A20752:183
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
Book 1 › Chapter 6: Of Sathans aides: and first of the world.
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.
And if we have these meditations continually running in our minds, then shall we easily stop our ears at the first hearing of this Sirens song; then shall we constantly go forward in our pilgrimage towards our heavenly home: and though honours stand before us, riches on the one hand, pleasures on the other, alluring us to enter into the broad way which leadeth to destruction; yet shall we not forsake the straight path which leadeth unto life everlasting, how unpleasant soever it seemeth to flesh and blood.
And if wee haue these meditations continually running in our mindes, then shall we easily stop our eares at the first hearing of this Syrens song; then shall we constantly go forward in our pilgrimage towards our heauenly home: and though honours stand before vs, riches on the one hand, pleasures on the other, alluring vs to enter into the broad way which leadeth to destruction; yet shall we not forsake the straight path which leadeth vnto life euerlasting, how vnpleasant soeuer it seemeth to flesh and bloud.
§ Sect. 3 But if the world cannot thus prevail, then doth she turn her, smiles into frowns, 1her allurements into threats, her beds of pleasures, into miseries and afflictions, her glorious offers of honours and riches, to proud menacings of poverty and ignominy; all which being terrible in the eyes of flesh and blood so far prevail with some, that they move them to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience; and being ⟨p. 35⟩weary in travailing through this desert and unpleasant wilderness unto the land of promise, they desire to return back into the bondage of the spiritual Pharaoh, that they may quietly sit by the flesh-pots of Egypt,2 and glut themselves with the cucumbers and pepons of carnal pleasures: that is, they choose rather to walk in the broad way which leadeth to destruction, because it is delightful, than in the narrow way which leadeth to everlasting life, because they must pass through the briars of affliction and thorns of tribulation, before they can receive the crown of glory; they prefer the pleasures of sin for a season, before the recompense of reward, which God hath promised, even the eternal joys of the kingdom of glory. So unpleasant a thing it is for flesh and blood to deny it self, and to take up the cross and follow Christ.