A20752:151
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 consideration whereof should make us most careful to withstand all his temptations, whereby he allureth us unto sin. For if we yield unto them, he will surely disarm us of Gods favour and protection, and so deadly wound our souls when he hath made them naked. There is no wise man will put off his armour and cast away his weapons in the presence of his cruel enemy, though he persuade him thereto with many flattering speeches and fair promises; and shall we let Satan disarm us, because he allureth us thereto, by promising some unlawful profit or vain pleasure, especially seeing we know him to be an enemy no less treacherous then malicious?
The consideration whereof should make vs most carefull to withstand all his temptations, whereby he allureth vs vnto sinne. For if we yeeld vnto them, he will surely disarme vs of Gods fauour and protection, and so deadly wound our soules when he hath made them naked. There is no wise man will put off his armour and cast away his weapons in the presence of his cruell enemie, though hee perswade him thereto with many flattring speeches and faire promises; and shall we let Sathan disarme vs, because he allureth vs thereto, by promising some vnlawfull profit or vaine pleasure, especially seeing we know him to be an enemie no lesse treacherous then malitious?
But as he is a tempter to entice us unto sin, so also he is our accuser after that we have sinned, requiring of God that he will execute his justice upon the offenders who have deserved punishment. Of this there nee de no further proof then his own testimony,1 Job. 1.7. where he professeth that he had been compassing the earth about; like a promoter to spy out faults, that he might inform against the offenders. But because we will not rest in his testimony, who is the father of lies, we will add thereunto another of undoubted authority:2 for