A20752:1001
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems of the spiritual enemies of our salvation, Satan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the means also whereby the Christian may withstand and defeat them : and afterwards more specially their particular temptations, against the several causes and means of our salvation, whereby on the one side they allure us to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw us to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spiritual conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sins / by I. Downame ...The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems of the spirituall ennemies of our saluation, Sathan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the meanes also whereby the Christian may vvithstand and defeate them : and afterwards more speciallie their particvlar temptatiions, against the seuerall causes and meanes of our saluation, whereby on the one side they allure vs to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw vs to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spirituall conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sinnes / by I. Dovvname ...
London: printed for Cuthbert Burby, 1604
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
On the other side if we be in sincerity of heart, ruely sorry for our sins in these respects because we hate our sins and love God, and are displeased with our selves because we have displeased our gracious father, endeavouring to forsake our sins and to lead a new life in holiness and righteousness, then though we can seldom or never shed tears which is the ease of some of Gods dearest children yet our repentance is true and unfeigned, for in this action the broken and contrite ⟨p. 511⟩hart is more to be respected then the blubbered eyes howsoever most commonly they go together.
On the other side if wee be in sinceritie of heartt, ruely sorrie for our sinnes in these respects because we hate our sinnes and loue God, and are displeased with our selues because we haue displeased our gratious father, indeauouring to forsake our sinnes and to leade a newe life in holinesse and righteousnes, then though wee can seldome or neuer shed teares which is the ease of some of Gods dearest children yet our repentance is true and vnfained, for in this action the broken and contrite ⟨p. 511⟩hart is more to be respected then the blubred eyes howsoeuer most commonly they goe togeather.
And so much concerning the signs of true repentance, which if after due examination we can find in our selves, we may be assured that we are truly penitent; nay I will say more for the comfort of all humbled sinners if after diligent search they find not in their own sense and feeling these signs of true repentance in them at all or at least in very small measure, yet if they earnestly desire and sincerely endeavour to attain unto true repentance using those good means ordained of God for this purpose, they may assure themselves that they have truly repented in the sight of God who accepteth of the will for the deed and of the affection for the action, as before I have showed.
And so much concerning the signes of true repentāce, which if after due examination wee can finde in our selues, we may be assured that we are truely paenitent; nay I will say more for the comfort of all humbled sinners if after diligent search they find not in their owne sense and feeling these signes of true repentance in them at al or at least in very smal measure, yet if they earnestly desire and sencerely indeuour to attaine vnto true repentance vsing those good meanes ordained of God for this purpose, they may assure themselues that they haue truely repented in the sight of God who accepteth of the will for the deed and of the affection for the action, as before I haue shewed.