A20752:274
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.
If we find that we be ambitiously affected, we are to use all good means that true humility may be wrought in our hearts, and whensoever (honours being offered) we are tickled with ambitious and aspiring thoughts, let us suspect that under honour Satan hath hid a hook to catch us. And therefore before we accept it, we are to examine our selves whether we be fit for so high a place, and whether we can attain thereto by honest and lawful means, and whether the place it self be such, that therein we may glorify God, benefit his Church, and keep a good conscience.
If we finde that wee be ambitiously affected, wee are to vse all good meanes that true humilitie may bee wrought in our hearts, and whensoeuer (honours being offred) we are tickled with ambitious and aspiring thoughts, let vs suspect that vnder honour Sathan hath hid a hooke to catch vs. And therefore before wee accept it, wee are to examine our selues whether we be fit for so high a place, and whether we can attaine thereto by honest and lawfull meanes, and whether the place it selfe be such, that therein we may glorifie God, benefit his Church, and keepe a good conscience.
So if we find that we are addicted unto pleasures, we are with all care to study and practise true mortification; and when any pleasures are offered us, we are to look narrowly into them, that we may discern if Satan hath not laid under them a snare to entrap us, either by tempting us to pleasures which are unlawful, or to the immoderate use of those which be lawful; and as we love the salvation of our souls, let us avoid the bait when we see the snare.
So if we finde that we are addicted vnto pleasures, wee are with all care to studie and practise true mortification; and when any pleasures are offred vs, wee are to looke narrowly into them, that we may discerne if Sathan hath not laid vnder them a snare to intrap vs, either by tempting vs to pleasures which are vnlawfull, or to the immoderate vse of those which be lawfull; and as we loue the saluation of our soules, let vs auoide the baite when we see the snare.