A20752:1284
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.
and then think with thy self if there be any possibility, that thy weakness should withstand their power, thy ignorant simplicity their prudent wisdom, and thy careless negligence their careful diligence. Lastly, call to mind the manifold examples which thou hast both read and seen, of such as have been of greater gifts and graces, and made a much fairer show then thou, of holiness towards God and righteousness towards men, who notwithstanding have finally fallen away and become reprobates, and therefore why mayest not thou be one of this number? Seeing then the case thus standeth do not foolishly flatter thy self with a vain hope, that because thou art elected, called, justified, and sanctified, therefore thou shalt be saved; for though now thou art elected, yet hereafter thou mayest become a reprobate; though today thou art a child of God, and in his favour, yet to morrow thou mayest through thy sins, be a child of the devil, and in Gods displeasure be rejected; though now thou art a member of Christ, thou mayest become a limb of Satan; and though now thou art endued with the spirit of God, and with all the graces and gifts thereof, yet by thy sin thou mayst easily loose both it and them; and be ⟨p. 658⟩wholly and finally given over to run on thy former wickedness unto eternal death and condemnation.
and then thinke with thy selfe if there be any possibilitie, that thy weaknes should withstand their power, thy ignorant simplicitie their prudent wisedome, and thy carelesse negligence their carefull diligence. Lastly, call to minde the manifold examples which thou hast both read and seene, of such as haue been of greater gifts and graces, and made a much fairer shew then thou, of holinesse towards God and righteousnesse towards men, who notwithstanding haue finally fallen away and become reprobates, and therefore why maiest not thou be one of this number? Seeing then the case thus standeth doe not foolishly flatter thy selfe with a vaine hope, that because thou art elected, called, iustified, and sanctified, therefore thou shalt be saued; for though now thou art elected, yet hereafter thou maiest become a reprobate; though today thou art a childe of God, and in his fauour, yet to morrow thou mayest through thy sinnes, bee a childe of the diuell, and in Gods displeasure be reiected; though now thou art a member of Christ, thou maiest become a limme of Sathan; and though now thou art indued with the spirit of God, and with all the graces and gifts thereof, yet by thy sinne thou mayst easily loose both it and them; and bee