A20752:1208
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.
He hath granted unto us the peace of conscience and joys in the holy Ghost, and therefore let us not by our sins disturb our peace and wound our consciences, turning our sweet joy and comfort into grief and bitter heaviness. Finally, he hath added unto these spiritual gifts, innumerable temporary benefits, health, wealth, liberty, food, apparel, and therefore let us not abuse his gifts by ⟨p. 613⟩profaning them with our sins, but rather use them as encouragements whereby we may be moved with all cheerfulness to serve so bountiful a master. In a word, as the gifts of God are infinite which concern this life and the life to come; so are the reasons drawn from them infinite, which may serve to restrain us from sin, and contain us in the course of holy obedience: the which if we continually retain in memory (even those benefits which are common to all true Christians, and those which every one receiveth in his particular place and calling) we will not (unless our ungratefulness be intolerable) easily hearken to Satan's temptations, nor for the vain pleasures, uncertain riches and momentany honours of this wicked world be hired to commit sin, which we know to be displeasing and odious in the sight of God, who in his endless love hath bestowed upon us such innumerable benefits.
He hath granted vnto vs the peace of conscience and ioyes in the holy Ghost, and therefore let vs not by our sinnes disturbe our peace and wound our consciences, turning our sweete ioy and comfort into griefe and bitter heauinesse. Finally, he hath added vnto these spirituall gifts, innumerable temporarie benefits, health, wealth, libertie, foode, apparell, and therefore let vs not abuse his gifts by ⟨p. 613⟩prophaning them with our sinnes, but rather vse them as incouragements whereby we may be moued with all cheerefulnes to serue so bountifull a master. In a word, as the gifts of God are infinite which concerne this life and the life to come; so are the reasons drawne from them infinite, which may serue to restraine vs from sinne, and containe vs in the course of holie obedience: the which if wee continually retaine in memorie (euen those benefits which are common to all true Christians, and those which euery one receiueth in his particular place and calling) wee will not (vnlesse our vngratefulnes bee intollerable) easily hearken to Sathans temptations, nor for the vaine pleasures, vncertaine riches and momentanie honours of this wicked world be hired to commit sinne, which we know to be displeasing and odious in the sight of God, who in his endlesse loue hath bestowed vpon vs such innumerable benefits.