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

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

My summary

Today we continue the Third General Part on how to use the sword of the word.

In Branch Third we are given four directions on how to use the sword of the word against lusts:

(i) Take some pains to collect out of the word the several lineaments with which the Spirit of God doth paint out the deformity of sin, that so thou mayest make it the more odious and hateful to thy thoughts;

(ii) Provide thyself with Scripture answers to Satan's false reasonings;

(iii) Hide the word in thy heart;

(iv) Plead the promise against sin at the throne of grace.

What grabbed me

I liked the encouragement to fight every single sin: 'Sometimes Satan thus insinuates himself into a soul—'what, man, will one sin, if yielded to, so much hurt thee? One mole doth not mar the beauty of the face, nor can one sin spoil the beauty of thy soul; and it is no more than I am a suitor for. If I bade thee wallow in every puddle, thou mightst well abhor the motion; but why art thou so afraid of one spot being seen on thy garment? The best jewel hath its flaw, and the holiest saint his failing.' Now to refel this motion, when so mannerly and modestly proposed 1. Answer. The word will tell thee that no sin is single. It is impossible to embrace or allow one sin, and be free of others. For, (1.) He that yields to one sin casts contempt upon the authority that made the whole law, and upon this account, breaks it all. 'Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all,' James 2:10. And he gives the reason in the next words, 'for he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.' Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill thou art a transgressor of the law. Not that he is guilty of all distributively. but collectively, as Estius well notes. For the law is one copulative. One commandment cannot be wronged, but all are interested in the same; as the whole body suffers by a wound given to one part: 'God spake all these words,' Ex. 20. They are ten words, but one law.'

There is no such thing as 'just one sin'.

Next week's reading

Conclude Direction Tenth by continuing the Second General Part and reading Branch Fourth.

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