The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - XXXIX - Direction Seventh concluded

Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Second Doctrine of the Third General Part of Direction Seventh.

My summary

Today we conclude Volume First!

Gurnall completes the third General Part of Direction Seventh with his second doctrine: 'The peace which the gospel brings and speaks to the heart, will make the creature ready to wade through any trial or trouble that meets him in his Christian course.'

Thus, we are given two ways that the gospel prepares souls for sufferings:

(i) by its privileges (being a child and heir of God);

(ii) by its influences (making the Christian unconquerable, filling the heart with love to Christ, self-denial and patience).

What grabbed me

I enjoyed hearing the encouragement to repent of our presumptuous sins that have stolen our peace: '1. Presumptuous sins, these are the thieves that 'break through and steal' the saint's comfort away. When the Christian comes to look into his soul after such a bold act, and thinks to entertain himself, as formerly, with the comforts of his pardoned state, interest in Christ, and hopes of heaven through him, alas! he finds a sad change. There is no promise that will give out its consolations to him—the cellar-door is locked, Christ withdrawn, and the keys carried away with him. He may even cry out with a sad complaint, as Mary when she found not Christ's body in the sepulchre, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.' Thus the Christian may, with aching heart, bemoan his folly, 'My pride, my uncleanness, my earthly-mindedness, they have taken away my treasure, robbed me of my comfort. I could never have a comfortable sight of God's face in any duty or promise since I fell into that foul sin.' And therefore, Christian, have a care of such robbers of thy peace as this. 'The spirit of man' is called 'the candle of the Lord,' Prov. 20:27. Hath God lighted thy candle, Christian—cheered thy spirit, I mean, with the sense of his love? Take heed of presumptuous sins. If such a thief be suffered in this thy candle, thy comfort will soon sweal out. Hast thou fallen into the hands of any such presumptuous sins as have stolen thy peace from thee? Send speedily thy hue and cry after them—I mean, take thy sad moan to God, renew thy repentance out of hand, and raise heaven upon them by a spirit of prayer. This is no time to delay. The farther thou lettest these sins go without repentance, the harder thou wilt find it to recover thy lost peace and joy out of their hands. And for thy encouragement know, God is ready, upon thy serious and solemn return, to restore thee 'the joy of his salvation,' and do justice upon these enemies of thy soul for thee by his mortifying grace, if thou wilt prosecute the law upon them closely and vigorously, without relenting towards them, or being bribed with the pleasure or carnal advantage that they will not spare to offer, so their lives may be spared.'

Repent quickly without delay to find peace in God's arms again!

Next week's readingCommence Direction Eight by reading up to the First General Part.

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