A20752:152
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.
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 Apoc. 12.10. it is said, that the Saints rejoice, because ⟨p. 21⟩Satan, who was the accuser of their brethren, was cast down, which accused them before God day and night. So that Satan can spare no time, from accusing us for sin, but that which he employeth in tempting us thereunto, or in inflicting those punishments which God permitteth him to lay upon us. Whereby we may perceive the malice and treachery of our enemy, who though he be the chief cause which moveth us to sin, yet himself is the first that accuseth us for it, and that uncessantly. Which may serve as a strong argument to make us wary of our ways, least falling into sin, we give Satan occasion to insult over us, and to prefer bills of indictment before our heavenly Judge, whose exact justice will not let sin go unpunished. If there were a promoter continually prying into all our actions, who were most maliciously disposed against us, and ready to inform of all our misdemeanour unto the Magistrate, how fearful would we be to do any thing which would bring us within the compass of the law? But such an informer continually observeth all our behaviour, even in our secret chambers; who will not fail to accuse us even of those sins which he himself hath tempted us unto: and therefore seeing this malicious blab still prieth into our actions, this should be of more force to withhold us from all sin, then if all the world did look upon us.
But as he is a tempter to intice vs vnto sinne, so also he is our accuser after that we haue sinned, requiring of God that he will execute his iustice vpon the offenders who haue deserued punishment. Of this there nee de no further proofe then his owne testimonie,