A20752:1219
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. VI. Of some special means whereby we may be preserved from falling into sin.
CHAP. VI. Of some speciall meanes whereby we may be preserued from falling into sinne.
§. Sect. 1 And these are the reasons whereby every one may be armed against Satan's suggestions,1 tempting him unto sin; and be moved unto a christian resolution, of possessing body and soul in holiness and purity: now we are to speak of some special means, whereby the christian thus resolved may be preserved from falling into such grievous sins, as wound the conscience, and hinder him in the course of sanctification.2 First, he that would avoid sin, must carefully also avoid the occasions thereof, which are strong inducements to draw him unto sin; for as it is great folly for a man who dreadeth burning to be always meddling with fire and gunpowder; so is it no less madness to think that we can preserve our selves from sin, and yet entertain all occasions thereof, continually suffering the sparks of Satan's temptations to fall as it were into the tinder of our corrupt affections. It is not possible that he who is inclined to gluttony and drunkenness should contain himself from these ⟨p. 622⟩sins, if he give himself to company keeping, and take his chief delight in pleasing his taste with the daintiest meats and drinks: or that he who is choleric, should refrain from anger, and yet thrust himself into needless controversies and hot contentions: or for him that is lascivious to abstain from uncleanness, and yet frequent unchaste company, read wanton books, view obscure spectacles, use filthy communication, and pamper himself in gluttony, and drunkenness. In a word we cannot avoid any sin, unless we also flee and shun the occasions and means thereof; and therefore let us be as careful and watchful in the one as the other, or else we shall most certainly loose our labours.