A20752:1159
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.
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.
§. Sect. 3 As for our works and inherent righteousness,1 they are not causes but effects and fruits of our justification; neither is it possible that we should do any good work acceptable in Gods sight, till we are justified, and reconciled unto God ⟨p. 590⟩in Jesus Christ, for our works cannot please him, till our persons please him, and whatsoever we do, before faith hath purified the heart, it is sin and odious in the sight of God: but as soon as we have faith begotten in us, presently it apprehendeth, Christ and his righteousness, whereby we are justified, and then being justified, faith worketh by love and bringeth forth in us the fruits of sanctification; which though they be mingled with much corruption, and manifold imperfections, yet God in Christ accepteth of them as perfect, and will crown them with glory, and immortality.