A20752:198
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.
No marvel therefore though Satan should be an expert soldier, seeing he is not only of wonderful strength, but also of great knowledge by creation; which though in respect of good things it was much decreased by his fall, yet in sleights and stratagems it is much increased by his long experience from the beginning of the world, even almost six thousand years; which is sufficient to make one wise that is by nature foolish and simple, and therefore much more Satan, who is by nature very politic; being also a spirit, and hereby fit to dive as it were into the secrets of nature, and with incredible swiftness to pass from place to place, ready to intrude himself into all companies secretly, and to learn the nature, qualities and dispositions of all men, against whom he fighteth. And though he cannot know our thoughts directly and certainly, for this is proper to God alone to be the searcher of hearts, yet he hath such intelligence from our affections, lusts, inclinations and outward actions, that he can shrewdly guess at them, if he do but a while keep us company, and see our disposition and conversation. So that we cannot give Satan the least advantage, but he is ready to take it and make use thereof to our overthrow; we can lay no plot against him but he discerneth it, and is ready to prevent it. And therefore in this respect our state is like the king of Arams, 2. King. 6.12.1 for Satan our enemy knoweth all our counsels and consultations which we take and hold in our most secret chambers.
No marueile therefore though Sathan should be an expert souldier, seeing he is not onely of wonderfull strength, but also of great knowledge by creation; which though in respect of good things it was much decreased by his fall, yet in sleights and stratagems it is much increased by his long experience from the beginning of the world, euen almost sixe thousand yeeres; which is sufficient to make one wise that is by nature foolish and simple, and therefore much more Sathan, who is by nature very politike; being also a spirit, and hereby fit to diue as it were into the secrets of nature, and with incredible swiftnes to passe from place to place, readie to intrude himselfe into all companies secretly, and to learne the nature, qualities and dispositions of al men, against whom he fighteth. And though he cannot know our thoughts directly and certainly, for this is proper to God alone to bee the searcher of hearts, yet he hath such intelligence from our affections, lusts, inclinations and outward actions, that hee can shrewdly gesse at them, if he doe but a while keepe vs companie, and see our disposition and conuersation. So that wee cannot giue Sathan the least aduantage, but he is readie to take it and make vse thereof to our ouerthrow; we can lay no plot against him but he discerneth it, and is readie to preuent it. And therefore in this respect our state is like the king of Arams,