Christian in Complete Armour

Rating:
Summary: The Christian in Complete Armor
Review: Christian in Complete Armour, The, (vol. 1, a modernized abridgement), by William Gurnall - Banner of Truth 1986 ISBN 0851514561
This book was originally written in three volumes between 1655 and 1662. It appears that in his time, William Gurnall was looked on as somewhat of a maverick and not accepted well by his peers. The reason for this was that although Gurnall was a Puritan preacher, he did not secede from the Church of England with the majority of Puritan preachers after the English Civil War and the "great dividing of the Church". Rather he chose to remain a part of the Church of England while still maintaining his Puritan views. Thus it was that neither side of the divided church accepted him as their own. Soon after his death however, many on both sides came to find unparalleled depth and insight in his work. Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher and evangelist of the last century commented that Gurnall's work is "peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom". John Newton, converted slave trader and author of "Amazing Grace", said: "If I might read only one book beside the Bible I would choose, "The Christian in Complete Armour." Dave Wilkerson said concerning this book: "Leonard Ravenhill, a very godly friend, gave me a copy of 'The Christian in Complete Armour' with these solemn words, "This book is going to revolutionize your life. It has had a profound effect on my life, and I believe you are prepared to receive its message now." Says Wilkerson: "at first I put the book aside; it was too long, too wordy, and written in 17th century English. Out of curiosity, I later scanned the first 25 pages. That is all it took to bring me to my knees. Gurnall, the pious puritan, had touched something deep within me. His were such probing, scorching, searing words that they shook my inner man. I devoured the book with great zeal." Later Wilkerson went on to say: "I will forever bless the day it was placed in my hands." This book, now in modern English, is a treasure, and to those who are serious Christians and consider themselves mature in the faith, we at "The Christian Home Shopper", highly recommend and endorse this book.

Christian in Complete Armour, The, (vol. 2, a modernized abridgement), by William Gurnall - Banner of Truth 08515150
See Christian in Complete Armour (vol. 1) for descriptive information.
Christian in Complete Armour, The, (modern abridgement one volume edition), by William Gurnall - Soverign Grace Trust Fund Publishing 1989 hardbound
After the Bible The Christian in Complete Armour is truly one of the greatest Christian books in print.

Rating:
Summary: More than five stars . . .
Review: Someone once said that if they were stranded on a desert island with a choice of only two books, they would be the Bible and Gurnall's "Complete Armour," hands down I would concur, only to the point that after having the time to read, digest and perhaps memorize both, I would pray for rescue, so I could then share with the world the living water which flows from these written sources!

Of course, Gurnall is not Scripture. But he so deftly defines and expounds on the Scripture passages of Eph 6 using Scripture, that this book is extremely helpful in understanding Paul's vision from God regarding Eph 6!

Nearly every page has a quote you will long to write in the margins of your Bible. The problem is, many of the quotes refer to multiple Scripture passages. An example is this quote, "Were there no devils, you would still have your hands full resisting the corruption of your own heart." That quote could find proof texting in Jer 17:9, Eccl 9:3, Matt 13:15 AND Mark 7:21-22!

This is a book that will very likely change your world-view. Read this book, and follow it up with Lloyd-Jones' "I Am Not Ashamed." You will never be the same.

Rating:
Summary: More than five stars . . .
Review: Someone once said that if they were stranded on a desert island with a choice of only two books, they would be the Bible and Gurnall's "Complete Armour," hands down I would concur, only to the point that after having the time to read, digest and perhaps memorize both, I would pray for rescue, so I could then share with the world the living water which flows from these written sources!

Of course, Gurnall is not Scripture. But he so deftly defines and expounds on the Scripture passages of Eph 6 using Scripture, that this book is extremely helpful in understanding Paul's vision from God regarding Eph 6!

Nearly every page has a quote you will long to write in the margins of your Bible. The problem is, many of the quotes refer to multiple Scripture passages. An example is this quote, "Were there no devils, you would still have your hands full resisting the corruption of your own heart." That quote could find proof texting in Jer 17:9, Eccl 9:3, Matt 13:15 AND Mark 7:21-22!

This is a book that will very likely change your world-view. Read this book, and follow it up with Lloyd-Jones' "I Am Not Ashamed." You will never be the same.

Rating:
Summary: Read it and be changed
Review: There is so much in this book that I don't think it is possible to get it all or even most of it through a single casual reading. Gurnall's intensive thought and insight in the subject of spiritual 'wrestling' is so rich and wonderfully written that you can gleam new truth from it time and time again. And the sections are written in shorter bite-sized portions that don't leave you paddling to reach the end of a chapter.
I would highly recommend this book and consider it must reading for anyone who thinks they know anything about spiritual warfare. There are a lot of excellent books out there on spiritual warfare right now and although I might recommend some of them, this book stands head-and-shoulders above them all because of its exhaustive treatment and analysis in the practical details of the good fight in everyday life. This book takes a huge subject that so many deal with in short and fleshes it out into the whole life-encompassing reality that is life as a Christian in this fallen world.
It is no wonder that this classic from 1655 should survive as almost an appendix to the scriptures themselves for so many saints of God through recent centuries. It is remaining near my Bible as among the oft' read for a long time to come!

Rating:
Summary: Most Powerful book this side of the Bible you will ever read
Review: This is the Hardback unabriged edition. Having both, let me highly recomend the unabriged. Let not the size scare you it is written in a manner so friendly as to be able to read a chapter lay it meditate pick it up 3 weeks later and read another. The chapters even the subsections can stand on their own not needing the before or after sections to be blessed with what you are then reading. I spent five years reading the book not because it is hard but because it is so clear and the sentences so full as to make you pause and say yes that is right, amen, Let me rejoice in this awhile. I would some times not be able to get back to it for weeks. Pick it up where I left off with outhaving to review the previous section to regain and uderstanding of what I was reading. Now I have to review Lois Lamore to do the same I am not that smart but This writer is that clear and plain. I recomend you skip The intro by R C Sproul(a great man) And just Begin with Gurnall writeing, You will not Be Disappointed. God Bless and He does and will Bless you as you read The Christian in Complete Armour. The most Bible filled book ever written apart from the Bible it self.