Required reading
The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Branch Third and Fourth of First General Part of Direction First.
My summary
This week we continue Part Second's first direction that the Christian must be armed and the reason why.
In the third branch we are encouraged to observe the quantity or entireness of the saint's armour. The armour is complete:
(i) every part, soul and body;
(ii) in regard of the several pieces and weapons;
(iii) in the perfection of every piece.
In the fourth branch we taught that the use of the armour requires that this grace must be kept in exercise. This is because:
(i) Christ commands us to have our amour on;
(ii) Satan's advantage is great when grace is not in exercise;
(iii) it is so awky a business and hard a work to recover the activity of grace once lost;
(iv) of our respect of our fellow soldiers.
What grabbed me
I appreciated the comments about keeping our armour on: 'The Christian's armour is made to be worn; no laying down, or putting off our armour, till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. Our armour and our garment of flesh go off together; then, indeed, will be no need of watch and ward; shield or helmet. Those military duties and field graces—as I may call faith, hope, and the rest— shall be honourably discharged. In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory. But here these are to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ.'
You only take your armour off when you receive your robes of glory!
Next week's reading
Continue Part Second by commencing Branch First of Direction I-Second General Part and reading up to the heading 'Satan's second main design'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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