'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — March 3

The Christian is to proclaim and initiate an irreconcilable war against his choice sins. Those nearest his heart must now be trampled under his feet. This takes great courage and resolution. O how a lust will plead for itself! Satan pleads: ‘Is it not just a little one, O spare it!' He will flatter the soul with the secrecy of it: ‘You can have it, and your honour also.’ If this does not work, Satan will try to get you to wait just a little while for its execution. Do not be deceived by this strategy. Most lusts that have received a delay in execution will eventually obtain a full pardon and regain full favour with your soul. It takes great resolution to break through such violent pleading and bring your lust to full execution. We must walk with a single purpose, without an eye on the world's glitter. We must stand fixed to heaven's principles and so prove our citizenship in heaven by our faithfulness to the truth. This can bring snares, dangers, and mockings. It takes courage to despise the shame that a Christian must expect to meet with. It is a great honour for a Christian when all his enemies can say is that he is faithful and will not do as we do. A cowardly heart will find all kinds of reasons to retreat from duty. Since the Christian has so great a danger he needs to be locked well into his saddle, or he will soon be dismounted. The Christian must stay on his course to heaven even when his way is blasphemed because of false professors and apostates. We need to bear up in holy resolution against such discouragements. Joshua stood against the whole camp of Israel who turned their hearts back to Egypt. With an undaunted spirit he maintained his integrity, and claimed he was resolved to serve the Lord though others would not join him.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, I:13-15
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