A20752:1058
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.
1Secondly we are to consider that the Lord hath not only propounded his gracious promises unto us, but also hath commanded us to believe them.2 So Mark. 1.15. Repent and believe the gospel. and 1. Joh. 3.23. This then is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ &c. now to believe in Christ is not only to believe that he is a saviour, for this even the devils believe also, but to believe that he is our saviour & to rest wholly upon him for our salvation, & to say with the Apostle Paul, 3Gal. 2.20. I live by the faith in the son of God, who hath loved me and given himself for me. And to the end that we may be armed against doubting, and enabled to perform this commandment, it hath pleased the Lord to add unto his word his oath,4 that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that God should lye we should have strong consolation, as the apostle speaketh, Heb. 6.18. Yea, he hath also unto his word and handwriting annexed his Sacraments as seals, that there might be no place left for doubting. Seeing therefore the Lord hath expressly commanded us to believe, and used all means to enable us to perform his commandment, let us not now dispute the question whether we are worthy to believe or no, or whether such grievous sinners are bound to this duty, but setting all excuses aside let us believe in obedience to Gods commandment.
1Secondly we are to consider that the Lord hath not onely propounded his gratious promises vnto vs, but also hath commaunded vs to beleeue them.2 So