PREVIEW

The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (1617-1679) with a Biographical Introduction by J.C. Ryle (Book/ Hardcover)

Product Overview

At a time in England when loyalty to Scripture placed Christians in the center of the nation's wars, Gurnall was more concerned with the souls of his people than the issues of conflicting political parties. Compiled from his many sermons on "the saints' war against the devil" his exhaustive exposition of Ephesians 6:10 - 20 treats the spiritual battles of believers and their God-given protection. Originally written in three volumes (1655-1662), the book first covers the Christian's call to arms and describes the nature of the battle and the character of our enemy. The various pieces of godly armor and weapons, and their use on offense and defense, are then described at length, item by item and verse by verse. More pastoral and practical than theological, Gurnall's work is filled with spiritual insight, encouraging exhortation, and inspiring word pictures concerning the importance of doctrinal truth as "a girdle for the mind," the power of holiness, the "pre-minence of faith against other graces," and much more. Profoundly biblical and as relevant today as it was almost 350 years ago, Gurnall's work is a resource that will add grace to the library of Calvinist and Arminian alike. This edition includes an introduction and biography of Gurnall by J. C. Ryle.

William Gurnall (1617-1679) pastored in the little town of Lavenham, in the English county of Suffolk. Despite his Puritan leanings, Gurnall signed the Act of Uniformity and agreed to the dictates of the Church of England. Though not ejected from his pulpit as were other non-conformists, his position was not respected on either side of the conflict. His massive treatise on spiritual warfare and two small pieces--The Christian's Labor and Reward and The Magistrate's Portrait Drawn from the Word-- comprise all of Gurnall's known published works.

About the Author(s)

William Gurnall (1616-1679) was an English author and clergyman born at King's Lynn, Norfolk. He was educated at the free grammar school of his native town, and in 1631 was nominated to the Lynn scholarship in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1635 and MA in 1639. He was made rector of Lavenham in Suffolk in 1644; and before he received that appointment he seems to have officiated, perhaps as curate, at Sudbury. He is most known for his work, The Christian in Complete Armour.