A20752:282
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.
So if we be in adversity, we are to rely our selves on the Lords providence, who hath promised to all that depend upon him all things necessary, so far forth as they tend to the salvation of our souls: neither are we to believe Satan when he telleth us that afflictions are signs of Gods hatred, seeing there are innumerable examples of Gods dear children grievously afflicted, and plain testimonies of Scriptures which prove the contrary, as shall appear hereafter.
So if we be in aduersitie, wee are to relie our selues on the Lords prouidence, who hath promised to all that depend vpon him all things necessarie, so farre foorth as they tend to the saluation of our soules: neither are we to beleeue Sathan when he telleth vs that afflictions are signes of Gods hatred, seeing there are innumerable examples of Gods deare children grieuously afflicted, and plaine testimonies of Scriptures which proue the contrarie, as shall appeare hereafter.
§. Sect. 3 In respect of our spiritual estate Satan observeth whether we be mere worldlings or professors.1 If worldlings, then whether we be notoriously wicked, or civil honest men; those that be notoriously wicked he plungeth headlong into a gulf of all wickedness and outrageous rebellion against God, he tempteth them to Atheism, and to contempt of Gods worship and service, to swearing and blaspheming, to the profaning of the Sabaoth, and scorning of all religion, to murders, adultery, drunkenness, theft, and all devilish practises, because they are his slaves ready at his appointment to execute all those works of darkness wherein he will employ them. For such men it is but lost labour to show them how they may resist Satan, seeing they take their whole delight in serving and obeying him; and therefore before they be taught how to resist him, they must be persuaded to a desire of coming out of his thraldom, of whom they are taken prisoners to do his will, as it is 2. Tim. 2.26.2