A20752:1229
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.
§. Sect. 2 And thus doth Satan discourage the weak Christian with his false suggestions,1 to the end he may hinder him from travailing this way of holiness which leadeth to Gods kingdom; for the answering whereof we are to know, that the sanctification of the most holy is imperfect, both in respect of the relics of sin, and corruptions which continually cleave to them, and in respect of the manifold wants and defects of their best actions. Neither are we so washed in the laver of regeneration, but that there remain in us some stains of that scarlet ingrained dye of our corruptions; we have not so clearly escaped out of our old captivity of sin, but that we retain still some galls and bruises, which make us to go haltingly in the ways of righteousness; we have not so vanquished this spiritual enemies, but that still it will assault us, yea and often foil us, though it cannot subdue us; we have indeed overcome these cursed Canaanites, so that they cannot rule and reign in us as in former times, but we have not utterly expelled them from dwelling amongst us; so that do we what we can, yet still they will be as thorns in our sides to vex and grieve us. Heretofore the lusts of our flesh like tyrannical Lords did against all law and justice overrule us; but now by virtue of Gods spirit assisting us, we have weakened their force and brought them under, yet not so but that still they will rebel against the spirit, and continually exercise us in the spiritual warfare. So that the regenerate man is not wholly spirit, as the carnal man is wholly flesh, but is divided into two factions or parts, and always is at civill wars within himself: for so far forth as he is ⟨p. 626⟩regenerate he is holy, pure, and undefiled, but so far forth as he is carnal, he is sinful, corrupt and full of all pollution: as he is regenerate he wholly loveth and embraceth true holiness and righteousness, and abhorreth and fleeth sin and wickedness; but as he is unregenerate he loveth sin and the vain pleasures thereof, and loatheth righteousness as irksome and unpleasant. In the spiritual part he contemneth the world, and having his conversation above he mindeth heavenly things;
§. Sect. 2 And thus doth Sathan discourage the weake Christian with his false suggestions,1 to the end hee may hinder him from trauailing this way of holinesse which leadeth to Gods kingdome; for the answering whereof we are to know, that the sanctification of the most holie is imperfect, both in respect of the reliques of sinne, and corruptions which continually cleaue to them, and in respect of the manifold wants and defects of their best actions. Neither are wee so washed in the lauer of regeneration, but that there remain in vs some staines of that scarlet ingrained dye of our corruptions; we haue not so clerely escaped out of our old captiuitie of sinne, but that we retaine still some gaules and bruses, which make vs to goe haltingly in the waies of righteousnesse; we haue not so vanquished this spirituall enemies, but that still it will assault vs, yea and often foyle vs, though it cannot subdue vs; we haue indeede ouercome these cursed Canaanites, so that they cannot rule and raigne in vs as in former times, but wee haue not vtterly expelled them from dwelling amongst vs; so that doe we what wee can, yet still they will be as thornes in our sides to vexe and grieue vs. Heretofore the lusts of our flesh like tyrannicall Lords did against all law and iustice ouerrule vs; but now by vertue of Gods spirit assisting vs, we haue weakened their force and brought them vnder, yet not so but that still they will rebell against the spirit, and continually exercise vs in the spirituall warfare. So that the regenerate man is not wholy spirit, as the carnall man is wholy flesh, but is diuided into two factions or parts, and alwaies is at ciuill warres within himselfe: for so farre foorth as hee is