The Christian in Complete Armour - Gurnall - LX - Direction Ten continued

Required readingThe Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Direction Tenth by beginning the Second General Part and reading Branch First and Second.

My summary

Now Gurnall starts his Third General Part on how to use the sword of the word.

In his first branch, Gurnall gives four directions on how to use the sword of the word against persecutors:

(i)  Let it be thy care to get clear Scripture ground for those principles and practices of thine which stir up the persecutor's rage against thee;

(ii) Improve those scriptures which teach us to dread God more and fear man less;

(iii) Be sure thou givest up thy lusts to the sword of the Spirit, before thy life is in any danger from the sword of the persecutor;

(iv) Fortify thy faith on those promises which have an especial respect to persecution.

In his second branch, Gurnall provides five general directions on how to use the sword of the word against heretics: 

(i) Take heed thou comest not to the Scriptures with an unholy heart;

(ii) Make not thy own reason the rule by which thou measurest Scripture truths;

(iii) Take heed thou comest not with a judgment preengaged to any party or opinion;

(iv) Go to God by prayer for a key to unlock the mysteries of his word;

(v) Compare scripture with scripture;

(vi) Consult with thy faithful guides which God hath set over thee in his church.

What grabbed me

I appreciated the encouragement to compare Scripture with Scripture, particularly when wielding difficult passages: 'Now, in comparing scripture with scripture, be careful thou interpretest obscure places by the more plain and clear, and not the clear by the dark. Error creeps into the most shady obscure places, and there takes sanctuary. 'Some things hard to be understood, which they that are unstable wrest.' No wonder they should stumble in those dark and difficult places, when they turn their back on that light which plainer scriptures afford to lead them safely through.'

Don't neglect the light that God has already granted!

Next week's reading

Continue Direction Tenth by continuing the Second General Part and reading Branch Third.

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