A20752:1287
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. 4 This our assertion we will first confirm by unfallible reasons,1 and afterwards answer the contrary objections which are made against this truth by the enemies of our salvation.
§. Sect. 4 This our assertion we will first confirme by vnfallible reasons,1 and afterwards answere the contrary obiections which are made against this truth by the enemies of our saluation.
- 1The first argument grounded upon Gods will, considered in his decree of election.The first argument grounded vpon Gods wil, considered in his decree of election.
The reasons which may be alleged for this purpose are many; the first sort are taken from Gods own nature, as it is described in his word and exercised in his works towards us. As first we may be assured of our perseverance, because it is grounded upon Gods will, which may be considered either in his secret counsel and decree of election, or in his will revealed in his word. From the first we may thus reason; Whomsoever the Lord in his eternal counsel hath elected to everlasting life, they shall most certainly be saved, and persevere in the means tending thereunto, which are no less contained in Gods decree than our salvation it self. But the Lord in his eternal counsel hath elected all the faithful unto eternal life. And therefore nothing can hinder their salvation, nor yet their perseverance, without which it is impossible they should be saved. The first part of this reason is clear and manifest: for not to effect that which one hath decreed and purposed, argueth either impotency and ⟨p. 660⟩want of power, or unconstancie, neither of which without blasphemy can be ascribed unto God;