A20752:1158
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.
To which we must answer, that indeed whosoever is justified is made just, but not by infusion of inherent righteousness into our selves, but by imputation of Christs most perfect righteousness, as before I have showed; for hereby our sins are pardoned, he having taken them upon himself, and satisfied Gods justice by suffering those punishments which we had deserved; and also he hath perfectly fulfilled the law, that he might make us partakers of his active obedience; and so imputing both unto us, hath made us perfectly just and righteous in Gods sight.
To which we must answere, that indeede whosoeuer is iustified is made iust, but not by infusion of inherent righteousnesse into our selues, but by imputation of Christs most perfect righteousnesse, as before I haue shewed; for hereby our sinnes are pardoned, he hauing taken them vpon himselfe, and satisfied Gods iustice by suffering those punishments which wee had deserued; and also he hath perfectly fulfilled the law, that hee might make vs partakers of his actiue obedience; and so imputing both vnto vs, hath made vs perfectly iust and righteous in Gods sight.
So that now the Lord doth not require obedience to his law at our hands, to the end that we should be justified in whole or in part, by our own righteousness; neither are we to this end to observe Gods commandments, that we may offer unto God our works and inherent righteousness, desiring thereby to be justified; for, as I have showed, our best righteousness is imperfect, and mingled with manifold corruptions, so as it would rather condemn us, then justify us, if the Lord should examine it according to the exact rule of his most perfect justice: but we offer unto God for our justification, the most perfect righteousness and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ, which by his merits and sufferings he hath once made for us, desiring thereby wholly and only to be justified and saved.
So that now the Lord doth not require obedience to his law at our hands, to the end that wee should be iustified in whole or in part, by our owne righteousnesse; neither are we to this end to obserue Gods commandements, that we may offer vnto God our workes and inherent righteousnesse, desiring thereby to be iustified; for, as I haue shewed, our best righteousnesse is imperfect, and mingled with manifold corruptions, so as it would rather condemne vs, then iustifie vs, if the Lord should examine it according to the exact rule of his most perfect iustice: but we offer vnto God for our iustification, the most perfect righteousnesse and full satisfaction of Iesus Christ, which by his merits and sufferings he hath once made for vs, desiring thereby wholy and onely to be iustified and saued.