A20752:190
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.
This enemy the holy Ghost in the Scriptures deciphereth by divers names; for it is called the old man, the old Adam, the earthly, carnal, and natural man, the sin which is inherent and dwelleth in us, the adjoining evil, the law of the members, the lusts of the flesh which fight against the soul; by all which is signified our corruption of nature, which is derived from our first parents, whereby we are made backward unto all good, and prone unto all evil, unapt to entertain any good motions of Gods spirit, but most ready to receive and embrace all the suggestions and temptations of ⟨p. 38⟩the world and the devil, as the wax the print of the seal, or the tinder fire. And this the Apostle James showeth chap. 1.14 Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own concupiscence and is enticed: 115. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death. So that as Satan is the father, so the flesh is the mother of sin, which receiving Satan's temptations as it were into a fruitful womb, doth conceive, nourish, and bring forth sin, which no sooner is borne, but like a deadly stinging serpent, it bringeth death to body and soul, unless the poison thereof be overcome and taken away by the precious blood of Christ.
This enemie the holy Ghost in the Scriptures deciphereth by diuers names; for it is called the old man, the old Adam, the earthly, carnall, and naturall man, the sinne which is inherent and dwelleth in vs, the adioyning euill, the law of the members, the lusts of the flesh which fight against the soule; by all which is signified our corruption of nature, which is deriued from our first parents, whereby wee are made backward vnto all good, and prone vnto all euill, vnapt to entertaine any good motions of Gods spirit, but most readie to receiue and imbrace all the suggestions and temptations of ⟨p. 38⟩the world and the diuell, as the waxe the print of the seale, or the tindar fire. And this the Apostle Iames sheweth chap. 1.14 Euery man is tempted when he is drawne away by his owne concupiscence and is enticed: 115. Then when lust hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth sinne, and sinne when it is finished bringeth foorth death. So that as Sathan is the father, so the flesh is the mother of sinne, which receiuing Sathans temptations as it were into a fruitfull wombe, doth conceiue, nourish, and bring forth sinne, which no sooner is borne, but like a deadly stinging serpent, it bringeth death to bodie and soule, vnlesse the poyson thereof be ouercome and taken away by the precious bloud of Christ.