A20752:1281
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. XII. Arguments to prove the certainty of our perseverance grounded upon Gods will and immutability.
CHAP. XII. Arguments to proue the certaintie of our perseuerance grounded vpon Gods will and immutabilitie.
§ Sect. 1 And thus have I answered Satan's temptations which concern our sanctification.1 Now in the last place we are to entreat of our perseverance which he impugneth with no less subtlety and violence. For though the christian man have attained to some assurance, that he is elected, called, justified, and sanctified, yet Satan will not give him over, but laboureth to persuade him, that notwithstanding all this he may finally fall away and become a reprobate. Let it be granted (will he say) that thy state now is such as thou supposest, yet thou art in no safety, neither canst thou promise unto thy self any assurance of attaining unto everlasting life and happiness, seeing those only which continue unto the end shall be saved: 2whereas thou hast no assurance of thy perseverance, nay contrariwise thou art in respect of thy frailty and mutability, certain of nothing more then thine uncertainty. Call to thy remembrance the example of thy first parents, who were perfectly righteous and holy, more accomplished in all graces than any of their posterity, more strong and able to endure and resist all temptations, as being endued with free-will, and therefore able both to choose the good and refuse the evil, who notwithstanding all this were overcome, and of the children of God made the slaves ⟨p. 657⟩of sin and Satan. Did they therefore fall who were perfectly righteous, and canst thou who are most imperfect hope to stand? were not they who were full of all graces able to endure the encounter in the day of trial, and canst thou hope to make resistance who art full of sin and corruption? were they vanquished who were strong champions, and dost thou who art weak and feeble hope for victory? were they allured by Satan's temptations, to commit sin, and fall from God, who could freely will the good and nill the evil; and canst thou hope to persevere and continue constant, whose will is captived and overruled by thy corruption? Consider further thy mutability and unconstancie, thy exceeding weakness and frailty, thy corruptions and imperfections; and on the other side set before thee, the mighty power, the subtle policy, the vigilant watchfulness, and unwearied diligence, of thy spiritual enemies who continually assault thee: