March 1, 2018

The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - LIV - Direction Nine continued

Required readingThe Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Third Point of Improvement of the Third General Part of Direction Ninth.


My summary
This week Gurnall gives us his third point of improvement for direction ninth which is applications of the doctrine of the Christian helmet.

Firstly he provides us arguments why we should strengthen our hope:
(i) It is thy duty so to do;
(ii) If thou do not, thou wilt show thou little esteemest Christ and his salvation;
(iii) Thou knowest not what stress thy hope may be put to before thou diest.

Secondly Gurnall explores directions on how we may strengthen our hope:
(i) Study the word of God diligently;
(ii) Keep thy conscience pure;
(iii) Resort to God daily, and beg a stronger hope of him;
(iv) Labour to increase your love;
(v) Be much in the exercise of your hope;
(vi) File up thy experiences of past mercies, and thy hope will grow stronger for the future.

What grabbed me

I was interested in the sixth direction: 'File up thy experiences of past mercies, and thy hope will grow stronger for the future. Experience worketh hope, Rom. 5:4. He is the best Christian that keeps the history of God's gracious dealings with him most carefully, so that he may read in it his past experiences, when at any time his thoughts trouble him and his spiritual rest is broken with distracting fears for the future. This is he that will pass the night of affliction and temptation with comfort and hope; while others that have taken no care to pen down—in their memories at least—the remarkable instances of God's love and favour to them in the course of their lives, will find the want of this sweet companion in their sorrowful hours, and be put to sad plunges; yea, well, if they be not driven to think their case desperate, and past all hope.'

I might have to try making such a file.

Next week's readingRead the Fourth Point of Improvement of the Third General Part of Direction Ninth.

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


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