The vvhole-armor of God: or A Christians spiritual furniture, to keepe him safe from all the assaults of Satan First preached, and now the second time published and enlarged for the good of all such as well vse it:whereunto is also added a treatise of the sinne against the Holy Ghost. By VVilliam Gouge B.D. and preacher of Gods Word in Blacke Fryers London. ...

§. 33. Of praying against sinne.

EVill of fault is sinne.* 1.1 This is the first euill that euer was in the World: the greatest of all euils (a greater euill then the torment of hell) and the cause of all euill of punishment (forq 1.2 sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death.)

In regard of this euill, three things are to be prayed against, 1. The guilt of sinne, 2. The power of it, 3. Temp∣tations thereunto.

Against the first we pray in the fifth Petition: against the second and third in the sixth Petition. In regard of the first Dauid thus prayeth,r 1.3 Wash me thorowly from mine ini∣quity, and cleanse me from my sinne. In regard of the second, thus;s 1.4 Let not presumptuous sinnes haue dominion ouer me. In regard of the third, Christ saith to his Disciples;a 1.5 Pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

The guilt of sinne maketh vs odious and abominable in Gods sight, whose fauour causeth our happinesse. The power of sinne maketh vs more and more to prouoke his wrath, which is vnsupportable.

Temptations vnto sinne simply in themselues worke neither of those two mischiefes. For Christ (who was al∣waies most amiable in Gods sight,b 1.6 the Sonne of Gods loue,c 1.7 in whom his soule delighted, and who neuer pro∣••oked Gods wrath;d 1.8 for God was alwaies well pleased in him) was oft tempted to sinne, ase 1.9 by Satan himselfe in the Wildernesse, by Scribes, Pharises, and other such enemies, yea, byf 1.10 Peter when he told him of his suffering: but all his temptations could neuer make him sinne. As a fire-brand thrust into the Sea is presently quenched, so were all temptations cast against Christ. Yet not∣withstanding

temptations to vs are very dangerous, be∣cause of our pronenesse & readinesse to yeeld vnto them. We are by nature to temptations, as tinder; or rather as gunpowder is to fire. As the least sparke of fire doth not onely soone kindle, but also suddenly in flame gunpow∣der, and sets it all on fire: so euery little temptation soone fastneth on vs, and inflameth vs suddenly with the fire of sinne. Instanceg 1.11 Dauid, who at the sight of Bathsheba was inflamed with lust; andh 1.12 Peter, who at the word of a silly maide was soone brought to denie and forsweare his ma∣ster. If these in whom Gods renewing Spirit abode, were by reason of the flesh so prone to be ouertaken by temp∣tations, how can such stand against them, in whom the flesh reigneth, and where is nothing to restraine them?

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Sinne.
• q 1.2

  Iam. 1. 15
• r 1.3

  Psal. 51. 2.
• s 1.4

  & 19. 12.
• a 1.5

  Mat 26. 41.
• b 1.6

  Col. 1. 13 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• c 1.7

  Isa. 42. 1
• d 1.8

  Mat. 3. 17
• e 1.9

  & 4. 3, &c.
• f 1.10

  Mat. 16. 22.
• g 1.11

  2 Sam: 11. 2.
• h 1.12

  Ma. 26. 69.