A20752:196
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 8: Of Sathans policy.Book 1 › Chapter 8: Of Sathans policie.
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 much of the flesh, which is the second enemy that joineth with Satan in working our destruction; and thus much also concerning the first part of our enemies power, which consisteth in the strength either of himself or of his aides: now we are to consider of the second part, which consisteth in his warlike policy and skill, in employing this his strength to his best advantage.
§ Sect. 1 ANd thus much of the flesh, which is the second enemie that ioyneth with Sathan in working our destruction; and thus much also concerning the first part of our enemies power, which consisteth in the strength either of himself or of his aides: now we are to consider of the second part, which consisteth in his warlike policie and skill, in imploying this his strength to his best aduantage.
If our enemy had great strength, and yet wanted policy, he might the more easily be resisted, and the sooner vanquished; for strength without wit is like a giant without eyes. But as our enemy is exceeding strong, so is he also no less subtle and politic, in employing all his strength to his best advantage; and therefore as in regard of his strength he is called in the Scriptures a lion, and a mighty dragon; so in respect of his subtlety and wiliness he is called a serpent, yea an old serpent, which being the subtlest of beasts, hath his craft redoubled by his age and experience,1 Apoc. 12.9. and hereof he is called in the Scriptures, [Greek or Hebrew], to signify unto us his great knowledge.
If our enemie had great strength, and yet wanted policie, he might the more easily be resisted, and the sooner vanquished; for strength without wit is like a giant without eyes. But as our enemie is exceeding strong, so is hee also no lesse subtill and politike, in imploying all his strength to his best aduantage; and therefore as in regard of his strength he is called in the Scriptures a lion, and a mightie dragon; so in respect of his subtiltie and wilines he is called a serpent, yea an old serpent, which being the subtillest of beasts, hath his craft redoubled by his age and experience,