is to have the blood of Christ applied to the heart by • the Spirit for pardon and reconciliation with God. Sprinkling, in the law, did denote the cleansing of the person so sprinkled from all legal impui'ities, Levit…
907 wordsSECTION 383,'376 T"^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
First, It is the gospel alone that presents the Spirit of God as a comforter to poor sinners. Indeed the comforting office of the Spirit is founded on the satisfaction of Jesus Christ. When Christ had shed his blood, and in it laid down upon the nail the full price of a sinner's peace with (iod ; then at his return to …
827 wordsSECTION 384,'376 T"^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
as able to apply this purchased redemption to us ; his consolations are called ' strong consolations.' Christ shewed his strength, when he unhinged the gates of the grave, and made his way out of that dark prison by his glorious resur- rection : by this, 'he was declared to be the Son of God with power,' as the apostle…
919 wordsSECTION 385A REPROOF TO THREE SORTS OF PERSONS THAT OFFEND AGAINST THIS PEACE WHICH THE GOSPEL BRINGS.
through thy own melancholy fancy, and the sophistry of Satan, who coins distinctions for thee, evade the arguments that Christians and ministers bring for thy comfort; yet when the Spirit comes himself, all disputes end : the devil cannot argue with him ; no, then the lying spirit vanisheth, and our own fears too, as t…
886 wordsSECTION 386A REPROOF TO THREE SORTS OF PERSONS THAT OFFEND AGAINST THIS PEACE WHICH THE GOSPEL BRINGS.
Secondly, As for those that are sincere, true-hearted Christians, there are several considerations which will vindicate the gospel to answer its name, and to be a gospel of peace and consolation. First, Some that are sincere Christians, and yet do not so clearly vmderstand the doctrine of the gospel as others ; and the…
846 wordsSECTION 387A REPROOF TO THREE SORTS OF PERSONS THAT OFFEND AGAINST THIS PEACE WHICH THE GOSPEL BRINGS.
Secondly, Though some precious souls that have closed with Christ, and embraced the gospel, be not at present brought to rest in their own consciences, but continue for a while under some dissatisfactions and troubles in tlicir own spirits, yet even then they have peace of conscience in a threefold respect; In precio, …
860 wordsSECTION 388THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 383
promise, if any one particular saint should everlastingly go without his reaping- time. ' He that goeth forth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,' Psa. cxxvi. 6. And therefore, you who think so basely of the gospel, and the professors of it, because at present…
873 wordsSECTION 389THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 383
is asleep ; but as soon as it awakes, the horror of his condition is sure again to affright liim worse than before. God keep you all from sucli a cure for your troubles of conscience, which is a thousand times worse than the disease itself. Better to have a dog that will by his barking tell us a thief is in our yard, t…
872 wordsSECTION 390TVHERE WE HAVE A TRIAL OF OUR PEACE FROM FOUR CHARACTERS OF GOSPEL-PEACE OR COMFORT.
boldly falls to work before he comes, directly against the order given him. Thus many are so hot upon having comfort that they will not stay for the Spirit of God to come and sprinkle their consciences with the blood of Christ in gospel order, but profanely do it themselves, by applying the comfort of those pro- mises …
841 wordsSECTION 391388 'T'^^^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
tlierefore makes her iiioan, as willing to follow his counsel, and to be ordered by his direction, as ever}' patient is by his physician, of whose skill and care he is thoroughly satisfied; this I call the broken lienrt, which if you be wholly strangers to, your acquaintance is to begin with gospel-peace. I beseech you…
915 wordsSECTION 392THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 387
Thirdly, Gospel-peace in tlie conscience. It is strengthening md restorative; it makes the Christian strong to fight against sin and Satan; the Christian is revived, and finds his strength come, upon a little tasting of this honey ; but oh, what a slaughter doth he make of his spiritual enemies, when he hath a full mea…
882 wordsSECTION 393THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 387
comfort for his disciples against his departure, which lie knew would go so near their hearts. One, amongst the rest, is taken from the difference of that peace and comfort which he leaves them, from what the world gives : as if he had said, If the peace and comfort you have from me lay in such things as the world's pe…
892 wordsSECTION 394THAT THE GOSPEL ALONE CAN UNITE THE HEARTS OF MEN TOGETHER IN TRUE PEACE, AND HOW THE GOSPEL DOTH IT.
into liis angry father's presence, than he to have the light of God's countenance shine on him, which is now veiled from him. O how he searcheth his heart, studies the Scripture, wrestles with God for to give him that grace, the non- evidence of which at present makes him so question the comforts he hath for- merly had…
869 wordsSECTION 395THAT THE GOSPEL ALONE CAN UNITE THE HEARTS OF MEN TOGETHER IN TRUE PEACE, AND HOW THE GOSPEL DOTH IT.
twecii whom there was as great feud and enmity as is between those creatures, they shall yet sweetly agree, and lie in one another's bosoms peaceably ; and how all this, but by the efiicacy of the gospel on their hearts ? so ver. 9 : ' For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.' Indeed it is in the dark …
886 wordsSECTION 396THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 391
meet with none of them, heing all supernatural and of divine revelation, Eph. iv. 3. The apostle exhorts them to ' keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' And how doth he persuade them? ver. 4 — 7. First, ' There is one body,' but such a one as natural philosophy treats not of, but a mystical one, the churc…
896 wordsSECTION 397CHAPTER XII.
by way of fatherly chastisement, (and indeed it is as sharp a rod as he can use in his"discipHne,)"the more to make them sensible of their falling out with him. But the curse is gone, and they under a promise of enjoying peace and unity, wliich they shall, when best for them, have performed to them. Secondly, The inter…
843 wordsSECTION 398THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 393
Use 1. First, This helps us what to think of that peace, and love, which sometimes is to be found among the wicked of the world. It is not true peace, and solid love, because they ai-e strangers to the gospel, which alone can unite hearts together. What then shall we call this their peace ? In some it is a mere conspir…
813 wordsSECTION 399394 "^^^ GOSPEL OF PEACE.
tention withal; such the apostle speaks of, Phil. i. 15 : 'Some, indeed, preach Christ out of envy and strife' The oosijcl of peace is a strange text, one would think, to preach division and raise strife from ; and the pulpit as strange a mount to plant the battering pieces of contention on. O how strangely do these me…
868 wordsSECTION 400THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 395
where else, from some false teacher, and false doctrme or other. Mark them, saith he ; as if he had said, o])serve them well, and you shall find them tainted some wa}^ or other. They had been warming themselves at Satan's fire, and from thence have brought a coal with tliem that does the mischief. Secondl}^, Christians…
828 wordsSECTION 401THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 395
O it is the devil that is practising his black art upon their lusts, which yet are so uninortitied as gives hiin too great an advantage of raising many times sad storms of division and strife among them. Paul and Barnabas set out in a calm together, but the devil sends a storm after them, such a storm as parted them in…
873 wordsSECTION 402THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 395
tlieiT) of this; which if he had not been very solicitous of, should not have had so large a room in his thoughts then, when he had so little time left, in which he was to crowd and sum up all the heavenly counsel and comfort that he desired to leave with them before his departure. Nay, so great weight he lays on this,…
900 wordsSECTION 403THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 395
redoubled prayer, (when not a word was spoken for his own life,) or else l^e misplaced his zeal, and improved not his time with God, for the best ad- vantage of his people. Secondly, He would make divisions appear more scareful and dreadful things to his peojDle, by putting in so many requests to God for preventing the…
899 wordsSECTION 404THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 309
among other bretliren, Christ hath taken care to remove them all ; so that of all others, your quarrellings are most childish, yea sinful. Sometimes one child finds himself grieved at the partiality of his parents' affection more set on some others than himself; and this makes him envy them, and they despise him ; but …
896 wordsSECTION 405^00 THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
cure, shewing how souls that at present are weak, and their gi'ace rather wan and withered, than growing^ may come to thrive and flourisli ; and the receipt lie gives is a composition of these two rare drugs, sinceritj' and love ; preserve these, and all will go well ; as ver. Ifi, where the whole hody is said ' to edi…
894 wordsSECTION 406AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH, ETC. 401
among us? what can we think, but a judgment is breeding by the lowering coun- tenances of Christians, their swellings of heart, and discontented passions vented from their swollen spirits, like the murmuring of waters, or rumbling of thunder in the air before a tempest ? When children fight and wrangle, now is the time…
893 wordsSECTION 407402 -'^ND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH
sins tliereby. Do not yonr hearts tremble to lay the stumbling-block for any to break his neck over ? to roll the stone over any poor sinner's grave, and seal him down in it, that he never have a resurrection to grace here, or glory hereafter? As you would keep yoiu'selves free of the blood of those that die in tlieir …
853 wordsSECTION 408THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 403
Ans. As for the grace held forth by this 'preparation of the gospel,' &c., I find great variety in the apprehensions of the learmed, and, indeed, variety rather than contrariety. I shall, therefore, spare the mentioning of them, (many of which you may find collected by the Reverend Doctor Gouge upon the place, with his…
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to devour them as his adversaries, tliat no sooner the report of a peace con- chided betwixt God and them sounds in their ears by tlie preaching of the gospel, and is certainly confirmed to be true in their own consciences by the Spirit, who is sent from heaven to seal it to them, and give them some sweet gust of it, b…
896 wordsSECTION 410THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 4()5
mind,' saith the apostle, 'to be ready to every good work ;' be it active or passive, they must be ready for it, or else all they do is to no purpose. The word there is the same with this in the text, and is taken from a vessel that is fashioned and fitted for the use the master puts it to ; we do not like, when we are…
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to follow him ; as the patient, who at first, may be, shrinks and draws back, when the physician talks of cutting or bleeding, but when he hath heard the reasons given by him why that coui'se must be taken, and is convinced it is the best way for his health, then he very freely puts forth his arm to the knife, and than…
921 wordsSECTION 412THE SECOND REASON OF THE POINT TAKEN FROM THE EXCELLENCY OF THIS FRAME OF SPIRIT.
fire. Tliis forlorn consists of a few files picked out of the whole army of saints. Secondly, The consolations he gives them then (in exceedings) above other of their brethren, that are not called out to such hard service. That part of an army which is \ipon action in the field is sure to have their pay, if their maste…
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THE SECOND REASON OF THE POINT TAKEN FROM THE EXCELLENCY OF THIS FRAME OF SPIRIT. Reason 2. The second reason of the point is taken from the excellency of this frame of spirit ; which will appear in divers particulars. Section I. — First, This readiness of heart to stoop to the cross evidenceth a gracious heart ; and…
824 wordsSECTION 414THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 4Q9
for the massacre of so many thousands of innocent persons, against all sense and reason of state, merely to fulfil his lust. Had not this man honour enough put upon him to content his ambitious spirit? No ; there is a poor Jew at the king's gate will not make a bow to him as he goes by, and this so ruffles his proud te…
942 wordsSECTION 415/^]Q AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH
point what to do, the fii-st stoi'm that riseth will make the poor man put into an>- creek or hole, rather than venture abroad in foul weather, John xii. 42 : ' Among the chief rulers also many believed on him, but because of the Phaiusees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the syna- gogue.' Poor …
929 wordsSECTION 416CHAPTER XVI.
in this world, which, if it had been effected, would have brought him to his eternal rest in the other? Secondly, The more ready and prepared the Christian is to suffer from God, or for God, the more God is engaged to take care for him and of him. A good general is most tender of that soldier's life, who is least tende…
856 wordsSECTION 417^J2 AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH
pride in a ci-owd, or hazarding their present carnal interest by any contest and scuffle. ' But the}' sliall not be able,' that is, ' to enter;' because their carnal, cowardly hearts sliall not be able to strive ; so that take Christians under the notion of 'seekers,' and, by Christ's own words, there are many ; but co…
874 wordsSECTION 418THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 4J3
would be more difficult for them to escape the dangei- by flight : the big-bellied mothei- being unable to fly fast enougla with her child in her womb, and the nurse as unwilling to leave her dear babe behind her. But many more woes to them who, in days of trial and persecution for the gospel, shall be found big with t…
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of peace and rest is there enjoyed. They may know by what peace and bliss they have at present, what they shall have to eternity ; but here, below, the church of Christ is as a floating island, compassed with the world (I mean, men of the world) as with a sea; and these sometimes blow hot, and sometimes cold; some- tim…
803 wordsSECTION 420THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 415
Section I. — First, Look carefully to the ground of thy active obedience, that it be sound and sincere. The same right principles whereby the sincere soul acts for Christ, will carry him to suffer for Christ, when a call from God comes with such an errand. ' The children of Ephraim being armed, and carrying bows, turne…
897 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.