William Gurnall

William Gurnall – Life, Writings, and Spiritual Legacy

Uncover the life, ministry, and enduring influence of William Gurnall (c. 1616–1679), English clergyman and author of The Christian in Complete Armour. Explore his biography, theological insights, legacy, and key quotes still treasured today.

Introduction

William Gurnall was a 17th-century English Anglican clergyman and devotional author, best known for his magisterial work The Christian in Complete Armour, a multi-volume sermon series on spiritual warfare. Though relatively obscure biographical details survive, his writings have had enduring influence in Protestant devotional literature. Gurnall’s style combines pastoral care, scriptural exposition, metaphor, and practical exhortation. His greatest gift was equipping Christians to understand spiritual conflict and encouraging endurance, holiness, and faith.

Early Life and Background

William Gurnall was likely born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, around 1616 (some sources quote 1616, others 1617).

He attended the local free grammar school in Lynn before earning a scholarship (the Lynn scholarship) to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1631.

Around 1644, Gurnall became rector of Lavenham in Suffolk.

Gurnall spent the remainder of his life in Lavenham, ministering to his parish despite health challenges, civil upheaval, and ecclesiastical pressures.

Ministry Amid Turbulence & The Act of Uniformity

Gurnall’s ministry spanned one of England’s most tumultuous periods: the English Civil Wars, the Interregnum under Cromwell, the Restoration of Charles II, and the religious settlement thereafter.

After the Restoration, the Act of Uniformity (1662) required ministers in the Church of England to conform liturgically and doctrinally. Gurnall signed the required declaration and remained in his post as rector of Lavenham.

This decision placed him in a delicate position: he was neither wholly aligned with strict Puritan dissenters who left the established church, nor fully embraced by conformist High Churchmen. Some contemporaries regarded him with suspicion from both sides.

In 1665, Gurnall was the target of a libel entitled Covenant-Renouncers Desperate Apostates, which attacked ministers who seemed to abandon covenanting Puritan principles through conformity.

Despite the pressures and his ill health, Gurnall endured in his parish until his death on 12 October 1679.

Major Work: The Christian in Complete Armour

Gurnall’s lasting reputation rests chiefly on The Christian in Complete Armour (often spelled Armour).

Structure and Content

This work is a series of sermons/lectures given on Ephesians 6:10–20 (the Apostle Paul’s passage on the “whole armour of God”).

Gurnall frames the Christian life as a spiritual war: the reader is given “spiritual arms,” taught how to wear them, and shown how to wield them effectively.

The work is more pastoral and devotional than highly systematic theology. Its strength is in its applied spirituality: metaphorical imagery, vivid analogies, pastoral encouragement, and moral exhortation.

Reception & Influence

From its earliest editions, The Christian in Complete Armour was well received. By the year of Gurnall’s death (1679), the sixth edition had been published.

Prominent Christian figures over later centuries praised it. John Newton reportedly said that if he could have only one book besides the Bible, it would be Gurnall’s work.

Because of its enduring value, it is still reprinted, sometimes in abridged or modern-language editions, and used for devotional reading, sermon preparation, and spiritual formation.

Gurnall also published two smaller works: The Christian’s Labour and Reward (a funeral sermon for Lady Mary Vere) and The Magistrate’s Portraiture, Drawn from the Word.

Themes & Spiritual Emphases

From Gurnall’s writing and the milieu in which he lived, several core themes emerge:

• Spiritual Warfare: Gurnall views the Christian life as a battle against spiritual evil. The believer must be armed, vigilant, and proactive.

• Holiness & Perseverance: He emphasizes the need for sanctification, moral integrity, and endurance amid trials.

• Practical Christianity: His style is pastoral, not abstract. He aims to connect doctrine with daily life—temptation, doubt, weariness, sin.

• Union with Christ: Though less theological than some Puritan writers, he roots Christian strength in union with Christ and dependence on divine power.

• Discernment: He trains the reader to recognize the subtle tactics of the adversary (the devil), doctrinal errors, and internal weaknesses.

• Use of Analogy & Imagination: Gurnall frequently uses vivid analogies (military, armor, battlefields) to bring spiritual truths alive.

• Scriptural Grounding: His exposition is rooted in Scripture (especially Ephesians), with sustained biblical reflection.

Legacy and Influence

• Gurnall is considered one of the great devotional writers in the Christian tradition, particularly in contexts valuing Puritan or Reformed spirituality.

• His work has been republished, excerpted, and quoted by ministers, pastors, and Christian readers for centuries.

• The enduring admiration by Newton, Spurgeon, and others cements his place in devotional canon.

• His approach, which marries pastoral warmth with vivid biblical metaphor, continues to inspire authors who seek to bridge doctrine and lived faith.

• Although somewhat overshadowed by more prolific or polemical Puritan figures, Gurnall’s focus on the internal spiritual life has given him a steady niche among those seeking depth, encouragement, and guidance in personal discipleship.

Selected Quotes

Gurnall is not known for compact aphorisms as much as for richly wrought paragraphs. Below are some representative statements:

• “A Magazine Opened, From whence the Christian is furnished with Spiritual Arms for the Battle.” (Subtitle of Complete Armour)

• “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. … And having done all, to stand.” (Opening of his exposition)

• “The Christian’s war is a duty, not a query: to attempt it is not optional, but inevitable.” (paraphrase drawn from his overall emphasis)

• “Every sin is either a breach or a revolt, and we must either stand or recover ground.” (reflective of his military metaphors)

• “It is more difficult to keep what we have than to get it; the daily fight is more wearisome than the initial conquest.”

Because of the dense and extended nature of his sermons, many of his richest insights come in paragraph form—best appreciated in broader context rather than in short quotations.

Lessons from William Gurnall

1. Prepare for spiritual conflict
   Gurnall teaches that believers should not be surprised by struggle. Spiritual warfare is normal; the question is how we equip ourselves.

2. Holiness is not optional
   Christian growth demands moral vigilance, self-examination, repentance, and reliance on God’s grace.

3. Doctrine must inform life
   He shows how teaching (e.g., about the gospel, faith, righteousness) must find application in temptation, sorrow, trials, and daily living.

4. Vivid imagery helps spiritual grip
   Using concrete metaphors (armor, weapons, battle) helps believers grasp invisible realities and internalize spiritual truths.

5. Steadfastness over extremes
   Gurnall’s own posture—remaining within the Church of England despite Puritan sympathies—reflects a kind of balance and faithfulness in tumultuous times.

6. Encouragement sustains endurance
   His pastoral tone is often compassionate and encouraging, not harsh or exclusively demanding—a reminder that strength and consolation go hand in hand.

Conclusion

William Gurnall may not be among the most famous Puritan divines, but his magnum opus The Christian in Complete Armour has afforded him a durable place in Christian devotional literature. His combination of pastoral wisdom, scriptural exposition, and spiritual insight continues to nurture readers seeking strength, clarity, and holiness in the Christian life.