The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - XL - Direction Eight commenced

Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Direction Eight by reading up to the First General Part.

My summary

Today we begin Direction Eight: 'Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.' (Eph. 6:16)

To start the subject, Gurnall gives us an explication of the words by answering four inquiries:

(i) What faith is it that here is commended? (Justifying faith);

(ii) What is this justifying faith as to its nature? (An act of the soul whereby it rests on Christ);

(iii) Why is faith compared to a shield (Because of a double resemblance between grace and that piece of armour);

(iv) What does above all import? (Faith is above the other graces).

What grabbed me

I enjoyed Gurnall's use of Moses as an example of faith: 'It was hard work for Moses to strip himself of the magistrate's robes, and put his hands on his servants head; hard to leave another to enter upon his labours, and reap the honour of lodging the Israelites' colours in Canaan, after it had cost him so many a weary step to bring them within sight of it. Yet, faith made him willing; he saw better robes, that he should put on in heaven, than those he was called on to put off on earth. The lowest place in glory is, beyond all compare, greater preferment than the highest place of honour here below; to stand before the throne there, and minister to God in immediate service, than to sit in a throne on earth and have all the world waiting at his foot.'

I love that.  The lowest place in heaven is far above the highest place the world can offer!

Next week's readingContinue Direction Eight by reading First Branch of First General Part.

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