A20752:1288
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.
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;1 for there is nothing hard unto him, Jere. 32.17, but he doth whatsoever he will, Psal. 115.3,2 yea even those things which unto men are impossible are possible unto him, Mat. 19.26, for he can do all things, Job, 42.2. Neither is the will of God mutable, for this argueth a want of wisdom,3 whereas his wisdoms is infinite and knoweth no end, Psal. 145.5; and he perfectly seeth and knoweth all things in one view,4 past, present, and to come,