A20752:171
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 here some man may object, that Satan is said in the Scriptures, to resist God and to oppose himself against him, and even to fight a battle against our Saviour Christ himself and his blessed Angels, Apoc. 12.7. I answer, that this resistance and fight dependeth on Gods permissive providence, neither could he so much as stir against God, if he did not suffer him. He is indeed most maliciously disposed against the Lord, and by this his malice is stirred up to do those things which he thinketh most displeasant in Gods eyes: but because the Lord chaineth and curbeth him in with his omnipotent power, he is only able to do those things that God permitteth him, and, will he nill he, he is constrained to obey his Creator and to be at his commandment.
But here some man may obiect, that Sathan is said in the Scriptures, to resist God and to oppose himselfe against him, and euen to fight a battaile against our Sauiour Christ himselfe and his blessed Angels, Apoc. 12.7. I answere, that this resistance and fight dependeth on Gods permissiue prouidence, neither could hee so much as stirre against God, if hee did not suffer him. He is indeede most malitiously disposed against the Lord, and by this his malice is stirred vp to doe those things which hee thinketh most displeasant in Gods eyes: but because the Lord chaineth and curbeth him in with his omnipotent power, he is onely able to doe those things that God permitteth him, and, will he nill he, he is constrained to obey his Creator and to be at his commandement.
Seeing therefore Satan's power is restrained by the omnipotent ⟨p. 29⟩power of God, this may serve as a strong reason to strengthen our faith in the assurance of victory; especially considering that the Lord is not only omnipotent in power, but also in respect of his will most ready to aide and support us in all our conflicts. For he hath promised us, that we shall not be tempted above our power,