A20752:1090
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
Book 2 › Chapter 47: Other tentations concerning faith answered.
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. 4 Lastly,1 God both can and will strengthen and confirm all those who are weak in faith, till they attain unto the end of their faith even the salvation of their souls, and therefore it is impossible that they which once truly believe should fall away ⟨p. 560⟩and be condemned. Concerning Gods power no man can make any question seeing it is omnipotent and almighty, and for his will he hath fully revealed it both by his word and works, namely that he will not take away that grace which he hath once given, but rather increase it till it be perfected and accomplished.2 For the first the Lord saith that he will comfort his Church and people, as the woman comforteth her child, Esa. 66.13. now we know that the mother doth not abandon her child, nor deprive him of that comfort which she can give him because he is sick and weak, but rather the sicker and weaker he is, the more is her care and diligence in relieving him in his distress; when he is not able to digest strong meat she provideth for him comfortable food of light digestion, when he is so weak that he cannot go she carieth him in her arms or otherwise supporteth him, when he is so sick that he falleth down to the ground in a swoon, she raiseth him up & never resteth till she hath recovered life in him, is this love in a natural mother? then surely much more shall we find in our heavenly father,3 for though a mother may forget the fruit of her womb, yet will the Lord never forget us, as he hath promised. Esa. 49.15. And therefore the greater our weakness is in grace, and the more grievous our sickness is through sin, and the noisome humours of our corruptions the more carefully will he watch over us, with the eye of his providence, and support us with his almighty power in our greatest weakness, the more tenderly will he pity us, and in loving compassion will provide for us, such comfortable food as will be fit to nourish us and repair our decayed strength, when we cannot go he will with his almighty hand uphold us, and when we fall into a dead trance he will not rest till he hath again revived and quickened us with his holy spirit. Moreover our Saviour hath said,