A20752:1190
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.
In this description is set down first the cause of our mortification, which is the virtue and efficacy of Christs death and burial,1 communicated and applied unto us by the spirit of God, whereby we are ingrafted into the body of Christ, and so made partakers of the power and virtue of Christs death, which being derived unto us, doth not only take away the guilt and punishment of sin, but also doth mortify and kill our natural corruptions, which heretofore wholly ruled and overswayed us. Secondly, the form manner and progress of this work is here expressed, namely, the weakening, subduing, and killing of our corruption by little and little; so that this work is not perfected at once, and in an instant, but by degrees: first it is weakened and the power thereof somewhat abated, so as though it bear sway in us, yet it doth not wholly overrule us without resistance, ⟨p. 604⟩as it was used to do in the time of our ignorance: then being further enabled by virtue of Gods spirit, working in us, we prevail against it, so that though it often rebel, yet do we subdue it and obtain victory. Lastly obtaining a greater measure of the spirit, we mortify and kill it; that is, though we do not utterly deprive it of life and motion, yet we give it such a deadly wound that it never recovereth his former strength, but still pineth and languisheth, till with the death of the body it also dieth and is wholly abolished. Now whilst it is in this consumption and near unto death, having a long time before been weak, oftentimes it seemeth to recover strength, and to offer some violence unto the regenerate part: but this must not discourage us, as though now it were on the mending hand, and like to be restored to it former health and strength: for as it fareth with those that lie upon their deathbed; so it is with our sick flesh, and the corruptions thereof, after that nature seemeth spent, and the power thereof wholly decayed, oftentimes falling into some grievous fit, wherein there is a fight between life and death, their strength seemeth redoubled and far greater than ever it was: but be of good comfort, it is no sign of health, but a pang of death which near approacheth.
In this description is set downe first the cause of our mortification, which is the vertue and efficacie of Christs death and buriall,1