A20752:158
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.
§. Sect. 1 And thus have I showed the malicious will of our enemy; let us now consider of his power. For though he be most malicious, yet if he wanted power to execute his malice, we might well contemn him, and rest secure, making no great preparation to resist his weak assault.
§. Sect. 1 ANd thus haue I shewed the malitious will of our enemie; let vs now consider of his power. For though he be most malitious, yet if hee wanted power to execute his malice, wee might well contemne him, and rest secure, making no great preparation to resist his weake assault.
But with our enemy it is far otherwise: for as his will is most maliciously bent to hurt, so is he strong and mighty to effect his will. And this his power and ability to execute his will, consisteth partly in his strength, and partly in his skill and warlike policy, whereby he employeth all his strength to his best advantage. His strength may be considered both in himself and in his aides.
But with our enemie it is farre otherwise: for as his will is most malitiously bent to hurt, so is he strong and mightie to effect his will. And this his power and abilitie to execute his will, consisteth partly in his strength, and partly in his skill and warlike policie, whereby he imployeth all his strength to his best aduantage. His strength may be considered both in himselfe and in his aides.
In respect of his own strength he is very mighty,1 so that if the Lord permitteth him he is able to raise the winds, stir up tempests, bring down fire from heaven, and utterly destroy us in a moment. And this his strength the holy Ghost expresseth, by comparing him to things most strong, either in the sea or on the land, that so we may be more careful to arm our selves against him. He is compared to the great Leviathan or Whale,