The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - LV - Direction Nine concluded

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

Today we finish Direction Ninth with the Fourth Point of Improvement of the applications of the helmet of salvation.

For the Fourth Point of Improvement, Gurnall gives an exhortation to those who want this helmet of hope by asking them to consider:

(i) How deplored a thing it is to be in a hopeless state;

(ii) That it is possible that thou who art now without hope, mayest by a timely and vigorous use of the means obtain a hope of salvation;

(iii) The horrid cruelty of this act—to pull down eternal destruction on thy own head.

What grabbed me

The third consideration was particularly awful: 'Consider the horrid cruelty of this act, for thee, by thy incorrigible and impenitent heart, to pull down eternal destruction on thy own head. O what a sad epitaph is this to be found on a man's grave-stone! Here lies one that cut his own throat, that unnaturally made away himself! this the man, that the woman, who would not be reclaimed! They saw hell before them, and yet would leap into it, notwithstanding the entreaties of Christ by his Spirit and ministers to the contrary!'

I hope that by God's grace that is never my epitaph!

Next week's reading

Commence Direction Tenth by reading up to the Second General Head of the First General Part.

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