A20752:1252
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 For the answering of which temptation we are to know,1 that if we dislike our own dullness and backwardness in profiting and growing forward in sanctification, if we be truly sorrowful and bewail our great wants and imperfections, and labour earnestly in the use of the means whereby we may attain unto knowledge, faith, and all other sanctifying graces, and also be enabled to bring forth the fruits of holy obedience; then are we accepted of God and shall in the end most certainly obtain our desire, though yet we can see but small profit of all our labours; neither shall all the power of our spiritual enemies so far prevail against us, as utterly to hinder us in this work, but that we shall undoubtedly go forward although not so speedily as we desire. For this holy desire of profiting in godliness, this endeavour and careful use of those means which are ordained by God for this purpose, are not natural, but the work of Gods spirit begun in us; and we are with the Apostle to be ⟨p. 638⟩persuaded of this same thing; 2that he that hath begun this good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.6. We are to assure our selves with the Prophet David, that the Lord will fulfil these holy desires of those that fear him, 3Psal. 145.19. We are undoubtedly to believe that the Lord will not suffer us to be tempted above our power, 4but will give a good issue with the temptation, 1. Cor. 10.13. We are not to imagine that he will break this bruised reed, nor quench this smoking flax seeing he hath promised the contrary,5