A20752:261
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.
CHAP. XVII. Of Satan's stratagems.
CHAP. XVII. Of Sathans stratagems.
§. Sect. 1 And so much concerning our spiritual armour, as also our preparation to the spiritual warfare; now we are to speak of the battle it self: where first we are to consider of Satan's stratagems, and the manner of his fight; and secondly, of the special conflicts or temptations wherewith he assaileth us. Concerning Satan's stratagems, we are to know that they are many and dangerous; with which he will easily circumvent and overthrow us, if we do not carefully prevent or cunningly avoid them. For first he dealeth not with all alike, neither useth the same weapons to foil every one,1 but he observeth the quality and disposition of his enemies, and accordingly he fitteth his temptations, so as they may be most forcible to prevail against them. And to this end he observeth to what sins we ⟨p. 73⟩are most inclined, either by nature, or by present occasion, and to those he inciteth us, thrusting us as it were down the hill, where we are apt to run headlong of our own accord; and seconding his assault with the aide of our corrupt flesh, which entertaineth willingly his suggestions, and urgeth us violently to yield to his temptations. So that Satan never striveth against the stream, but useth the tide of our affections to carry us swiftly into a sea of sin.
§. Sect. 1 ANd so much concerning our spirituall armour, as also our preparation to the spirituall warfare; now we are to speake of the battaile it selfe: where first we are to consider of Sathans stratagems, and the manner of his fight; and secondly, of the speciall conflicts or temptations wherewith he assaileth vs. Concerning Sathans stratagems, wee are to know that they are many and dangerous; with which he will easily circumuent and ouerthrow vs, if wee doe not carefully preuent or cunningly auoide them. For first he dealeth not with all alike, neither vseth the same weapons to foyle euery one,