A20752:251
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.
The second thing required, is, that we pray with all manner of prayers and supplication. The former word here used is [Greek or Hebrew], which signifieth the earnest desiring of any good thing: the other is [Greek or Hebrew], which is the deprecation of some evil; so that whether we want any thing that is good, or would be delivered from any thing which is evil, we must have recourse unto God by prayer, that we may obtain the one and avoid the other; but more especially when we feel the want or weakness of any part of the spiritual armour, the graces of Gods spirit, we are to beg them at Gods hand, that so we may be enabled to stand in the encounter; and when we apprehend the extreme malice, joined with the ⟨p. 66⟩great power and cunning policy of our spiritual enemies, we are earnestly to pray that the Lord will not lead us into temptation; or if he do, yet that he will not suffer us to fall therein and to be overthrown. And these our prayers must not only be public in the Church, but also private in our chambers; neither must we be always begging these benefits at Gods hand, but having obtained them, we must be as ready to give him thanks, and to ascribe the glory of all unto him, who is the author and bestower of all virtue and grace which is in us; and so calling upon God with all manner of prayer, he will be continually ready to assist us in our spiritual combat.
The second thing required, is, that wee pray with all manner of prayers and supplication. The former word here vsed is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which signifieth the earnest desiring of any good thing: the other is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which is the deprecation of some euill; so that whether wee want any thing that is good, or would be deliuered from any thing which is euill, wee must haue recourse vnto God by prayer, that we may obtaine the one and auoide the other; but more especially when we feele the want or weaknes of any part of the spirituall armour, the graces of Gods spirit, wee are to begge them at Gods hand, that so wee may be enabled to stand in the encounter; and when wee apprehend the extreame malice, ioyned with the ⟨p. 66⟩great power and cunning policie of our spirituall enemies, wee are earnestly to pray that the Lord will not leade vs into temptation; or if he doe, yet that he will not suffer vs to fall therein and to be ouerthrowne. And these our prayers must not onely be publike in the Church, but also priuate in our chambers; neither must wee be alwaies begging these benefits at Gods hand, but hauing obtained them, we must be as readie to giue him thankes, and to ascribe the glorie of all vnto him, who is the author and bestower of all vertue and grace which is in vs; and so calling vpon God with all manner of prayer, he will be continually readie to assist vs in our spirituall combat.