A20752:1071
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.
1Again we are to know that there are divers degrees of true faith, and that all the children of God have it not in the like measure: for some have attained to a strong and great measure of faith, as those who are endued with much knowledge, and firmly assent unto that which they know, and are most certainly persuaded of their salvation in Christ, and that all the gracious promises of the gospel do belong unto them, so as nothing in the world shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; others are weak and endued with a small measure of faith, as those who have little knowledge, weak assent and persuasion, being yet but babes in Christ, and growing up from faith to faith,2 as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 1.17. till at length they attain to that fullness of persuasion, of which mention is made,3 Heb. 10.22. Now we are to hold first that this small and weak measure of faith is notwithstanding a true faith, and therefore sufficient for the salvation of those who are endued therewith, neither are the promises of the gospel made to those only who have a strong faith, but to those who have a true faith; Joh. 1.12. As many as received him he gave to them prerogative to be the sons of God, 4even to them that believe in his name. And John 3.18. He that believeth shall be saved, 5in ⟨p. 550⟩which and such like places there is no measure of faith propounded, but the promises are made indefinitely to all that believe, how small and weak soever their faith be in respect of the quantity and apprehension, so that in regard of the quality it be true and lively.