Biography
William Gurnall was born at King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 1617. He attended the local grammar school before studying at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1635 and received his master's degree in 1639. In 1644 he became rector of Lavenham in Suffolk.[1]
His long parish ministry crossed the upheavals of the English Civil War and the Restoration. Unlike ministers who were ejected in 1662, he complied with the Act of Uniformity and remained in the established church. That decision drew criticism from some contemporaries and should not be omitted from his history.[1]
The Christian in Complete Armour grew from sermons on Ephesians 6:10–20. Its three original volumes appeared in 1655, 1658, and 1662. Gurnall developed the biblical image of spiritual armour into extended instruction on faith, temptation, prayer, and perseverance. The work presents spiritual conflict through pastoral exposition rather than through an account of military events.[1] [2]
Gurnall died in 1679. His influence continued largely through this book, which later readers repeatedly republished. The editions preserved by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library include J. C. Ryle's biographical introduction and provide a way to read the teaching in its original setting instead of relying only on isolated quotations.[1] [2]
“Prayer is nothing but the promise reversed, or God’s Word formed into an argument, and retorted by faith upon God again.”
“Cease to pray and thou will begin to sin. Prayer is not only a means to prevail for mercy but also to prevent sin.”
“Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks.”
“Prayer is the very breath of faith.”
“When God intends a mercy for his people, he stirs up the spirit of prayer in them.”
“Cold praying is no more prayer than a painting of fire is fire.”
“How can prayers that do not even warm your own heart move God’s?”
“A fervent prayer will never find a cold reception with God.”
“We must not confide in the armour of God, but in the God of this armour.”
“You now have, Christian, the armour of God; but take heed thou forgettest not to engage the God of this armour by humble prayer.”
“Faith is the wrestling grace.”
“We live by faith, and faith lives by exercise.”
“The gospel, what is it but God’s heart in print?”
“Conscience is God’s sergeant he employs to arrest the sinner.”
“The church is nothing but Christ displayed.”
“Love to joy is as fuel to the fire.”
“Least doers are the greatest boasters.”
“We need do no more to lose our souls than to seek ourselves.”
“A tranquil God tranquilizes all things.”
“In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory.”
“The praying Christian is the thriving Christian.”
“The mightier any is in the word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.”
“Knowledge is to faith as sunshine is to the farmer.”
“If you do not ground yourself in the truth of the Gospel, Satan will play upon your ignorance to thwart your spiritual growth.”