The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - XV - Direction Second continued

Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Branch Fourth of Division Second of Second General Part of Direction Second.

My summary

Today we finish examining what is meant by our war being 'against spiritual wickedness' by learning more about sins that the devils do chiefly annoy saints with.

The second sort of spiritual sins are so called from the object about which they are conversant - they concern spiritual objects, not carnal objects.

Gurnall proceeds to give us two types of this sort of spiritual sin:

(i) erroneous principles;

(ii) spiritual pride (including pride of gifts,grace privileges).

What grabbed me

I was helped by the reminder that envying the gifts of others demonstrates contempt toward God: 'When thou enviest the gifts of thy brethren, thou takest upon thee, to teach God what he shall give and to whom; as if the great God should take counsel, or ask leave of thee, before he dispenseth his gifts. And darest thou stand to thy own envious thoughts with this interpretation? such a one thou findest Christ himself give, 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?' Matt. 20:15, as if Christ had said, What hath any to do with cavil, at my disposure of what is not theirs, but mine, to give?'

We should delight in the gifts that God has given us and not complain about what he has not given.

Next week's reading
Read Branch Fifth of Division Second of Second General Part of Direction Second.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.