A20752:1018
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.
§. Sect. 7 The second argument to prove that we have a true and a lively faith is the testimony of Gods spirit;1 for as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 8.15. We have the spirit of adoption whereby we cry abba father. 16. and the same spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. and ver. 26. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what to pray as we ought, but the spirit it self maketh request for us with sighs which cannot be expressed &c. Whosoever therefore have this testimony in their harts and consciences that they are the children of God, whosoever at any time feel or have felt the spirit of God powerful in them, in pouring out their souls in hearty prayer with sighs and groans which cannot be expressed, they may be assured that they have received the spirit of adoption and consequently are endued with true faith,2 for the spirit and the fruits thereof (amongst which faith is one of the chief) are never severed. Moreover the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 2.12. that we have not received the spirit of the world, 3but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are given to us of God. That is ⟨p. 520⟩not only his spiritual graces in this life in which number faith is one of the greatest, but those excellent joys in Gods kingdom in the life to come, of which also we have some knowledge and taste by the illumination of the same spirit. Lastly the Apostle affirmeth 2. Cor. 1.22. that God hath sealed us, 4and hath given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts, and Ephe. 1.13. He telleth the Ephesians that after they had heard the gospel and believed,