A20752:142
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.
Concerning the first, in an enemy who proclaimeth war against us we are to consider two things: first of his will, and secondly of his power. For if he have will to hurt us and no power, he is not to be greatly regarded; if power and no malicious and unreconcilable will, he is not so much to be feared, but if his power be great and puissant, and his will malicious, then is it time to look about us, and to muster all our forces, that we may be ready to endure the encounter.
Concerning the first, in an enemie who proclaimeth warre against vs we are to consider two things: first of his will, and secondly of his power. For if he haue will to hurt vs and no power, he is not to be greatly regarded; if power and no malitious and vnreconcilable will, he is not so much to be feared, but if his power be great and puissant, and his will malitious, then is it time to looke about vs, and to muster all our forces, that we may be readie to endure the incounter.
First therefore concerning the will of our grand and arch enemy Satan, if we consider thereof aright, we shall find ⟨p. 17⟩that it is most maliciously bent against us,1 so that there is no hope of truce or reconciliation with him, though we could find in our cowardly hearts to labour and sue for a dishonourable peace with Gods and our enemy. For his malice is not newly conceived but inveterate, even as ancient within a few days as the world it self, and much more durable; for the world shall have an end, but Satan's malice to mankind is endless, because the cause thereof, namely the love and favour of God toward the faithful (whose estate he doth envy and malign, himself being eternally reprobated) shall be endless and eternal. And this appeareth in the example of our first parents, who were no sooner placed in the garden of pleasure, and possessed of Paradise, but Satan being almost burst with envy to see their happy estate, never rested till he had disgorged his malice, and dispossessed them of that happiness which they enjoyed. Neither doth he less malign and hate those who being fallen in Adam are raised up in Christ, and have the fee simple of everlasting glory, purchased by Christs merit, assured unto them by the spirit of God and a lively faith. And hence it is that the Lord knowing Satan's malice towards his children, and that whether he fawneth or frowneth, he always seeketh their destruction, hath proclaimed open wars between us,