A20752:256
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 fourth thing required is watchfulness; which duty is required jointly with prayer in many places. Our Saviour three times joineth them together, saying, Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, Matth. 26. And the Apostle Peter 1. Epist 4.7. saith, Now the end of all things is at hand: 1Be ye therefore sober and watching unto prayer. As though he should say, your enemy the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, and therefore it behooveth you at all times like valiant and careful soldiers, who are still in danger to be assaulted by their enemies, to be sober and watch,2 as it is 1. Pet. 5.8. but now more especially seeing the end of all things is at hand, for Satan knowing that his time is but short, will redouble all his forces to work our destruction, even as soldiers will most fiercely assault a town, when as they cannot long lie at the siege, either by reason of winter drawing on, or the approaching of new forces to relieve the town or raise the siege. Seeing therefore Satan redoubleth his force and care in working our destruction, let us redouble our care and watchfulness in seeking to prevent his force and malice. For if Satan watch continually that he may murder us, shall not we be watchful in withstanding his assaults? He is continually in arms to overthrow us, and shall not we watch night and day in our Christian armour, that we may defeat his forces and obtain victory?
The fourth thing required is watchfulnes; which dutie is required ioyntly with prayer in many places. Our Sauiour three times ioyneth them together, saying, Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, Matth. 26. And the Apostle Peter 1. Epist 4.7. saith, Now the end of all things is at hand: 1Be ye therefore sober and watching vnto prayer. As though hee should say, your enemie the diuell as a roring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may deuoure, and therefore it behooueth you at all times like valiant and carefull souldiers, who are still in daunger to be assaulted by their enemies, to be sober and watch,