A20752:1020
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.
Lastly being assured that it is the spirit of God which assisteth and enableth us to withstand Satan, we may also be assured that in the end we shall obtain victory, unless we would fondly imagine that the devil is stronger then God, and the violence of his tentations more forcible to destroy us, then the spirit of God to protect and defend us; for now they have joined battle and either the one or the other must get the upper hand, either the spirit of God must thrust out satan, or Satan the spirit of God; and therefore how can we doubt of conquest, seeing we are assured that God cannot take the foil, for his power is omnipotent and with a word of his mouth he is able to destroy Satan and all his adherents, and of his will we need not to make any question, for it will not stand with his glory to receive a repulse by giving Satan place, after that he hath taken upon him our protection.
Lastly being assured that it is the spirit of God which assisteth and enableth vs to withstand Sathan, we may also be assured that in the end we shall obtaine victorie, vnlesse we would fondly imagine that the diuell is stronger then God, and the violence of his tentations more forcible to destroy vs, then the spirit of God to protect and defend vs; for now they haue ioyned battle and either the one or the other must get the vpper hand, eyther the spirit of God must thrust out sathan, or Sathan the spirit of God; and therefore how can we doubt of conquest, seeing wee are assured that God cannot take the foyle, for his power is omnipotent and with a word of his mouth he is able to destroy Sathan and all his adhaerents, and of his will wee neede not to make any question, for it will not stand with his glory to receaue a repulse by giuing Sathan place, after that he hath taken vpon him our protection.
§. Sect. 9 1Yea (will the tempter say) but how wilt thou know that this battle is fought in thee, how canst thou be assured that it is the spirit of God which fighteth in thee against thy spiritual enemies, and not rather thine own tumultuous passions and perturbations; and divers tentations suggested by the same devil. To which it is easy to make answer, for neither doth the flesh fight against satan, nor satan against the flesh, nor either of them against themselves, for so their kingdom being divided could not possibly stand,