Christian in Complete Armour
William Gurnall's massive treatise emerged from his pulpit ministry in Lavenham, Suffolk, during the tumultuous decades of the English Civil War and Restoration. Originally delivered as sermons on Ephesians 6:10-20, these expositions addressed a congregation living through political upheaval, religious persecution, and the daily struggles of Puritan spirituality under an increasingly hostile regime. Gurnall wrote for believers who needed theological grounding for the very real battles they faced both within their souls and in their embattled religious communities.
The work provides an exhaustive exposition of Paul's metaphor of spiritual armor, treating each piece—the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel shoes, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit—as both theological doctrine and practical spiritual equipment. Gurnall combines rigorous biblical exegesis with penetrating psychological insight, mapping the terrain of temptation, doubt, and spiritual conflict with remarkable precision. He addresses the Christian's warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil not as abstract categories but as concrete experiences, offering detailed strategies for recognizing Satan's tactics and deploying scriptural truth as both defensive protection and offensive weaponry. Throughout, he maintains that victory depends not on human strength but on understanding and appropriating God's provision through Christ.
For over three centuries, this work has remained unmatched in its comprehensive treatment of spiritual warfare from a Reformed perspective. Its influence extends from John Bunyan, who drew extensively from Gurnall's imagery, to Charles Spurgeon, who called it the best book ever written by a Puritan. The treatise combines doctrinal precision with pastoral warmth, theological depth with practical application, making complex spiritual dynamics accessible without sacrificing intellectual rigor.
Who should read this: Pastors and serious students of Puritan spirituality who want the most thorough biblical treatment of spiritual conflict available, and believers facing significant spiritual battles who can handle dense, challenging prose. This is not for casual readers or those seeking quick devotional insights—Gurnall demands sustained attention but rewards it with unparalleled spiritual insight.