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The Christian in Complete Armour, Vol. 3
Written in the 17th century by Pastor William Gurnall and compiled into 365 readings by Bell, this collection supplies Christians with a soul-searching supplement to the Bible. Gurnall gives readers eternal knowledge that can be embraced daily, providing extra strength for victory.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 2, 2011
It took 22 months to read through all three volumes of the modernized abridgement of The Christian in Complete Armour as part of morning family Bible reading and well worth staying with it. Though we didn't read a portion of this great Puritan classic every day, those days we did were enriched by reflecting on words written more than 300 years ago.
August 9, 2020
Simply one of the best book (the three tomes) I read in my life.
Je remet souvent en cause certains livres que je lis car je veux bien investir chaque minutes que Dieu m’accorde. Parfois je regrette même certaine lecture. Mais avec celui-ci, jamais j’ai pensé une seule fois que les quelques minutes ou même l’heure que j’investissais dans ce livre était gaspillé : bien au contraire, ce fut un investissement judicieux.
Je compte même relire la version unabridged d’ici quelques années.
A must read.
Je remet souvent en cause certains livres que je lis car je veux bien investir chaque minutes que Dieu m’accorde. Parfois je regrette même certaine lecture. Mais avec celui-ci, jamais j’ai pensé une seule fois que les quelques minutes ou même l’heure que j’investissais dans ce livre était gaspillé : bien au contraire, ce fut un investissement judicieux.
Je compte même relire la version unabridged d’ici quelques années.
A must read.
January 11, 2024
Puritan devotional reading at its best!
June 29, 2020
You will not find a more exhaustive exposition of Ephesians 6. Gurnall’s thorough Puritanism offends postmodern sensibilities and is utterly alien to the weak-kneed evangelicalism to which we’ve all become accustomed. It is hearty stuff, not milk but spiritual meat, and is meant to nourish. It is, in a very real sense, a theological parallel to Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. What Bunyan dramatizes for us, Gurnall lays out in painstaking detail.
Read it, meditate on it, and pray that God will give your faith a broken spirit, a foundation built on the rock of the Word, and confidence in the God who sends you out to battle.
Read it, meditate on it, and pray that God will give your faith a broken spirit, a foundation built on the rock of the Word, and confidence in the God who sends you out to battle.
July 8, 2021
This three volume book is a must read for every christian that desires to drink at the well of God! It is full of beautiful truths, and it calls us to fix our eyes on Christ, the all satisfying one! Being ready in all times to fight the good fight and persevere to the end.
I thanked God so many times during my reading for having inspired in such a way our brother Gurnall and us through him. To God be the glory!
I thanked God so many times during my reading for having inspired in such a way our brother Gurnall and us through him. To God be the glory!
January 7, 2013
A Great Finish to this deep study of the Armor of God. There is nothing that compare to this 3 volume work!
December 18, 2024
My head is full of similitudes!
January 7, 2026
The last of the abridged version of this classic work by Gurnall. It is dripping with rich word-pictures and similitudes, along with much discourse about the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Word. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars was the difficulties with many Puritan works (Gurnall included) of keeping track of the outline and where they are going with their thoughts. I would often lose the main point by the time I got to sub-point 15. I found myself wondering what the main topic at hand even was.
But that weakness is also a strength, as Gurnall wrings every last possible meaning and truth out of the scripture and goes mining for gold to show forth God's glory.
But that weakness is also a strength, as Gurnall wrings every last possible meaning and truth out of the scripture and goes mining for gold to show forth God's glory.
July 9, 2017
Another excellent volume by Gurnall, using the sword of the Word to pierce bone and marrow with the purpose of stripping the Christian of all but Christ. In this volume, he covers the shield, the helmet, and the sword. Of the shield was, to me, the most in depth and most applicable. Even so, his treatment of the sword contains many convicting reminders of the power of God's word and the need to wield it both offensively and defensively. The overall collection will be beneficial to re-visit regularly.
April 13, 2024
Great series. I was so blessed to learn about the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. The last section about how to use the Sword during times of affliction was timed perfectly with the circumstances that I am dealing with. The LORD knows when we need to hear something and if we are in faithful prayer, and study of His Word (the Sword) He will show us what we need to see. Great to have strong Christian men such as William Gurnall to write such powerful text to help us understand how to apply God's Word to our lives.
June 11, 2018
Excellent; Just excellent.
August 10, 2023
Another solid Puritan classic.
April 22, 2016
The 3rd volume in the abridged set is substantially weaker than the first two. I can't discern whether this is because I've become weary of the text or if it really does suffer.
Three pieces of armor are examined: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
The section on the shield of faith was the best in the book. It is a thorough examination of the need of justifying and sanctifying faith in the life of the believer. As well, Gurnall explains how faith overcomes three types of temptations: pleasing, enticing, and fearful temptations.
The second section dealing with the helmet of salvation is really an exposition of 1Thessalonians 5:8, as the helmet of hope of salvation. Gurnall then goes on at excessive length on the relationship of hope to the other graces. It seems as if he's rehashing all he has said in previous sections. This was the only section in all three volumes where I had to see pulls labor through.
The third section on the sword of the Spirit was very helpful and encouraging. One key idea that was beneficial: the sword comes last because without the other graces, the sword will do tremendous harm to both the wielder and those around him. Without faith, the word of God aids Phariseeism. Without truth/sincerity, the Word will become hypocrisy. And so on.
Part of the problem with this third volume may be the editing process of abridgment. It could be that in the full volume these sections sparkle as much as the first two books. Even in the slow middle, there were still plenty of gems to be gathered.
One of the best and thorough examinations of the Christian life, using the armor of God as a lease with which to examine all of he Bible's teaching on this subject. Worth your time and effort.
Three pieces of armor are examined: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
The section on the shield of faith was the best in the book. It is a thorough examination of the need of justifying and sanctifying faith in the life of the believer. As well, Gurnall explains how faith overcomes three types of temptations: pleasing, enticing, and fearful temptations.
The second section dealing with the helmet of salvation is really an exposition of 1Thessalonians 5:8, as the helmet of hope of salvation. Gurnall then goes on at excessive length on the relationship of hope to the other graces. It seems as if he's rehashing all he has said in previous sections. This was the only section in all three volumes where I had to see pulls labor through.
The third section on the sword of the Spirit was very helpful and encouraging. One key idea that was beneficial: the sword comes last because without the other graces, the sword will do tremendous harm to both the wielder and those around him. Without faith, the word of God aids Phariseeism. Without truth/sincerity, the Word will become hypocrisy. And so on.
Part of the problem with this third volume may be the editing process of abridgment. It could be that in the full volume these sections sparkle as much as the first two books. Even in the slow middle, there were still plenty of gems to be gathered.
One of the best and thorough examinations of the Christian life, using the armor of God as a lease with which to examine all of he Bible's teaching on this subject. Worth your time and effort.
January 26, 2016
What started as an exposition on Eph 6: 10-17 ends beautifully in walking the reader through the entire scriptures as well as the whole christian experience. Read the entire wok trembling in repentance. Trembling at my slovenly walk and repentance at my slipshod handling of the Armour. How grateful & blessed am I to have encountered this masterpiece.
June 13, 2016
A truly, truly fantastic 3 volume series which has deeply blessed me. It's hard to recall everything said but it's just a wonderful read. A real gift from God thorough a godly man back in the 1600's. Still blessing many today :-).
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November 21, 2009None
February 20, 2014
Highly recommend this book! Wives, husbands, young people--use it for devotions and draw closer to God! This book is that important!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews