A20752:135
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.
Secondly, this fight is necessary, because in our Baptism we have taken a military sacrament, and promised faithfully unto the Lord, that we will continue his faithful soldiers unto the end, fighting his battles against the flesh, the world and the devil. There we have given our names unto Christ, to whom we owe our selves and lives by a double right, both because he hath given them unto us, and also restored them the second time when we had lost them. There we are put in mind of his bloodshed for our redemption, which should encourage us to fight courageously, that we may be preserved from falling again into the cruel slavery of sin and Satan.
Secondly, this fight is necessarie, because in our Baptisme we haue taken a militarie sacrament, and promised faithfullie vnto the Lord, that wee will continue his faithfull souldiers vnto the end, fighting his battailes against the flesh, the world and the diuell. There wee haue giuen our names vnto Christ, to whom wee owe our selues and liues by a double right, both because he hath giuen them vnto vs, and also restored them the second time when wee had lost them. There wee are put in minde of his bloudshed for our redemption, which should encourage vs to fight couragiously, that wee may be preserued from falling againe into the cruell slauerie of sinne and Sathan.
Thirdly, unless we fight this spiritual combat, and in fighting overcome, we shall never be crowned with the crown of glory: for it is not given unto any to triumph, who have not fought valiantly and subdued their enemies. The everlasting peace of Gods kingdom is not promised to such cowards as never entered the field, or being entered have presently yielded themselves to be the captives of Satan: but unto those that fight courageously and gloriously overcome. If any man (saith the Apostle) strive for a mastery, he is not crowned except he strive as he ought to do, 2. Tim. 2.5. So ⟨p. 14⟩the Apostle James chap. 1. vers. 12