William Gurnall

Why is hope compared to a helmet? The helmet defends the head… from dint of bullet and sword… This hope defends the soul… whereby no dangerous or deadly impression can by Satan or sin be made on it.. As the helmet defends the soldier’s head from wounding, so his heart also from swooning. It makes him bold and fearless in battle.
A man cannot drown so long as his head is above water. Now it is the proper function of  hope to do this for the Christian in times of danger… Two things make the head hang down–fear and shame. Hope eases the Christian’s heart of both.. and so forbids him to give any sign of a desponding mind by a dejected countenance.
—William Gurnall “The Christian in complete Armour”

If the understanding be clear in its apprehension of truth, and the will sincere, vigorous, and fixed in its purposes for that which is holy and good, then he is a strong Christian… Satan comes as a serpent in the persons of false teachers, [or] as a lion in the persons of bloody persecutors… To defend us against this, we need to have truth girt about us, so that with a holy resolution we may maintain our profession in the face of death and danger.
—William Gurnall “The Christian in complete Armour”

The Christian’s state in this life is one of combat… He needs his sword as much as his trowel… The Christian is assailed on every side by his enemy. How can it be otherwise, when the seeds of war are laid deep within the natures of both, and can never be rooted up until the devil cease to be a devil, sin to be sin, and saint to be saint?… Sin will lust against grace, and grace draw upon sin, whenever they meet.
William Gurnall “The Christian in Complete Armour”

The Saint’s enemy is the devil… a very subtle enemy.  The Christian is endangered most by his policy and craft… His first main design is to draw into sin.  The second main design is to accuse, vex, and trouble the saint for sin… molesting the saint’s peace and disquieting the saint’s spirit… Satan is first a tempter, and then a troubler.
—William Gurnall “Christian in Complete Armour”

Holiness is necessary to the true peace and repose of the soul… Holiness has a mighty influence upon others: it stops the mouths of the ungodly… and is a means to open their very hearts to the embracing of Christ and his grace.
—William Gurnall “Christian in Complete Armour”

A truly sanctified heart dares not skip or blot one word God has written, but desires to be a faithful executor to perform the whole will of God.
—William Gurnall “Christian in Complete Armour.”

Prayer is a channel of grace, for the conveying of blessings from God… a means of worship, whereby we are to do our homage to God and give him the glory of his deity… a humble appeal from our impotency to God’s omnipotence.
In prayer we do not only beg mercy of God, but vow praise to God for the mercies we beg… [so that] we wear with thankfulness what we win with prayer.
—William Gurnall “Christian in complete Armour”

It is not a man’s morality and philosophical nature that will repel a temptation sent with full charge from Satan’s canon..The graces of Christ—these are armour…To be without Christ is to be without armour …unfit to fight Christ’s battles against sin and Satan.
—William Gurnall “The Christian in complete armour.”

If the understanding be clear in its apprehension of truth, and the will sincere, vigorous, and fixed in its purposes for that which is holy and good, then he is a strong Christian …Satan comes as a serpent in the persons of false teachers, [or] as a lion in the persons of bloody persecutors…To defend us against this, we need to have truth girt about us so that with a holy resolution we may maintain our profession in the face of death and danger.
—-William Gurnall “Christian in Complete Armour”

The stage whereon this war is fought, is every man’s own soul. Here is no neuter in this war. The whole world is engaged in the quarrel, either for God and against Satan, or for Satan and against God…
The drum beats in the gospel for volunteers…Let none take your crown from you….Be thankful for every victory you get…He is the right soldier that is not discouraged by those that run from, or that are slain in the battle, but still press on to victory….
March on, not in the confidence of your own armour, but in the power of his might, who has promised shortly to subdue Satan under your feet.
—-William Gurnall “The Christian in complete Armour.”