A20752:1049
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.
or can we imagine that we have any small title or true assurance of those unspeakable joys of Gods kingdom, and that unvaluable patrimony of everlasting glory, if we never use means to confirm our title and strengthen our assurance? Surely it is impossible, and therefore if we would have any sound comfort and peace of conscience, if we would ever attain to a certain persuasion that we have true faith indeed, let us use most carefully and diligently all good means, whereby we may strengthen and confirm our faith, until it grow from a small seed to a great tree, which will bring forth plentiful ⟨p. 539⟩fruits of godliness and righteousness, and until it wax of a small spark unto a great flame which will throughly warm our harts with true comfort, which are naturally frozen with fear and doubting, for howsoever Satan cannot quench the least spark of lively faith, yet he will so cover it with the ashes of his tentations that we shall neither discern the light nor feel the heat thereof.
or can we imagine that wee haue any small title or true assurance of those vnspeakeable ioyes of Gods kingdome, and that vnluable patrimonie of euerlasting glory, if we neuer vse means to confirme our title and strengthen our assurance? Surely it is impossible, and therefore if we would haue any sound comfort and peace of conscience, if wee would euer attaine to a certaine perswasion that wee haue true faith indeed, let vs vse most carefully and diligently all good meanes, whereby wee may strengthen and confirme our faith, vntill it grow from a small seed to a great tree, which will bring foorth plentifull ⟨p. 539⟩fruits of godlinesse and righteousnesse, and vntill it waxe of a small sparke vnto a great flame which will throughly warme our harts with true comfort, which are naturally frozen with feare and doubting, for howsoeuer Sathan cannot quench the least sparke of liuely faith, yet he will so couer it with the ashes of his tentations that we shall neither discerne the light nor feele the heate thereof.