Christian in Complete Armour: Volume 2 PB

The Christian in Complete Armour is certainly one of the greatest of all the Puritans’ practical writings. This second volume in the 3-volume paperback set is a modernized abridgement of the Puritan Classic by William Gurnall.

 

 

‘If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour.’– JOHN NEWTON

‘Gurnall’s work is peerless and priceless; every line is full of wisdom; every sentence is suggestive. I have often resorted to it when my own fire has been burning low, and I have seldom failed to find a glowing coal upon Gurnall’s hearth.’– C.H. SPURGEON

‘A beautiful feature in Gurnall’s book is its richness in pithy, pointed, and epigrammatical sayings. You will often find in a line and a half some great truth, put so concisely, and yet so fully, that you really marvel how so much thought could be got into so few words. Solid scriptural theology, like that contained in these pages, should be valued and studied in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice – books in which Christ and the Holy Ghost have their rightful office – books in which justification, and sanctification, and regeneration, and faith, and grace, and holiness are clearly, distinctly, and accurately delineated and exhibited – these are the only books which do real good. Few things need reviving more than a taste for such books as these among readers.’– J.C. RYLE

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                                Page
                The Several Pieces of the Whole Armour of God               19
6              FIFTH CONSIDERATION: THE CHRISTIAN’S SPIRITUAL GIRDLE       21

1. Truth Of Doctrine As A Girdle For The Mind      22

                                Established   Judgment in the Truths of Christ     23
                                Why   Christians Need an Established Judgment in the Truth        24
                                How to   Establish Judgment in the Truth               28
                                A Free and   Bold Profession of Faith       32
                                How to Be   Girded With the Profession of Truth               36
                                Imposters Who   Use Truth          38
                                How to Have   Hearts Inflamed With Love for Truth          40

1. Truth Of Heart Or Sincerity As A Girdle For The Will     46

                                What Is Meant   by Truth of Heart            46
                                Why Truth of   Heart Is Compared to a Girdle      47
                                Sincerity   Covers the Christian’s Uncomeliness  47
                                The   Uncomeliness Which Sincerity Covers          52
                                How Sincerity   Covers the Saint’s Uncomeliness               55
                                Why Sincerity   Covers the Saint’s Uncomeliness               58
                                Inseparable   Companions of Sincerity    62
                                The Nature of   Hypocrisy and Its Hatefulness to God      65
                                The Offenses   of Hypocrisy         67
                                False Worship   and False Claims                69
                                Search for   Sincerity       74
                                The   Hypocrite’s False Profession            76
                                Characteristics   of Sincerity         81
                                Instructions   to the Insincere     91
                                Instructions   to the Sincere         96
                                Comfort for   the Sincere Christian Who Doubts 110
                                Sincerity   Strengthens the Christian’s Spirit         119
7              SIXTH CONSIDERATION: THE CHRISTIAN’S BREASTPLATE                143
                The Meaning of Righteousness 143
                Why Righteousness Is Compared to a Breastplate            149
                Connection of the Breastplate and the Girdle     150

1. Why Every Christian Should Keep On His Breastplate   152

                                The   Excellency of the Power of Holiness             163

1. How The Christian Expresses The Power Of Holiness  172

                                In the   Contest With Sin               172
                                In Worship          177
                                In Employment 182
                                In Behavior   Toward Others        188
                III. Guidance For The Christian Who Desires Holiness       200
                                How to   Maintain Holiness          200
                                Satan’s   Strategy to Disarm the Christian of His Breastplate          213
                                Two   Particulars on Living a Holy Life       228
                                Reproof of   Unholy Persons       230
                                Exhortation   to Saints    237
8              SEVENTH CONSIDERATION: THE CHRISTIAN’S SPIRITUAL SHOE   245

1. What Is Meant By The Gospel                245

                                The Most   Joyful News in the World       245
                                Properties of   a Joyful Message Found in the Gospel      247
                                Claims on Our Compassion of Those Who Never Heard the Gospel           250
                                The World’s   Rejection of the Gospel     251
                                Exhortation   to Unbelievers and Believers           256

1. What Is Meant By Peace          262

                                Peace of   Reconciliation with God            262
                                Superiority   of Our Nature in Christ to the Nature of Adam          274
                                Why You   Should Seek Peace with God 277
                                How to Find   Peace with God     287
                                Exhortation   to Those Who Already Have Peace with God            297
                                Peace of   Conscience    304
                                Reproof to   Those Who Deny That Peace of Conscience Is the Blessing of the Gospel     313
                                Characteristics   of Gospel Peace               323
                                Peace of Love   and Unity             331
                                How the   Gospel Alone Knits the Hearts of Men in Peace             333
                                The   Difference between the Peace of Saints and the Peace of Sinners 338
                                Exhortation   to Nourish Peace   343
                                Peace With   Creation     355
                III. The Preparation Of The Gospel Of Peace        356
                                What Is Meant   By This Preparation of the Gospel of Peace?      356
                                Why Is It   Called ‘The Preparation of the Gospel of Peace’?         357
                                Preparation   for Trials    358
                                Why   Christians Must Be Ready for Trials              359
                                Why So Few   People Are Christians         372
                                Exhortation   to Put on the Shoe of Preparation 375
                                Directions   for Wearing the Spiritual Shoe            377
                                Gospel Peace   Prepares the Saint for Trials          385
                                How Gospel   Peace Prepares the Christian for Suffering               388
                                Gospel Peace   and Patience       394
                                Tenderness of   a Christian Conscience   396