A20752:1042
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. 3 1If therefore Satan go about to persuade us that we are without faith because we presently apprehend not Gods love nor feel the sweet taste of his goodness we are to answer that we are not to build our assurance upon our own sense and feeling, but upon Gods unchangeable goodness and gracious promises made unto us in Christ Jesus; and if at any time our sense and feeling tell us one thing (namely that God hath withdrawn his love from us and will never again look graciously upon us) and the word of God assure us of another thing (to wit that God will never forsake us, but continue his love towards us unto the end) we are not to give credit unto our own feeling but unto Gods word; for otherwise what do we else but prefer our oft deceiving sense before Gods infallible truth, and imagine that we can better discern and judge of our estate then God himself? but the word of God telleth us that if we turn unto the Lord by unfeigned ⟨p. 534⟩repentance sorrowing for our sins past, hating our present corruptions, and desiring and endeavouring to mortify the flesh and the lusts thereof and to serve the Lord in holiness and newness of life; and if we believe in Jesus Christ resting upon him for our salvation; or though presently we feel not this faith and repentance yet if ever in former time we have discerned it in us, that then we are received into Gods love and favour and therefore shall have his love continued unto us unto the end, be made partakers of his gracious promises & heirs of everlasting life; for the promises of the gospel are not restrained to those who feel their faith, but to those that have faith, not to those who feel that they do believe, but unto those who do believe.
§. Sect. 3 1If therefore Sathan goe about to perswade vs that we are without faith because we presently apprehend not Gods loue nor feele the sweete tast of his goodnesse wee are to answeare that wee are not to build our assurance vppon our owne sense and feeling, but vpon Gods vnchangable goodnesse and gratious promisses made vnto vs in Christ Iesus; and if at any time our sense and feeling tell vs one thing (namely that God hath withdrawne his loue from vs and will neuer againe looke gratiously vpon vs) and the word of God assure vs of another thing (to witt that God will neuer forsake vs, but continue his loue towards vs vnto the end) wee are not to giue credit vnto our owne feeling but vnto Gods worde; for otherwise what doe wee els but preferre our oft deceyuinge sense before Gods infallible truth, and imagine that wee can better discerne and iudge of our estate then God himselfe? but the worde of God telleth vs that if wee turne vnto the Lorde by vnfained