A20752:124
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.
Thirdly, the Lord hereby preventeth our sins to come: for when we have experience, that the most sharp weapons, which Satan useth to inflict deep wounds in our consciences, are our sins; this will make us most careful to abstain from them, least thereby we strengthen him for our own overthrow. And as these temptations of Satan are in this regard so many bridles to restrain us from sin; so also they are so many pricks to let out the wind of vain glory, wherewith like bladders we be puffed up, as we may see in the example of Paul, who lest he should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, received a prick in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him. 2. Cor. 12.7.
Thirdly, the Lord hereby preuenteth our sinnes to come: for when we haue experience, that the most sharp weapons, which Sathan vseth to inflict deepe wounds in our consciences, are our sinnes; this will make vs most carefull to abstaine from them, least thereby we strengthen him for our owne ouerthrow. And as these temptations of Sathan are in this regard so many bridles to restraine vs from sinne; so also they are so many prickes to let out the winde of vaine glorie, wherewith like bladders we be puffed vp, as wee may see in the example of Paul, who lest he should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of reuelations, receiued a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Sathan to buffet him. 2. Cor. 12.7.
Fourthly,1 the Lord suffereth Satan to assault us, that we may hereby come to the fight of our own weakness and infirmities, when we have received many foils; and learn to rely upon his help and assistance in all our dangers; for so proud we are by nature, that before we come to the fight we think that we can repel the strongest assaults, and overcome all enemies which oppose themselves against us by our own power; but when we see our selves vanquished and foiled ⟨p. 9⟩