Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Part First by reading Branch Fourth.
My summary
Today Gurnall moves on to the words, 'in the power of his might'.
His two doctrines are that the Christian's great care in all temptations and trials is:
(i) to strengthen his faith on the almighty power of God;
(ii) to strongly believe that this almighty power of God is theirs.
Gurnall gives three uses of the doctrines:
(i) if the almighty power of God is engaged for the saints' defence, surely then the saint's enemies will have a hard pull;
(ii) this shows the dismal deplorable condition of all who are yet in a Christless state;
(iii) the saints should be strong in the faith of this truth.
To conclude, Gurnall answers the objection: 'I have prayed for strength for such a duty and find it come off as weakly and deadheartedly as before. If God be with me by his mighty power to help me, why then is all this befallen me?'
What grabbed me
Most of today's reading was marvelous. I'm really warming to Gurnall.
I especially liked this illustration: 'They are his own dear children; every one takes care of his own—the silly hen, how doth she bustle and bestir herself to gather her brood under her wing when the kite appears? no care like that which nature teacheth. How much more will God, who is the Father of such dispositions in his creature, stir up his whole strength to defend his children?'
If a dumb creature protects her children, how much more the living God!
Next week's reading
Read Branch First and Second of First General Part of Direction First.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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