A20752:1236
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. 6 Secondly, let us consider that the Lord doth not require of us under the Gospel such exact and perfect righteousness,1 as was required under the Law, which is altogether impossible to our corrupt nature, and was never to be found in any man (our Saviour Christ excepted) but only that we strive and labour to attain unto it; he doth not require of us that we should at once free our selves from the flesh and the corruptions thereof, but that we endeavour to mortify it, according to the measure of grace and strength which we have received from him; he doth not require of us that we be without sin, but that sin do not rule in our mortal bodies, that we should like slaves obey it willingly in the lusts thereof, and that also we hating and abhorring it do continually make war against it, and subdue it by little and little, seeing we cannot at once wholly vanquish it. He doth not now require of us that we should perform perfect obedience to the law, which Christ hath performed for us, but that we do our best endeavour, and though we cannot attain to our desire,2 yet at least that we be delighted in the law of God concerning the inner man and consent unto it that it is good, holy and just. In a word, this is the Christian mans righteousness which God requireth, that he hate sin, and love godliness, that he desire and endeavour to mortify the flesh and corruptions thereof, and labour to lead a new life in holy obedience; and if contrary to his desire and purpose he do the evil which he hateth, or leave undone the good which he ⟨p. 630⟩loveth; that he sorrow and grieve for his sins and imperfections, and making confession hereof before the throne of grace, do implore mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. And if we offer unto God this righteousness, it will be acceptable unto him, notwithstanding our manifold imperfections; for he measureth our deed by our will, and esteemeth more of our affections than of our actions;3 Nec intuetur Deus quantum quilibet valeat, sed quantum velit, & quicquid vis & non potes Deus factum computat: He respecteth not what we can do, but what we would do, and that which we could perform and cannot, he esteemeth it as though it were performed.