A20752:249
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 But whereas these graces are in this life but weak and imperfect in us;1 our truth being mixed with will-worship and hypocrisy, the purity of our conscience being stained with our corruption; our knowledge of the Gospel but in part, and shadowed with the veil of ignorance; our faith mixed with doubting, and weakened with incredulity; our hope shaken from our anchor-hold, when the promises of God are delayed; and whereas we also are unskilful to use this spiritual armour for our best advantage; therefore it behooveth us after we have armed our selves at all points, not to trust altogether in our armour, but to have our recourse unto our grand Captain Christ Jesus, acknowledging our own weakness, and desiring his aide and assistance, that being armed with his power, we may obtain a glorious victory over our spiritual enemies. And as Moses joined with Joshua's sword his own effectual prayer, which was of far greater efficacy; for when he held up his hands in prayer, Israel prevailed; but when he fainted, Amaleck had the upper hand: so we being to fight against the spiritual Amalekites, are not wholly to trust in our spiritual weapons, but we are to implore continually the Lords assistance by hearty prayer, assuring our selves that if we lift up our hands and hearts unto God, we shall in the end obtain a full victory; but if we faint, the spiritual Amaleck will prevail against us. Whilst our minds lie grovelling on the earth, it is an easy matter for these spiritual wickednesses to overcome us, seeing they fight against us from high places; ⟨p. 65⟩but if we lift up our hearts in prayer unto God, our minds and souls shall be as it were transported into heaven, which is a tower of strength, into which our spiritual enemies cannot approach. Whensoever therefore we are assaulted by Satan, let us lift up our souls into heaven by effectual prayer, and so we shall be out of his reach.
§. Sect. 2 But whereas these graces are in this life but weake and imperfect in vs;1 our truth being mixt with will-worship and hypocrisie, the puritie of our conscience being stained with our corruption; our knowledge of the Gospell but in part, and shadowed with the vaile of ignorance; our faith mixt with doubting, and weakened with incredulitie; our hope shaken from our anker-hold, when the promises of God are delaied; and whereas we also are vnskilfull to vse this spiritual armour for our best aduantage; therefore it behooueth vs after wee haue armed our selues at all points, not to trust altogether in our armour, but to haue our recourse vnto our grand Captaine Christ Iesus, acknowledging our owne weakenesse, and desiring his aide and assistance, that being armed with his power, we may obtaine a glorious victorie ouer our spirituall enemies. And as Moses ioyned with Iosuahs sword his owne effectual prayer, which was of farre greater efficacie; for when he held vp his hands in prayer, Israel preuailed; but when he fainted, Amaleck had the vpper hand: so wee being to fight against the spirituall Amalekites, are not wholie to trust in our spirituall weapons, but we are to implore continually the Lords assistance by heartie prayer, assuring our selues that if we lift vp our hands and hearts vnto God, we shal in the end obtaine a full victorie; but if we faint, the spirituall Amaleck will preuaile against vs. Whilest our mindes lie groueling on the earth, it is an easie matter for these spirituall wickednesses to ouercome vs, seeing they fight against vs from high places;