A20752:237
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.
§. Sect. 2 Whensoever therefore we are assaulted by Satan, let us draw out the sword of the spirit, 1that we may defend our selves, and give him the foil, as being the most fit weapon for this purpose: for if Satan seek to blind the eyes of our understanding with ignorance, that thereby he may lead us as it were hoodwinked into sin, the word of God is a lantern to our feet, and a light unto our paths to discover Satan's dark illusions and secret ambushments, and to ⟨p. 60⟩guide our feet in the way of peace. If he seek to deceive us with his lies, and to seduce us into errors; the word of God is the touchstone of truth, by which we discern the pure golden verity from the drossy conceits of humane inventions; and the subtle delusions of Satan's probable falsehoods, from the undoubted certainty of Gods infallible truth. If he transform himself into an angel of light, Gods word doth pull off his visor, and maketh him appear in his own likeness: if he come upon us like a roaring lion to devour us, it protecteth us from danger, and maketh us strong enough to withstand his violence. Seeing therefore this weapon is so excellent, let us most highly esteem it, and manfully use it whensoever Satan doth assault us and tempt us unto sin.2 For example, when he enticing us to commit sin, doth extenuate and mince it as though it were but a May-game and a trick of youth which God regardeth not; let us draw out the sword of the spirit, saying, it is written, that all they are accursed who continue not in all that is written in the book of the law to do it,3 Gal. 3.10. that they who live according to the flesh, cannot please God, Rom. 8.8. that the burden of sin cannot be light, seeing it pressed out of Christ himself a bloody sweat, &c.
§. Sect. 2 Whensoeuer therefore wee are assaulted by Sathan, let vs draw out the sword of the spirit, 1