A20752:118
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.
CHAP. II. Why God suffereth his servants to be exercised in the spiritual conflict of tentations.
CHAP. II. Why God suffereth his seruants to be exercised in the spirituall conflict of tentations.
But here it may be demanded, why the Lord will suffer his servants to be thus tempted and assaulted, whereas the wicked are free from such conflicts. I answer, first for his own glory, for whereas our enemies are strong and mighty and we weak and feeble, hereby is the Lords omnipotent power manifested to all the world, by whose assistance such impotent wretches conquer and subdue such furious and puissant enemies.
BVt here it may be demaunded, why the Lord will suffer his seruants to be thus tempted and assaulted, whereas the wicked are free from such conflicts. I answere, first for his owne glorie, for whereas our enemies are strong and mighty and we weake and feeble, hereby is the Lords omnipotent power manifested to all the world, by whose assistance such impotent wretches conquer and subdue such furious and puissant enemies.
Secondly, God suffereth his children to be tempted, that so those spiritual graces which he hath bestowed upon them may the more clearly shine to his glory. For who can know whether they be Gods golden vessels before they be brought to the touchstone of temptation? Who could know the faith, patience and valour of Gods soldiers, if they always lay quietly in garrison and never came to the skirmish? Who could feel the odoriferous smell of these aromaticall spices, if they were not punned and bruised in the mortar of afflictions? For example, who would have discerned Abraham's faith, Davids piety, Jobs patience, Pauls courage and constancy, if they had been never tempted, which now to the glory of God shine to all the world?