The Wisdom of William Gurnall

SI brothers and sisters,

William Gurnall (1616-1679) is one of my favorite puritanic writers. I'd like to start a thread of quotes from his vast treasure "The Christian in Complete Armour," which is probably the most impacting book on holiness and purity that I've ever read, apart from the Bible. I'll try to update this thread with new quotes as frequently as I can. May God richly bless us all as we meditate on these statements of golden wisdom.

"Cowards never won heaven. Do not claim you are begotten of God and have His royal blood running through your veins unless you can prove your lineage by this heroic spirit: to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils."

"When Satan buffets and temptation washes over you like a tidal wave, you must cling to God's truths. They are your shelter in every raging storm. But you must have them on hand, ready to use. Do not wait until it is sinking to patch the boat. A feeble commitment has little hope of safety when caught in a tempest."

"If you are a serious soldier, do not flirt with any of your desires that are beneath Christ and heaven. They will play the harlot and steal your heart."

"We have known many who have joined the army of Christ and liked being a soldier for a battle or two, but have soon had enough and ended up deserting. They impulsively enlist for Christian duties, are easily persuaded to take up a profession of religion, and are just as easily persuaded to lay it down. Like the new moon, they shine a little in the first part of the evening, but go down before the night is over. This persevering is hard work! Taking up the cross daily, praying always, watching night and day and never laying aside our armour to indulge ourselves, sends many sorrowful away from Christ."

"God is almighty to pardon, but He will not use His power for a shameless sinner. He is able to save and help in need, but if you have not repented, how can you expect His aid? The same power God expends on the believer's salvation will be spent on your damnation, for He has bound Himself under oath to destroy every impenitent soul. What opiate does Satan sprinkle on the pillows of the unregenerate? How can they sleep so soundly even after they have been warned of the consequences of ignoring God's gracious ultimatum? Sinner, Satan may trick you into supposing it takes wisdom or courage to refuse the terms of God's mercy, [i]but it is really the ultimate act of foolishness. [/i]Your eternal destiny rests with God. If you will not deal with Him now, you must answer His charges later. Know this: 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God' (Heb. 10:31).

"When you see men of power and intellect using their talents against God, weep for their souls. Better they had lived and died slaves and fools, than to do the devil's business with their God-given abilities. And when reproached and persecuted by wicked men, look beyond them. Spend your wrath on Satan, who is your chief enemy. Men are only his puppets. They may be won to Christ's side and so become your friends at last. When the enemy comes riding up in battle, the valiant soldier is not angry with the horse, but with the horseman. He works to kill the rider so that he may possess the horse for his own use. Thus must we do with the wicked. We are not to bend our wrath against them, but against Satan who rides them and spurs them on."

If you will have heaven, you must have Christ, who is all in all. No holiness, no happiness. Take the whole offer, or take nothing. One can compare holiness and happiness to the sisters Leah and Rachel. On the surface, happiness, like Rachel, seems more desirable. A carnal heart can fall in love with her. But holiness, like Leah, is the elder and has a special beauty also, though she appears to be at a disadvantage in this life. Her eyes are red from tears of repentance, and her face is furrowed with the work of mortification.

Here is heaven's law: The younger sister cannot be bestowed before the elder. We cannot enjoy fair Rachel until we first embrace Leah. Will you live by this law? Then marry Jesus Christ and His grace and serve a hard apprenticeship in temptations both of prosperity and adversity. Endure the heat of one and the cold of another. If you will be patient, the fairer sister at last will be handled over to you. This is the only way to win the prize of heavenly things.

- W. Gurnall